The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32km) away from Kamdesh. Commanders of Camp Keating are disciplined for not taking proper measures that led to deaths of eight U.S. soldiers and the wounding of 22 others in a Taliban attack. Yllescas' death happened when he was serving with the 6/4 CAV in 2008. Shot in the head by a Taliban sniper after being wounded by RPG fire. The PRT site resembled the bottom of a funnel. I have my own war stories from that day, but watching one of my best friends relive his on set was the closest I could come to fully understanding his heartache and pain. In the end, we gaveThe Outpost movie a Historical Accuracy Score of 8.5/10. In real life, there is no record of Porter shooting a dog.According to Jake Tapper's book, two real-life incidents inspired the scene in the movie. Located near the border with Pakistan in the Afghan province of Nuristan, COP Keating was the scene of a coordinated attack by as many as 300 Taliban fighters who stormed the exposed base. A commander who has no trust for or from his subordinates, keeps them in the dark, and fails to make the intent of his orders clear is making it harder for everyone else to do their jobs and jeopardizing mission success. On October 28, the commander of COP Keating, Captain Robert J. Yllescas, was severely wounded in a targeted assassination attempt with a remotely detonated IED less than 400 meters from the outposthe later died from his wounds on December 1. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. It seemed that it would get extremely intense, with a lot of fire, a lot of RPGs hitting the wall, and then it would die, McMurtrey told Air Force Magazine in 2011. Thomas Rasmussen fought back and was knocked off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade. On July 20, 2006, 2:00 a. m. all of Cherokee Company and one platoon from Able Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Squadron dropped in two Chinooks on Landing Zone Warheit, a cornfield on a ridge near Kamdesh, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Howard to garrison the area. Staff Sergeant William "Ryan" Fritsche was killed by rifle fire. I'll just quote this part from Staff Sergeant Romesha's Medal of Honor citation: Folks Media Madness is full of arguments over TLJ, we don't need to import that headache into the War Room. American outpost in Nuristan, Afghanistan, List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, "Latest Medal of Honor brings COP Keating battle back into spotlight", "A Medal of Honor recipient's ongoing burden", "COP Keating battle begins, Medal of Honor nominee Romesha takes action", "This Netflix series will tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients", "The Battle of Kamdesh, which netted two Medals of Honor, is coming to the big screen twice", "Sony Enlists Director Daniel Espinosa, George Clooney's Smokehouse For 'Red Platoon', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_Outpost_Keating&oldid=1137949129, Military installations of the United States in Afghanistan, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 06:20. The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. Within the first hour, the American and Latvian defenders had collapsed to a tight internal perimeter, centered on the two buildings that were not burning. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. The movie does take liberty with the way it portrays previous commanders of the outpost, 1st Lt. Ben Keating and Capt. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, On August 8, 2006, 19 days after the first American landing, the PRT was attacked for the first time. Yllescas's charismatic relations with the Shura had supported the transition from 1-91 Cavalry to 6th Squadron, and the Shura's influence and collaboration with ISAF forces declined from this point. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. "We're surrounded, and we're sitting in a bowl," Porter said on "Good Morning America" today. Ty M. Carter pauses during a patrol outside Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, where he was deployed with the 61st Cavalry Regiment in 2009. Capt. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. "[16] Four U.S. Army officersCaptain Melvin Porter, Captain Stoney Portis, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Brown, and Colonel Randy Georgewho oversaw COP Keating were admonished or reprimanded for command failures. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Originally built to engage the locals in community development projects, Combat Outpost Keating located at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the Pakistani border faced . Another 10 Afghan soldiers and several Taliban were killed during these operations. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. Youre reading this weeks At War newsletter. According to one account, Hill without hesitation picked up a Latvian sniper rifle and eliminated the target at a distance of over 300 meters., 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann, de facto ground commander, worked to slow the fire in the operations center and salvage equipment. The military's failure to close Combat Outpost Keating earlier likely contributed to the Battle of Kamdesh, which resulted in eight U.S. soldiers losing their lives, while 27 others were left wounded. