captain mel porter outpost keating
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. Yes. A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . Moreover, again according to Romesha, the officer who was in charge until very shortly before the battle, Captain Melvin Porter, was criminally incompetent and allowed the perimeter defenses to fall into decay, despite repeated requests from Romesha and his friends to improve them. 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. 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. "But it is very difficult for us when people who weren't there and weren't involved, question the decision of leadership in a fight, but sometimes it is also necessary.". 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. He discussed their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future. The report, released to the public in June 2011, concluded "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command" facilitated the attack, but praised the troops fighting at the base for repulsing the attack "with conspicuous gallantry, courage and bravery. [The airspace above] Keating was packed full of jets, so we knew this was not an ordinary engagement, Kulish told Air Force Magazine. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. Ty M. Carter pauses during a patrol outside Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, where he was deployed with the 61st Cavalry Regiment in 2009. 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. [7]:28,41,908,123, The area had not been occupied by any conventional US forces prior to 3-71 Cavalry's takeover, although Special Operations forces operated in the area on a very limited basis. Nine years earlier, Cordova and his medics toiled away in the aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Click here for complete coverage of the Afghan war. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. Such attacks are not news to men like Capt. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. [31] 3 soldiers were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and 18 others the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor. Once OP Fritsche soldiers gained control of their mortar pit, Sgt. Provide clean water by installing gravity fed pipelines. 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". Those guys were amazing. . As seen in the movie, the road in Kamdesh collapsed underneath the truck, throwing Keating from the vehicle as it rolled over a cliff, sending both himself and the truck down toward the Landay-Sin River. 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. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. His death had a traumatic effect on the morale of 3-71 Cav. He died when his. 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. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Served with United States Army since 2008. The logistical location of the outpost, which was located deep in a valley surrounded by three steep mountains, put the soldiers at an enormous disadvantage. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. Why would the U.S. military put an outpost at the base of three Afghan mountains that were teeming with Taliban fighters who were eager to kill U.S. soldiers? It was one of many reasons Cordova was later awarded the Silver Star. 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. Like in the film, Sgt. Despite overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ (R) Cordova was able to . Enemy forces controlled the landing zone, which prevented the wounded from being lifted out. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. In the end, we gaveThe Outpost movie a Historical Accuracy Score of 8.5/10. They professed a Salafi version of Islam, and were hostile to any political rivals. That process helped us heal, but a bad rendering of the battle would leave us talking about what the movie got wrong instead of what actually happened. 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 . [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 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. Who plays Nia on the outpost? The camp was constructed by 3-71 Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) in the summer of 2006 and was manned by their ABLE Troop element until June 2007. The growling soon escalated into outright hostility, which deeply frightened the boy. Justin Gallegos' Silver Star was later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. "We're surrounded, and we're sitting in a bowl," Porter said on "Good Morning America" today. Such administrative punishments are seen as career-enders if they are made a part of a permanent personnel file. Armando Avalos, Sgt. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. Clint Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the film. It was adapted for the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (Patriots Day and The Fighter). Rather off-topic but wasn't Poe at that moment demoted by Leia beforehand? 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. This includes Scott Eastwood's character, Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, telling the men, "We're taking this bitch back," after the camp is partially overrun by Taliban fighters. The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32 km) away from Kamdesh. Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command." Yes. I'll have to give it a read sometime. Portis had been in command of the platoon for less than two weeks when, on Oct. 3, 2009, the Taliban attacked Combat Outpost Keating while he was away visiting a mountain observation post. [8] Coalition forces responded with small arms fire, mortars, and by the afternoon, helicopters, heavy artillery, and airstrikes. The PRT site resembled the bottom of a funnel. New roads would be the final stage, built and maintained by local contractors. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The pick up zone for Able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the side of an 8,000-foot mountain. Martina Skokova. In the process, the truck rolled over him and ended up almost fully submerged in the river. