They guided hundreds of GPS-guided 2,000-pound JDAM precision-guided munitions dropped by USAF B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers onto Taliban and Al-Qaeda positions near Mazar-i-Sharif. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. Additionally, Nutsch and ODA 595s story is the subject of the book, Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan that was published in 2010. We hope that that movie sheds light on that historic mission and will shed some light on some of the other missions that happened during that time frame, Nutsch said. [28] Known by the callsign Jawbreaker, the team linked up with Northern Alliance commanders and prepared for the introduction of Army Special Forces into the region.[29][30]. I am so saddened to hear of Captain Mark Howards passing. Susan was home for approximately 30 minutes when she realized it was odd that her husband hadnt come down from upstairs to greet her. His newest, written with Country Western recording artist and US Special Forces Army Veteran Craig Morgan, is God, Family, Country. But weeks later on Oct. 19, 2001, Nutsch and a team of 11 other Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group's Operational Detachment Alpha 595 were inserted into Afghanistan to liberate the region from the Taliban without tanks or trucks. 5th Group teamed up with various National Guard support groups from many different states: Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin and others. This was possible because the special forces teams worked in three-man cells, along with their Afghan allies, and could view the enemy from various vantage points in adjacent districts, Nutsch said. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! ODA 595 needed Nutsch, and he was subsequently reassigned the commander of the team. In October 2001 following the attacks on 9/11, Nutsch led a heroic 12-man team of U.S. Special Forces on a covert mission to Afghanistan, where they would ride to war on horses to fight the enemyside by side with their Muslim counterpartscapture the strategic city of Mazar-i-Sharif within a matter of weeks, and successfully overthrow the Taliban. The baby was born early while Mark was in Afghanistan. The consolidated unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. In a police report obtained by Us Weekly at the time, the Fernandina Beach Police Department confirmed that Marks wife, Susan Howard, was the first one to report him dead after coming home to find his body on October 27. The mission stopped being a secret on November 16, 2001, a mere two months after 9/11. And if they became overwhelmed by the enemy, little could be done to save them since they would be roughly nine hours away from help. The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a joint unconventional warfare task force created by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a subsidiary command of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). RIP Captain Mark.. [35], Once they arrived in-country, the Northern Alliance troops provided the US forces with horses, the only suitable transportation for the difficult mountainous terrain of Northern Afghanistan. He's commanded Green Berets in combat and trained candidates attending the Special Forces Qualification Course. -The Fayetteville Observer, The movie finds the soldiers being told that there is a good chance they won't survive the mission. Panel Discussion Moderators & Facilitators, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG Speakers), Dynamic speakers for keynotes, moderators and panels, Dynamic speakers for colleges, universities, schools, and performing arts. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pea, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Originally, the Special Forces team, ODA 595, was supposed to be in Afghanistan on September 14, just three days after the attacks. The official dedication program starts at 10am. 9am at the courthouse lawn. The 5th Special Forces Group was among those units activated in 1961, and while attending training at the Special Warfare Center, Kennedy visited the units and personally approved the distinctive Special Force's Green Beret. Our American presence on the ground gave them hope and emboldened them that they can have a little better future, Nutsch said about the Afghan allies. -Den of Geek. Like in the movie, Doug Stanton's book Horse Soldiers describes Nutsch going to Colonel Bowers after the attacks to ask to be placed with his team again. Mitch Nelson in the film about a team of Green Berets on a strategic mission in Afghanistan in the days immediately following 9/11. Us confirmed on Friday that the investigation is still ongoing. He was very kind, one Twitter user wrote on October 29 