The Story of U.S. Marine Special Operations in Bala Murghab

This book was well written and it answered many questions for me. The intimate details of people, places, things, emotions brought me right into the fight as if I were there. As a participant in an unpopular war of the past many of the elements of this book felt very familiar. Rules of engagement and the conduct of senior commanders removed from the actual combat has not progressed lo these many decades. If not for men like these Marines and soldiers we would be in a world of hurt. Every American needs to read this book and understand what our brave men and women in the service of our nation put on the line for us.

I received this book yesterday on my Kindle and read the entire book. This is a real life story on the war in Afghanistan and allows the American People to understand what is actually taking place in this country. While it gives us the truth about how the political agenda is, it gives an even better account what our troops give to our Country. God Bless our Troops for their service. Thanks to Michael Golembesky for writing this account of his service to our country.

Great book, real. No punches pulled and several things for the upper echelons to consider as we continue to put our valiant men and women into harm's way to protect this awesome country. Thanks for caring enough to share.

The book deserves a high rating due to the insight and sheer honesty Golembesky conveys. The epilogue sums up well how screwed-up the ROEs were in Afghanistan and how frustrating it must have been for our warriors.

Amazing book. Being both a JTAC and an Afghan veteran, reading someone elses account that almost mirrors my own was refreshing and a great. The end is just like real life. Theres no big climax or giant war story. Its just as simple guy saying what he sees.

This is a good story, fairly well told. The telling, however suffered from not having a timeline so the reader could tell if the events ran together or had gaps of a week or so. The reader gets a good sense of how rules of engagement cost American lives.

Well written, thoughtful insight that shows a somewhat surprising maturity and depth of understanding of the mission and the situation in the late stages of the Afghan War. As a grunt combat vet I can appreciate the dark humor and sarcasm laced with heartfelt patriotism. These men and women of this GWOT should be saluted and honored wherever they are found.

Outstanding job on this book. If you want a raw, non-political portrayal of the war from the perspective of a Marine Special Operations Team, this is the book to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who even has a passing interest in the War in Afghanistan.

The author portrayed just what a hell hole Afghanistan must be. The extreme temperature changes, the lack of the connivances we use on a daily basis. The dirt, or as Ski called it, “moon dust” that coated everything. Dagger 22 is an organization of Marine Special Forces that the Corp can be mighty proud of. We as civilians do not realize the politics associated with just calling in an air strike, until you read this book. The author was an air controller that called in those strikes. A very good read.

I thought this book was very well written. It has a great flow from beginning to end and my only disappointment was that I could have kept reading more. I found myself really getting into the book and feeling the highs and lows along with the author.

Thank you Mr. Golembesky for you service and sharing your experience!

Oh my goodness. This book depicts the ultimate courage under fire. It's not just about the battles, it's about the men and their love for each other., their courage when things look bleak, they never gave up. Heroism!! Amazing story.

Wow! What a well written book that kept you engaged throughout its entirety. I have read many books this summer about certain battles, but this one by far takes the cake due to its ability to grasp the reader and not let go. Both authors do an outstanding job at telling the story the way it happened and not adding any fluff. I really can't say one bad thing about this book other than I wish it was longer. The warriors from MSOT 8222 are true heroes and I thank you for your service.

An unvarnished telling of the stuff that makes the American warrior similar and yet so very different from all those before and after. One day, perhaps our leaders (civilian and military) will truly appreciate us.

For us and those like us.

Great story but a very disturbing look at our countries management of our arm forces. If our country continues to place these restrictions on our arm forces to wag war we need to bring all of our troops home now

Great book about how Marines have stepped up the fight in the special ops world in the war against terrorism. You feel like you're right on the ground with them. If you like this book I suggest reading Outlaw Platoon as well.

Some parts have the obligatory put downs (women, other services) but mostly a good story showing the bonds forged in war. The ROE's have been f-ed up since the Gulf War and obviously continue to put our troops at considerable risk. That makes me sad and extremely disappointed in our civilian leadership.

Very interesting read. The book did end with me wanting more information on the team and the rest of the tour. I am impressed with the dedication and server by our armed forces and and ashamed of the ROE that keep them from being as effective as they could be.

Just finished this book...8 days of reading on planes, breaks, and other areas where men read. I must say this is probably the best book I have read since "Lone Survivor", and I have read quite a few. I was disappointed when the Epilogue surprised me, I had no idea I was that close to the end. Great book and great writing! If you are think of purchasing this book...DO IT! You WON'T be disappointed! Nice Job Ski! Oorahhh!!