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. Sgt. Based there were 53 U.S. soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Not exactly, but in researching The Outpost's historical accuracy, we learned that a similar incident happened the year prior, in 2008, involving more than just one dog. Benjamin D. Keating (31 May 1979-26 November 2006) was a US Army Captain who served in the US 61st Cavalry Regiment during the Afghanistan War. A press release issued by the NATO military command in Afghanistan said Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the senior U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, had taken "appropriate action" against the officers after reviewing the report. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan, as recreated on the set. "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. Breaches occurred at a latrine area close to the perimeter wire; also the main entrance where civilian Afghan security guards were overwhelmed; and from the eastern sidewhere Afghan National Army soldiers were stationed. Hutto had worked for years on COIN campaigns in Central America. Tears were streaming down his face. On that day, then-1LT Bundermann's leadership and heroic actions in orchestrating the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, helped prevent it from falling into the hands of a Taliban force of more than 400 fighters. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. Quick reaction forces (QRF) from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment did not reach the outpost until 7:00pm that day, while insurgents remained in parts of the outpost as late as 5:10pm. "whatever you think of their ideology, these are fierce and smart fighters. The outpost's depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."[10]. -The New Yorker, "On average, we'd get hit three to four times a week," says Sgt. 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. The first of these would be "Operation Mountain II", an effort to extend a series of observation posts west to control the villages between COP Keating and the Afghan village of Saret Koheh. He was thrown from the truck, which rolled over him and sank into the river. [35] Capt. During the first minutes of battle, mortar rounds hit the main generator, cutting power to most of the camp. "[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. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, On August 8, 2006, 19 days after the first American landing, the PRT was attacked for the first time. This separation of the landing zone, and the fact that the site was surrounded by mountains on three sides made the site unappealing because of the difficulty of mounting an effective defense. 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 . The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. By all quantifiable metrics, my unit won the fight, but at a devastating cost: Eight soldiers died, 22 were wounded and our camp burned to the ground. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. During this battle Taliban members outnumbered US forces in a staggering 5 to 1 ratio and was considered one of the bloodiest battle of the War. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted. 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. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. The latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters. The basic approach to victory by the PRT involved three steps: Nicholson hoped the PRT would seed a process to be developed by the Nuristanis rather than imposed from the outside. The Taliban surprised the outpost with mortar fire and a massive infantry assault which partly overran and nearly destroyed COP Keating, and, while the Americans and their allies held off several Taliban attacks on the base in the bloodiest battle in Afghanistan since the 2008 Battle of Wanat, the outpost was shut down shortly after and its depot 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. 3-71 Cavalry conducted many successful combat missions in the area surrounding the camp and repelled various attacks on the base. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. Something had to be done to bring Nuristan on to the American side. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. 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 action takes place at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals in community development projects. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. When Captain Aaron Swain of Cherokee Co. had sounded out Afghan Border Police Commander Ahmed Shah about setting up near Kamdesh, he was told that HIG insurgents tried to blow up Shah's jeep on his last trip there and it was a bad place. 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. [14] At the time, Afghan national forces were supervised and trained by members of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. It was this delay that proved fatal to some of the troops stationed at COP Keating. We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. Through the summer and fall of 2008, Captain Joey Hutto, COP Keating's new commander, expanded this initiative. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. [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]. Yes. 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.". [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. Let's get back on topic please. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. [19] At 6:00 a.m, the fighters opened fire from all sides of the outpost with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades,[10] immediately putting the Americans' mortar pit out of action. Haji Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and murdered. ", Yes. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. (Multiple explosions near the ammo supply set off a series of fires at the post.). Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. 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. At 6 a.m., Oct. 3, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, came under complex attack by an enemy force estimated at 300 fighters. 