The first didn't take place at the camp. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. On Oct. 3, while Cordova was in the aid station keeping Mace alive, I was fighting to get back with a company of reinforcements. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. 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. 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). 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. Something had to be done to bring Nuristan on to the American side. 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. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. After Keating's death, a "Night Letter" appeared on the door of the Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. In May 2016 CBS News profiled Staff Sergeant Romesha, after he published an account of his experiences at the base, entitled Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. The Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle. 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. Matthew McMurtrey a cyber systems operator was attached to the 61st Cav and woke at6 a.m. that day to the walls of his bunk shaking, alerting him to the attack. Nearly 20 Air Force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents. 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. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. The transfusion was a radical move that brought Mace back to consciousness. [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. Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. 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. 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. This letter was written in Pashto and signed "Mujahideen". [5] Within two minutes of the beginning of the attack, American forces suffered their first casualty. The 53. A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. [2] Two Americans, Staff Sergeants Clinton L. Romesha and (then Specialist) Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their role in defending the base.[3]. 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 the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. The landing zone was placed on the other side of the river on a rocky peninsula jutting into the river near Urmul. 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). 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. Meanwhile, Sgt. Was the mortars limited supplies or an ROE thing? Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. The military had planned to relocate the outpost in August 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere. Several of the dogs that hung around the camp were with them, one of which supposedly bit an old woman working in a field. 1st Class Jonathan Hill rallied his 3rd Platoon troops in a counterattack, despite his multiple shrapnel wounds. "It doesn't really take a lot to sort of trigger the emotions again," said Beth Keating. [35] Capt. [5] The U.S. military estimated that 150 Taliban insurgents were also killed as a result of repulsing the assault. The idea was to stop the insurgents' supply lines coming in from Pakistan. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? [7]:298304, By October 2007 the elders and mullahs of the Kamdesh area had been inspired by Rahman to gather at Kamdesh for a mass meeting, or shura to plan the future of Nuristan. The 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." It was adapted for the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (Patriots Day and The Fighter). Read more from At War here or follow us on Twitter. Capt. But I never told the story from my own perspective. Anyone can read what you share. Yes. 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. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. 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. 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. Other veterans also acted in the movie, including Henry Hughes. Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. "Needed force protection improvements were not made because of the imminent closure of the outpost. Surprised they didn't frag him. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. prosthetic makeup effects technician: Millennium FX. 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. 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). I'll have to give it a read sometime. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. 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. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. Div., at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6, 2009. Please email thoughts and suggestions to atwar@nytimes.com. Hutto had worked for years on COIN campaigns in Central America. Robert Yllescas. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. 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. 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. Aaron Dove, pilot and weapon systems officer of one of the F-15E aircraft coordinating close air support, were also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Mace survived long enough to be evacuated to a nearby medical facility. He died when his. Quick reaction forces (QRF) from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment did not reach the outpost until 7:00pm that day, while insurgents remained in parts of the outpost as late as 5:10pm. The Distinguished Flying Cross was given to 7 aviators who assisted in defending the base. Military commanders had already decided to close the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations. 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. 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. 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. Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another deployment. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". In real life, there is no record of Porter shooting a dog.According to Jake Tapper's book, two real-life incidents inspired the scene in the movie. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. 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. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. 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. 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. In the year that followed the agreement, ANA and American deaths dropped from thirty to three. An additional 4 Afghan allied fighters also died. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. Mawlawi Abdul Rahman was a local elder impressed with this new approach. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. Another 10 Afghan soldiers and several Taliban were killed during these operations. Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. 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. 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. [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. 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. Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. The report concluded that it was the lack of adequate defenses that made Keating "an attractive target" for the Taliban. Staff Sergeant William "Ryan" Fritsche was killed by rifle fire. Capt. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. At 6 a.m., Oct. 3, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, came under complex attack by an enemy force estimated at 300 fighters. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. 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. [18], At about 3:00a.m. on October 3, over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. On his way, he stopped to offer first aid to wounded troops. The outpost's depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."[10]. They performed heroically and bravely.. It was this delay that proved fatal to some of the troops stationed at COP Keating. I was not on the outpost when the battle kicked off. Served with United States Army since 2008. 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 defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Clint Romesha and Ty Carter, portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, were not present when Benjamin Keating died. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. It also showed Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kolenda (commander of American forces in Naray) with a crisis. [3] Romesha was critical of the choice of site for the base, describing it as "like being in a fishbowl or fighting from the bottom of a paper cup. 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. [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. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. Nine soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for valor. Nine years earlier, Cordova and his medics toiled away in the aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying. Given its proximity to Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating was part of a counter-insurgency strategy. During and after the battle, some of the Afghan soldiers stole items, including digital cameras and protein drinks, belonging to American soldiers at the base. That was our troopers advantage up there. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. Ground resupply became almost impossible due to the area's limited roads and the threat of insurgent attacks. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in September 2019. It may not display this or other websites correctly. [14] At the time, Afghan national forces were supervised and trained by members of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. "[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. The American forces were too outnumbered to survive sustained combat. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. Several of the surviving soldiers were technical advisors on the film, including Medal of Honor recipient Ty Carter, who is played by Caleb Landry Jones. I only watched the trailer. 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. The movie was filmed in 2018 on a set created at the base of a mountain in Bulgaria, not far from the city of Sofia. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. Eventually, supporting aircraft scattered the attackers; while air support provided decisive results. Killed by a single gunshot wound to the face while in the base mortar pit. 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. Such attacks are not news to men like Capt. 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. Martina Skokova. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. 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. Tears were streaming down his face. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. 3-71 Cavalry conducted many successful combat missions in the area surrounding the camp and repelled various attacks on the base. ", Yes. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. [10], OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. 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 . Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. It was one of many reasons Cordova was later awarded the Silver Star. The difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence to explain anything. [2], The attackers overran Keating's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the battle. [9] The Americans "declared the outpost closed and departedso quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. 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. Yes. [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. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. 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. "whatever you think of their ideology, these are fierce and smart fighters. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. The initiating ISAF forces of 1-91 Cavalry had returned home, replaced by 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Without adequate support, they were left to fight for their lives against overwhelming odds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Or invite someone to subscribe through this link. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. In the process, the truck rolled over him and ended up almost fully submerged in the river. Such administrative punishments are seen as career-enders if they are made a part of a permanent personnel file. 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. "It is one of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the history of the Afghan war," Tapper told NPR. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. [9], Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron "Destroyers", 61st Cavalry Regiment manned 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. 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. 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. To make amends with the woman and her family, Meshkin agreed to shoot a shaggy brown dog named Franklin. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. I stood silently in the corner and watched a rendition of the story I previously told through sympathy letters to the families of the fallen, in award write-ups for my soldiers and during lectures for military leaders. This agreement would recognize the authority of the Hundred Man Shura, and provide funds for economic development. [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. 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. Above their paygrade. Seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. During the Soviet occupation, HIG received more support from the CIA than any other Mujahideen resistance group. Let's get back on topic please. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. . [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. 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