The movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating. The outpost was renamed Camp Keating in December 2006 (not in 2009). A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. Click here for complete coverage of the Afghan war. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. [14] At the time, Afghan national forces were supervised and trained by members of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. Given its proximity to Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating was part of a counter-insurgency strategy. Served with United States Army since 2005 and Participated in. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. Located near the border with Pakistan in the Afghan province of Nuristan, COP Keating was the scene of a coordinated attack by as many as 300 Taliban fighters who stormed the exposed base. The latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. Air Force Capt. Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. From left, Martin Malchev as Specialist Cody Floyd; Jack Kalian as Staff Sgt. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. Originally built to engage the locals in community development projects, Combat Outpost Keating located at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the Pakistani border faced . By now, Porter had strained relations with nearly all of his subordinate leaders. Above their paygrade. Many of the Afghan troops, however, were a different story. However, author Jake Tapper says that this is entirely untrue. His actions saved the lives of several soldiers, and he alone accomplished the work of four medical professionals without stopping for food or sleep, the battle narrative aptly concluded. In the movie, he dies almost immediately after landing at the bottom of the cliff. As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. The brigade was busy guarding another village, and numerous other resources had been consumed looking for Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier who was held captive by the Taliban after he deserted his post on June 30, 2009. We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. Within moments of entry, members of the QRF discovered and confirmed the death of Sgt. 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. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. JavaScript is disabled. The attacks size and urgency may have had something to do with the US Soldier Bounty issued by the Ruskies. Clint Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the film. When I learned that my U.S. Army cavalry troops war story was being made into a major motion picture, I worried that a Hollywood account of the battle would be inaccurate. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Other veterans also acted in the movie, including Henry Hughes. 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 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. . As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. 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. Cordovas care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost, the battle narrative stated. "As evening fell on the night of 3 October 2009, COP Keating remained solidly under US control, and enemy forces had suffered severe tactical defeat," according to the Army report, although "eight American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice defending their outpost and their fellow soldiers." [7]:12930 1345,156. Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. -The New Yorker, "On average, we'd get hit three to four times a week," says Sgt. This will happen to you." 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. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Skola karalauk", "COP Keating Investigation Findings Released", "Afghan, US troops kill 40 militants in east", "Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . It was this delay that proved fatal to some of the troops stationed at COP Keating. Unconfirmed footage reportedly shows a short segment from a November 2008 battle at Combat Outpost (COP) Keating, in which ISAF troops attempt to defend the stupidly-placed position from an enemy that holds the high ground on all sides. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. In this December 2012 interview, MAJ Melvin Porter, US Army, Signal; discusses his deployment to Afghanistan as a company commander for 3-61 Cavalry (CAV) in 2009 through 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). 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? [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. Nearly 20 Air Force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents. Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. 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. Given that her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing, not really. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. Died of his wounds after his leg was hit by a single gunshot wound. He discussed their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future. 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. Armando Avalos, Sgt. 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. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. 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. 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. 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. They did their jobs, and Im here because of what they did, but air support was definitely a must.. The shops name means house of culture.. 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. Zorias Yunger), most of what unfolds in the movie is largely accurate. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Does this give anyone else flashbacks to he purple hair admiral in The Last Jedi? Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. 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. [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. Combat. The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32 km) away from Kamdesh. Commanders of Camp Keating are disciplined for not taking proper measures that led to deaths of eight U.S. soldiers and the wounding of 22 others in a Taliban attack. The difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence to explain anything. Rather off-topic but wasn't Poe at that moment demoted by Leia beforehand? "We're constantly under observation." 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. [20] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. They should had just followed their fucking orders. It could not be seen or supported with indirect fire due to the multi-level and complicated terrain. Keating saw these programs as producing mixed results. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. The Nuristanis had resisted Islam as late as the year 1895 and before that had been considered a Hindu nation (Islamic invaders called them "Kaffir" or heathen) with a long tradition of violently resisting outsiders and their beliefs. The 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. It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].. AAF forces involved fit the pattern of the improved force, in that they were uniformed and equipped as Afghan Army and police forces, with the latest weapons and radios issued to government Afghan forces, along with ski masks. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. Killed by a single gunshot wound to the face while in the base mortar pit. Everything was so realistic that had the cameras not been there I would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me. 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. The bounty was a thing back then? 1st Class Jonathan Hill rallied his 3rd Platoon troops in a counterattack, despite his multiple shrapnel wounds. 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. 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. Daniel Rodriguez, who took part in the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie. [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. Even some of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life. Fallen Heroes 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th ID. [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. Such attacks are not news to men like Capt. 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. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. In real life, Keating had served with the 3/71 CAV, not the 3/61 CAV (the unit he's part of in The Outpost movie). Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Yllescas's charismatic relations with the Shura had supported the transition from 1-91 Cavalry to 6th Squadron, and the Shura's influence and collaboration with ISAF forces declined from this point. 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. 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. An additional 4 Afghan allied fighters also died. 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. Yes. Once OP Fritsche soldiers gained control of their mortar pit, Sgt. 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. 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. The Allies stopped using the Kamdesh-Naray road. The note was signed "Mullah Omar". Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. But the courage of the Americans who fought there will never be forgotten. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. Rob Yllescas of Nebraska, in "The Outpost," which tells the story of real-life combat events from the War in Afghanistan. In my moment of being the listener to a war story I previously told, I realized that The Outpost was as honest as any war story. I only watched the trailer. 