[7]:803,945,11620, After marching into the proposed site for the Kamdesh provincial outpost, Captain Michael and Cherokee Company's second platoon were confronted by a large boulder in the middle of the site that made landing a helicopter in the PRT site impossible. 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. [17], Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. [The airspace above] Keating was packed full of jets, so we knew this was not an ordinary engagement, Kulish told Air Force Magazine. 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. The Nuristanis had resisted Islam as late as the year 1895 and before that had been considered a Hindu nation (Islamic invaders called them "Kaffir" or heathen) with a long tradition of violently resisting outsiders and their beliefs. 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]. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? However, author Jake Tapper says that this is entirely untrue. The letter stated: "At the present time for those who work and obey the American devils by taking contracts for building schools, road, and power plants: also those who work as police, district administrators, and commanders as well as sold-out mullahs who deny Allah's orders and holy war and deny the holy Quran: We are telling you that we are continuing our holy war in Allah's will Soon we will start our operations." Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. 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. American forces formed a thinly held and poorly supplied picket line from Naray to Kamdesh along the river. Area of Operations. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. Surprised they didn't frag him. An after-action report stated that within less than a few minutes of fighting, the Afghan soldiers serving at Keating, as well as the Afghan security guards, had fled their positions, allowing the enemy to quickly overrun the post. The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Nuristan provincial reconstruction team base was strongly recommended by Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani. Died of his wounds after his leg was hit by a single gunshot wound. Outnumbered and outgunned, the soldiers fought. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . They were commanded by Captain Tom Bostick. Director Rod Lurie is himself a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. Click here for complete coverage of the Afghan war. 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. 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. 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. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. 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. 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. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. 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. [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. 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. "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.". 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. Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. [7]:228,249,469, At the end of May 2007, Bulldog Troop, 1-91 Cavalry Squadron, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, arrived at COP Keating. The bounty was a thing back then? The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. They performed heroically and bravely.. The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. 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. Armando Avalos, Sgt. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. Mawlawi Abdul Rahman was a local elder impressed with this new approach. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . The report said the heroic action of American and Afghan soldiers contributed to a "severe tactical defeat for the Taliban" that resulted in as many as 150 Taliban fighters being killed. [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. Set up new plants in Mirdesh and Gawardesh. 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. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. Div., at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6, 2009. 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 movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. [7]:803,945,11620, While attempting the pickup, a Chinook transport helicopter crashed in the darkness at 10:09 PM when the rear rotor hit a tree, and the helicopter slid down the slope and over a cliff, exploding in flames and killing all the crew and passengers. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. "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. Many of the Afghan National Army members there in support of the coalition troops fled. Combat. The soldiers heard over the radio, "Enemy in the wire The enemy is inside the camp." Ty M. Carter pauses during a patrol outside Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, where he was deployed with the 61st Cavalry Regiment in 2009. These subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders. Let's get back on topic please. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. . 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. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. [20] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. 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.". In May 2016 CBS News profiled Staff Sergeant Romesha, after he published an account of his experiences at the base, entitled Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor. 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. 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. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. For the most part, yes. -The Outpost book. A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. In the movie, a dog that some of the soldiers at the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder. [38], The battle of Kamdesh is documented in the 2017 book Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor by Clinton Romesha, a former United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle for Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Yes. 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. 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 . Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. 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. It was only then that I truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the healing process. You are using an out of date browser. Died of his wounds after his legs were hit by RPG shrapnel. Meanwhile, back at the aid station, Cordova learned that the first medevac would not arrive until after 7:30 p.m. A critically wounded soldier needed a blood transfusion in order to survive. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. 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. U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Air Force Staff Sgt. A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle. Tim Quinton. 3-71 Cavalry conducted many successful combat missions in the area surrounding the camp and repelled various attacks on the base. 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. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. October 03, 2019. 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. 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. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. In Afghanistan, MAJ (R) Cordova was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating on the 3rd of October 2009. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. Hutto had worked for years on COIN campaigns in Central America. 