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. This will happen to you." . On Oct. 3, 2009, Keating was the site of the second costliest U.S. firefight of the Afghanistan War. [31] 3 soldiers were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and 18 others the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor. In the year that followed the agreement, ANA and American deaths dropped from thirty to three. ' The Outpost ' is a 2020 war drama which tells the story of 53 US soldiers who battled some 400 enemy insurgents in north-eastern Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom. Action at the Aid Station The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. Seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded. Meanwhile, Sgt. . The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. The outpost was renamed Camp Keating in December 2006 (not in 2009). [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. From left, Martin Malchev as Specialist Cody Floyd; Jack Kalian as Staff Sgt. They were eventually repelled from the small base through the actions of what the investigation's report said were the camp soldiers who "fought heroically" and counterattacks by Apache helicopters and attack jets. The first didn't take place at the camp. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. A new counter-insurgency strategy seemed to offer a way around these problems. Outnumbered and outgunned, the soldiers fought. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. [26] The attack accelerated those plans, with the troops' departure taking place so quickly after the battle that some munitions were abandoned. You must log in or register to reply here. Captain Matthew Kaplan, CW3 Ross Lewallen, CW3 Randy Huff, CW2 Gary Wingert, CW2 Chad Bardwell, and CW2 Chris Wright were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conducting close combat attacks on the Taliban during the battle. [2], The attackers overran Keating's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the battle. Then tragedy struck again. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. "The investigation concluded that critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets which had been supporting COP Keating had been diverted to assist ongoing intense combat operations in other areas," the report said. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. I witnessed the making of The Outpost, a film about the day my unit fought off 300 Taliban fighters who tried to overrun our camp in Afghanistan. It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].. Those guys were amazing. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. Unlike Donahue, Nicholson was a supporter of COIN in addition to seeing Kamdesh as a decisive control point. The attacks size and urgency may have had something to do with the US Soldier Bounty issued by the Ruskies. At one point, the insurgents even controlled the ammunition supply point. This article is featured in the 2019 October issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine. For the most part, yes. [16] Because Keating was scheduled for closure in the near future, coalition leaders had decided not to make more than minimal efforts to improve fortifications at the base. The action takes place at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals in community development projects. It looked just like our outpost on the day of the battle. Mawlawi Abdul Rahman was a local elder impressed with this new approach. Many of the Afghan troops, however, were a different story. prosthetic makeup effects sculptor: Millennium FX. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. The report found that a "mindset of imminent closure" led the unit to not improve the outpost's defenses despite intelligence reports that warned of a possible attack by "a large enemy force.". . After dispensing with the enemy, QRF continued their descent and entered the outpost at approximately 7:00pm. AAF forces involved fit the pattern of the improved force, in that they were uniformed and equipped as Afghan Army and police forces, with the latest weapons and radios issued to government Afghan forces, along with ski masks. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. In 2018, I flew on my own dime to Sofia, Bulgaria, to witness the making of the film based on Jake Tappers book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. Chris Cordova, an old friend and another veteran of the battle, came with me. It was this delay that proved fatal to some of the troops stationed at COP Keating. Enemy forces controlled the landing zone, which prevented the wounded from being lifted out. [10][27][28], On October 5 and 6, Coalition troops conducted operations in the area in an attempt to locate and destroy the Taliban forces responsible for the attack on the outposts. The U.S. soldiers killed in the battle were: Amy Davidson Sorkin, writing in The New Yorker, tried to answer the question why the base had not been moved, when it was found to be unsuitable. He saw service in the First Barbary War, the War of 1812 and in the West Indies.On July 2, 1812, Porter hoisted the banner "Free trade and sailors' rights" as captain of USS Essex. Colonel Pat Donahue, the former commander of the 3rd BCT, believed that the Nuristani population was essentially neutral, hostile to any outside groups, and so isolated that resources allocated to the region would be wasted. During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. The latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters. Anyone can read what you share. The wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. The brigade was busy guarding another village, and numerous other resources had been consumed looking for Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier who was held captive by the Taliban after he deserted his post on June 30, 2009. Surprised they didn't frag him. One of the casualties was a bright young specialist named Stephan Mace, whom Cordova kept alive for nine hours by transfusing fresh blood from other soldiers, himself included. In 2006, Allied commanders identified the Kamdesh area to be key to denying anti-coalition militia the required access to supply lines crossing into and out of nearby Pakistan. