Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Strange, code name Gold Yankee 4, was a top cryptologist who deployed with the U.S. Navy SEAL teams, including Team 6. On August 6, 2011, Michael was killed in Afghanistan, along with 30 other Americans, on a helicopter with call sign Extortion 17. His father, Charles, has been seeking the truth about Michael's death for 15 years. He has gone to Congress, the Pentagon, and the White House. Simultaneously, he leads other Gold Star Families to find peace.
This is their story.
The Book
Gold Star Father Charles Strange Releases Second Edition of Relentless: A Gold Star Father's Pursuit of Truth on the 15th Anniversary of Extortion 17
Co-authored with Steven R. Leuschel, PhD, the powerful new edition chronicles one father's unyielding 15-year fight for answers about the single largest loss of American life in the Global War on Terror.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — August 6, 2026 — Align Kaizen Publishing today announces the release of the second edition of Relentless: A Gold Star Father's Pursuit of Truth, co-authored by Charles Strange and Steven R. Leuschel, PhD. Released on the 15th anniversary of the August 6, 2011 shootdown of the Chinook helicopter known as Extortion 17, the book delivers a gripping, firsthand account of a father's determined quest for truth surrounding the deaths of 30 American servicemen—including 17 Navy SEALs—eight Afghan partners, and the military working dog Bart.
On that night in Afghanistan's Tangi Valley, Petty Officer First Class Michael J. Strange, a cryptologic technician supporting SEAL Team 6 / DEVGRU, was among those killed when an enemy rocket brought down their aircraft. What followed for his father, Charles Strange of Philadelphia, was not closure but a relentless campaign for answers. Drawing on 1,364 pages of government documents, eyewitness accounts, and years of advocacy that reached the Pentagon, Congress, and the White House, Relentless presents the Strange family's perspective on events tied to the bin Laden raid (Operation Neptune Spear) and the subsequent investigation into Extortion 17.
"If your son, one of the world's leading cryptologists, grabbed you and said, 'You'll never believe what's happening in this country,' and then died two months later, would you ask questions?"
— from the book's preface
Charles Strange never stopped asking. The second edition updates this extraordinary story with new material reflecting 15 years of pursuit, underscoring contradictions between official narratives and the documentary record the family obtained.
Co-author Dr. Steven R. Leuschel, a leadership researcher, and publisher, partnered with Strange to structure the narrative as an oral-history-driven account triangulated with primary sources. "This is not speculation," Leuschel notes. "It is a father's lived experience, supported by government records and the voices of those closest to the events. Charles's determination embodies the very meaning of the word relentless."
The book opens with a moving dedication to all 30 Americans lost that night, including Michael Strange, and features a personal prologue drawn from Michael's own words. Chapters examine the mission, the Little Creek debriefing, the Colt investigation, the 1,364-page document release, battles with the NSA, congressional hearings, meetings at the Pentagon and White House, and the broader failures that continue to demand accountability.
Praise for Relentless
“Relentless” was an outstanding read both inspiring and heartbreaking. After reading General Colt's report discussed in the book, I came away with my own opinion. One of our own, a Philadelphia native, was struck down in the prime of his life under circumstances that deserved answers. What the government didn't count on was Charles and Mary Strange. Their relentless determination to uncover the truth for themselves, their family, and above all, for PO1 Michael Strange is nothing short of extraordinary. I highly recommend reading the 2nd Edition of Relentless. The additional information Charles and Mary were able to uncover is truly incredible and adds even greater depth to an already powerful story. It is a testament to the love of parents who refused to stop searching for the truth.
Relentless: A Gold Star Father’s Pursuit of Truth by Charles W. Strange and Steven R. Leuschel isn’t just a book to me. It’s the story of my best friend fighting for his son—and for every family like his. I’ve known Charlie for years. Since 2012 I’ve volunteered with the Michael Strange Foundation, standing beside him through memorials, advocacy trips to D.C., late-night phone calls, and the quiet moments when the weight of August 6, 2011 still hits hard. Michael wasn’t just a name on a casualty list. He was a brilliant cryptologic technician, a SEAL Team 6 support operator, and the son Charlie never stopped fighting for. Three months after that raid, Michael and 29 other Americans (plus Afghan partners and a military working dog) were killed when Extortion 17 was shot down in Afghanistan’s Tangi Valley. Official accounts called it a tragic but opportunistic “lucky shot.” Charlie never bought it. Neither did a lot of us who walked this road with him.
The Author