in response to Tiffany Copelands confirmation of the former Bravo stars passing. The real-life base wasn't built up at that point and amounted to little more than a series of Soviet-era bunkers. Nutsch, as "Captain Mitch Nelson," is portrayed by actor Chris Hemsworth in the 2018 major motion picture 12 Strong, based on the best-selling book Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton. These spanned a wide scope of operations, including support to coalition warfare; conducting foreign internal defense missions with the Saudi Arabian Army; performing special reconnaissance, border surveillance, direct action, combat search and rescue missions; and advising and assisting a pan-Arab equivalent force larger than six U.S. divisions; as well as conducting civil-military operations training and liaison with the Kuwaitis. [46][47], ODA 553 from Bravo Company, 2nd Btn, 5th SFG[47] was inserted on 2 November. Chris Hemsworth's character's real-life counterpart, Mark Nutsch, had worked on a cattle ranch when he was younger and was one of the few members of the 12-man team who had experience riding horses. In the aftermath of 9-11, it was Captain Mark Nutsch from rural Kansas who led his team on that initial mission. Recognized as the catalyst for the collapse of the TalibanRegime and expanded pursuit of al Qaeda terrorists. Like many people, Mark Nutsch watched it happen and tried to make sense of it all. The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) remained at Fort Bragg until 10 June 1988, when the Group colors were cased at a ceremony marking its departure from Fort Bragg. Mark Nutsch, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth in the movie, had recently been promoted out of the job he loved, serving in the field as a Special Forces team captain. Those films have prompted deeper conversations with family members as they have gotten a better glimpse of what ODA 595 experienced in Afghanistan conducting Task Force Dagger, Nutsch said. By; June 14, 2022 ; washington county jobs . major Mark Nutsch As America's response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, then Captain Nutsch led a heroic U.S. Army Special Forces 12-man team of Green Berets, designated Operational Detachment Alpha - 595 on an impossible mission into Afghanistan. His team was the first group of American soldiers who landed in Afghanistan and straightaway founded themselves in deep trouble as they were outnumbered 5000 to 1 soldier by the Taliban militants, and their lives were under constant threat due to the huge bounty placed on their heads. In the event of injuries or retreat, any possible extraction would take hours or days to arrive. Mark Nutsch, the Commander of Horse Soldiers Special Forces, and Bob Pennington, the Deputy Commander, who is portrayed by actor Michael Shannon, both retired and joined Neil, fellow Special Forces comrades Rob Schaefer and John Koko and their friend Elizabeth Pritchard. TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Nutsch, Horse Soldier Team and 9/11 Monument Dedication will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 on the courthouse lawn in downtown Washington,. A captain in 2001, he was the team leader and commander of ODA 595, one of the first Task Force Dagger combined Special Forces teams sent to Afghanistan shortly after the Taliban terrorist attack on New York City's Twin Towers. Oct 18, 2019 Then-Capt. For example, they could ride at any time during the day or night, in all terrain types. The team had been working together for two years and the average age was 32 years old. blume2000 absender herausfinden. By February 1965, it was deployed as a mainstay battle force[6] once the war was in full swing. They began the campaign to retake Afghanistan. According to Nutsch, it was pure fate that he grew up on a cattle ranch and already knew his way around horses. He points out that the word "Tiangi" actually means gap, so when they refer to the "Tiangi gap" in the movie, they're actually saying the gap, gap.Pennington said that with regard to the enemy vehicle (BM-21) launching rockets in and around the Tiangi, it did happen, several times. Throughout the Afghanistan operation, the Pentagon insisted that reporters identify Special Forces personnel by their first names only . [23], The unit received its orders in mid-October. But they had set us aside and said start planning.. Nutsch was the commander of the 12-man Green Berets from 5th Special Forces Group on a mission to Afghanistanin the weeks after 9/11 terrorist attacks. But weeks later on Oct. 19, 2001, Nutsch and a team of 11 other Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group's Operational Detachment Alpha 595 were inserted into Afghanistan to liberate the region from the Taliban without tanks or trucks. Sixteen Soldiers assigned to or administratively assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the Vietnam War were awarded the Medal of Honor; making 5th Group the most prominently decorated unit for its size in that conflict. The companys main product? The dedication ceremony will include many Kansas civic and military speakers. As Karzai's forces pushed south towards Kandahar, an error by an attached USAF TACP resulted in a 2,000-lb GPS-guided JDAM hitting the ODA's position, killing and wounding several Special Forces and Afghan militiamen. Weeks later, Taliban surrendered in other areas of Afghanistan. Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at http://www.kansasprofile.com. Despite the movie accurately capturing the soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan, the real-life heroes have said that the movie does take artistic liberties, adding drama and portraying certain events out of order. "They weirdly are a formidable force that will continue to fight, no matter what. He deployed repeatedly with multiple combat tours to the Middle East and former Soviet Asian states. Until the documentary and 12 Strong came out, Nutsch said his family and those of his team were not fully aware of what ODA 595 was involved in for Task Force Dagger. On stage, Nutsch enthralls audiences with an edge-of-your-seat, behind-the-scenes account of how this almost unbelievable event played out, impacted the world, and . Mark Nutsch and his team had to gain Dostum's trust and convince him that 9/11 had changed things. James Robert Kerekes . TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Nutsch, Horse Soldier Team and 9/11 Monument Dedication will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 on the courthouse lawn in downtown Washington . Additionally, Nutsch received a Bronze Star with valor for his courage and leadership in the mission. His harrowing and heroic true story would become a major motion picture. Mark D. Nutsch, onto a farmer's field at 0200,[34] in the Dari-a-Souf Valley, about 80km (50mi) south of Mazar-i-Sharif. News broke on October 29 that the . Air Force Combat Controller Sgt. 5th Group was reactivated 21 September 1961 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. Mark Nutsch grew up near Washington, Kansas. [jwplayer NIknqCXt-zhNYySv2] The 5th Special Forces Group launched a wide-ranging campaign against Viet Cong forces in the Mekong Delta in July 1967. (Mark Nutsch) ODA 595 with militia allies on Nov. 9, the day before Mazar-e-Shariff was liberated. Conditions were marginal due to the altitude and icing in the Hindu Kush. He was very kind, one Twitter user wrote on October 29 in response to Tiffany Copelands confirmation of the former Bravo stars passing. Fearing the growing threat of the Viet Cong insurgency to the South Vietnamese government, President John F. Kennedy began activating special forces units in anticipation of their insurgency combat expertise in 1961. [46] It linked up with General Fahim Akhtar Khan in the Bagram/Kabul area of the Panjshir Valley, near the fortifications surrounding Bagram Air Base. The prisoners were not properly searched by members of the Northern Alliance before they were crammed onto trucks and the troops had not realized the American Lindh was among them. Scroll down to learn everything we know about Captain Marks death and the investigation: Surprising loss. Mark Nutsch was incredible. A supply of saddles was air-dropped in mid-November. They linked up with Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum and his Uzbek fighters. When the U.S. military enters an international conflict, some soldier has to be the first to lead his unit into combat. The dedication is open to the public, to be followed by a public reception at the Washington County Fairgrounds. In addition to ODA 595, three other teams were selected. Today his family farms in Wabaunsee County near the rural community of Alma, population 783 people. [45][46], ODA 595 from Charlie Company, 3rd Btn, 5th SFG[47] was with ODA 555 of two ODA units inserted on 19 October. TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Nutsch, Horse Soldier Team and 9/11 Monument Dedication will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 on the courthouse lawn in downtown Washington,. This included using horses to navigate the mountainous region. The armor and heavy weapons were usually manned by the foreign Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters, who fought fiercely and did not surrender readily. Later, several months after the Taliban fell, the special operations teams returned to Mazar-i-Sharif to bury the piece of the World Trade Center. Their mission was wide-open: to assist General Abdul Rashid