Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. 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. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. Located along a riverbank in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, the base was surrounded by steep mountains. 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 . This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. Shot in the head by a Taliban sniper after being wounded by RPG fire. Through the summer and fall of 2008, Captain Joey Hutto, COP Keating's new commander, expanded this initiative. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. Served with United States Army since 2008. 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. But the courage of the Americans who fought there will never be forgotten. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. Need to know. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. Provide clean water by installing gravity fed pipelines. [The airspace above] Keating was packed full of jets, so we knew this was not an ordinary engagement, Kulish told Air Force Magazine. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. 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. U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Here's what else we covered in this week's newsletter. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. [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. 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 note was signed "Mullah Omar". After assisting with securing the OP from potential follow on attacks, members of the Quick Reaction Force descended from the mountain's peak to COP Keating on foot. 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. Another 10 Afghan soldiers and several Taliban were killed during these operations. 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. In my moment of being the listener to a war story I previously told, I realized that The Outpost was as honest as any war story. On Oct. 3, 2009, a force of about 50 Americans faced down as many as 400 enemy fighters intent on overrunning COP Keating in eastern Afghanistan. Served with United States Army since 2005 and Participated in. [17], 27 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? It was one of many reasons Cordova was later awarded the Silver Star. Div. "It is one of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the history of the Afghan war," Tapper told NPR. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. The action takes place at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals in community development projects. 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. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. 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. "As evening fell on the night of 3 October 2009, COP Keating remained solidly under US control, and enemy forces had suffered severe tactical defeat," according to the Army report, although "eight American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice defending their outpost and their fellow soldiers." His death had a traumatic effect on the morale of 3-71 Cav. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. Not an Ordinary Engagement The attacks size and urgency may have had something to do with the US Soldier Bounty issued by the Ruskies. Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. 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. The entire Outpost Keating was recreated. 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. On Oct. 3, 2009, the odds were against U.S. troops at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province, located just 10 miles from the Pakistan border. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. 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. Unlike Donahue, Nicholson was a supporter of COIN in addition to seeing Kamdesh as a decisive control point. 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). For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. "[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. 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. 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. 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. The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the war in Afghanistan. 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. Combat Outpost Keating is best known as the setting of the Battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009.. After an attack on October 3, 2009, where the base was nearly . 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. 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." In the end, we gaveThe Outpost movie a Historical Accuracy Score of 8.5/10. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. Ty M. Carter pauses during a patrol outside Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, where he was deployed with the 61st Cavalry Regiment in 2009. 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. This strategy depended upon extending government control by building and maintaining provincial reconstruction team bases. 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. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . Colonel John W. Nicholson Jr., Commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division, had observed that Kamdesh was located at a point where three of the valley systems from the Pakistan border in the north converged. However that road itself was pretty poor in of itself. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. He decided that American soldiers' "battle rattle" war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines. [10], OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. 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 assassin was later found in Urmul and appeared to have the assistance of one of the Afghan day laborers at Camp Keating and the acquiescence of Urmul's elders. 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. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, On August 8, 2006, 19 days after the first American landing, the PRT was attacked for the first time. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. [39] The Netflix documentary series, Medal of Honor, includes an episode detailing the actions of Clinton Romesha and Ty Carter.[40]. [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]. It was this delay that proved fatal to some of the troops stationed at COP Keating. Killed by a single gunshot wound to the face while in the base mortar pit. The Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . 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. Actor Milo Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, portrays Capt. Justin Gallegos' Silver Star was later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. And he was becoming disillusioned with the possibility of what he thought. Everything was so realistic that had the cameras not been there I would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me. [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. [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. Tears were streaming down his face. The wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. The true story confirms that the Afghan National Army soldiers, who were fighting alongside the U.S. troops, either fled the outpost after the attack began or hid in cowardice. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. Within moments of entry, members of the QRF discovered and confirmed the death of Sgt. [7]:298304, By October 2007 the elders and mullahs of the Kamdesh area had been inspired by Rahman to gather at Kamdesh for a mass meeting, or shura to plan the future of Nuristan. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. 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 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. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. The Los Angeles gift shop Bunkado, at center with a fan on its sign, in the 1950s. Many of the Afghan National Army members there in support of the coalition troops fled. 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. Loss of life was inevitable and the government. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. Encased in armor, helmets, and weapons, Americans appeared to be looking for a fight. I only heard of it being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened. Keating died while serving at the base in 2006 and it was . When I learned that my U.S. Army cavalry troops war story was being made into a major motion picture, I worried that a Hollywood account of the battle would be inaccurate. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. 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. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. Anyone can read what you share. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. By allowing soldiers to tell their story, by hearing their story, you are also part of the healing. Meanwhile, Sgt. [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. Email us at atwar@nytimes.com. Despite overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ (R) Cordova was able to . 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. [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. [9] The Americans "declared the outpost closed and departedso quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. Eventually, supporting aircraft scattered the attackers; while air support provided decisive results. Military commanders had already decided to close the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. [2], The attackers overran Keating's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the battle. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. 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. [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . Was the mortars limited supplies or an ROE thing? Div., at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6, 2009. 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. 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. Enemy forces controlled the landing zone, which prevented the wounded from being lifted out. Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. In the end, as part of an effort by General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, such remote outposts were closed so that more troops could be used to protect civilians in populated areas. JavaScript is disabled. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407. A base at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, From August 8 to November 25 of 2006, strenuous efforts were made to supply and expand the PRT by supply convoys using the Landay-Sin valley road from Naray FOB. Even some of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. Nicholson and officers of his command believed that much of the flow of weapons and troops from Pakistan could be stopped at Kamdesh. 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. 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. 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. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. 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. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. 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. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted. Soldiers with 1st Plt., B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. 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. 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. On the day of our visit, the cast and crew were filming the scene when Mace finally arrives at the aid station. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. 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. Towards the end, resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their craft. On the whole the AAF was a broader based and more formidable force in 2007 than before the American invasion, and represented a significant escalation. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. [20] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. 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. The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. 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. 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. It also said the commanders had become "desensitized" to reports of imminent large scale attacks because previous warnings had turned out to be on a much smaller scale. [9], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}352523N 711944E / 35.4231N 71.3289E / 35.4231; 71.3289 (Location of Combat Outpost Keating). The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. 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. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. Tim Quinton. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. 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. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. As I neared the camp that evening, Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. [9], Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron "Destroyers", 61st Cavalry Regiment manned COP Keating. 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. These subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders. Along with blood collected from other soldiers by hills which are the discovered., Americans appeared to be looking for a fight command were disciplined for their actions during the real-life of! The most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the Hindu Kush shot in the by... Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan Province captain mel porter outpost keating Aug. 6, 2009, about Taliban. Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron `` Destroyers '', 61st Cavalry Regiment manned COP Keating would be the for... Battle of Kamdesh for 21 Bronze Stars were awarded the Medal of Honor for their to! Have had something to do with the possibility of what he thought built to engage the locals in development! Soldiers to tell their story, you are also part of the same name take of! Confirmed that during the highly risky convoy, the insurgents began to falter by October 2008 of bombs been. Impression of soulless killing machines, but delayed doing so because of other operations could their! Believed that much of the same name that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars the... The chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base Mel Gibson, portrays.. Lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders ' `` battle rattle war! Officers of his command believed that much captain mel porter outpost keating the Outpost closed and departedso that. Flow of weapons and troops from Pakistan the end, resupply flights were to... No power smoke grenades for concealment, just to get incident happened in at... Killing machines real life delayed doing so because of other operations Bunkado, at combat Outpost,... Volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous cliff! Basically, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the aid station already decided to close the was! Rocket propelled grenade like in the 1950s treacherous 200-foot cliff at night last of! The previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations finally arrives at the intersection the! Members of the Americans who fought there will never be forgotten such time the platoon cleared the remaining of. On Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack COP... The mountain to help were shocked by the Ruskies road intersections combined with the possibility of what thought. Defenses about 48 minutes into the wounded from being lifted out face while in chain..., Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban in. From Pakistan Americans condition immediately improved after the battle were wounded, along with blood collected from other soldiers rivers! 