Sacrifice

A Gold Star Widow's Fight for the Truth

By: Michelle Black

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

The shocking and affecting memoir from a gold-star widow searching for the truth behind her Green Beret husband's death, this book bears witness to the true sacrifices made by military families.

When Green Beret Bryan Black was killed in an ambush in Niger in 2017, his wife, Michelle, saw her worst nightmare become a reality. She was left alone with her grief and with two young sons to raise. But what followed Bryan's death was an even more difficult journey for the young widow. After receiving very few details about the attack that took her husband's life, it was up to Michelle to find answers. It became her mission to learn the truth about that day in Niger - and Sacrifice is the result of that mission.

In this heartbreaking and revelatory memoir, Michelle uses exclusive interviews with the survivors of her husband's unit, research into the military leadership and accountability, and her own unique vantage point as a gold-star widow to tell a previously unknown story. Sacrifice is both an honest, emotional look inside a military marriage and a searing investigation of the people and decisions at the heart of the US military.

©2021 Michelle Black (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A heartbreaking minute-by minute-composite of miscommunication, deception, bravery, and heroism.... A compelling, heartrending story of ultimate sacrifice.” (Booklist, starred review)

“Black’s story is important for what it reveals about corruption at the highest levels of the military and how that corruption can result in the needless sacrifice of soldiers’ lives.... [A] courageous and heartfelt military memoir from the perspective of a soldier’s family.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Black’s narrative hauntingly encapsulates her grief.... Her book’s detailed research, based on new reporting and military memos, is one of the most complete accounts of the events of that fateful day.... Black’s recollections on grief are especially poignant.” (Library Journal)

Incredible courage

This woman has incredible courage. The first third of the book is truly heart wrenching. If you aren’t moved to tears you aren’t alive. The last two thirds infuriating. The authors research is very detailed and well explained.

The narrator was excellent. Glad I bought this book.

Prepare to Experience a Range of Emotions

What a great service Michelle Black did by penning the true story of ODA 3212. She honors the sacrifice of those who lost their lives and those who fought courageously alongside their fallen brothers. She also exposes the cowardice corruption demonstrated by the BC and higher, all in the name of distancing themselves from any responsibility for putting the team in an untenable, deadly situation. As a father of an ODA Team Leader this complete void of honor by the chain of command and their failure to value the input of the ground commander makes me so very angry.

This is a must listen, if for no other reason but to get an understanding of what those at the tip of the spear face in service of our country.

Thank you Michelle Black for your painstaking research required to write this book. Your love for your husband is so evident. I too lost my wife way too soon after a long battle with a brain tumor. I believe in my heart that she is always near our kids and me as I have no doubt Bryan is always close to you and your sons. God bless you and your family.

Loved this

Such a heartbreaking story! Michelle Black’s never quit attitude to get to the true story of what her husband and his team had to endure is heart wrenching and inspiring.

Resilience & Tenacity

“Sacrifice” - the most courageous “love story” I’ve ever heard. Michelle Black’s fortitude and determination is a commendable example of true leadership and Warrior spirit.

Maddening yet brilliant

You will cry, you will laugh. You will be disgusted by the military machine that gets it wrong in many cases. This book is well written and very well read. Just finished it and am going to start it over again. You will not be disappointed.

Amazing biography!

Definitely not my typical genre but my youngest wanted to do this book for summer reading so I obliged. I’m happy to say it was very well written and narrated. The story follows a group of green berets on a mission in Niger where they end up ambushed and alone. Miscommunication and corruption at the top levels of the military lead to the green beret group going several days with no sleep and little water with no back up. When reports come out for the families it’s heavily redacted and leads to more questions and little answers or help to find the truth. It completely tears at your heartstrings and makes you want justice for everyone wronged.

great book

loved it informative and keeps you peeled listening from beginning to end I definitely recommend this

Thank you for telling your story.

Thank you for exposing what has occurred. I have had the pleasure of meeting Jeremiah's father. The team and their families deserve so much more than what has been given.

Fantastic and emotional read

I remember seeing something about this book when it first came out, but didn’t think much of it, heard the author’s interview on a podcast and picked downloaded it the same day. I did not realize the complexity of this situation in regards to the military’s attempts to pass the blame. I never believed the “rogue team” line circulating for a while for reasons stated in the book, and that’s without my personally knowing any of the individuals. This story is heart wrenching, it is sad, it makes you hold your spouse and kids a little longer each time you leave them. I am truly saddened for the loss of these 4 warriors, and the pain their families have had to endure for America. We as a Nation owe it to these fallen four, and the countless fallen from our inception to be better. We must learn from their sacrifice, or we will be doomed to repeat it in the future.

A must read

Heartbreaking and angering. This is a must read for all, if not for the families the truth would have been hidden and history would have put these men under “cowboys” and the what not to do.
One person can change the world and the author is an example of this.