The One That Got Away

My SAS Mission behind Iraqi Lines

Author	Chris Ryan
Publisher	Brassey's
ISBN #	1574881566
On-line Merchant	Barnesandnoble
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Cover Notes

The British Army's Special Air Service is one of the world's premier special operations units. During the
Gulf War, deep behind Iraqi lines, an SAS team was compromised. A fierce firefight ensued, and the
eight men were forced to run for their lives. Only one, Chris Ryan, escaped capture or death, and he did it by walking nearly 180 miles through the desert for seven days and eight nights. This is a story of extraordinary courage under fire, of narrow escapes, of a battle against the most adverse physical
conditions, and, above all, of one man's courageous refusal to lie down and die.

Reviews

Matt rated this book Excellent
A very good read, but from what i have gathered a pack of lies...

Richard Agan rated this book Excellent
This has been the most inspiring book that i have ever come across. I read it once and have always repeated it more and more.
I just love it

Alan rated this book Excellent
i think it was a great book,it was actually my first ever book to read and having a bit of millitery backround i really got into it.to think that them mad fuckers going over there All TOOLED UP trained and ready to go!!.would of liking to go for recuitment for the SAS the IRISH RANGER WING.ive lots of respect for what they do and any other special forces.i think it was just bad luck,well they didnt fuck up on the iranian embassey did they?if any knows where i can get the film email me please. goodmanal@gmail.com

Joseph Bond rated this book Excellent
love the book kinda sad to no how 5 sas solders died tho it was in great detail and it made perfect sence of what do in thoses conditions

Cainey Rated this book Excellent
he propably doesnt, if he ever watched the film, who dares wins with edward woodward, and the huy that plays bodie in the proffessionals he wud say thts fake too yet its based 90% on the iranian embassey siege of 1980, yeh the movies might be far fetched but the guy that did the 'real B20' he was in the UK wen B20 happend so theres no way he would know, wi th wat the SAS do in real life they dnt need biggin up or gloryfyin theyre already history makers, ever since 1942, there was only 8 ppl tht know wat reli happened n thts the SAS members themselves, 3 of which were unfortunately killed (2 of hypothermia) so the only 1st hand witnesses are andy mcnab, chris ryan, n the other 3 tht were captured with andy, every man on tht mission is a hero n nothin shud b taken away from them, not only tht, they did actually achieve their mission they cut the cables for the scud launchers etc. not only that, they caused havok n mayhem behind enemy lines, thats a standin order for any special forces unit, no iraqi wud know wat happened as they wud either have engaged n been killed or wud ahve hidden, even the iraqi republican guard use bottle it, so civvies wudnt put up a fight or hang about when the SAS showed up

Bill ex Canadian Soldier-Communications Rated this book Good
Much closer to the "facts" then B20 by Mcnabb. But Still embelishment with the hand to hand combat bit. He was pretty shattered at that point. He was half way through his escape and evasion and running on adrenline and what was left in his body.
According to Michael Ashers book "The Real Bravo Two Zero" he went to Iraq and retraced B20 route. He talked to locals who ran into B20. He had also talked to members of the SAS about things. At the SAS debrief after the Gulf War. According to his sources, Andy and the rest of the ones that made it back to Hereford. When they doing the regimental debrief of escape and evasion. There were no stories of hand to hand combat or Chris "taking down" anyone.
As for the "bug out" from their LUP (Lay up point) In Ashers book he interviews the farmers/owners of the house near their "hide". They got discovered by a farmer driving his front end loader down to get it out of the wind and he spotted the patrol. The driver was ex army and realized that someone was in his back yard and backed out like he never saw them. The Goat hearder (the man's Son) never even saw the patrol.
So the man went back to the farm house and an got his gun and his father joined him. When they got to the lip of the wadi they saw the patrol walking out. They were not sure who or what they were. So they fired a shot in the air to see what would happen. Thats when B20 started firing back ..to qoute the farmer(ex military), "they were fast". They popped smoke and took off down the wadi. That rings true..no tanks,,no lorrey loads of troops. Just to men checking out who was no their property. SAS guys running for their lives.
After reading Michael Ashers Book I would rate it the best of the three and Ryans the next best one. I guess for the patrol they went through hell when they got captured. I dont think they gave much hell to anyone though! ;-) I do believe the firefight at the border happened but in their weakend state They proabably did not hit much, accuracy would be off a bit. It happened due to desperation in trying to make it. In Michael Asher book the locals said they were not seriously hurt.
I have great respect for the SAS and alot of the patrols that went out during the Gulf war and did their jobs in the vechile patrols. there are books about about those. I even saw some Helicopter NVG camera film of the SAS bundling up P.O.W.S and bringing them to the helicopter at night to take back to Saudi Arabia. They SAS guys looked like they were dressed for the Artic but in Desert tan gear. Lots of layers for the cold and their webbing. They looked tired from their movments in the film. There were vechiles in the back ground and one can not help but wonder how these guys worked on little sleep with full suppies of water and food. And then compare it to what the B2O group must have gone through. Getting into fights does not make sense in their physical state. But it sure make for a good copy....and sells books

Dave Rated this book Excellent
great book, i don't think he lied, interesting that andy mcnab and he do not see eye to eye on the whole subject

Sir Anthony Bawbag Rated this book Good
i only got to page 41 (it is my dads copy and was only staying with the folks for 2 nights) but from what i read i really liked it. i am going out to buy it now, its the type of book that you find hard to put down once you start reading. Deffo worth a gander!!!

Jane Mccallum Rated this book Excellent
One of the best books that I have read. This man is so brave, so tough, will anyone ever be able to do this again. The way he exlains how he feels, how his body goes down hill, I have read this book several times, and each time the book is as fresh as the first time. I would love to meet Chris Ryan and talk about his ordeal.

Jane Rated this book Good
I haven't read this book yet, I intend to soon, I have seen the televised documentry based on Ryan's account. And I have read Mcnab's Bravo Two Zero. I think the inteeresting thing to say here whether their accounts are exaggerated or not is not really the point. Both accounts are harrowing, and frightening. These eight men not only had to deal with the elements, and the enemy, they also had to cope with the failure of their mission and the fact that they all didn't make it. The psychological impact must have been during that time, and when thinking of it after;- enormous. For God's sake they survied against all odds how many of us have done that!?!

Marc Lewis Rated this book Excellent
This book is just awesome and portrays a true act of bravery that a soldier would go through to complete a mission.10/10. READ IT and thats an order

skunk4u Rated this book Excellent
Great book and I could not put it down

Chris Rated this book It's already in the bin
This book sucks. Bravo Two Zero was much better.

Matthew Atkinson Rated this book Excellent
When he was running away from gunfire and the dropped their bergens and he left his hip flask init and he ran back after it under heavy gun fire. Or the bit were he killed the Iraqi's by slitting ones throat and breaking one neck. Over all he is a excellent author.

scoti Rated this book It's already in the bin
do you not print the truth on this site ask chris ti tell the truth on this book we all no what really happened ...

scoti Rated this book It's already in the bin
come on tell the truth what really happened ...... why want you post this om your website

David Mackenzie-Bell Rated this book Good
yet again another good book and yet again another aurthor which tell lies. just tell the truth about what really happened. ryan walked 200km to safty but did he really kill men with his bare hands?

Jasper Rated this book Excellent
I have readed the Dutch version and it was excellent

Peter Galushtchak Rated this book Excellent
good book

James Rated this book Excellent
For David, are you in the military? Do you know the hand-to-hand combat that the SAS and other special forces are trained in? Probably not, which explains your response.

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