The Devil's Playground: The Story of Two Charlie and The Arghandab River Valley

“The Devil’s Playground” was anything south of the second canal to the men of Charlie Company’s 2nd Platoon—Two Charlie—during their 2009–2010 deployment to the Arghandab River Valley in Afghanistan. The valley had been a notorious hot spot throughout history, with the Russians unable to maintain a foothold in the 80s and Coalition forces now facing the same problem during Operation Enduring Freedom. The Two Charlie paratroopers deployed as part of the 2-508th PIR, Two Fury, of the 82nd Airborne Division, but always seemed to be on their own. They started their deployment attached to Canadian forces in Panjwai but were shortly moved into the Arghandab with one of the battalion’s biggest Areas of Operation. They inherited a bare bones outpost that they worked hard to turn into the defendable position known as COP Tynes, while patrolling the grape fields and orchards of the valley. Little did they know that when the leaves returned to the valley in the spring, so too would the fighting. As the fighting picked up in the valley, the men of Two Charlie continued to sustain casualties as they fought day in and day out. There was never a dull moment in the Arghandab, and the fact that Two Charlie had to patrol, act as a quick reaction force, and secure their outpost on their own ensured that they never stopped. The men were constantly brought to their breaking point as their numbers dwindled and the fighting intensified. The men all started to believe that they weren’t going to make it out of the valley alive. The one rule of the valley would be proved time and time again: in the end, the valley always wins. This book shares the story of the men of Two Charlie and their fight for survival in the Arghandab River Valley, the Devil’s Playground.

Table of Contents:
1: 22 Nov 2009 2: A Time to Grieve 3: Welcome to the Dab 4: A Home Away From Home 5: The Drug Deal Trade 6: 22 Mar 2010 7: The Only Thing Necessary 8: So, It Begins 9: Don't Trip 10: The Day Lovelace Got Shot in the Face 11: The Lion's Den 12: 7 Jun 2010 13: The Triumph of Evil 14: One Shot, One Kill 15: 24 Jun 2010 17: For Good Men to do Nothing 18: 6 Jul 2010 19: Vengeance in the Valley 20: The Last Patrol 21: The Valley Always Wins

About the Author :
Andrew Bragg is a combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army for four and a half years after graduating high school. During his time in the military, he served as an infantryman and deployed twice to Afghanistan, first with the 173rd (1-503rd PIR) for a 15-month deployment and second with the 82nd (2-508th PIR) for a 12-month deployment. He grew up in Hilliard, Ohio, but has moved west since leaving the military. He worked as an EMT while going through school, and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He now lives in the Rockies where he enjoys rock climbing, hunting, and other outdoor activities.

Review :
"A riveting account of the struggles and triumphs of an airborne infantry platoon during the height of the war in Afghanistan. Andrew Bragg tirelessly captured the perspective of each member of the platoon enabling him to develop a comprehensive account of their harrowing endeavors. He accurately and descriptively depicts the day-to-day trials of young paratroopers as they navigate the complexities of the Afghan war. As the former 2C Platoon Leader, I can personally attest to the accuracy and depth of Andrew's account, his telling of our story, and how it has brought us back together over a decade after the deployment--to ensure the valley does not win." --Major Chris Farrington, United States Army, former Two Charlie Platoon Leader "As America assesses the value of our intervention in Afghanistan and involvement in future foreign wars, we must always consider the price. Andrew and his friends' service was valorous and honorable. His authentic perspective of the environment and the eye-opening costs to our soldiers is sobering. These accounts should be mandatory reading for foreign policy makers and defense department leaders." --Major General (Ret.) Brian Mennes, United States Army, Former Fury 6 "The Devil's Playground brings to life what life as a paratrooper in the 2-508th PIR 82nd Airborne Division was at that time. This isn't a story about glamour or medals, but rather about a group of paratroopers who continued the fight no matter the odds. The men of Two Charlie were a hardened and well-trained platoon with every NCO having previous combat time but, even with all the combined previous experience, nothing could prepare the men for the intricacies the Devil's Playground would present us. The haunted lands of the 'Dab' had opened its arms for young men to die for countless decades and multiple militaries and the men of Two Charlie were up next. Andrew Bragg dives not only into our time in this land, but also into the emotions that came with leading men and being led in such an unforgiving place. The mental toll alone was insurmountable, as the NCOs were tasked with making decisions that could ultimately result in multiple members of the team, or themselves, not making it back to base--decisions where every step counted. Every action or reaction mattered, as one step out of line could result in catastrophe. The mission ultimately became survive and rescue, but the bond between us was unbreakable as we continued to take the fight to the enemy until the day we left the Arghandab River valley. No matter the losses, the men of Two Charlie would line up each day, don their gear, and give one another a nod, as we would rather die together then allow evil to prevail on our watch." --Dale Knollinger, former Two Charlie SGT "Andrew Bragg's The Devil's Playground provides a heartfelt and vivid portrayal of 2nd Platoon, C Company, 2-508 PIR during the 2009-2010 deployment in the Arghandab River Valley of Afghanistan, with a particular emphasis on the crucial role of our sergeants--the NCOs. As their Company Commander, I witnessed firsthand how these NCOs turned the chaos of war into a mission driven by mutual support and unwavering brotherhood. This book is not just about the battles we fought; it's about the profound connections forged amid adversity. I am deeply proud to have served with these extraordinary men, whose leadership and camaraderie carried us through our toughest challenges. The Devil's Playground is a moving tribute to the pride, unity, and strength that defined our journey and will forever be a testament to the bonds we built." --Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Razuri, United States Army, former commander of C co, 2-508 PIR "The manner in which Andrew wholeheartedly took on the mission to drive thousands of miles cross-country, to gather each soldier's personal and detailed perspective of what we experienced nearly 15 years ago through one-on-one interviews, makes The Devil's Playground an extremely unique book. He spent countless hours seamlessly merging those memories to capture the most accurate and unfiltered version of our unit's story. It's not a book highlighting just one individual or one major event, but a collective narrative portraying the resilience of a unit who faced an unprecedented number of consecutive challenges and overcame them together. Most importantly, I believe this book can provide readers with valuable context and personal insight that would otherwise be unaccounted for with the silence of the fallen and the reserved voices of those who survived the Devil's Playground." --Adam Lachance, former Two Charlie SGT