Dostum in conducting unconventional warfare to make key Taliban-controlled areas unsafe for terrorists and Taliban activities. "[37] The last U.S. Army unit to receive horseback training had been the 28th Cavalry in 1943[38] and the ODA teams were the first U.S. soldiers to ride horses into battle since 16 January 1942, when the U.S. Army's 26th Cavalry Regiment charged an advanced guard of the 14th Japanese Army as it advanced from Manila. The ten-man team in Bamyan supported General Karim Khalili and his militia in the northern regions of Afghanistan. [7] The 6th SFG at Fort Bragg was reflagged as the 5th SFG with the transfer of colors. Copyright 2022 Swords of Lightning - All Rights Reserved. No. The mission was also chronicled in Doug Stanton's 2009 book, Horse Soldiers, on which the movie is based. Lady Death Original Art- Sketch Cover Variant Blank Comic Book Coffin Sexy #1. On stage, Nutsch enthralls audiences with an edge-of-your-seat, behind-the-scenes account of how this almost unbelievable event played out, impacted the world, and earned them the gratitude of a nation. Theres tough parts about this mission, Nutsch said. There they connected with local Muslim soldiers who also opposed the Taliban. To prepare for Task Force Dagger, ODA 595 pored over National Geographic and tourist maps as they studied up on the regional personalities. #BelowDeckMed.. Thats being gentle.. News broke on October 29 that the season 1 Below Deck Mediterranean captain, who led the Ionian Princess, had died. No one had horse saddles ready to go, so we justfigured it out on the ground and we rode the local horses with local saddles and equipment, Nutsch said. Furthermore, as shown in the movie, they were grossly outnumbered. Sniper was followed by two more NY Times best-selling non-fiction works,CODE NAME JOHNNY WALKER(2014) and AMERICAN WIFE(2015) with Taya Kyle (now under development in Hollywood.) It was indeed as much of a surprise to the real team as it is in the movie. captain mark nutsch death . In real-life, Dostum became the Vice President of Afghanistan, as stated prior to the movie's end credits. Howard died naturally of hypertensive cardiovascular. Terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into New Yorks Twin Towers and the Pentagon. However, one was dropped due to a lack of confidence in the team. The second Chinook dropped off ODA 595, led by Capt. On 3 December 1992, U.N. Security Resolution 794 authorized the U.S. led intervention "to use all necessary means to establish a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia as soon as possible. Maj. Joseph Dennison on 16 June 1988 at its new home at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. When Army Capt. In the southern portion of Afghanistan, a company-sized element of approximately 200 Rangers from the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment were flown in on four Lockheed MC-130 aircraft and captured a desert landing strip south of the city of Kandahar in Operation Rhino. On about 6 November, the Northern Alliance broke through the Taliban defense in the valley of Darah Sof District, 200 kilometres (120mi) from Mazar-i-Sharif. This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 10:56. "[7] Select members of the unit were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the United Nations Medal. Yes Nutsch was the commander of the 12-man Green Berets from 5th Special Forces Group on a mission to Afghanistan in the weeks after 9/11 terrorist attacks. Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 555 and 595, both 12-man teams, plus Air Force combat controllers, were the second and third groups of Task Force Dagger and the first American military personnel to enter Afghanistan. He also used to compete in collegiate rodeos. Is there an ambush up ahead? Nutsch said. Nutsch said that he and Pennington did visit the set for three days to meet the production staff and the actors. Nutsch and one of his ODA 595 teammates, retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bob Pennington, are also working on publishing their own book, which will focus on operations over the span of several months for the 2001 mission. Some soldier has to be the first one to lead his unit into battle on behalf of his nation. This amazing story was recounted in a best-selling book named Horse Soldiers. -ABC News. It could have happened more quickly, but the Bush administration was fearful that without a provisional government to take over Kabul, the Northern Alliance would commit atrocities as they had when they had previously occupied the capital. He was with his six-month-pregnant wife and their two young children at the time. Meanwhile, the Taliban and al-Qaida had limited mobility using in the tanks left over from