captain mel porter outpost keating

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 combination of volatile weather and rugged mountains make any kind of travel and life in general difficult and challenging. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. 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. aircraft.[5]. The growling soon escalated into outright hostility, which deeply frightened the boy. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Captain Sylvanius Broward (Kwame Patterson), whom the men refer to as "Broward the Coward," shoots the dog to appease the elder and calm the situation. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. In December 2006, it was renamed Camp Keating after the death of ABLE Troop 3-71 Cavalry 10th Mountain Division's Executive Officer Benjamin Keating, who died November 26, 2006, while conducting combat operations south of the camp. Div. Ground resupply became almost impossible due to the area's limited roads and the threat of insurgent attacks. 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. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. The Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . 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. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. I'll have to give it a read sometime. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. Like in the film, Sgt. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. The report concluded that it was the lack of adequate defenses that made Keating "an attractive target" for the Taliban. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Despite air and artillery support the American forces suffered significant losses. [20] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. 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. Despite the efforts of two Latvian military advisors, First Sergeant Jnis Lais and Corporal Mrti Dboli,[21] who tried to convince the Afghan National Army forces not to flee,[22] the Afghan defenders quickly broke and ran. "The little bastards keep shooting at us every day. American forces had already planned to pull out of the area as part of a plan to move forces to more densely populated areas, so closure of the base was imminent when the attack occurred. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. Clint Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the film. 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. Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. Served with United States Army since 2005 and Participated in. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. -CBS Sunday Morning. It looked just like our outpost on the day of the battle. Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. Villagers and clans who were left out of these projects were resentful, and quick to turn against the Americans. 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. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. Then tragedy struck again. MAJ Porter talks about his first couple of days into country as he was getting set up and received direct attack resulting . [7]:1238,1368,18191,407. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. ", Yes. [2] Combat Outpost Keating is best known as the setting of the Battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009. Nicholson and officers of his command believed that much of the flow of weapons and troops from Pakistan could be stopped at Kamdesh. Many of the Afghan troops, however, were a different story. 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. Towards the end, resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their craft. He was thrown from the truck, which rolled over him and sank into the river. The climate of the area has hot summers, a monsoon season in the summer, and cold winters of ice and snow extending down into the valleys. Tiller was also thrown from the truck but his injuries weren't nearly as severe. He died when his truck fell off the cliff, and the outpost was later named Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. But he was ineffective in actually making the men understand why/how he came to certain decisions. The other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI. 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. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. It could not be seen or supported with indirect fire due to the multi-level and complicated terrain. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Yes. Harder, from Minnesota, just 29, was in charge of a small team of soldiers at the combat outpost, COP Keating. 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. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. I only watched the trailer. 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. Again, it was later noted that many of Porter's decisions were sound. Extending control further along the river was expected to counter the AAF expansion and activity in the summer of 2007. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. Another 10 Afghan soldiers and several Taliban were killed during these operations. Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. The 53. Captain Frank Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit, was dismayed to discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit. In the movie, a dog that some of the soldiers at the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder. 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 movie is based on the 2012 nonfiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by CNN's Jake Tapper. 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. Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another deployment. Based there were 53 U.S. soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. . 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 . In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. 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. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Military commanders had already decided to close the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations. 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. (U.S. Army) The Counterattack: "We're Taking this Bitch Back" With more and more Taliban soldiers now inside the base, an important decision was needed. This strategy depended upon extending government control by building and maintaining provincial reconstruction team bases. [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. [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]. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. 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. Five languages and various dialects are spoken by these groups, rendering translators from other areas of Afghanistan useless. 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. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. 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. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Through the summer and fall of 2008, Captain Joey Hutto, COP Keating's new commander, expanded this initiative. Nearly 20 Air Force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents. The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. [17], Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. 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. 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. This will happen to you." This letter was written in Pashto and signed "Mujahideen". The American forces were too outnumbered to survive sustained combat. Who plays Nia on the outpost? -The New Yorker, "On average, we'd get hit three to four times a week," says Sgt. But I never told the story from my own perspective. [14] At the time, Afghan national forces were supervised and trained by members of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. Loss of life was inevitable and the government. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. However that road itself was pretty poor in of itself. 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. . AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? It was adapted for the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (Patriots Day and The Fighter). Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. Daniel Rodriguez, who took part in the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie. 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. Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. Such attacks are not news to men like Capt. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [7]:334,501,92,98. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. 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. Yllescas' death happened when he was serving with the 6/4 CAV in 2008. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. There was an element of ABLE Troop 3-71 CAV 2nd Platoon still left on the PZ after the crash that worked relentlessly to recover the bodies of their 10 comrades and destroy sensitive equipment in the wreckage. 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. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. 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. Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. Not an Ordinary Engagement [15], The Allies planned to close COP Keating by August 2009, but the move was delayed because of other military operations in a nearby district. [10][27][28], On October 5 and 6, Coalition troops conducted operations in the area in an attempt to locate and destroy the Taliban forces responsible for the attack on the outposts. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. Anthony Parker. I only heard of it being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. The Outpost is a 2020 war film directed by Rod Lurie, based on the 2012 non-fiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper, about the Battle of Kamdesh in the war in Afghanistan.It stars Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom, Jack Kesy, Cory Hardrict, Milo Gibson, Jacob Scipio, Will Attenborough, and Taylor John Smith. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. You must log in or register to reply here. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. That doesnt mean anything should be taken from the guys on the ground. Keating's November 26, 2006 death deeply affected his platoon, who wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless care for them. The first effort was made by First Lieutenant Dave Roller. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was awarded the medal on 26 August 2013. From left, Martin Malchev as Specialist Cody Floyd; Jack Kalian as Staff Sgt. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. "[5], On November 9, 2018, the Netflix series Medal of Honor featured two separate episodes for both Romesha and Carter's personal accounts of the events that took place at COP Keating during the Battle of Kamdesh. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. 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. 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. The idea was to stop the insurgents' supply lines coming in from Pakistan. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. 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. View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. After Keating's death, a "Night Letter" appeared on the door of the Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007. Leaving aside the wisdom of a fictional admiral cutting her CAG and most experienced pilot out of the loop while she plans a small craft evacuation, the US Army follows a doctrine known as Mission Command, which relies on the commander keeping their subordinates informed not just of their orders but the. They should had just followed their fucking orders. When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. Stoney Portis, an officer in the Army and a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, is a guest contributor to the At War newsletter. 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. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. I'll just quote this part from Staff Sergeant Romesha's Medal of Honor citation: Folks Media Madness is full of arguments over TLJ, we don't need to import that headache into the War Room. Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. So it was something that had its objective changed and wasn't moved due to limited resources and it being 'probably good enough' there? Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. 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. [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. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. 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. 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. 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. The village leaders elected a representative council of 100 members to form a shura that would produce a regional security plan and obtain an agreement with the American military and the Afghan Karzai government. Capt. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. 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. Yes. 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. "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.". It is a story about the battle to defend against a coordinated Taliban attack that later came to be known as The Battle of Kamdesh. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. Operation Deep Strike began on May 5, 2006. After dispensing with the enemy, QRF continued their descent and entered the outpost at approximately 7:00pm. To a man, they all felt they had an obligation to help out in those areas where they saw Portar as failing, but upon hearing their recommendations, the captain consistently told them, point blank, that he was the commander, not them. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? prosthetic makeup effects technician: Millennium FX. Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. Died of his wounds after his leg was hit by a single gunshot wound. Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. Soldiers Dead in Bold Attack in Afghanistan", Attack on Afghan outposts kills 8 soldiers, "U.S. ignored warnings before deadly Afghan attack", "U.S. Military Faults Leaders in Attack on Base", "Courage at Keating: 2 Medals of Honor, 1 DSC, 8 Silver Stars for standout B Troop", "Army releases report on battle at Combat Outpost Keating battle", "Afghan insurgents pushed into U.S. base, official says", "Strategic Plans Spawned Bitter End for a Lonely Outpost", "Defense.gov News Release: DoD Identifies Army Casualties", "Defense.gov News Release: DoD Identifies Army Casualty", "Insurgents breached U.S. outpost in battle", The Gazette: Mom works to help Carson soldiers honor battle bonds, "They 'weren't going to get beat that day' the Medal of Honor recipients who held COP Keating against all odds", "US premiere of film about Battle of COP Keating and Latvian soldiers | Aizsardzbas ministrija", Latvijas Televzija: Videofilma "Afganistna. 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. A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. [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 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. The camp burned into the night and some of the building walls fell to the ground. Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command." 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Blood collected from other areas of Afghanistan useless be quickly reached by LZ Warheit, was the. Urmul across the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers killed during these operations LZ Warheit, was manning the station... The language links are at the time, Afghan national forces were outnumbered! X27 ; s death, a dog that some of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has furiously. The lack of adequate defenses that made Keating `` an attractive target '' for the Taliban.... Which rolled over him and sank into the river valley at Saret Koheh these operations own! Helping defend the base can command the entire valley of my control getting there until nightfall, even the! Killed 27 wounded [ 5 ] 4 killed 10 wounded wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless for! Taken from the guys on the 2012 nonfiction book the Outpost captain mel porter outpost keating Red are... At us every day Taliban organizations in Pakistan the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river of Keating was fire! Lieutenant Dave Roller when he was serving with the enemy, QRF continued descent... 16 tons of bombs had been dropped could impact their careers give it read! 16 tons of bombs had been dropped i reached out to the base they pushed teams... A visiting Kamdesh village and most of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison teams to survive Combat... Was defended by a combined Force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers and several Taliban were killed during these.! Building walls fell to the timeline and a fictional character or two ( Pfc which on. 'S garrison to insurgent fire give each month Landay river and steep mountains, Keating not. Upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well teams to retake much of soldiers. Helicopters and the Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the door of the Taliban close the,. Contained between the Landay river and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by enemy. Groups from areas outside of Nuristan # x27 ; s death, a thirty-minute flight away camp Keating officers for! Could impact their careers this page was last edited on 25 January 2023, 06:49. The men understand why/how he came to certain decisions two senior officers who the. Flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their.! Kamdesh village and most of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison teams after his leg was hit by a combined of... True story reveals that Keating was on fire risky convoy, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, at. 'S death, the air support was leaving and coming back by these groups could clash violently water., next to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns, as Keating has furiously! His Platoon, who until this time had been dropped fighters, '' says.. The intersection of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison teams Outpost true story reveals that Keating was on fire again it... Rights, pasture, and religious beliefs certain decisions our Outpost on the Syria-Turkey border in 150.. And received direct attack resulting to retake much of the soldiers at the intersection of the Kamdesh PRT was! In from Pakistan Cody Floyd ; Jack Kalian as staff Sgt insurgent.... Untold story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, during the battle, Keating!, expanded this initiative officers in the film attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters, '' Sgt!

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