At 10:30 this morning on the World Trade Center grounds, a memorial will be dedicated — a statue commemorating a unique and proud chapter in our nation’s response to 9/11.
Eleven years ago today, 36 US Special Forces soldiers landed at night in a blizzard in Afghanistan. They proceeded to rendezvous with Northern Alliance forces under Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum and in 30 short days to overthrow the Taliban.
In radio contact with the Pentagon, the Americans were asked what goods they needed. The answer: saddles.
For the first time in generations, these US troops were waging war on horseback.
Riding alongside men who wanted to take their country back from the zealots, the American special operators would call in 2,000-pound bombs from atop their horses — yes, horses with GPS.
Among those delivering laser-guided bombs was a female pilot, now a nurse in New York — whose voice was transmitted across the airwaves so the Taliban could hear who was finishing them off.
You can read the whole story in Doug Stanton’s “Horse Soldiers”; it’s an inspiring tale.
It was, of course, just weeks after 9/11, when the Taliban’s al Qaeda “guests” wrought atrocity on our nation. Because the Taliban wouldn’t give up Osama bin Laden & Co., America had to enter Afghanistan, “the graveyard of empires,” to start gaining justice. And, aiding the Afghan freedom fighters, they got their job done.
Their commander, Col. John Mulholland, is now a general, the deputy commander of US Special Forces Command. Today he’ll dedicate the statue, in the company of Lt.-Gov. Robert Duffy and more than 500 active and retired military and their families, as well as 9/11 families and NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority Police Department families.
The official title of the bronze statue by Douwe Blumberg is “De Oppressor Liber” (to liberate the oppressed), the motto of the Green Berets. The soldier atop his horse will forever keep a watchful eye as he looks back over his shoulder at the World Trade Center.
This was the wish of our US military and their families — that this statue and monument be part of the story of what followed the 9/11 attacks. It represents all those brave Special Forces operators, and all who’ve worn US uniform in the War on Terror — those who volunteered and went to defeat the Taliban in under 30 days, and those who continue to fight the battle, giving much for all of us and our way of life.
Visitors to the official and awesome 9/11 Memorial will also be able to see America’s Response Monument, as the full installation is titled, thanks to over $750,000 raised from hundreds of private citizens.
The monument demonstrates to all that our country has brave young men and women willing to give it all to protect America. This statue honors them and their willingness to immediately answer the call of 9/11 — and every call the nation has ever made for their help.
Let’s salute all those who made this possible, including Gov. Cuomo and his Port Authority team, and especially the United War Veterans Council, which will care for the monument.
Please visit the Horse Soldier Statue — and when you can, thank a veteran for our freedoms.
Bill White is CEO of Constellations Group NYC and former president of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Museum.