The America’s Response Memorial statue is the first public monument dedicated to the U.S. Special Forces and commemorates the military and inter-agency servicemen and women which comprised Task Force Dagger – America’s Special Operations response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Dedicated on October 19, 2012, this 16 foot tall larger than life bronze monument is currently located in New York City at the World Trade Center on the Northeast side of the Ground Zero Memorial, near the entrance to the PATH Subway Station at the intersection of Vessey Street and West Broadway Streets, the base of the newly constructed Freedom Tower.
The America’s Response Memorial statue or “Horse Soldier” statue depicts a Green Beret operator from the 5th Special Forces Group memorializing Task Force Dagger, its organizational elements and its combined Special Forces teams.
America’s initial military response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 sent American Special Operations Forces into Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. By early-October of 2001, a couple Special Forces teams were on the ground, sent into help the Northern Alliance multi-ethnic and tribal resistance leaders hunt down al Qaeda and liberate their country from the Taliban regime which had harbored the al-Qaeda terrorists.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), designated as Task Force Dagger, was a Joint Special Operations team consisting of Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group, aircrew members from the “Nightstalkers” – 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Air Force Special Operations aircrew, combat controllers, and joint terminal air controllers who worked closely with the Central Intelligence Agency and other Government Agencies to accomplish this daunting task.
In an unprecedented Unconventional Warfare campaign in which Special Operations Forces were the main effort, a handful of Special Forces teams faced significant operational and logistic challenges, while routing the al Qaeda and Taliban forces from their strongholds. They were supported by the full aerial might of the U.S. Navy, Marines, and Air Force.
This daunting task of facilitating regime change, required them to do what Special Forces operators and units excel at – to adapt to the fluid and uncertain situation. They combined 21st century combat technologies with the tactics and capabilities of their respective partnered Afghan resistance groups. Together with their Afghan allies, they accomplished in weeks what many thought would take months, if not years; defeating the al-Qaeda terrorists and Taliban forces, liberating a people and the country of Afghanistan, allowing them to again determine their own fate and government.
Task Force Dagger received a Presidential Unit Citation recognizing its personnel and units for their valorous and historic actions in spearheading the liberation of Afghanistan. This legendary unit and these exceptional warriors are now honored at Ground Zero.
Additional information regarding “The Horse Soldiers” of ODA-595
One of the initial combined A-Teams which comprised Task Force Dagger, designated Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) – 595, along with their Central Intelligence Agency counterparts, were among the first of two Special Forces teams chosen to infiltrate into the isolated mountains of North Central Afghanistan in October of 2001 in order to linkup and integrate closely with the various Northern Alliance ethnic groups actively resisting the Taliban regime. They were warmly welcomed by these groups.
In the case of ODA-595, isolated and alone, they took the further calculated risk of splitting their 12 man team into 2 – 3 man cells. These cells dispersed across several districts and provinces in the region with their Afghan counterparts – local Commanders Tribal Leaders, and their rapidly growing force of local militiamen. While working and fighting directly alongside the Afghans to build a cohesive alliance, they assessed their circumstances. Realizing in order to out maneuver their common enemy, exponentially greater in numerical size, and mounted in former Soviet manufactured tanks, armored vehicles and personnel transports, the American’s required mobility equal to their allies to navigate the difficult mountainous terrain. ODA-595 was provided horses by the ethnic Afghan groups they were supporting. Although requested and procured for delivery, all-terrain vehicles and 4×4 trucks were of limited use in this rugged off-road terrain in this phase of the campaign.
The Green Berets of ODA-595, and their Central Intelligence Agency counterparts, adapting to their situation, mounted up, many for the first time, despite their advanced and varied training. They proceeded to advise and assist the Northern Alliance fighters from horseback, similar to the U.S. Cavalry days on the American frontier but in this case at the beginning of the 21st Century working alongside descendants of the legendary horsemen and warriors of the Central Asian region. Their combined demonstrated personal actions, commitment and mission successes under extremely challenging conditions; quickly served as the catalyst for the liberation of six Northern Afghanistan provinces.
Historians now credit these few Special Forces teams and operators, because of their exceptional deeds as allowing America to be seen by the Afghans as liberators and not as occupiers, a living example of the Special Forces motto, “De Oppresso Liber” meaning “to liberate the oppressed”. They provided the first American and Afghanistan victories of the 21st Century, inspiring a nation to rise up against its terrorist oppressors.
Still shocked as a nation by the terrorist attacks of September 11th on the United States of America, the first public images were released of American Special Forces soldiers riding horseback into battle alongside their allies. These iconic images inspired Americans as well as the sculptor of this statue. Soon after ODA-595 returned to the U.S. they met Douwe Blumberg.
HORSE SOLDIER CHARITABLE DRAWING
Currently, these Exceptional Warriors do not have a replica of their own statue depicting the very mission they were instrumental in completing and were the inspiration for a Nation shocked by the attacks of 9/11. With the price out of reach for most of them, our hope is that you will help us achieve our goals and honor the sacrifice these Exceptional Warriors made for our Great Nation.
Purchase 1, 5 or 10 charitable drawing tickets to enter a drawing to potentially win your replica of the Horse Soldier statue. All proceeds of this charitable drawing benefit recreational therapy programs for Special Forces Operators.
If you would like to purchase a Horse Soldier replica statue as a gift for a Special Forces A-Team member, ODA-595 team member, or member of Task Force Dagger, this option is available to you for a gift of $5,200 to The FEW. For a gift of $10,000 to The FEW you may purchase a Horse Soldier statue for a member of Task Force Dagger, as well as a replica for yourself. If either of these options interests you, please contact Ronny Sweger at ronnys@exceptionalwarriors.org.
Raffle Ticket Options
1 Ticket $50.00
5 Tickets $225.00
10 Tickets $400.00
Purchase one for ODA-595 $5,200
Purchase one for yourself and one for ODA-595 $10,000
The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors has three goals in offering these limited edition replicas:
- To honor these brave Americans
- To raise money in our efforts to serve the Special Operations veterans thru our Foundation
- To see that each team member of ODA-595 and the Special Forces A-Teams, who participated in these legendary missions, receives a replica for themselves.