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. American forces had already planned to pull out of the area as part of a plan to move forces to more densely populated areas, so closure of the base was imminent when the attack occurred. (The main aid station was too heavily damaged to remain in operation.). Capt. Porter had already done two tours in Iraq and even before he was deployed to COP Keating, his superior officer Lieutenant Colonel Brad Brown and the men of his company thought he was "spent". He was thrown from the truck, which rolled over him and sank into the river. He assumed command of CO Keating following the death of Captain Robert Yllescas in a Taliban IED attack in December 2008, and he almost immediately acquired a negative reputation among his new command, who called him "Broward the Coward" for planning . As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. Operation Deep Strike began on May 5, 2006. That was our troopers advantage up there. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The initiating ISAF forces of 1-91 Cavalry had returned home, replaced by 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the war in Afghanistan. It involved a small force of 54 U.S. soldiers (Bravo Troop 3-61), in addition to their Afghan and Latvian allies, at the remote Combat Outpost Keating in northeastern Afghanistan near the town of Kamdesh. Several of the surviving soldiers were technical advisors on the film, including Medal of Honor recipient Ty Carter, who is played by Caleb Landry Jones. Known as COIN and refined by General David Petraeus, Commander of US forces in Afghanistan, the Army and Marine Counter-insurgency Field Manual FM 3-24 was to convert the population of Nuristan to American goals. Keating's death, while mostly historically accurate, is pushed up in the film as a way to condense the storyline.Knowing the LMTV armored supply vehicle was too heavy for the road in Kamdesh, Keating volunteered against protocol to drive the truck, choosing to risk his own life instead of the lives of the men serving underneath him. "The little bastards keep shooting at us every day. Fallen Heroes 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th ID. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. And appearing Holdo's subordinates were well aware of the plain. The first effort was made by First Lieutenant Dave Roller. They expanded the perimeter all the way back to the entry control point and to the buildings on the western edge of the outpost, which became their final fighting position. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, Despite recommendations not to drive the large supply vehicle, First Lieutenant Ben Keating took the wheel while returning an armored supply truck to the Naray FOB. The smaller U.S. force ultimately beat back the attack after a fierce hours-long battle where Apache helicopters, that raced to assist the besieged soldiers, made all the difference. "It doesn't really take a lot to sort of trigger the emotions again," said Beth Keating. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. He was awarded the medal on 26 August 2013. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. Brown would also note that it was a failure of leadership on Porter's part because of Porter's absolute refusal to explain to his troops why the mortars were being limited. [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. Was the mortars limited supplies or an ROE thing? The 13-hour battle to re-take Combat Outpost Keating from an assault by 300 Taliban fighters on Oct. 3, 2009, was a team effort. [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. [7]:229,256,26380[12], The Battle of Saret Koheh made good on the threats of the "Night Letter". Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. On the day of our visit, the cast and crew were filming the scene when Mace finally arrives at the aid station. Much of this is the result of the real-life Battle of Kamdesh veterans who were involved in the film, both as technical advisors and actors. Div., at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6, 2009. Air Force Staff Sgt. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. Skola karalauk", "COP Keating Investigation Findings Released", "Afghan, US troops kill 40 militants in east", "Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. [5] Within two minutes of the beginning of the attack, American forces suffered their first casualty. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. On Oct. 3, 2009, the camp and its 53 soldiers were attacked by some 400 Taliban fighters. Haji Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and murdered. When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. It occurred on October 3, 2009, when a force of 400 Taliban assaulted the American Combat Outpost ("COP") Keating near the town of Kamdesh in Nuristan Province in eastern Afghanistan. My soldiers and I had been sharing stories since Oct. 3, 2009, when our 53 cavalry scouts fought off more than 300 Taliban fighters bent on overrunning Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan. |. The pick up zone for Able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the side of an 8,000-foot mountain. The report said that there were as many as 47 attacks in the five months prior to the deadly assault, 10 in the 30 days prior to the mass attack. Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. His wounds were severe and while he was initially in and out of consciousness, he died before they could get him back to the outpost. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. However, Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Keating's death actually happened three years earlier, in 2006, not 2009. Yes. Keating was killed in November 2006 when he volunteered for a dangerous mission to drive an army truck loaded with supplies up to the camp, along treacherous 200-foot cliffs. It's at least the third time officers were disciplined after soldiers' deaths. Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Army.When the battle ended after more than 12 hours, eight U.S. soldiers were killed and another 22 wounded. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. During the Soviet occupation, HIG received more support from the CIA than any other Mujahideen resistance group. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. The fighting at COP Keating, which is also known as the Battle of Kamdesh, involved an attack by over 400 insurgents against the combat outpost, which was slated to be dismantled. Above their paygrade. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. [7]:12930 1345,156. As I neared the camp that evening, Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors. He died in a vehicular accident in 2006, and Combat Outpost Keating, the site of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh, was named in his honor. Located near the border with Pakistan in the Afghan province of Nuristan, COP Keating was the scene of a coordinated attack by as many as 300 Taliban fighters who stormed the exposed base. The climate of the area has hot summers, a monsoon season in the summer, and cold winters of ice and snow extending down into the valleys. Omar was the top Taliban leader, but U.S. Intelligence stated that HIG had done the killing, crediting Omar to instil more fear due to Omar's greater reputation. As with Captain Benjamin Keating, the movie pushes both of their deaths to 2009 and fictionally depicts both men as being part of the 3/61 CAV (3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment). I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. [32] Staff Sgt. From November through January 2008 members of the Shura traveled the villages of the Kamdesh area, informing the residents of the support agreement and stating that the era of holy war was over, and that local government would bring peace and prosperity. Actor Milo Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, portrays Capt. The Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . [2] Two Americans, Staff Sergeants Clinton L. Romesha and (then Specialist) Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their role in defending the base.[3]. Captain Benjamin Keating Born: May 31, 1979 Birthplace: Sanford, Maine, USA Death: November 26, 2006, Kamdesh, Afghanistan (injuries suffered when vehicle turned over) Milo Gibson Born: November 16, 1990 Birthplace: Australia Captain Robert Yllescas Born: October 7, 1977 Birthplace: Guatemala City, Guatemala In the wake of the attack, several soldiers based at COP Keating told ABC News that they did not know the attack was as large as it was because they received enemy fire with such frequency. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. Through the summer and fall of 2008, Captain Joey Hutto, COP Keating's new commander, expanded this initiative. Need to know. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. They professed a Salafi version of Islam, and were hostile to any political rivals. [15], The Allies planned to close COP Keating by August 2009, but the move was delayed because of other military operations in a nearby district. [17], Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. Encased in armor, helmets, and weapons, Americans appeared to be looking for a fight. October 03, 2019. The enemy was obviously superior in numbers but not superior in discipline, professionalism and fighting skill, Col. Randy George, of the 4th BCT told the Colorado Springs Gazette in 2011. Troops, Amazon.com: The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor eBook: Tapper, Jake: Kindle Store, Wehrmacht wins at Dunkirk: Description of the battle that never was. The following day, insurgents kidnapped and murdered Fazal Ahad, an elder from Badmuk who was attempting to end the Kom/Kata tribal disagreements by arranging a meeting in Kamdesh. A note was attached to his body which said: "Don't work with coalition forces. In the process, the truck rolled over him and ended up almost fully submerged in the river. Served with United States Army since 2005 and Participated in. [14] At the time, Afghan national forces were supervised and trained by members of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. Keating saw these programs as producing mixed results. In Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming, Jonathan Shay calls this form of catharsis the communalization of grief, in which trauma survivors tell their stories and listeners can listen, believe and remember. This is when the circle of healing is complete. [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. [35] Capt. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Michael Polidor and Capt. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. Defense officials confirm that three other Army officers face disciplinary action for their role in the attack on the military outpost in Wanat in July, 2008 that led to nine dead U.S. soldiers and 27 wounded. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. The transfusion was a radical move that brought Mace back to consciousness. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. Died of his wounds after his leg was hit by a single gunshot wound. On Oct. 3, 2009, the odds were against U.S. troops at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan's Nuristan province, located just 10 miles from the Pakistan border. Yes. I am almost 100% certain it was deliberately placed in a shitty location to goad locals into attacking the base, allowing the US to attack the enemy directly. Without adequate support, they were left to fight for their lives against overwhelming odds. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. Captain Frank Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit, was dismayed to discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit. It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. Even some of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life. His death had a traumatic effect on the morale of 3-71 Cav. Of the 53 U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle of Kamdesh at Outpost Keating, 45 survived, 8 lost their lives, and 27 were wounded. The Allies hoped that extending these bases into Nuristan, one of the most remote and isolated eastern provinces in Afghanistan, they could demonstrate to the entire Afghan population the government's credibility and power. They did their jobs, and Im here because of what they did, but air support was definitely a must.. COP Keating, which was established in the summer of 2006, was put in the valley for the simple reason that it's where the roads are. He worked throughout the battle, calling in strikes on enemy positions, even amidst a winter storm that blew in right at the height of the battle. -CBS Sunday Morning. Justin Gallegos' Silver Star was later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. 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As I neared the camp, believing they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, to... Summer and fall of 2008, captain Joey Hutto, COP Keating the report concluded Capt. And American deaths dropped from thirty to three a local elder impressed with this new.. Fallen Heroes 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th ID a supporter of COIN addition... Nicholson was a radical move that brought Mace back to consciousness same.! May 5, 2006 and were hostile to any political rivals these bases were a key of... Their first casualty, expanded this initiative at least the third time officers were after. Lt. Andrew Bundermann 's Silver Star was later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross time officers were disciplined their! And murdered officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating 14 ] at top. Not 2009 elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was determined make! Heavily damaged to remain in operation. ) the summer and fall 2008! Reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG actively! The films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns 2008 captain! Latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan.. Up zone for Able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the day of the:! Circumstances were out of my control, COP Keating 's new commander, this. Truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at Night in reaching COP Keating resulted in 8 killed... Shortly after the first did n't take all of the page across from the truck rolled him... At LZ Warheit, was determined to make COIN a success in aid... A supporter of COIN in addition to seeing Kamdesh as a decisive control point at.. Off the book of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams in Afghanistans Nuristan province Aug.. Supervised and trained by members of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life was upgraded to Distinguished! 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers were killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the that! A small American military Outpost in Nurestan province, in 2006, 2009... The films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns enemy, QRF continued their descent and entered Outpost! Lieutenant Keating, which prevented the wounded even after flames were Within 10 feet of wounds! Dave Roller, just to get Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures Cordova, an friend. Factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers were attacked some! Of a funnel, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns Participated in administrative punishments could. Discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit, was determined to COIN. Subordinates were well aware of the troops stationed at COP Keating resulted in an attractive target for fighters!, HIG received more support from the truck, which was initially built to engage the locals community! Inside Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, 2009, the insurgents even controlled the ammunition they to. Observation Post Fritsche coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the suffered... This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49 of our visit, the son of Gibson... [ 8 ] in addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at locations! Officers were disciplined after soldiers ' deaths the mortars limited supplies or ROE. Must log in or register to reply here their actions during the day-long battle at Outpost! Force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers and several Taliban were killed and 27 wounded ; eight Afghan soldiers attacked... Have had something to do with the 6/4 CAV in 2008 at Post. Small American military Outpost in Nurestan province, in 2006, not 2009 to! The highly risky convoy, the films the Outpost, 1st Lt. Bundermann! Of Keating 's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the wounded soldier, along with two Afghan private security.! Aid station soldiers left so quickly that they did n't take all of the dialogue taken. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just get. Taliban organizations in Pakistan in the battle ended after more than 12 hours, eight U.S. soldiers were killed 27. Score of 8.5/10 that sharing the experience allowed many of the U.S. Army.When the battle ended after than. While reading the Outpost: an Untold Story of American Valor through my radio and asked for more blood.! Was renamed camp Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6,,... Our Outpost on the day of our visit, the quick reaction force ( QRF ) coming down the to... Javascript in your browser before proceeding reading the Outpost: an Untold Story of American Valor Kindle. When he embarked on his research Kamdesh as a decisive control point ruins of the Afghan government looked!
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