As a Marine, this book exposes the troubles that even the best among-est the Marines has to deal with in war fighting. This book shows how are fighters are slowed down by ROE and political generals. Great read, I got it and read it in a few days.

WOW! What a great book. An honest account by someone who was actually there. The author is geniune and you can feel his soul burned into this book. He tells the uncolored truth including his own shortcomings. A must read!

Having done a tour in Badghis Province just prior to the time written about in this book, I was extremely interested in checking out Level Zero Heroes. I greatly enjoyed the book and can't recommend it enough. Not only does the author tell an interesting story about the war in a little known area of A-stan, he does a superb job capturing the various feelings and emotions that one experiences before, during, and after combat. This is a very well done book and well worth a read!

The authors did a masterful job of giving the reader the story in such a way as to place us there with the team. They transported us into that rare literary realm of actually sharing the emotional experience that is the focus of every story. The facts were also presented in such a way as to allow the reader to plainly see, on his own, the utter ridiculousness of placing our soldiers' lives on the line with obvious mission security concerns. The nerve of troops in contact actually dropping bombs on the enemy they're engaged with... I was feeling the rage of being in combat and having to call the REMF's to ask permission to clear every aerial munition by a person not even on the battlefield. How many have been lost to useless and misguided ROE's? I came away from this book proud of the soldiers America produces and amazed at their courage and sacrifices made for each other and the mission. The officers that lead sometimes appear to be In the enemy camp. Great Story that needed to be told.

So sad to see people recieving such elite training and then not trusted to make a decision on how they can implement that same training in a combat situation. What a shame. And thwn a dangerous job gets downright lethal when the enemy learns about our stupid ROE's.
I would like to think thingd would be a little different if the people who were writing up the ROE's were the same ones who had to implement them.

Well written account of heroism and brotherhood born from battle. The complaint I have was the length, I wish it was longer. The authors story was told and his point was made so I understand why he stopped when he did. Recommend this to anyone who likes to read about the hardships and bonds that arise from combat.

Liked the book, like hearing about the war from the ones who are doing the fighting. I really liked the maps and pictures at the end, it helps to put what is described into a context. I would recommend this book to someone interested in the complexity of modern warfare, and the men who volunteer to fight it.

A MUST READ BOOK! THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS AWESOME BOOK. I STARTED READING AND DID NOT LAY IT DOWN TILL I REACHED THE BACK COVER. YOU HAVE GIVEN THE AVERAGE CIVILIAN A CLEAR FIRST HAND LOOK AT WHAT REALLY GOES ON IN TODAY'S WARS/CONFLICTS. VERY GLAD YOU INCLUDED THE GLOSSARY, I WAS FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE TERMONOLOGY, BUT LOST ON OTHERS. ANYONE WANTING TO GET AN EXCELLENT ACCOUNT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON MUST READ THIS. I SEND MY BEST WISHES FOR YOU, ALL YOUR TEAM, AND ALL MEN WHO HAVE SERVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICES.

Entertaining and filled with action - and at the same time written in a pretty objective manner. Golembesky shares technical and tactical as well as intimate details with the reader, and it makes you keep on reading. Having served in an area just a few kilometers northeast of the Level Zero Heroes gave me the final bits and pieces of situational understanding from the given time period

This is a great day book detailing the unvarnished combat operations of Dagger 22. I'm at a loss on why our military had to fight with such ridiculous restrictions. I very much enjoyed the book and as always cannot begin to say thanks enough to these heroes.

Grateful for the author for telling the story of his unit. A microcosm of the Afghan campaign. Need more men like these, less of the chuckleheads who got them (and all of us) into that mess. Thanks for an excellent, thoughtful book!

Level Zero Hero's really details the frustrations our brave warriors face overseas when it comes to chain of command and ROE's. You feel like you're in the foxhole next to Dagger 22 as rounds are flying overhead, the love shared between the men in the Brotherhood and the anger at the situation they are put in.

Excellent read to understand what life feels like on a cold hill in Afghanistan. The intensity of combat is palpable and the frustration with the situation these Marines found themselves in is equally disturbing.

Compelling and thought provoking account of Marine Special Operation Team 8222 fight against Taliban in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan during 2009. Also must read Michael Golembsky's book Dagger 22, which continues events during 2010.

Excellent tactical overview of three actions in the beginning of the author's tour. Very easy to read, visualize, and understand. Author was understandably a little sappy as this was his last tour with his brothers. Would have liked a bit more about the rest of the tour (he cut it short). Otherwise a great book.