Ground Truth: 3 Para Return to Afghanistan

Ground Truth: 3 Para Return to Afghanistan
Patrick Bishop

Afghanistan, 2008. After their eighteen-month epic tour of Helmand Province, the troops of 3 Para are back. This time, the weight of experience weighs heavily on their shoulders.In April 2006 the elite 3 Para Battle Group was despatched to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on a tour that has become a legend. All that summer the Paras were subjected to relentless Taliban attacks in one of the most gruelling campaigns fought by British troops in modern times.Two years later the Paras are back in the pounding heat of the Afghanistan front lines. The conflict has changed. The enemy has been forced to adopt new weaponry and tactics. But how much progress are we really making in the war against the insurgents? And is there an end in sight?In this searing account of 3 Para’s return, bestselling author Patrick Bishop combines gripping, first-person accounts of front line action with an unflinching look at the hard realities of our involvement in Afghanistan. Writing from a position of exclusive access alongside the Paras, he reveals the ‘ground truth’ of the mission our soldiers have been given. It’s a sombre picture. But shining out from it are stories of courage, comradeship and humour, as well as a gripping account of an epic humanitarian operation through Taliban-infested country to deliver a vitally needed turbine to the Kajaki Dam.Frank, action-packed and absorbing, “Ground Truth” is a timely and important book that will set the agenda for discussion of the Afghan conflict for years to come.

GROUND TRUTH

3 Para: Return to Afghanistan

PATRICK BISHOP

To Douglas and Richenda

Contents

List of Illustrations (#u76d2de45-7ab0-5344-8b5e-b194e8c60f16)

Maps (#u74fb49bb-1920-587e-a887-e99bf0f42e55)

Introduction: A Big Ask (#u64b38552-2e86-5a38-8c7f-e2c18ad0542a)

1 Going Back (#u531d8c42-ebf9-53cf-a682-d9df2515ceeb)

2 Through the Looking Glass (#uf5d20307-c16a-58a5-89ea-f074dcb3187e)

3 KAF (#u9f5669f5-3060-58c3-9779-df725b940200)

4 Hearts and Minds (#u52e56d45-5231-5b93-ad86-a48b4f4d67dc)

5 Hunting the Hobbit (#u3a48b9df-95ba-50c6-9d46-3766654110a6)

6 Green Zone (#litres_trial_promo)

7 IED (#litres_trial_promo)

8 The Stadium (#litres_trial_promo)

9 Facing the Dragon (#litres_trial_promo)

10 Sangin Revisited (#litres_trial_promo)

11 The White Cliffs of Helmand (#litres_trial_promo)

12 Convoy (#litres_trial_promo)

13 The Enemy (#litres_trial_promo)

14 Close Quarters (#litres_trial_promo)

15 Fields of Fire (#litres_trial_promo)

16 ‘Something our Parents will Understand’ (#litres_trial_promo)

17 Homecoming (#litres_trial_promo)

Abbreviations, Acronyms and Military Terms (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgments (#litres_trial_promo)

By the Same Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Index (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

The following account is based on interviews with the soldiers of 16 Air Assault Brigade. The author has made his best endeavour to report events accurately and truthfully and any insult or injury to any of the parties described or quoted herein or to their families is unintentional. The publishers will be happy to correct any inaccuracies in later editions.

Some names have been changed or omitted to protect operational security.

List of Illustrations (#u341fac4e-8716-5611-acc5-9d3865ec293d)

Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith © Sergeant Anthony Boocock, 16 Air Assault Brigade photographer/Crown Copyright

Major Stuart McDonald © Tina Hager

Sangin schoolroom © Patrick Bishop

A Para leads women to safety © Jason P. Howe/ConflictPics

‘A’ Company patrols a poppy field © Captain Ian McLeish

Paras patrolling in Hutal © Tina Hager

Colour Sergeant Mark Kennedy with children in Qal-e-Gaz

© Captain Ian McLeish

‘A’ Company at a Maywand Base © Marco di Lauro/Getty Images

Paras navigating Maywand ditches © Jason P. Howe/ConflictPics

6 Platoon, ‘B’ Company patrol outside Hutal © Tina Hager

‘Gungy Third’ aboard a Chinook to Inkerman © Patrick Bishop

FOB Inkerman sangar sentry © Patrick Bishop

Privates Ben Biddulph and Andy Shawcross at Inkerman © Patrick Bishop