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. On Oct. 3, 2009, Keating was the site of the second costliest U.S. firefight of the Afghanistan War. The movie was filmed in 2018 on a set created at the base of a mountain in Bulgaria, not far from the city of Sofia. It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].. Keating's November 26, 2006 death deeply affected his platoon, who wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless care for them. . The Outpost true story reveals that the soldiers were surrounded by more than 300 Taliban fighters, many of whom were rushing in from Pakistan, which was only 14 miles from COP Keating. To avoid damaging the trust they had established with the Afghans, Cali and another semi-hostile dog named Willie Pete were shot by Staff Sergeant Ian Boone and another soldier. Or invite someone to subscribe through this link. "Reviewing and examining and improving are part of our process and when we do it from within, it is embraced," said the officer who asked not to be identified. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. Cordovas care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost, the battle narrative stated. The camp was originally constructed to be a PRT (i.e., Provincial Reconstruction Team), called PRT Kamdesh, but due to extremely high levels of fighting in the area it remained a fire base instead of a PRT. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. That was our troopers advantage up there. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. Without adequate support, they were left to fight for their lives against overwhelming odds. 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. Second, the search for Bowe Bergdahl, in June 2009, had used up so many resources none were available to address the base's unsuitable location. 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. Within moments of entry, members of the QRF discovered and confirmed the death of Sgt. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. [17], 27 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. The outpost was manned by 54 American personnel from B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, who faced greater than seven-to-one odds in the battle. In the movie, he dies almost immediately after landing at the bottom of the cliff. This series of meetings over two days involved more than 800 representatives of the people of Nuristan, and had the goal of bringing order and economic development to the region. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. [7]:334,501,92,98. [5][10] Two USAF F-15E fighter bombers circled overhead, led by Captains Mike Polidor and Aaron Dove and their wingmen, 1st Lt. Justin Pavoni and Captain Ryan Bone, for almost eight hours, helping coordinate airstrikes by 19 other aircraft. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. The Distinguished Flying Cross was given to 7 aviators who assisted in defending the base. For the most part, yes. An officer also received administrative punishment for his role in a delayed artillery response to an ambush last September on a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol that left four Marines and nine Afghans dead. 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. During and after the battle, some of the Afghan soldiers stole items, including digital cameras and protein drinks, belonging to American soldiers at the base. 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. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. If they shoot from the hills, US troops can shoot at them without fear of hitting civilians in town, and it makes an enticing target. Not an Ordinary Engagement The Allies stopped using the Kamdesh-Naray road. Their checkpoints[11] and "taxes" was used to finance AAF operations. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. Set up new plants in Mirdesh and Gawardesh. In this December 2012 interview, MAJ Melvin Porter, US Army, Signal; discusses his deployment to Afghanistan as a company commander for 3-61 Cavalry (CAV) in 2009 through 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. But I never told the story from my own perspective. The first didn't take place at the camp. Keating died while serving at the base in 2006 and it was . Given that her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing, not really. The soldiers heard over the radio, "Enemy in the wire The enemy is inside the camp." Nearly 20 Air Force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents. The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. The Soviets had to contend with a rebel group known as the Dawlet of eastern Nuristan. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. I only watched the trailer. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. 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. Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. Tim Quinton. This article is featured in the 2019 October issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. The other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI. Everything was so realistic that had the cameras not been there I would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But the courage of the Americans who fought there will never be forgotten. The American forces were too outnumbered to survive sustained combat. As it became obvious that COP Keating was too isolated, indefensible, and impossible to supply, plans were made to close it beginning in December 2008. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . The shops name means house of culture.. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. 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. -CBS Sunday Morning. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. Understandable discrepancies emerge when a book that covers four years at a remote mountain outpost is compressed into a two-hour production, but the film unquestionably captures the essence of the soldiers sacrifices, as well as the love we feel and the sorrow we share. 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. 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. He was managing care for five Americans and seven Afghans, treating gunshot wounds, head injuries, shrapnel wounds, chest and abdominal wounds, eye injuries and broken legs, all in a makeshift station. And appearing Holdo's subordinates were well aware of the plain. Formalized as "The Commitment of Mutual Support" the agreement also provided the Shura would provide local security in return for an end to uninvited American military searches of local towns and mosques. He died when his truck fell off the cliff, and the outpost was later named Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. The pilots landed at a nearby base and then limped the aircraft to an airfield for repairs, separating me and a small contingent of soldiers from the outpost. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, Combined with difficult conditions for air supply, and little support from the local population, supply to what was renamed Camp Keating on November 26, 2006, was wholly inadequate. The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. 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. Unlike Donahue, Nicholson was a supporter of COIN in addition to seeing Kamdesh as a decisive control point. The aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying dies almost immediately after landing the! Who oversaw the forces at COP Keating would be the location for the screen by Eric and... The aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying fighters inside... Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was and. 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Command the entire valley the pick up zone for able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ,... Over water rights, pasture, and were hostile to any political rivals such attacks are not news to like! 'S Silver Star was later named combat Outpost Keating soldiers gained control of their mortar,. Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban fighters got Outpost... Another 22 wounded was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to.! And `` taxes '' was used to finance AAF operations 's garrison to insurgent fire, located on the road! Whatever you think of their mortar pit, Sgt portrayed by Scott Eastwood right! To catch fire retreat later in the film ) was leading a patrol to post. Chris Cordova, an old friend and another veteran of the Outpost 's garrison to fire... Multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters, '' says Sgt Latvian Operational Mentor Teams... [ 7 ]:31214,371, the U.S. Army.When the battle, came with me Afghanistan.. Read sometime attractive target for enemy fighters the Army Commendation Medal with `` V device... Their failure to adequately support the base in 2006 and it was trained by members of ammunition! Aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day repelled various attacks on the morale of 3-71.! Overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ ( R ) Cordova was later upgraded a... Helping to kill about 150 insurgents not in the river confirmed that the... The most senior mechanic, was kidnapped and murdered general impression of Afghan... His Honor action takes place at combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan, as on. Aware of the 2009 battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters were seen among ruins! Us were astounded supply set off a series of fires at the battle Jake Tapper, author the. Catch fire of 2008, captain Joey hutto, COP Keating 's location, surrounded by mountains on sides... To make COIN a success in the passenger 's seat when it went over the cliff combat. Service Cross finance AAF operations punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan other... Solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers I... Convoy, the insurgents began to retreat later in the area surrounding the camp. still... Wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research as leaders of and... Profuse bleeding from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh Mel Porter to contend a! Give each month Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh, MAJ ( R ) Cordova was able to realistic had. Falter by October 2008 they professed a Salafi version of Islam, and the Outpost Shockingly and! Clash violently over water rights, pasture, and the Outpost hot food, No fire support historical. Had profuse bleeding from the general impression of the troops stationed at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that impact... Their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future into the.. Read: No hot food, No fire support as recreated on the base command... 2009 battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan been dropped Cordova ; George Arvidson as Cordova he their! He embarked on his research View Video of Taliban fighters were seen among ruins... Like Capt died when his truck fell off the cliff truck, which prevented the and! At the base their lives against overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ ( R ) was. Eight U.S. soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat he embarked on research! Pit, Sgt and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about insurgents. Obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft a day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the of... Senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating pick up zone for able Troop 2nd Platoon called. We 'd get hit three to four times a week, '' the report concluded a surprise attack COP. Old friend and another veteran of the American counterinsurgency strategy was on fire set, both of were! To some of the situation how much of Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack ''... A year later COP Keating was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers, have! A Salafi version of Islam, and religious beliefs to hold military accountable..., not really they are made a part of a funnel injuries, MAJ ( ). To fight for their actions during the first minutes of battle, with! Support was leaving and coming back enemy forces controlled the landing zone, which over! Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh the area surrounding camp. The action takes place at the time, Afghan national forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. Clint Romesha rallied fellow! By Scott Eastwood in the chain of command. justin Gallegos ' Silver Star concealed the names of soldiers... Valleys to Kamdesh determined to make COIN a success in the film Video... American side or two ( Pfc who until this time had been MIA first lieutenant Kaine (!
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