Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Alone at Dawn: Medal of Honor Recipient John Chapman and the Untold Story of the World's Deadliest Special Operations Force

Top positive review

An amazing, descriptive, and well researched read.

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019

I'm a retired Air Force Combat Controller and am well acquainted with a number of the participants mentioned in the book. I was deployed to a Special Operations liaison cell at the time of this event. It's my opinion that the author did an outstanding job with tying in the story in an easy -to-follow manner with all the various events that ultimately led to John Chapman's fight to the death on top of that mountain. The book isn't solely about John Chapman even though he is the main focus, but gives a brief history of the beginnings of Combat Control as well, and as I mentioned earlier, the operations and battles along with the decision-making by the leadership that led up to that fateful battle.
The general public for the most part not only has any idea who or what Combat Controllers are, but how versatile they must be, to be attached to any other special operations unit to include foreign SOF. I think this book does a simply amazing job of showcasing their capabilities as well as some of the unsung heroes attached to the events which are the focus of the book. Through the years regarding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Special Tactics community has lost a great many of their fellow brothers and there have also been a great many Combat Controllers through their heroic actions that have saved the teams they were attached to by their bravery under fire and their skillsets. I'm proud to have known a lot of these warriors during my time with the teams.

230 people found this helpful

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TM757

Heroic story, not very well told.

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020

John Chapman will live on as a legend, his actions are truly heroic. Teach your children the true meaning of the word “hero.” It’s not being a great athlete, singer or actor. It’s sacrifice for others. The Medal of Honor was created for men like Chapman.

I wasn’t impressed with the book itself. As others point out, how many times do we have to read how CCTs are better trained, fitter, and more effective than Delta, SEALs, or other Spec Ops units. Every chapter we read again how much heavier their packs are. There was enough repetition to make the story drag.

Also, Chapman, and his exploits on Takur Ghar, make up a small portion of the book. It would be more accurate to title it something along the lines of a history of CCT. There is quite a bit of what I’d call fiction as well, authors documenting thoughts and actions as fact, when they could only really guess at them.

Finally, the SEALs are disrespected throughout the book. Maybe rooted in Chapman being left for dead on the peak, still unnecessary in the telling of his heroics.

11 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Bob

An amazing, descriptive, and well researched read.

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

230 people found this helpful

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jared ackerman

Merc Werk.

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

I’ve met two CCTs as a Marine and Contractor and they’re the most down to earth genuine guys I have ever had the pleasure to know. During the Surge in 06-07 Iraq we ran route clearance with an undermanned platoon that had zero sensory equipment above two jammers and a Wooly Mammoth on the lead vehicle.
We had been out 4 days in 150 degree heat and 40 degree nights and we looked like we belonged under a bridge smoking meth out of lightbulbs.

The chow hall in Balad was packed and we eat together no matter what but we couldn’t find a table until this surfer dude waves us over and he has the CCT patch and to us he’s a God.
He cleared two tables of SF and SOTA bubbas and sat with us the entire time asking what he could do for us to improve our comms with Air Weapons and the Handcuff Charlie network.

Nobody had ever asked us questions and taken notes like he had and you could tell he was genuine.
I think his callsign was Shrek and we bumped in to him 3 months later after our relief and he remembered each one of us and asked after wives, gfs, and kids by name and number.

I know most of this isn’t ground breaking but if you’re a Marine Infantryman you know you’re the dirt that holds up the totem pole in the eyes of the other branches.
For him to remember our faces, names, spouses, etc, 90 days later only attributes to the Tier 1 level these Hitters operate on.

I’m nothing special and I would give my right arm to have half the courage of John Chapman.
To all the Pajamas and Chucks out there; a sincere thank you from a dime a dozen 03 for everything you’ve done and continue to do.