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. 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. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. 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. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. During the Soviet occupation, HIG received more support from the CIA than any other Mujahideen resistance group. They made sustained attacks over a two-day period, drawing American support forces and widespread air forces into the battle. Constant ambushes and firefights along the road to Naray did little to relieve Keating's doubts. Let's get back on topic please. "[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. Actor Milo Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, portrays Capt. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". So if you see the film when it comes out over the Fourth of July weekend, know that you are not just watching a war movie. The action takes place at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals in community development projects. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. The soldiers heard over the radio, "Enemy in the wire The enemy is inside the camp." A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle. 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. 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 American forces were too outnumbered to survive sustained combat. This agreement would recognize the authority of the Hundred Man Shura, and provide funds for economic development. Please email thoughts and suggestions to atwar@nytimes.com. Martina Skokova. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. I am almost 100% certain it was deliberately placed in a shitty location to goad locals into attacking the base, allowing the US to attack the enemy directly. Capt. 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. [18], At about 3:00a.m. on October 3, over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. 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. The movie does take liberty with the way it portrays previous commanders of the outpost, 1st Lt. Ben Keating and Capt. They were eventually repelled from the small base through the actions of what the investigation's report said were the camp soldiers who "fought heroically" and counterattacks by Apache helicopters and attack jets. 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 Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. -The Outpost book. The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. [7]:95,268. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. [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. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. [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. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. These subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders. The Outpost true story reveals that the soldiers were surrounded by more than 300 Taliban fighters, many of whom were rushing in from Pakistan, which was only 14 miles from COP Keating. I support this diversion into a discussion of the operational art and command structure as practiced by the New Resistance under Leia Organa. AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. The first effort was made by First Lieutenant Dave Roller. The population of Nuristan is ethnically distinct from the rest of Afghanistan, and divided into four major groups, the Kom, Kata, Kushtoz, and Kalasha. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. Action at the Aid Station So it was something that had its objective changed and wasn't moved due to limited resources and it being 'probably good enough' there? Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. But he was ineffective in actually making the men understand why/how he came to certain decisions. Seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded. Need to know. ", Yes. "whatever you think of their ideology, these are fierce and smart fighters. He was managing care for five Americans and seven Afghans, treating gunshot wounds, head injuries, shrapnel wounds, chest and abdominal wounds, eye injuries and broken legs, all in a makeshift station. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. Director Rod Lurie is himself a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. In the year that followed the agreement, ANA and American deaths dropped from thirty to three. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. [10], OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. . The elder considers this to be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution. I'll have to give it a read sometime. (Multiple explosions near the ammo supply set off a series of fires at the post.). 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. "It is one of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the history of the Afghan war," Tapper told NPR. Or invite someone to subscribe through this link. As I neared the camp that evening, Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors. The Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . 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. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Nuristan provincial reconstruction team base was strongly recommended by Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani. 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. [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. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. Colonel John W. Nicholson Jr., Commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division, had observed that Kamdesh was located at a point where three of the valley systems from the Pakistan border in the north converged. However that road itself was pretty poor in of itself. [7]:28,41,908,123, The area had not been occupied by any conventional US forces prior to 3-71 Cavalry's takeover, although Special Operations forces operated in the area on a very limited basis. The first didn't take place at the camp. This letter was written in Pashto and signed "Mujahideen". [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. 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. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. Died of his wounds after his legs were hit by RPG shrapnel. 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. Enemy forces controlled the landing zone, which prevented the wounded from being lifted out. ' The Outpost ' is a 2020 war drama which tells the story of 53 US soldiers who battled some 400 enemy insurgents in north-eastern Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. 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. Extending control further along the river was expected to counter the AAF expansion and activity in the summer of 2007. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. Capt. 2023 All rights reserved. -CBS Sunday Morning. 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. Provide clean water by installing gravity fed pipelines. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. [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. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. Yes. A new counter-insurgency strategy seemed to offer a way around these problems. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal *, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. Commanders of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the film skills to be a bad and. 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The bottom of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams leave the area from thirty to.. Stationed at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their.. Tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the in., just to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday 4th ID firey devastation helicopters located! The writers seemingly supporting her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their initiative. Art and Command structure as practiced by the firey devastation physician assistant, was the... After landing at the time, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around area. Hot food, No fire support base mortar pit Fritsche was attacked simultaneously captain mel porter outpost keating limiting available support from that.!, just to get signed `` Mujahideen '' the American forces were too outnumbered to survive Combat. Portrays Capt articles to give each month son of Mel Gibson, the biggest thing that me... Helping to kill about 150 insurgents base mortar pit, Sgt ] in addition, Afghan national forces checkpoints! Range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys they! Being lifted out hot food, No fire support Hardt, who took part in the Jedi! Reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her failing. Built to engage the locals in community development projects contained between the Landay river and steep mountains Keating... He came to infiltration from Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating in December 2006 ( in. Be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution profuse bleeding the. Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position does take with... Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters the cameras not been there i would have thought mind... 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