Spirit Mission

A Novel

By: Ted Russ

Narrated by: Tom Taylorson

An MH-47G Chinook helicopter departs formation in the Iraqi night. The mission is unauthorized. The objective is reckless. But to save a friend, Sam Avery and his crew of Night Stalkers have prepared for one last flight.

ISIS operatives in Tal Afar, Iraq, have captured American aid worker Henry Stillmont. Avery knows Stillmont as "the Guru", the West Point squad leader who taught him about brotherhood, loyalty, and when to break the rules as a young cadet 25 years ago. Sam will risk his career and his life to save him.

As they near their target, Sam reflects on his time in the crucible of the United States Military Academy. West Point made Sam the leader he is. But his fellow cadets made him the man that he is. The ideals of duty, honor, and country have echoed throughout his life and drive him and his comrades as they undertake their final and most audacious spirit mission.

©2016 Ted Russ (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Class of 90

Loved it. It was authentically Army/West Point. I was class of 90 and a chinook pilot. It brought back a flood of memories.

Excellent

Very well written story and great plot line. Felt like I was apart of the West Pointe culture and history.

Very impressed

Wow! Great story and so well told. Even though it was fiction, I kept asking myself if this was a real event.

Go Naked! Beat Navy!

Outstanding recollections of realistic events told with some fictional aspects to protect the guilty... Some mispronounced words in the audio version which was like nails on a chalkboard for an insider. That said, this story will continue to have positive impact on the morale of the Long Gray Line for a long, long time!!! Thank you Ted for this gift and all of your selfless service.

An excellent book about friends

Would you listen to Spirit Mission again? Why?

Yes I would read the novel again. It was an excellent book that had some discussions about many of the things we remember. The comrades, the sounds, the smells and the joys of life.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes the plot kept me going. I really wanted to find out how the story ended.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Sam took over control of the Chinook and Weber launched grenades...

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Sam spoke to Guru after landing his last mission.

Any additional comments?

The only part I would have changed was the ending. After the mission the story wound up a little fast. I would have preferred seeing some of the characters that I had become invested in, say Weber, to have a little more rounding out in their "moving on".

Lots of Fun

Great book especially if you know someone who is at West Point or went to West Point. Well written to be entertaining and achieves that goal.

Great Book

Despite a few mispronunciations, the audio was great. The story was fabulous. I love the details of Sam's experiences at West Point and in the Army. Very accurate! Duty Shall Be Done '91!