when the Soviet Union exited Afghanistan in the 1980s. $32.00 + $13.95 shipping. After retiring, Maj. Mark Nutsch served as a reservist in special operations. [43] Within the first two weeks, ODA 595 was joined by two more special forces soldiers, bringing their number to 14. [23], The well-placed ordnance dropped on the Taliban by the airpower controlled by Task Force Dagger forced the Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces to continually pull back. [24], The first group of Task Force Dagger included seven members of the CIA's Special Activities Division and Counter Terrorist Center (CTC) led by Gary Schroen, who formed the Northern Afghanistan Liaison Team. The Northern Alliance was in a stalemate with Taliban forces near Bagram Airfield and it was hoped that the ODA would be able to help tip the balance. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit http://www.huckboydinstitute.org. Major Navy Exchange and Coast Guard Exchanges also carry the bourbon, along with Army-Air Force Exchanges in Florida. [22] By 13 September 2001, the 5th Special Forces Group was ordered to stand up a forward headquarters to conduct operations in Afghanistan. Specifically, Nutsch said the team identified the anti-Taliban leaders of the Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras who ultimately formed the Northern Alliance. He set up a series of strikes on the fields of targets around the airbase, guiding wave after wave of precision-guided munitions onto tanks, armored personnel carriers, guns, and fortifications around Bagram. In Doug Stanton's book Horse Soldiers, it was Colonel Max Bowers, portrayed by Rob Riggle, who brought a piece of steel with him from the World Trade Center to Afghanistan. May he RIP. [36] Capt. Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann (March 1, 1969 - November 25, 2001) was an American paramilitary officer in the Central Intelligence Agency 's Special Activities Division. The unit faced the tallest of odds. Personnel and equipment were not transferred. "All of these guys have blood on their hands. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. His lack of combat experience is pointed out in the movie. loreto school manchester; is my soulmate died quiz; Menu Swords of Lightning: Green Beret Horse Soldiers and America's Response to 9/11is co-authored by Mark Nutsch, Bob Pennington, with bestselling author Jim DeFelice (American Sniper) is their own recently published bestselling account of their incredible experiences in, Swords of Lightning: Green Beret Horse Soldiers and America's Response to 9/11. The leader of the dozen-man 595 was Capt. Mark Nutsch grew up near Washington, Kansas. Scroll down to learn everything we know about Captain Marks death and the investigation: Howards wife returned home from a dog show in Ocala, Florida, on October 27, which is when she found her husbands body, according to the Fernandina Beach Police Departments report. Featured in multiple books, museums and as a guest speaker with Keppler Speakers Bureau. Payback was certainly on the minds of some members of the team, while others focused primarily on the mission at hand. Surprising loss. Nutsch, who went into Special Forces because he wanted to work with small teams, served as the commander of ODA 595 for two years before the 9/11 attacks and had already deployed to the Middle East half a dozen times. At certain altitudes, the troops had to use single-use "bailout bottles" because of the lack of oxygen. Video shows teen who escaped from captivity in Nevada 2 hours ago He was later shot in the leg when the makeshift prison he was in became the scene of a violent Taliban uprising. According to Nutsch, opening the distillery was their way of living the dream weve been defending.. Mark Nutschs character, named Captain Mitch Nelson in the movie, is portrayed in the show by actor Chris Hemsworth who also plays Thor in the Avenger series. Medical examiners determined that the captain died naturally of hypertensive cardiovascular disease with chronic alcoholism listed as a contributory cause, E! Marks team of Green Berets became known as The Horse Soldiers. The Studies and Observations Group was in fact controlled and missioned by the Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities (SACSA) and his staff at the Pentagon. Hoda Kotb Makes Pre-Taped Appearance on 'Today' Amid Continued Absence, Formula 1 Driver Max Verstappen and GF Kelly Piquet's Relationship Timeline, PDA in the Rink! During the next few weeks they traveled 10 to 30 kilometres (6.2 to 18.6mi) per day. He did have trouble getting off his horse, and like in the movie, the medic gave him something for the pain. Selected members of the unit are eligible to wear the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participating