Eric Maddox: Mission: Black List #1

One of our stops was in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where I ran into an old friend: Kelly had returned from Iraq and was back at the base. I was happy to see him but didn’t really know what to say. So much had happened since we’d last been together, five days before the capture of Saddam. In spite of all the publicity and news coverage, we were still the only two people who knew what had really gone down.

“I’ve got a souvenir for you, Eric,” he said after we greeted each other.

“Is it my share of the 1.9 million?” I asked.

He laughed. “No. We already spent that. But when we pulled Saddam out of the hole we found a couple of things he kept close to him. There was a nine-millimeter pistol that we gave to President Bush. And there was a box of Cuban cigars.” He pulled out a cigar and handed it to me. “We saved one for you.”

It was one of the nicest gifts I’d ever received. It meant almost as much to me as when, shortly afterward, at my DIA office in the States, I was awarded the Legion of Merit, for actions deemed “pivotal in the extrication of actionable intelligence from numerous detainees which led to the successful detention of various Iraqi former regime leaders and the capture of Saddam Hussein.”

One of our final stops was Fort Hood, Texas, the home of the 4th ID. As Lee and I drove onto the base the first thing we saw was a huge billboard that showed a hand grasping the Ace of Spades card. Lee and I just stared at each other and I asked him, “Do you think they have any idea what our briefing is about?”

As much as others might try to claim credit for Saddam’s capture, I will always consider it a team effort. Without the confidence, inspiration, and sheer determination shown by the best soldiers in the world, this historic mission would never have been accomplished. I would subsequently receive the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement for my part in the event. It read in part: “Through his professionalism and dedication, Staff Sergeant Maddox developed a unique, comprehensive understanding of the complex networks supporting the former Iraqi leadership…. This resulted in the development of actionable intelligence that was provided to analysts and operators and directly resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein and other senior Iraqi leaders. Staff Sergeant Maddox’s distinguished accomplishments reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army and the Intelligence Community.”

That credit, and the pride I feel in those words, also belong to the men with whom it was my privilege to serve.

At the wedding of my lifelong friend Ryan Ritchie in 1997. Ritchie and his wife, Kara, are the godparents of my younger son, Eric Marshall Maddox.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

The famous deck of cards listing High Value Targets and distributed to U.S. forces in Iraq. These cards were signed by seven former regime members, including Chemical Ali.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

A portion of the link diagram I developed in the hunt for Saddam. The complete diagram listed more than seventy individuals.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

Posing (in the blue shirt I wore for virtually my whole tour of duty) for a final photo with my fellow interrogator Lee (right) and his interpreter John (center) on December 13, just hours before leaving Iraq.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

The infamous spider hole. This tiny cramped dugout was where the dictator was finally run to ground.

(AFP/Getty Images)

A cigar found in Saddam’s Tikrit spider hole and presented to me by the team who captured him. I had it mounted and framed.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

Director of Central Intelligence Agency Porter Goss presents me with the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement for my role in the capture of Saddam.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

The Legion of Merit. I was deeply honored to receive this award, which is rarely given to non-commissioned officers.

(Private collection of Eric Maddox)

For their dedicated service and professionalism (and for keeping me alive), I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the non-commissioned officers with whom I served throughout my military career, specifically Marine Master Sergeant Lee Trevino and Army Staff Sergeant Clif Smith, who have been with me through thick and thin. I also want to thank my family and friends for the unconditional love and support they have always given me, especially my parents, whom I admire so much.

I would like to thank fellow Oklahoman Bruce Roach, who shared my enthusiasm for this book and whose vision, commitment, and efforts were instrumental in achieving its ultimate publication; Davin Seay for his ability to breathe life into my original, complex manuscript through his amazing writing skills; my agent, William Clark, for dragging me through the streets of New York City to get this book sold; and Jennifer Barth of HarperCollins for believing in me and my story.

Most important of all are my two sons. I am sorry I missed so much of your lives since these wars began. You are my world and I will serve you now.

Eric Maddox

Army Staff Sergeant Eric Maddox was awarded the DIA Director’s Award, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement for his key role in the capture of Saddam Hussein. A native of Oklahoma, he now lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Davin Seay has coauthored numerous books, including, most recently, Hello Charlie , with Charles Hess; and In Justice , with David Iglesias. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

Jacket photograph © Jorge Silva/REUTERS

Jacket design by Archie Ferguson

Some Images not available for electronic edition.

MISSION: BLACK LIST #1. Copyright © 2008 by Eric Maddox. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.