On the night of Aug. 6, 2011, a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter-call sign Extortion 17 (EX17)-was carrying 38 people as it descended into Afghanistan's Tangi Valley in support of a Special Operations mission. The occupants included 31 American service members with 17 U.S. Navy SEALS among them. As Extortion 17 neared its drop zone under the cover of darkness, the helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade-followed by a crash, and no survivors.
Extortion 17 was the largest loss of U.S. military lives in a single incident in Afghanistan.
Ten years later, retired U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille is setting out to honor the legacy of those 31 American service members lost on Extortion 17. His mission begins by seeking out an appropriate spot to pay such tribute. When an opportunity arises to go skydiving in the Everest region-leaping above the world's tallest mountains in the hub of the Himalayas-he knows this is it.
I'm not a world-class skydiver, I'm not trying to fool anyone, says Sarraille, a former Recon Marine, Talent War Group CEO and author of The Talent War. “This is a challenge for me to grow-doing something I know those guys aboard EX17 would've loved.”
During his 20-year career in the Special Ops community and now as a business leader, Sarraille has repeatedly experienced firsthand what it takes-both mentally and physically-to overcome extraordinary challenges. There will be no shortage of those when jumping into the most extreme skydiving environment on Earth. Lack of oxygen. Totally unpredictable weather. Confined landing zones. Towering Himalayan peaks. Relentlessly rugged terrain. Despite these giant and omnipresent risks, Sarraille knows that the rewards of rising to such challenges will, once again, pay dividends.
Esta historia es de la edición February - March 2022 de Men's Journal.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February - March 2022 de Men's Journal.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Fantasy League
Inflation, war and endless political campaign ads got you down? Hollywood wants to take you far away.
The Tug Trip
Chasing grizzlies and pushing deep into coastal British Columbia aboard a uniquely Canadian touring vessel.
Death, Incorporated
How Putin's mercenary army known as the Wagner Group does the Kremlin's dirtiest work in Ukraine and in conflict zones around the world.
Cynthia Addai-Robinson
The British-born actor trades the Shire's misty mountains for a fantasy island in Amazon Prime's prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Idris Elba – Been Around the Block
Superstar actor Idris Elba hits 50 in September. But we might have not seen his prime yet.
American Ruins
This country's unmatched and unlimited industrial might helped define the 20th century. But that was then, and this is now.
NICK KROLL
The comedic powerhouse and man of many voices behind Big Mouth and Human Resources returns to the big screen in the star-studded thriller Don't Worry Darling.
HAIL TERRY
Four-time Super Bowl champion, avuncular television football analyst and all-around entertainer TERRY BRADSHAW's secret to career longevity? Letting it rip.
EVOLUTION OF Z REVOLUTION
How Nissan reinvented the smart, soulful sports car.
PLUNGE RIGHT IN
Mallorca's cliff-lined coast is the peak playground for deep-water soloing-as grippingly demonstrated by the emerging sport's top climber.