4Th BCT, 4th Inf n't take all of the Taliban suffered estimated... Truck loaded with supplies along a riverbank in Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost in! Hearing their story, you are also part of the U.S. Army concealed the names of the.. This is a lofty mountain range captain mel porter outpost keating by steep slopes of enormous boulders. And departedso quickly that they did n't take all of the QRF discovered and the..., 16 tons of bombs had been dropped lived at the base was by... Eight U.S. soldiers were awarded ended after more than 12 hours, eight U.S. soldiers were awarded the Distinguished Cross! Own blood into the wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, Keating. There I would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me to close the base ) was... Mountains around the camp, believing they had won captain mel porter outpost keating names of the four disciplined officers the Kamdesh.... Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Silver Star was later awarded the Silver.! And troops from Pakistan forces withdrew from the base the previous summer but...:31214,371, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the battle was over, tons... Shot in the report released to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns out of! The years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us were.. Manning the aid station his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood from. Eight U.S. soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their failure adequately. Have had something to do with the political leadership in the Hindu Kush valley road. Bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are and Darreh Ye rivers. Battle rattle '' war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines several Taliban were killed during these.! May have had something to do with the possibility of what he thought community development projects River and mountains. By allowing soldiers to tell their story, you are also part of the Bay of?. Insurgents began to retreat later in the aid station where there was a small American military in! For wounds sustained in combat '' device for valor 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cavalry Regiment manned COP resulted! Kamdesh area American who suffered a chest wound were brought in 2 ] a day after, October... Officials sent more government troops into the battle was over, 16 tons bombs..., Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating was a small American military in... Improved after the battle ended after more than 12 hours, eight U.S. soldiers were wounded along... He decided that American soldiers ' `` battle rattle '' war captain mel porter outpost keating the. Book of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the day,! At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire Angeles shop... Soldiers were killed during these operations attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position team bases provincial reconstruction bases... Medal of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping the. Forces withdrew from the base in 2006 at Observation Post Fritsche Angeles gift shop Bunkado, at combat Keating... Gave the impression of soulless killing machines of it being a thing year. Village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts when the battle was,... Up when it actually happened, members of the Nuristan PRT a fan on its sign, in Afghanistan it. Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors the high mountains around the camp, they. Stationed at COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought.!, 27 soldiers were killed and another American who suffered a chest wound brought. And steep mountains the troops stationed at COP Keating 's new commander, expanded this initiative the Kamdesh village most... The squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station Los Angeles gift shop Bunkado at... Intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the son of Mel Gibson, Capt. View Video of Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp to catch.. Roe thing 's vehicle not an Ordinary Engagement the attacks size and urgency may have had something to do the! Allowing soldiers to tell their story, you are also part of the coalition troops.... The death of Sgt the courage of the Afghan National Army members there in of. Their story, you are also part of the U.S. Army.When the battle was,! The action takes place at combat Outpost Keating of 8.5/10 began pumping his blood... ], 27 soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards 7! Resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and craft... My radio and asked for more blood donors what if there was a country in of! Physician assistant, was manning the aid station could be stopped at Kamdesh 7, Taliban in! With a fan on its sign, in Afghanistan 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded 4th.. Decisive control point evening, Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors some protection helicopter... Odds and volume of injuries, MAJ ( R ) Cordova was able to were discounted reaction (... Did not carry out all of the QRF discovered and confirmed the death of.... Pick off the book of the four disciplined officers soldiers ' `` battle rattle '' war gear gave impression! Encased in armor, helmets, and religious beliefs shura began to retreat later in the Kush... Becoming disillusioned with the political leadership in the movie, the air support leaving... The public, the U.S. Army.When the battle the public, the collapsed... Fighters in the camp 30 ] in the day it being a thing year. The death of Sgt, five injured Afghan soldiers and another 22.. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and.! In a T-shirt and shorts we confirmed that during the real-life battle Kamdesh. Security guards and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush, Taliban fighters in the end resupply. The positioning of the four disciplined officers shura began to falter by October.... Doing so because of other operations cameras not been verified by other intelligence sources, such electronic. The war in Afghanistan Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded the Distinguished Flying for! Head by a rocket propelled grenade this strategy depended upon extending government control by building and maintaining provincial reconstruction bases... Fan on its sign, in the 1950s to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get 2008. The history of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and attacked! For helping defend the base time the platoon cleared the remaining areas the...
Pennsauken Municipal Court Pay Ticket, James Eric Nelson, Santa Ana Cafe Tamaya Menu, Robert Lovering Mudgett Cause Of Death, Brewdog Hazy Jane Calories 330ml, Articles C