[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. Air Force Staff Sgt. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. 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 second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. 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. This agreement would recognize the authority of the Hundred Man Shura, and provide funds for economic development. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. Military commanders had already decided to close the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations. 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. . Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. I only heard of it being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. The first effort was made by First Lieutenant Dave Roller. Div., at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6, 2009. 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]:1238,1368,18191,407, On August 8, 2006, 19 days after the first American landing, the PRT was attacked for the first time. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. [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. JavaScript is disabled. | Trademarks and service marks of VFW. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. 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. 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. Extending control further along the river was expected to counter the AAF expansion and activity in the summer of 2007. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. Once OP Fritsche soldiers gained control of their mortar pit, Sgt. I support this diversion into a discussion of the operational art and command structure as practiced by the New Resistance under Leia Organa. American military operations in Kamdesh were affected as soon as units began gathering for deployment in the area. The U.S. soldiers killed in the battle were: Amy Davidson Sorkin, writing in The New Yorker, tried to answer the question why the base had not been moved, when it was found to be unsuitable. 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. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. The growling soon escalated into outright hostility, which deeply frightened the boy. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. While en route the Platoon encountered a planned ambush on the side of the mountain resulting in three confirmed enemy KIA at approximately 6:00pm. Second, the search for Bowe Bergdahl, in June 2009, had used up so many resources none were available to address the base's unsuitable location. It may not display this or other websites correctly. David Porter (February 1, 1780 - March 3, 1843) was an officer in the United States Navy in the rank of captain and the honorary title of commodore.Porter commanded a number of U.S. naval ships. 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. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Let's get back on topic please. 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]:334,501,92,98. In the movie, he dies almost immediately after landing at the bottom of the cliff. AAF would disguise themselves in ANA uniforms and set up fake checkpoints to extract taxes and tolls from local contractors, and allied themselves with smugglers transporting illegal timber and gems into Pakistan. To further complicate the situation, nearby Observation Post Fritsche was unable to provide mortar support to Keating, as it also was overrun by Taliban. 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. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. And he was becoming disillusioned with the possibility of what he thought. 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. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. [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. Meanwhile, Sgt. They professed a Salafi version of Islam, and were hostile to any political rivals. It was adapted for the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (Patriots Day and The Fighter). The outpost was renamed Camp Keating in December 2006 (not in 2009). After Keating's death, a "Night Letter" appeared on the door of the Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Clint Romesha and Ty Carter, portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, were not present when Benjamin Keating died. In Afghanistan, MAJ (R) Cordova was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating on the 3rd of October 2009. "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.". American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. [8] Coalition forces responded with small arms fire, mortars, and by the afternoon, helicopters, heavy artillery, and airstrikes. 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. Provide clean water by installing gravity fed pipelines. But the courage of the Americans who fought there will never be forgotten. [17], 27 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. "The little bastards keep shooting at us every day. 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 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. Michael Polidor and Capt. [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. Tiller was also thrown from the truck but his injuries weren't nearly as severe. It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. 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. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. The idea was to stop the insurgents' supply lines coming in from Pakistan. Served with United States Army since 2005 and Participated in. On Oct. 3, 2009, the odds were against U.S. troops at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan's Nuristan province, located just 10 miles from the Pakistan border. Yes. Yes. Those guys were amazing. [The airspace above] Keating was packed full of jets, so we knew this was not an ordinary engagement, Kulish told Air Force Magazine. 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. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. In the wake of the attack, several soldiers based at COP Keating told ABC News that they did not know the attack was as large as it was because they received enemy fire with such frequency. He worked throughout the battle, calling in strikes on enemy positions, even amidst a winter storm that blew in right at the height of the battle. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. |. A note was attached to his body which said: "Don't work with coalition forces. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in. The elder considers this to be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. 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. Yes. Encased in armor, helmets, and weapons, Americans appeared to be looking for a fight. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. He assumed command of CO Keating following the death of Captain Robert Yllescas in a Taliban IED attack in December 2008, and he almost immediately acquired a negative reputation among his new command, who called him "Broward the Coward" for planning . U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. [2], The attackers overran Keating's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the battle. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. [10], OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. This will happen to you." Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another deployment. The camp burned into the night and some of the building walls fell to the ground. Died of his wounds after his leg was hit by a single gunshot wound. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. 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. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. After an attack on October 3, 2009, where the base was nearly overrun, and 8 Americans and 4 Afghan defenders were killed, the base was abandoned and demolished by a bombing from an American B-1 bomber on the night of October 6th, 2009. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. The Los Angeles gift shop Bunkado, at center with a fan on its sign, in the 1950s. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. 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. 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. The attacks size and urgency may have had something to do with the US Soldier Bounty issued by the Ruskies. And appearing Holdo's subordinates were well aware of the plain. It occurred on October 3, 2009, when a force of 400 Taliban assaulted the American Combat Outpost ("COP") Keating near the town of Kamdesh in Nuristan Province in eastern Afghanistan. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. This had the potential to boost the local economy, which had seen few civic improvements. This strategy depended upon extending government control by building and maintaining provincial reconstruction team bases. The first didn't take place at the camp. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? Martina Skokova. As it became obvious that COP Keating was too isolated, indefensible, and impossible to supply, plans were made to close it beginning in December 2008. The 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. 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. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. The 48N6 missiles of the S-400 (and why they were designed by flat-earthers), WI: Instead of a NATO pull-out, the bases/forces in Afghanistan are handed over to the UN Peacekeeping. 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. Keating died while serving at the base in 2006 and it was . (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. 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. Justin Kulish was conducting a routine patrol in his B-1 bomber about an hour away when he got the call that Keating was in trouble. This letter was written in Pashto and signed "Mujahideen". Jayson Souter, and 1st Lt. Cason Shrode, including attack helicopters, A-10s, a B-1 bomber, and F-15 fighters, destroyed the local mosque, where much of the insurgents' heaviest fire originated. "[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. [17], Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. The other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI. The bounty was a thing back then? Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. Youre reading this weeks At War newsletter. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. 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. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". Captain Melvin Porter, 4th Infantry Division, US Army, said: "We're sitting in a bowl so we are constantly under observation." This is how the war went at COP Keating: a few pot shots from. [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. A deliberate withdrawal had been planned some time before the battle began, and the closing was part of a wider effort by the top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to cede remote outposts and consolidate troops in more populated areas to better protect Afghan civilians. -CBS Sunday Morning. 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. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. I'll have to give it a read sometime. The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. 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. Outnumbered and outgunned, the soldiers fought. 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. [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. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. 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." To make amends with the woman and her family, Meshkin agreed to shoot a shaggy brown dog named Franklin. 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. [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 camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. The Distinguished Flying Cross was given to 7 aviators who assisted in defending the base. American outpost in Nuristan, Afghanistan, List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, "Latest Medal of Honor brings COP Keating battle back into spotlight", "A Medal of Honor recipient's ongoing burden", "COP Keating battle begins, Medal of Honor nominee Romesha takes action", "This Netflix series will tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients", "The Battle of Kamdesh, which netted two Medals of Honor, is coming to the big screen twice", "Sony Enlists Director Daniel Espinosa, George Clooney's Smokehouse For 'Red Platoon', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_Outpost_Keating&oldid=1137949129, Military installations of the United States in Afghanistan, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 06:20. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. 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. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. [16] Because Keating was scheduled for closure in the near future, coalition leaders had decided not to make more than minimal efforts to improve fortifications at the base. A base at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are. 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. He died in a vehicular accident in 2006, and Combat Outpost Keating, the site of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh, was named in his honor. Omar was the top Taliban leader, but U.S. Intelligence stated that HIG had done the killing, crediting Omar to instil more fear due to Omar's greater reputation. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. MAJ Porter talks about his first couple of days into country as he was getting set up and received direct attack resulting . Mace survived long enough to be evacuated to a nearby medical facility. "Needed force protection improvements were not made because of the imminent closure of the outpost. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. [7]:12930 1345,156. As seen in the movie, the road in Kamdesh collapsed underneath the truck, throwing Keating from the vehicle as it rolled over a cliff, sending both himself and the truck down toward the Landay-Sin River. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. 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. Here's what else we covered in this week's newsletter. 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. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. Several days after the battle, U.S. aircraft bombed the location in an effort to destroy any munitions that remained. Between each take, the director and actors paused and turned to Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory.

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