They professed a Salafi version of Islam, and were hostile to any political rivals. 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. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. Staff Sergeant William "Ryan" Fritsche was killed by rifle fire. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. Chris Cordova with actors who portrayed him and medics under his command. This had the potential to boost the local economy, which had seen few civic improvements. 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. Members of 10th Mountain Division's 1-32 Infantry Regiment were air lifted to the nearest helicopter landing zone on OP Fritsche and arrived at approximately 2:00pm, as recalled by a soldier on scene. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. 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. Area of Operations. This seems to be displayed rather accurately in the movie, at least with regard to how it's described in Tapper's book. [5] Within two minutes of the beginning of the attack, American forces suffered their first casualty. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. A bus carrying employees of an Afghan television station was bombed in Kabul on May 30. are assisting Somali soldiers fighting Al Shabab, and by a health care system that utterly failed him, The case has irritated U.S. relations with a crucial military ally. According to army records, the Taliban commander of the attack on Keating, Abdul Rahman Mustaghni, was killed by the following drone strike along with thirteen other insurgents. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. Surprised they didn't frag him. 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. October 03, 2019. Written by CNN journalist Jake Tapper, he tells the story of soldiers living in the remote mountains of Afghanistan and Combat Outpost Keating. 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. 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. Without adequate support, they were left to fight for their lives against overwhelming odds. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Keating's story was in the news again earlier this year; he was portrayed in the movie "The Outpost," which tells the story of one of the bloodiest battles in the war in Afghanistan. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. 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 wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . Lieutenant Colonel Mike Howard, Squadron Commander, saw COIN as a process of providing three services: This would improve the local economy while providing improved communications with the central government and the rest of the nation. It's at least the third time officers were disciplined after soldiers' deaths. He jumped up undeterred and ran through heavy fire to get more ammunition. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. The Soviets had to contend with a rebel group known as the Dawlet of eastern Nuristan. In Afghanistan, MAJ (R) Cordova was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating on the 3rd of October 2009. [17], 27 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another deployment. 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 [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. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other 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. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. Those guys were amazing. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. Then tragedy struck again. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. [17], Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. A base at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. 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. [7]:334,501,92,98. 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. 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. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. Or invite someone to subscribe through this link. He wanted to avoid risking the lives of his men while traveling on an unstable road subject to ambush with an overweight vehicle. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. The entire Outpost Keating was recreated. An additional 4 Afghan allied fighters also died. Two days before the attack, I was en route to a mountaintop observation post when the helicopter I was flying in was hit by enemy fire. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He decided that American soldiers' "battle rattle" war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines. The Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . 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. [9], Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron "Destroyers", 61st Cavalry Regiment manned COP Keating. [7]:229,256,26380[12], The Battle of Saret Koheh made good on the threats of the "Night Letter". American military operations in Kamdesh were affected as soon as units began gathering for deployment in the area. [7]:21530, The closeness of the action, and coordinated fire from both sides of the valley indicated that the attackers in this ambush were different from the groups that had been using sporadic, long range, harassing fire. (The main aid station was too heavily damaged to remain in operation.). Soldiers with 1st Plt., B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. [18], At about 3:00a.m. on October 3, over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. 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. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. [8] US Army soldiers at both outposts had been ordered to prepare to evacuate the outposts and had informed local Afghan leaders of their intention to do so. Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. This agreement would recognize the authority of the Hundred Man Shura, and provide funds for economic development. The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. Seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded. One officer in Afghanistan who was familiar with the attack on COP Keating said he had mixed feelings about the criticism leveled against the camp's commanders. Stoney Portis, an officer in the Army and a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, is a guest contributor to the At War newsletter. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. Jayson Souter, and 1st Lt. Cason Shrode, including attack helicopters, A-10s, a B-1 bomber, and F-15 fighters, destroyed the local mosque, where much of the insurgents' heaviest fire originated. 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. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. But I never told the story from my own perspective. Youre reading this weeks At War newsletter. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. 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. He was thrown from the truck, which rolled over him and sank into the river. In the movie, a dog that some of the soldiers at the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder. 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. Unconfirmed footage reportedly shows a short segment from a November 2008 battle at Combat Outpost (COP) Keating, in which ISAF troops attempt to defend the stupidly-placed position from an enemy that holds the high ground on all sides. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. The Los Angeles gift shop Bunkado, at center with a fan on its sign, in the 1950s. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. On Oct. 3, while Cordova was in the aid station keeping Mace alive, I was fighting to get back with a company of reinforcements. They performed heroically and bravely.. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. Haji Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and murdered. 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. It was only then that I truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the healing process. JT: First Lieutenant Ben Keating, who is the namesake of the camp, he was, he had Pressfield's book with him, and he was reading it, and it was a lesson to him. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. "[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. 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. The bounty was a thing back then? Even some of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life. 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. 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. 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. The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. "It doesn't really take a lot to sort of trigger the emotions again," said Beth Keating. Captain Melvin Porter, 4th Infantry Division, US Army, said: "We're sitting in a bowl so we are constantly under observation." This is how the war went at COP Keating: a few pot shots from. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. Above their paygrade. The difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence to explain anything. The idea was to stop the insurgents' supply lines coming in from Pakistan. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. 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. Sylvanius Broward (1972-) was a US Army captain who served in the US 61st Cavalry Regiment during the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.. History. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. Served with United States Army since 2008. Director Rod Lurie is himself a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. The outpost's depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed on October 6 by a B-1 bomber in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind. 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. Died of his wounds after his legs were hit by RPG shrapnel. It was this delay that proved fatal to some of the troops stationed at COP Keating. Several days after the battle, U.S. aircraft bombed the location in an effort to destroy any munitions that remained. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. 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 report concluded that it was the lack of adequate defenses that made Keating "an attractive target" for the Taliban. 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. A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. These resources were limited by the fact that only 5,000 American troops were available to occupy a rugged area the size of Virginia that had little infrastructure. I stood silently in the corner and watched a rendition of the story I previously told through sympathy letters to the families of the fallen, in award write-ups for my soldiers and during lectures for military leaders. And he was becoming disillusioned with the possibility of what he thought. 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. The camp burned into the night and some of the building walls fell to the ground. Shot in the head by a Taliban sniper after being wounded by RPG fire. 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. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. 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. A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. 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