New to paperback, this is the first account of fighting in
Afghanistan by a senior commander. The leader of 3 Para, Tootal led
the first unit into Helmand in 2006, for which he was awarded a
DSO; but disillusioned by the Government's treatment of
soldiers upon their return to England, he resigned from the Army.
'At last, a commander telling us the cold, harsh truth about this war. An excellent and compelling read' -- Andy McNab 'A gripping first-hand account of the realities of frontline command at the start of the bitterest war that Britain has fought for generations' -- Patrick Bishop, author of 3 PARA 'Tootal offers the perspective of a man in charge ... he tells the story well ... passionate admiration for his men is matched by disdain for others' -- Max Hastings, Sunday Times 'The first senior commander to provide an account of the fighting, Tootal's book is refreshingly free of the gung-ho machismo and sentimentality that afflicts other lesser entries of the genre' -- The Sunday Tribune 'Gripping account' -- Essex Chronicle Series 'Captures the essence of combat...a gritty portrayal of unforgiving combat' -- East London Enquirer
Colonel Stuart Tootal has served in Germany, Northern Ireland, the Gulf War and during the invasion of Iraq. He also served in the MOD, for which he was awarded the OBE. In 2006, he commanded 3 PARA in Afghanistan and was awarded a DSO for outstanding leadership and gallantry. He subsequently set up the 3 PARA Afghan Trust charity, on leaving the army. He now works in the City and is a defence commentator for a major national TV network, numerous papers and radio programmes. He regularly lectures on leadership in challenging environments and his experiences in Afghanistan to forums. Danger Close is his first book.
