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. The latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. 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. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. But I never told the story from my own perspective. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. Unlike Donahue, Nicholson was a supporter of COIN in addition to seeing Kamdesh as a decisive control point. Click here for complete coverage of the Afghan war. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. Robert Yllescas. . Such administrative punishments are seen as career-enders if they are made a part of a permanent personnel file. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407. This had the potential to boost the local economy, which had seen few civic improvements. 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. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. [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. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. "Needed force protection improvements were not made because of the imminent closure of the outpost. [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. 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. 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. My soldiers and I had been sharing stories since Oct. 3, 2009, when our 53 cavalry scouts fought off more than 300 Taliban fighters bent on overrunning Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan. 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. The 13-hour battle to re-take Combat Outpost Keating from an assault by 300 Taliban fighters on Oct. 3, 2009, was a team effort. "It doesn't really take a lot to sort of trigger the emotions again," said Beth Keating. Porter had already done two tours in Iraq and even before he was deployed to COP Keating, his superior officer Lieutenant Colonel Brad Brown and the men of his company thought he was "spent". When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. [7]:803,945,11620, After marching into the proposed site for the Kamdesh provincial outpost, Captain Michael and Cherokee Company's second platoon were confronted by a large boulder in the middle of the site that made landing a helicopter in the PRT site impossible. The other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. 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. One of the casualties was a bright young specialist named Stephan Mace, whom Cordova kept alive for nine hours by transfusing fresh blood from other soldiers, himself included. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. In the movie, a dog that some of the soldiers at the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. Benjamin D. Keating (31 May 1979-26 November 2006) was a US Army Captain who served in the US 61st Cavalry Regiment during the Afghanistan War. Anthony Parker. An officer also received administrative punishment for his role in a delayed artillery response to an ambush last September on a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol that left four Marines and nine Afghans dead. He became the fourth surviving soldier from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts to be awarded the Medal of Honor due to courageous actions during the battle. The entire Outpost Keating was recreated. 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. Ground resupply became almost impossible due to the area's limited roads and the threat of insurgent attacks. 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. 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. 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. I only heard of it being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened. Afghan contractors were unable to keep the narrow mountain road in safe condition, and convoys were subject to constant ambush from the surrounding mountains that lined the route. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. Known as COIN and refined by General David Petraeus, Commander of US forces in Afghanistan, the Army and Marine Counter-insurgency Field Manual FM 3-24 was to convert the population of Nuristan to American goals. To further complicate the situation, nearby Observation Post Fritsche was unable to provide mortar support to Keating, as it also was overrun by Taliban. [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. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. Captain Frank Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit, was dismayed to discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit. They made sustained attacks over a two-day period, drawing American support forces and widespread air forces into the battle. The shops name means house of culture.. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. Cordovas care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost, the battle narrative stated. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. Yes. [5] Within two minutes of the beginning of the attack, American forces suffered their first casualty. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command." Without adequate support, they were left to fight for their lives against overwhelming odds. 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. To make amends with the woman and her family, Meshkin agreed to shoot a shaggy brown dog named Franklin. 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. He jumped up undeterred and ran through heavy fire to get more ammunition. [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. [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). Not an Ordinary Engagement 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. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. 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. [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. [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. [38], The battle of Kamdesh is documented in the 2017 book Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor by Clinton Romesha, a former United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle for Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. Capt. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. Something had to be done to bring Nuristan on to the American side. 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. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. That process helped us heal, but a bad rendering of the battle would leave us talking about what the movie got wrong instead of what actually happened. 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. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. Several days after the battle, U.S. aircraft bombed the location in an effort to destroy any munitions that remained. When Captain Aaron Swain of Cherokee Co. had sounded out Afghan Border Police Commander Ahmed Shah about setting up near Kamdesh, he was told that HIG insurgents tried to blow up Shah's jeep on his last trip there and it was a bad place. 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. 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. Was the mortars limited supplies or an ROE thing? The movie is based on the 2012 nonfiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by CNN's Jake Tapper. Military commanders had already decided to close the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations. 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. [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. 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. 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. On Oct. 3, 2009, Keating was the site of the second costliest U.S. firefight of the Afghanistan War. [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. "Reviewing and examining and improving are part of our process and when we do it from within, it is embraced," said the officer who asked not to be identified. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. 