I was leading a rescue mission in Syria when St. Francis Children’s called. “Your daughter is in critical condition,” the nurse said. “Your husband’s new wife brought her in. The story doesn’t match the injuries, and the detective won’t touch it. Her brother is the police chief.” Then she lowered her voice and gave me the part that changed everything: “If you want the truth, get here before they bury it.”
The tourniquet strap was clenched between my teeth, rotor wash pounding the air around us, when the satellite phone started vibrating against my vest. We were moving fast through a narrow alley in northern Syria, guiding a frightened little boy and his grandmother toward an armored convoy before first light gave away our position. On…
