It was like any other weekday morning. I was getting dressed, and, strangely, something prompted me to turn on the TV, which I usually didn't do before leaving for work. I was stunned by what I saw on television and kind of collapsed on my bed. There was smoke escaping from gaping holes in the World Trade Center buildings. Then I saw the horrifying clip of the airliner flying into one of the Twin Towers. When I saw the second Tower get hit, I knew this was no accident.
In another blog post, I've written about my disappointing attempts to sign up with the FBI and other elite U.S. law enforcement agencies after 9/11. Like countless Americans, there was a strong desire to take action. However, most Americans were not aware that there were already secret military missions in the works immediately after that dreadful day.
12 Strong is based on a true story about one of the very first missions in response to the terrorist attacks. The Taliban had provided a safe haven for Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and U.S. Special Forces were sent into Afghanistan for some payback. Among them were twelve Green Berets of the Operation Detachment Alpha (ODA) 595 team.
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer, 12 Strong is an unconventional war action movie in that 1) it revolves around a conflicting relationship between the captain of ODA 595 and an Afghan militia general who are supposed to be allies, and 2) the U.S. soldiers had to use horses for transportation, earning them the nickname the "Horse Soldiers".
While war films typically show the horrors of war, 12 Strong is a bit more of an action movie lightened by a little humor tossed in here and there with very intense and suspenseful battle sequences that give any subwoofer a good workout. But that's not to say it isn't a serious film. 12 Strong is a very underappreciated war movie that deserves the same level of success as its counterparts. With a cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, and Michael Peña, 12 Strong is an absolute must-see.
Because their mission was classified, most people had not heard about ODA 595's mission. Veterans Day is for recognizing and celebrating the men and women who served in the U.S. armed services, but thanks to films like 12 Strong about the Horse Soldiers, we learn about unsung heroes who went above and beyond in their call of duty.
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