Is 12 Strong a True Story? Everything About This Movie
by Reshwanth A | Updated May 05, 2023
Is 12 Strong a True Story?
12 Strong is a gripping film that follows the true story of a group of U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers who were sent to Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Directed by Nicolai Fuglsig and written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig, the movie is based on Doug Stanton's non-fiction book Horse Soldiers. The film takes the audience on a thrilling journey as the soldiers find themselves facing seemingly insurmountable odds in a foreign land, where they must rely on their wits, courage, and the strength of their bond to survive. The soldiers are shown riding horses in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan, which is both an homage to the country's history and a practical necessity in the absence of modern transportation.
As the soldiers navigate through the unfamiliar terrain and battle against the Taliban, the film highlights the resilience and bravery of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The story is not only about the soldiers' heroic actions but also about the sacrifices that they and their families had to make. The movie features a talented cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, and Michael Peña, who deliver powerful performances that make the audience feel the intensity of the soldiers' experiences.
Is 12 Strong Based on a True Story?
Yes, 12 Strong is based on a true story. The film tells the declassified true story of the "Horse Soldiers," a group of U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers who were the first American troops to enter Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. The soldiers were sent to help the Northern Alliance fight against the Taliban, and they were forced to adapt to the harsh terrain and the local culture in order to succeed in their mission. The movie is based on the non-fiction book Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton, which chronicles the real-life experiences of the soldiers.
The events depicted in the film are based on interviews with the soldiers, as well as on declassified military documents. Many of the details in the film, such as the use of horses as a mode of transportation, are accurate depictions of what the soldiers faced in Afghanistan. While the film takes some liberties with the story, it remains a faithful adaptation of the events that took place. The soldiers' bravery and sacrifice are honored in the film, and the movie serves as a testament to the courage and resilience of the men and women who serve in the military. 12 Strong is a powerful and moving tribute to a remarkable group of soldiers who risked everything to serve their country.
12 Strong Cast
Chris Hemsworth
Captain Mitch Nelson
Michael Shannon
Chief Warrant Officer Hal Spencer
Michael Pena
Sergent First Class Sam Diller
Navid Negahban
General A. R. Dostum
Trevante Rhodes
Sergent First Class Ben Milo
Willam Fichtner
Colonel John Mulholland
Geoff Stults
Sean Coffers
Thad Luckinbill
Vern Michaels
Ben O’Toole
Scott Black
Kenny Sheard
Sergent First Class Bill Bennett
Austin Stowell
Staff Sergeant Fred Falls
Austin Hebert
Pat Essex
Jack Kesy
Charles Jones
Kenneth Miller
Kevin Jackson
Numan Acar
Mullah Razzan
Elsa Pataky
Jean Nelson
Marie Wagenman
Maddie Nelson
Rob Rigger
Lt. Colonel Max Bowers
Taylor Sheridan
Brain
Fahim Fazli
Kahled
Laith Nakli
Commander Ahmad Lal
Ali Olomi
Afghan Man
Cast
Role
12 Strong Plot
Mitch Nelson, a captain in the U.S. Army's Green Berets Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 595, is settling into his new home with his family on September 11, 2001. Shortly after he receives an assignment to staff duty under Lieutenant Colonel Bowers, news breaks of the devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In response, Nelson volunteers to lead ODA 595 into Afghanistan to fight against the Taliban. Initially, Bowers denies his request, but veteran soldier CW5 Hal Spencer convinces him to allow Nelson to command the team and joins him on the deployment.
ODA 595 travels to Uzbekistan on October 7, 2001, and after being evaluated by COL Mulholland, they are selected to fight alongside Northern Alliance leader Abdul Rashid Dostum. The team is covertly inserted into Afghanistan aboard a Boeing CH-47 Chinook flown by the 160th SOAR on October 19, 2001. They land south of Mazar-i-Sharif, where they meet with Dostum. Six of the team's 12 members, led by Nelson, accompany Dostum to the mountains to capture the city, while the other six remain in a fortified camp under Spencer's command.
Nelson gradually earns Dostum's respect, despite some initial skepticism from the warlord. The team experiences several victories with the help of Dostum's leadership and manpower, as well as American air power. However, tensions arise when Dostum makes a tactical error in one battle, causing several casualties. Nelson accuses him of withholding information and putting his men's lives at risk, while Dostum believes that Nelson and the U.S. are not willing to pay the potential price of the conflict. The two eventually reconcile and continue to work together, but Dostum's men abandon ODA 595 when they learn that another ODA has been dispatched to support his political rival.
Encountering a large force of Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters and armored vehicles, ODA 595, joined by SFC Sam Diller and his element, uses air support to eliminate many of the fighters and armor, but they are discovered and attacked. Spencer is critically injured by a suicide bomber, and the team is about to be overrun under heavy Taliban and Al-Qaeda pressure when Dostum returns with his forces. The American and Northern Alliance forces disperse the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the U.S. Army's first cavalry charge of the 21st century, and Dostum tracks down and kills the Taliban leader.
After Spencer is medevaced, Nelson and Dostum continue to Mazar-i-Sharif, but they find that Dostum's political rival has beaten them there. Despite their differences, Dostum is impressed by Nelson and the Americans' efforts and considers Nelson a brother and fellow fighter. The film ends with a photo of the actual members of ODA 595 in combat fatigues, upon whom 12 Strong was based. The Horse Soldier Statue at the World Trade Center in New York City, which is dedicated to all United States Special Forces, is also shown as a tribute to the soldiers of ODA 595 and their victory in the early stages of the response to the September 11 attacks.
12 Strong Ending Explained
After Dostum leaves, Nelson and his American and Afghan fighters continue their mission against the Taliban. They encounter a large force of Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters and armored vehicles, but with the help of air support, they eliminate many of the fighters and most of the armor. However, they are soon attacked and Spencer is critically injured by a suicide bomber. Under heavy Taliban and Al-Qaeda pressure, the team is about to be overrun when Dostum returns with his forces.
Together, they disperse the enemy forces and Dostum tracks down and kills Razzan. Despite being beaten to Mazar-i-Sharif by Atta Muhammad, Dostum is impressed by Nelson and the American soldiers and gives Nelson his prized riding crop, considering him a brother and fellow fighter. After 23 days of continuous fighting, all 12 soldiers of ODA 595 return home. The film ends with a tribute to the Horse Soldier Statue at the World Trade Center and a photo of the actual members of ODA 595 upon whom the movie is based.
Is 12 Strong a True Story - FAQs
"12 Strong" is a war drama film based on the true story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The team, led by Captain Mitch Nelson, is sent on a dangerous mission to work alongside a local warlord to fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
Yes, "12 Strong" is based on the true story of the first Special Forces team to be deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11. The team, ODA 595, was tasked with working alongside the Northern Alliance to take down the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
The main character in "12 Strong" is Captain Mitch Nelson, played by Chris Hemsworth. Other members of his team, ODA 595, include Chief Warrant Officer Hal Spencer, played by Michael Shannon, and Sergeant First Class Sam Diller, played by Michael Peña. General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the local warlord that the team works with, is played by Navid Negahban.
The Horse Soldier Statue in "12 Strong" is based on the real-life statue that commemorates the soldiers of ODA 595 and their victory in the early stages of the response to the September 11 attacks. The statue, located at the World Trade Center in New York City, serves as a tribute to all United States Special Forces.