Headhunter
5-73 CAV and Their Fight for Iraq's Diyala River Valley
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Headhunter
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Narrated by:
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David Marantz
About this listen
Selected in 2005 by the army to be the first airborne reconnaissance squadron, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, better known as 5-73 CAV, was formed from 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The members of the squadron were hand-selected by the squadron command team, Lieutenant Colonel Poppas and Command Sergeant Major Edgar. With just more than 400 paratroopers, they were half the size of a full-strength battalion and the smallest unit in the Panther Brigade.
The squadron deployed to eastern Diyala in August, 2006. Despite their size, they were tasked with an enormous mission and were given the largest area of operations within the brigade. Appropriately for a unit known by the call sign of its CO-Headhunter-5-73 would go on to pursue various terrorist factions including Al Qaeda in Iraq. They got results, and 5-73 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for launching the Turki Bowl campaign from November 2006 to January 2007 against insurgent groups in Diyala Province. However the toll would be heavy-the squadron lost 22 paratroopers during the deployment.
Headhunter is a unique account of the War on Terror. It's a soldier's story, told by those very paratroopers who gallantly fought to tame Diyala.
©2020 Peter C. Svoboda (P)2021 TantorWhat listeners say about Headhunter
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rachael M
- 05-07-2025
Honest and Raw, But Not Always Accessible
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3-Star Review: Headhunter: 5-73 CAV and Their Fight for Iraq’s Diyala River Valley by Peter C. Svoboda
Headhunter follows the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment—an elite group of paratroopers deployed to Iraq’s Diyala River Valley during a particularly brutal stretch of the war in 2006–2007. Drawing on interviews with soldiers and their families, Peter Svoboda gives a raw and personal look at their experiences on the ground: the intense firefights, the daily grind of patrols, the heartbreak of loss, and the resilience that got them through it all.
There’s no doubt this book is full of powerful stories and emotional weight. Svoboda clearly cares deeply about honouring these soldiers, and the human side of the conflict comes through strongly. Operations like Turki Bowl are described in gripping detail, and the inclusion of family voices adds a moving layer of perspective.
That said, I found the structure a bit hard to follow. It jumps between stories and firefights without much broader context, which made it feel more like a series of tactical snapshots than a full narrative. The heavy use of military terms and acronyms might be tricky for readers who aren’t already familiar with that world. I also struggled with the audiobook narrator—he had a steady tone but didn’t really bring the emotion or energy I expected from such a personal story.
Overall, Headhunter is a heartfelt tribute to the soldiers of 5-73 CAV, and there’s definitely value in what it shares. I just wish the delivery had been a bit more engaging and easier to follow.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-02-2025
Informative but mind numbing
Lots of really good information but the delivery was like reading a textbook. With all due respect I found the narrater hard to listen too.
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