I recently had an opportunity to watch a movie called “Danger Close”. I was not aware that the movie was a documentary rather than an action-adventure flick. However, it was so good that I wanted to do a review on it for the Quad Cities Daily. I want to advise you that there is violence as well as some harsh language in the movie.
The Documentary follows Free Lance Reporter Alex Quade, who is embedded with a United States Special Forces Operations Group (Green Berets) during a mission into Afghanistan in 2007. Actually the Documentary tells two stories. It tells the story of Quade as well as Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli, who was killed in action.
First let’s look at Quade. The movie begins with Quade going on a mission with the Green Berets. She
Alex Quade
climbs aboard a Chinook Helicopter and watches as another Chinook takes off before the one she is in. She films the air assault mission that sadly turns into a Search and Rescue mission when one of the Chinook Helicopters is shot down. It is later learned that she was supposed to be on the Chinook that was shot down but was changed into another Chinook at the last minute. All seven soldiers on the downed Chinook are killed.
This happened within the first hours of Operation Kulang Harvest. The Operation was to detain an al Qaeda Emir and elven of his associates in a village. There were no ground troops that could make it into the village due to the heavily mined road so, insertion was done by helicopters. It should also be noted that al Qaeda reinforcements were within five to six miles of this village.
Quade meets Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli’s Green Beret A-Team and begins talking to them about Pirelli. Quade had met Pirelli when she was previously in Afghanistan. She learns that Pirelli has been killed in another mission. An Outpost is named after Pirelli.
Later during a fire fight between the Green Berets and al Qaeda, Quade is in the middle of it. During the film, she states that she begins passing out or handing out ammunition to the Green Berets to help them. She is injured and is returned to the United States to rehab her injury.
Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli
While back in the United States, Quade meets Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli’s Family. She speaks to them about Pirelli. Rob’s Father wants to go to Afghanistan to visit the Outpost. However, after trying to get permission he is not allowed to. Quade makes a promise to visit the Outpost and speak to his friends and fellow Green berets.
It’s hard to do a movie review without giving away the plot and the ending. I must say that I did cry while watching this film. Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli was a brave and gallant Soldier who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice during the War of Terrorism. This is not Quade’s first outing overseas. She has done a “tour” previously with a Special Operations Group. She continues to report on the War. Her new film is called “Chinook Down.”
I urge you to buy or rent this film. I think you will enjoy it.
Bobby Inman has retired twice from Law Enforcement after 21 years of Service. He is a Consultant for Southern Heritage Gun & Pawn in Tuscumbia. He has articles published in Law & Order Magazine, Police Marksman Magazine, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement Magazine as well as several published ebooks on Amazon, Kobo Writing, as well as Nook (Barnes & Noble). He is owner of Poopiedog, an Animal Rescue Dachshund, who is his constant companion. He is a Senior Investigative Reporter for the Quad Cities Daily.