in the following activities between December 95 18 March 2003 in SW Asia: January and February 1966 1st Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division, and establishment of new Special Forces "A" Camp at Xom Cat, South Vietnam: Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operations Restore Hope and United Shield, Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 10:56, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers (RPGs), Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Army Special Operations Forces Fact Book 2018", United States Army Center of Military History, "5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment", "5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Regiment", "Beret flash changeover ceremony ties together past, present 5th SFG (A) Soldiers", "Beret flash changeover ceremony ties together past, present 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers", "Army Fingers Captain as Beret Triggerman", "The "Green Beret Affair": A Brief Introduction", "Rationale for Relocating the 5th Special Forces Group From Fort Bragg, North Carolina", "United States Army Special Forces Command Airborne", "On The Ground What Are The Special Forces? The real-life Special Forces officer he represents is Mark Nutsch, . Yes. Mark, Bob, and their business partners operate a nationally growing, craft distillery brand, American Freedom Distillery, featuring their double gold award-winning Horse Soldier Bourbons. -SOFREP. A monument and 9-11 memorial that will be constructed on the Washington County courthouse lawn will honor not only Mark and his team but all . Really liked him on below deck. What can I put on the horse? [7], General Norman Schwarzkopf described the Special Forces as "the eyes and ears" of the conventional forces and the "glue that held the coalition together."[21]. Fortunately, farmboy Mark Nutsch knew his way around horses. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Mark Nutsch never expected he would use horseback riding a skill he learned growing up on a Kansas cattle ranch in battle. Guest December 1982 June 1985 (retired as major general), Col. H. C. Davis June 1987 November 1989 (retired as major general), Col. J. W. Kraus November 1989 August 1991, Col. Kenneth R. Bowra August 1991 August 1993 (retired as major general), Col. John W. Noe August 1993 August 1995, Col. T. M. Carlin August 1995 August 1997, Col. D. P. Brownlee August 1997 July 1999, Col. H. E. Pagan July 2003 July 2005 (retired as brigadier general), Col. C. E. Conner July 2007 August 2009, Col. M. E. Mitchell August 2009 August 2011 (retired as colonel), Col. S. E. Brower August 2011 July 2013 (retired as brigadier general), Col. J. W. Brennan July 2013 July 2015 (active major general), The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was featured in the 1968 film, In the Season 1 episode 10 ("West Coast Turnaround") of the television show. The brotherhood between Nutsch and the other men he served with has continued since the members exited the service. Upon arrival, the team had a lot to learn including how to ride the horses the locals rode within hours of touching down in Afghanistan. Captain Marvel Marvel Comics Single Unit Comics, Graphic Novels & TPBs; Additional site navigation. It was then that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld showed the press an image of a bearded Green Beret on a horse and explained that the man was directing air strikes against Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in northern Afghanistan. You could do a whole series of books on those guys from that 595 team, Nutsch said. The Green Berets advised Afghan militia commanders and directed a massive air campaign to rout the Taliban from power -- considered the most successful unconventional warfare campaign in modern history. "We slept on the ground the first couple of nights." Below Decks Captain Mark Howards death sparked an investigation following the discovery of suspicious evidence on the scene. The responding officers, who received a call around 9:00 p.m. But instead of jeeps or tanks, the local Afghan fighters used an unexpected type of transportation: Horses. We knew nothing about these guys, retired Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, former U.S. Army Special Operations Command commander said, according to the Associated Press. "I created the face without the use of models or photos," said artist Douwe Blumberg, who designed the statue in collaboration with Mark Nutsch. Mark was recently named by the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation as National Honorary Campaign Chair for the Foundations Next Vistas fundraising campaign to benefit the Flint Hills Discovery Center.