Author Event: Grit to Glory at Booktenders

When Darrell Utt set his sights on joining the legendary Green Berets, he could never have anticipated the journey that would take him from the rugged woods of West Virginia to the heart of Baghdad during one of the deadliest periods of the war in Iraq. In his hard-hitting memoir, Grit to Glory, follow Darrell through the treacherous streets of Baghdad during his 2006 rotation as the team sergeant of ODA 043. With brutal honesty, humility, and a dark sense of humor, he recounts eight months of unconventional warfare and life-altering experiences in vivid detail. In this action- packed account, Grit to Glory reveals the raw reality of combat, exposing the delicate interplay between American soldiers and their Iraqi counterparts as they faced the complexities of sectarian violence that bloodied the streets of Baghdad.

But Darrell’s story does not only showcase victory and success. He candidly opens up about his humble beginnings in West Virginia, where he developed the grit and tenacity to overcome adversity and fulfill his dream of joining the elite Green Berets. His story stands as a powerful testament that no matter where you come from, bold action and relentless pursuit of your goals
can lead to extraordinary achievements.