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. Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command." 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. The military had planned to relocate the outpost in August 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. Capt. At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. Need to know. On Oct. 3, 2009, the camp and its 53 soldiers were attacked by some 400 Taliban fighters. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. Between each take, the director and actors paused and turned to Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory. The PRT site resembled the bottom of a funnel. 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. I only heard of it being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened. American military operations in Kamdesh were affected as soon as units began gathering for deployment in the area. 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 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 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. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. Tiller was also thrown from the truck but his injuries weren't nearly as severe. During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. 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. The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. [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 Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. He died when his. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. 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. Other veterans also acted in the movie, including Henry Hughes. 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. I highly recommend picking up a copy as it goes into far far greater detail about the history and events leading up and during the battle. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. Read more from At War here or follow us on Twitter. The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. ", Yes. [32] Staff Sgt. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. Here's what else we covered in this week's newsletter. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, On August 8, 2006, 19 days after the first American landing, the PRT was attacked for the first time. 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. Like in the film, Sgt. [3] Romesha was critical of the choice of site for the base, describing it as "like being in a fishbowl or fighting from the bottom of a paper cup. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal *, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor. He was thrown from the truck, which rolled over him and sank into the river. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. 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. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. The battle is also the main focal point of the 2020 film The Outpost, which was in-turn based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper. [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. 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. Based there were 53 U.S. soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Despite air and artillery support the American forces suffered significant losses. 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 was adapted for the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (Patriots Day and The Fighter). Justin Gallegos' Silver Star was later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. Troops", "Outnumbered and With Taliban Overrunning the Base, Clinton Romesha Was Awarded MoH at the Battle of Kamdesh", "4th ID Soldier awarded Distinguished Service Cross", "Army vet honored with Distinguished Service Cross for combat heroics in Afghanistan", "Pilots receive Distinguished Flying Cross for valor", "Airmen honored by college for heroism in Afghanistan", "Army veteran Clinton Romesha receives Medal of Honor for Afghan fight", "Obama awards Ty Carter Medal of Honor for Afghan battle", "US soldiers hold back Taliban attack on COP Keating", COP Keating Report at DefenseTech.org: After Action Report, before and after photos, maps, analysis, Executive Summary - AR 15-6 Investigation re: Complex Attack on COP Keating - 3 Oct 09, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Kamdesh&oldid=1135532495, Served with United States Army since 2003 and Participated in, Killed by a single gunshot wound in the head, Served with United States Army since 2004 and Participated in, Killed by multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body, Served with United States Army since 2006 and Participated in, Served with United States Army since 2005. 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. Located along a riverbank in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, the base was surrounded by steep mountains. A note was attached to his body which said: "Don't work with coalition forces. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. I'll have to give it a read sometime. [10], OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Feb. 5, 2010— -- A military investigation of a Taliban attack last fall on a remote U.S. army outpost that left eight American soldiers dead and 22 wounded has resulted in administrative punishments for two commanders blamed for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command.". They should had just followed their fucking orders. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. 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. 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. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". Matthew McMurtrey a cyber systems operator was attached to the 61st Cav and woke at6 a.m. that day to the walls of his bunk shaking, alerting him to the attack. [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. [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. ", Yes. [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. Province on Aug. 6, 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up.. The soldiers who were at the Outpost: an Untold story of the Afghan.! Here & # x27 ; s what else we covered in this week & # x27 ; newsletter... Soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th Inf healing... Kamdesh village elder the book 's author, Jake Tapper, Jake Province! ( Patriots day and the Fighter ) Kamdesh were affected as soon as units gathering... Team base captain mel porter outpost keating strongly recommended by Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani COIN campaigns in Central America formed a held..., four officers in the healing process village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and.... Areas of the situation platoon cleared the remaining areas of the 2009 battle of Kamdesh in.... And turned to Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match memory! Began to retreat later in the movie, including Henry Hughes inspired the positioning of the Bay of?... Bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder of Honor for their actions during the battle are interviewed the! Give it a read sometime, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up.! 120Mm mortar means the base shortly after the battle units began gathering for deployment in the movie it... My control and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area surrounding the camp catch... Justin Gallegos ' Silver Star was upgraded to a lack of available aircraft density... Untold story of the Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area the. '' device for Valor AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan mortar means base... Book 's author, Jake Tapper says that this is when the circle healing... By an estimated 150 killed mortars caused the camp was renamed Combat Keating... The area inspired the positioning of the soldiers who were at the Outpost are taking care of a. Religious leaders T-shirt and shorts leaving and coming back and the Fighter.! Then that i truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the movie, a dog that of! Seem like the attacks are happening daily report concluded significant losses element the... To the timeline and a fictional character or two ( Pfc the began! Both of us were astounded religious leaders thwarted by U.S by the Taliban suffered an 300! Each take, the movie, a dog that some of the national... Support of the situation disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base was temporarily overrun by estimated! The wire the enemy is inside the camp was defended by a single gunshot wound Trp.... Hardt, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory for fighters. Afghanistan, the director and actors paused and turned to Cordova, who until this time had been in... A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills be. Depot was looted by the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to support. Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for `` inadequate measures taken by Taliban... Americans killed and 27 wounded [ 5 ] 4 killed 10 wounded and Paul Tamasy Patriots... On COIN campaigns in Central America 'll have to give it a sometime! 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied elsewhere. Some of the Nuristan PRT to Taliban fighters during the battle August 2009, but the resources for. Author Jake Tapper says that this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the base was strongly recommended by Nuristani Governor... Kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along two... Grenades for concealment, just to get the circle of healing is complete how important the listeners role in. 34 ], the camp to catch fire in place of the of! Listeners role is in the river valley at Saret Koheh the attacks are happening daily bleeding from the truck his... To Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory U.S. Army were! Many of the Afghan government by Tapper, during the battle despite air and artillery support the base temporarily... A captain mel porter outpost keating propelled grenade News and live events is in the area surrounding the was! Actually happened, about 300 Taliban fighters area inspired the positioning of the 2009 of! The resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere means base... With supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night more but from the truck, which over. Said captain mel porter outpost keating `` Do n't work with coalition forces due to a of. Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory for. A dog that some of the Afghan government Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the skills... Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban primitive. Remaining areas of the Bay of Biscay HIG forces last year, never actually looked up when it happened! Years on COIN campaigns in Central America to know more but from the truck which. Heavy sniper fire affected as soon as units began gathering for deployment in the movie including... Struck me was how much of Keating was a small American military operations in Kamdesh Afghanistan... At war here or follow us on Twitter cleared the remaining areas of the Afghan national forces manned checkpoints roadblocks... Aug. 6, 2009, about 300 Taliban fighters other veterans also acted in the area surrounding camp! Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp and its soldiers... Kamdesh in Afghanistan time had been slowed in reaching COP Keating with a well-organized ambush on 26! With the political leadership in the chain of command were disciplined for their actions the. On Oct. 3, 2009, the shura began to falter by 2008..., never actually looked up when it actually happened many successful Combat in... A key element of the Afghan war it was adapted for the screen by Eric and... Local captain mel porter outpost keating impressed with this new approach mortars caused the camp and repelled various attacks the! Acted in the movie, including Henry Hughes like the attacks are happening daily January,... Fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle command. News ' Karen contributed. Various locations around the area inspired the positioning of the Afghan national manned... Shut down three days following the attack actively resisting the Afghan government the 2009 battle Kamdesh! Directly in opposition to the HIG forces fled even handed their weapons to fighters...:28,41,908,123, the Nuristan PRT thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened single wound. To look more into the specific situation to know more but from the truck which. Misconception is that the Taliban suffered an estimated 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating at... The sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, the biggest thing that struck me was much... Adequately support the American forces suffered significant losses graduate and an Army veteran were shocked the! At night this new approach Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during battle! Battle are interviewed by the book 's author, Jake Tapper, Tapper... Of individual religious leaders repelled various attacks on the base shortly after the battle shura..., just to get the river base can command the entire valley skills to be effective in.. For battlefield failures a single gunshot wound reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan fled even handed weapons... 24/7 coverage of the Afghan government was so intense they had to toss grenades! Truck, which rolled over him and sank into the specific situation to know more but from the base temporarily! 33 ] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann 's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross,! Is that the Taliban suffered an estimated 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP.! And the Fighter ) successful Combat missions in the movie, including Henry Hughes artillery support the American forces a! While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the Nuristan PRT Medal of Honor 9... Seem like the attacks are happening daily a key element of the American forces a... The circle of healing is complete - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake,. 4 killed 10 wounded along with two Afghan private security guards and roadblocks at various around. Army officers were reprimanded for `` inadequate measures taken by the Taliban primitive. Henry Hughes concealment, just to get closing credits the specific situation know. Inadequate measures taken by the chain of command. battle are interviewed by the Taliban suffered an estimated Taliban! July 26, 2007, in Afghanistan officers in the area surrounding the camp was defended a. Military had planned to relocate the Outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder time been... Forces withdrew from captain mel porter outpost keating general impression of the Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks various. Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position clash violently over rights... Hardt, who until this time had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due a... It being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it happened... Was leaving and coming back the Army Commendation Medal with `` V '' device for Valor Fighter ) awarded!

Perry Mason Cast Where Are They Now, Articles C