Additional information
by Grant a. McGarry (Author)
In its earnest firsthand telling, Grant McGarry's A Night in the Pech Valley reveals the character and courage, and dedication and determination, of our elite Army Rangers. McGarry gives us an unvarnished and authentic glimpse of becoming a soldier and serving under fire. He shows the old rallying cry "Rangers lead the way" still rings true. The story also reminds us how many veterans carry home the burdens of war; some, like Chris Wright, never return. As a nation, we are fortunate that such men volunteer to protect our ideals; we should not forget them. Grant McGarry's book helps make sure we won't." -Alvin Townley, best-selling author of Legacy of Honor and Defiant... Grant McGarry has given us a real-time, ground-truth look at the work of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan-some of the toughest fighting in the War of Terror. Authentic modern Combat-the real thing told by one who has been there and done that." -Dick Couch, author of The Warrior Elite and Chosen Soldier... A Night in the Pech Valley is Grant's memoir of what it takes to become an Army Ranger and what life is like in the 75th Ranger Regiment. More importantly it is about an operation on the night of August 18, 2010 in the most dangerous terrain for U.S. forces anywhere in the world, the Pech Valley. On this specific night a platoon of Army Rangers were on a direct action mission and this is the story of the Rangers who ferociously fought through the night and into the next morning. Furthermore, A Night in the Pech Valley is dedicated to US Army Ranger SPC. Christopher Shane Wright, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Pech Valley on the morning of August 19th, 2010.
Author Biography
Grant McGarry is a former US Army Ranger, and a combat veteran with five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon graduation in 2006 from the University of Alabama, Grant reported to Fort Benning with an enlistment contract "for the hardest thing the Army has to offer." Following his graduation from the Ranger Indoctrination Program Grant was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. While assigned to 1st Battalion, Grant held several positions and leadership assignments, from rifleman to machine gun team leader, and both squad Alpha and Bravo Team leader. Between deployments, Sergeant McGarry graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School and was awarded the coveted Ranger Tab. On his fifth and last deployment to Afghanistan, while searching for the 3rd most wanted High Value Target, Sergeant McGarry and his squad were involved in a vicious firefight with enemy forces in the Pech Valley. As a consequence of his actions during the battle, Sergeant McGarry was awarded the Bronze Star with "Valor" Device. Following the completion of his enlistment in 2011, Grant was a civilian security contractor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, during and after the withdrawal of coalition forces.