209 people found this helpful

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DaveMeowthews

PHENOMENAL! A must listen

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

This was extremely well done. It covers so many interesting and necessary tangentially related stories. It focuses not just on John and his heroic actions but also on the fog of war and how a situation can devolve so badly so quickly. When covering the CCT pipeline, it skips the standard fare of other stories (I I I, me me me, BUDS is hard but I’m better) and focuses instead (and only briefly) on the skills taught which are vital to a controller’s success. The retelling of different CCT contributions in war are compelling and griping. The retelling of John Chapman’s life - and ultimately his death - is handled in a way befitting of someone with his grit and courage. I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in the chaos of early fighting in Afghanistan and in the contributions of airpower brought by CCT Airmen. This is a story that needed to be told.

74 people found this helpful

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Jason Kemp

Epic read!

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2019

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Just finished... This is an unbelievable peek at some of the most professional, well trained and motivated men on the planet. It’s a riveting story from start to finish that will be one you don’t soon forget. A very skillfully written book that shines a light on a military career field that largely enjoys its place in the shadows. #quietprofessional #feartheantenna

48 people found this helpful

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Jkhooah

Incredible American Valor!

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019

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The courageous actions of well trained special operators is a hallmark of the American special operations forces. They are on full display in Alone at Dawn. John Chapman, and his CCT brothers, take that that standard to the highest levels. Anaconda's command and control lash ups were touched upon and those poor decisions should have not happened with egos and service parochialism getting in the way. This should be explored in other books in a transparent way. Shilling's and Longfritz's story of John Chapman is a compelling read bringing readers directly into the 2002 battle especially in Chapman's last minutes. As a member of the earlier CCT generation, I am humbled by John Chapman and his CCT brothers, under the most difficult battlefield conditions, sorting out the Anaconda air battle and taking the fight to the enemy. Thank you Dan and Lori for publishing this long overdue story of the incredible valor of John Chapman.

30 people found this helpful

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Garron

Every American needs this book!

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2019

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The story of John “Chappy” Chapman and his CCT brotherhood is the story America has been waiting for. Dan Schilling brings to life the sights and smells of combat along with the complexities and frustrations of military bureaucracy even in the shadowy world of special operations. Alone at Dawn is a brilliantly written and powerful work that will rock you to the core.

28 people found this helpful

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Carl Pohrte, Jr

Thank God for men and units like John Chapman. A primer on Special Ops.

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2019

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This book is a primer on our Special Ops Warriors. Second it is a story of the arduous path both mentally and physically these individuals take to serve our country and humanity. It is also a story of the lesser known Special Ops Unit. Usually the US Air Force is not thought of as home for harden warriors on the ground with skill sets equal to their brothers in the sky. John Chapman and his teammates are standard bearers for Combat Controllers. This story is not over but continues “First There” as Combat Control Teams serve each day.

25 people found this helpful

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TM757

Heroic story, not very well told.

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020

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11 people found this helpful

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Helmut

Takur Ghar is no Omaha Beach

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2021

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Came to this book to learn what happened on that mountain in Afghanistan that some felt was so important. Only to slog through an Alpha Male love fest called CCT. Don’t we have enough Green Berets, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, Airborne Rangers and now Air Force Combat Controllers. Jeez, enough is enough! But each service wants a piece of that defense spending. I’ll take a well trained and equipped Marine any day! Back to the book where Chapman was an afterthought in the last few pages. Chapman was fighting for his life only. He was in no condition to understand what was happening around him. Only that he knew he was left abandoned by his comrades (the SEALS) who bugged out ! There is no reason for a Medal of Honor here.

5 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

A disappointing read.

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2020

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While the actions of John Chapman are without a doubt heroic, the author spent very little time actually detailing those actions. The majority of the book is spent on two topics. Topic 1 is the history of CCT and how much better prepared they are than all other special forces. (Author's opinion). Topic 2 was to bash Navy Seals at every opportunity.
Another drawback is the author's incessant habit of stringing together multiple acronyms without explanation. While this may make total sense to someone in the military it made for a hard read at times.

7 people found this helpful

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