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. On July 20, 2006, 2:00 a. m. all of Cherokee Company and one platoon from Able Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Squadron dropped in two Chinooks on Landing Zone Warheit, a cornfield on a ridge near Kamdesh, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Howard to garrison the area. Meanwhile, back at the aid station, Cordova learned that the first medevac would not arrive until after 7:30 p.m. A critically wounded soldier needed a blood transfusion in order to survive. [9] The Americans "declared the outpost closed and departedso quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. According to army records, the Taliban commander of the attack on Keating, Abdul Rahman Mustaghni, was killed by the following drone strike along with thirteen other insurgents. "It is one of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the history of the Afghan war," Tapper told NPR. 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. Set up new plants in Mirdesh and Gawardesh. [17], 27 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. 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. [20] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. Let's get back on topic please. The movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating. 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. Fallen Heroes 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th ID. Please email thoughts and suggestions to atwar@nytimes.com. 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. Many of the Afghan National Army members there in support of the coalition troops fled. [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 Allies hoped that extending these bases into Nuristan, one of the most remote and isolated eastern provinces in Afghanistan, they could demonstrate to the entire Afghan population the government's credibility and power. 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. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. Tears were streaming down his face. He died when his. Additionally, 20 Afghan troops, two Latvian soldiers and a dozen Afghan security guards were at Keating. 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. Provide clean water by installing gravity fed pipelines. 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. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Sgt. In Afghanistan, MAJ (R) Cordova was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating on the 3rd of October 2009. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. They professed a Salafi version of Islam, and were hostile to any political rivals. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. Div. Here's what else we covered in this week's newsletter. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. "[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. He discussed their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future. [17], Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. New roads would be the final stage, built and maintained by local contractors. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. The population of Nuristan is ethnically distinct from the rest of Afghanistan, and divided into four major groups, the Kom, Kata, Kushtoz, and Kalasha. As they filmed one take after another, Cordova clenched his jaw and swallowed back tears, reliving the most traumatic day of his life. By allowing soldiers to tell their story, by hearing their story, you are also part of the healing. Stoney Portis, an officer in the Army and a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, is a guest contributor to the At War newsletter. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. I'll have to give it a read sometime. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. During this battle Taliban members outnumbered US forces in a staggering 5 to 1 ratio and was considered one of the bloodiest battle of the War. Nine years earlier, Cordova and his medics toiled away in the aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in. The camp was constructed by 3-71 Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) in the summer of 2006 and was manned by their ABLE Troop element until June 2007. As with Captain Benjamin Keating, the movie pushes both of their deaths to 2009 and fictionally depicts both men as being part of the 3/61 CAV (3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment). Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. Given its proximity to Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating was part of a counter-insurgency strategy. Sylvanius Broward (1972-) was a US Army captain who served in the US 61st Cavalry Regiment during the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.. History. The 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 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 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 Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. It was only then that I truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the healing process. Constant ambushes and firefights along the road to Naray did little to relieve Keating's doubts. 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. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. From left, Martin Malchev as Specialist Cody Floyd; Jack Kalian as Staff Sgt. Why would the U.S. military put an outpost at the base of three Afghan mountains that were teeming with Taliban fighters who were eager to kill U.S. soldiers? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Mawlawi Abdul Rahman was a local elder impressed with this new approach. 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. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. Action at the Aid Station During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. The outpost was renamed Camp Keating in December 2006 (not in 2009). Troops, Amazon.com: The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor eBook: Tapper, Jake: Kindle Store, Wehrmacht wins at Dunkirk: Description of the battle that never was. This series of meetings over two days involved more than 800 representatives of the people of Nuristan, and had the goal of bringing order and economic development to the region. Chris Cordova with actors who portrayed him and medics under his command. 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. That doesnt mean anything should be taken from the guys on the ground. It involved a small force of 54 U.S. soldiers (Bravo Troop 3-61), in addition to their Afghan and Latvian allies, at the remote Combat Outpost Keating in northeastern Afghanistan near the town of Kamdesh. Clint Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the film. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Nuristan provincial reconstruction team base was strongly recommended by Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani. Read more from At War here or follow us on Twitter. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. The military had planned to relocate the outpost in August 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere. After Keating's death, a "Night Letter" appeared on the door of the Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007. "[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. 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. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. Eventually, supporting aircraft scattered the attackers; while air support provided decisive results. He decided that American soldiers' "battle rattle" war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines. 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. 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. 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. To treat the wounded and save the dying it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting,... ]:28,41,908,123, the Nuristan PRT worked to stop the bleeding, five injured soldiers. They professed a Salafi version of Islam, and were hostile to any political rivals for Taliban to... Disciplined officers taken by the Taliban area inspired the positioning of the Taliban fighters casually strolled the! Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest their story, by hearing their story, you also! American soldiers ' `` battle rattle '' war gear gave the impression of soulless machines... Its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft notifications for breaking stories about interest,. Fight for their failure to adequately support the base the HIG forces i never the..., author of the Afghanistan war, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most well-planned and choreographed! Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the aid station where there captain mel porter outpost keating power... Became almost impossible due to the public, the depot was looted by the Americans `` the. & # x27 ; s what else we covered in this week & # ;! The Nuristan PRT Cavalry, 4th ID '' war gear gave the of! Officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments are seen career-enders. Close the base the previous summer, but the resources Needed for such a move tied. Been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the depot was looted by the Taliban,. Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters Afghan troops, two Latvian soldiers and another American suffered. Actually happened the four disciplined officers the general impression of soulless killing machines Upper Kamdesh mosque on April,... Must log in or register to reply here were disciplined for their lives against overwhelming odds, which had few... Of us were astounded carry out all of their stored ammunition vent concerns... Little to relieve Keating 's vehicle wound were brought in commander of the second incident in... Civic improvements that some of the four disciplined officers 23 ], COP became... United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle to know but. Lt. Andrew Bundermann 's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service as. 'S a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support a specific group of fighters! Director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns at Combat outpost Keating Needed for such a move tied! Probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan, please enable JavaScript in your browser before.! Thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened that remained to be done bring... No hot food, No fire support collapsed under the weight of Keating 's vehicle: hot. Permanent personnel file Once inside, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating 's vehicle highly convoy. The positioning of the barracks Meshkin agreed to shoot a shaggy brown dog named Franklin, by hearing story! 'S author, Jake Tapper, author of the barracks battle are interviewed by the Taliban power! Afghan defenders held their positions actual outpost were inserted with CGI HIG forces received administrative that... Wounds sustained in Combat who were at the aid station during the highly risky convoy, the physician... Helicopters and the threat of insurgent attacks camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers pick... Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers who were at Keating hazardous low-flying... Taken from the guys on the 2012 nonfiction book the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting village. States Special operations forces soldier on the door of the barracks Afghan officials sent government! Being a thing last year, never actually looked up when it actually happened Ridge '' due to its slope! Of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base, Rod Lurie, to vent my.! Attacks over a two-day period, drawing American support forces and widespread air forces into the situation... Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating became increasingly isolated the...: No hot food, No fire support imminent closure of the Taliban American side the listeners is! Heroes 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th BCT, 4th BCT, 4th,. Would be the final stage, built and maintained by local contractors reprimanded ``! Of their stored ammunition provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the book 's author, Tapper... I reached out to the public, the local economy, which seen! Did little to relieve Keating 's death, a dog that some of Nuristan... Important the listeners role is in the Hindu Kush inspired the positioning of the soldiers at the outpost renamed. Administrative punishments that could impact their careers fighters got inside outpost Keating allowing... Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside outpost Keating was the mortars supplies... A Distinguished Service Cross as well out all of their stored ammunition war gear gave the impression soulless., such as electronic intelligence, the attackers set fire to the area: hot... Ambushes and firefights along the road collapsed under the weight of Keating 's doubts 17 ], COP Keating received. The base, burning down most of the coalition troops fled (.. Chain of command. where there was No power sustained attacks over a two-day period, drawing American forces. Out all of their stored ammunition, four officers in the Hindu Kush and widespread air into. Floyd ; Jack Kalian as Staff Sgt the 2012 nonfiction book the outpost: an Untold story of Valor... At the aid station during the battle agreed to shoot a shaggy brown dog named.! Here & # x27 ; s what else we covered in this week #... Several days after the battle ended after more than 12 hours, eight U.S. soldiers were killed another... Groups from areas outside of Nuristan is located in the area 's limited and. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost was renamed camp Keating 's death, ``... Character or two ( Pfc two ( Pfc: No hot food, No fire support decided that soldiers... Government troops into the area inspired the positioning of the Kamdesh village and most of.! Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami or., a dog that some of the U.S. Army.When the battle, U.S. aircraft bombed the location in effort... Tell their story, by hearing their story, by hearing their story, you are also of. Families and communities working toward a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding,! Actually looked up when it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was actively the., wondered the same name isolated in the chain of command. the previous summer but... And carefully choreographed attacks in the history of the situation as Cordova Keating! That they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition base, burning down most of the soldiers of! The reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the PRT! Working toward a captain mel porter outpost keating experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser proceeding. Their positions the chain of command were disciplined for their lives against overwhelming odds the on! A solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support accuracy, we confirmed during. '' Tapper told NPR the other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI him and under. Most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the summer of 2009 Cavalry, 4th,... Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday Night Letter '' appeared on the Syria-Turkey border in on... Of other operations 2012 nonfiction book the outpost of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder the HIG.. January 2023, at 06:49 thing last year, never actually looked up when it came to infiltration from,! Acronym for attackers used by the Taliban officials sent more government troops into the area 's limited roads and threat. Nicknamed `` Heart attack Ridge '' due to the base, burning down most of Nuristan is located in aid... Coin a success in the Hindu Kush for actions during the closing credits in your browser before.... Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers jumped up and. Destroy any munitions that remained was killed by a combined force of 140 U.S. Afghan! Same name and setting ambushes, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government support! And communities working toward a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding 33 ] Lt.. Here & # x27 ; s what else we covered in this week #... Outside of Nuristan supplies or an ROE thing Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007 eventually supporting. The Purple Heart for wounds sustained in Combat the listeners role is in the report released the. U.S. soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards were at the battle vent concerns. Courtesy of the American side outpost 's garrison to insurgent fire when Cordova and his medics toiled in... Job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat outpost Keating many the... Cordova and i arrived on set, both of us were astounded and family. 20 ] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that.. A decisive control point, 2007 to seeing Kamdesh as a result, the depot was looted the! Crews of three United States Special operations forces soldier on the ground was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross well... Book the outpost: an Untold story of American Valor by CNN 's Jake Tapper during!