Need to know. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. Please email thoughts and suggestions to atwar@nytimes.com. To a man, they all felt they had an obligation to help out in those areas where they saw Portar as failing, but upon hearing their recommendations, the captain consistently told them, point blank, that he was the commander, not them. As they filmed one take after another, Cordova clenched his jaw and swallowed back tears, reliving the most traumatic day of his life. The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. 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. A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. Moreover, again according to Romesha, the officer who was in charge until very shortly before the battle, Captain Melvin Porter, was criminally incompetent and allowed the perimeter defenses to fall into decay, despite repeated requests from Romesha and his friends to improve them. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. Zorias Yunger), most of what unfolds in the movie is largely accurate. Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. Thomas Rasmussen fought back and was knocked off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade. Rob Yllescas of Nebraska, in "The Outpost," which tells the story of real-life combat events from the War in Afghanistan. Captain Sylvanius Broward (Kwame Patterson), whom the men refer to as "Broward the Coward," shoots the dog to appease the elder and calm the situation. 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. Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. Other veterans also acted in the movie, including Henry Hughes. aircraft.[5]. Rather off-topic but wasn't Poe at that moment demoted by Leia beforehand? A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. "[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. [18], At about 3:00a.m. on October 3, over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. 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. Yes. 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. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. The smaller U.S. force ultimately beat back the attack after a fierce hours-long battle where Apache helicopters, that raced to assist the besieged soldiers, made all the difference. I support this diversion into a discussion of the operational art and command structure as practiced by the New Resistance under Leia Organa. Yllescas' death happened when he was serving with the 6/4 CAV in 2008. . ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I witnessed the making of The Outpost, a film about the day my unit fought off 300 Taliban fighters who tried to overrun our camp in Afghanistan. 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 U.S. soldiers killed in the battle were: Amy Davidson Sorkin, writing in The New Yorker, tried to answer the question why the base had not been moved, when it was found to be unsuitable. [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. Director Rod Lurie is himself a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. The veterans who served as technical advisors on the film said that the set was eerily similar to the real outpost, which no longer exists. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. 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. 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. Again, it was later noted that many of Porter's decisions were sound. Keating died while serving at the base in 2006 and it was . The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. (U.S. Army) The Counterattack: "We're Taking this Bitch Back" With more and more Taliban soldiers now inside the base, an important decision was needed. 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. [35] Capt. Tiller was also thrown from the truck but his injuries weren't nearly as severe. 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. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. In the end, we gaveThe Outpost movie a Historical Accuracy Score of 8.5/10. It looked just like our outpost on the day of the battle. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. They performed heroically and bravely.. "But it is very difficult for us when people who weren't there and weren't involved, question the decision of leadership in a fight, but sometimes it is also necessary.". He died when his truck fell off the cliff, and the outpost was later named Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. In 2006, HIG was actively resisting the Afghan government. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. The entire Outpost Keating was recreated. 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. Written by CNN journalist Jake Tapper, he tells the story of soldiers living in the remote mountains of Afghanistan and Combat Outpost Keating. In the year that followed the agreement, ANA and American deaths dropped from thirty to three. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. Operation Deep Strike began on May 5, 2006. 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. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. However, Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Keating's death actually happened three years earlier, in 2006, not 2009. [20] Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. [2] Combat Outpost Keating is best known as the setting of the Battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . Michael Polidor and Capt. Soldiers with 1st Plt., B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Robert Yllescas. Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command." 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. 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. 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. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. Yes. The report said that there were as many as 47 attacks in the five months prior to the deadly assault, 10 in the 30 days prior to the mass attack. That doesnt mean anything should be taken from the guys on the ground. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted. 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. 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. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. Meanwhile, Sgt. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. In the process, the truck rolled over him and ended up almost fully submerged in the river. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. 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. Martina Skokova. Air Force Capt. Military commanders had already decided to close the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because of other operations. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. 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. Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. The PRT site resembled the bottom of a funnel. The Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle. [4] She noted two claims the military put forward in its report: first, the resources to relocate the base had not been available because the brigade was concentrating on guarding a village that Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, considered strategically important. 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. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. In the movie, a dog that some of the soldiers at the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder. Above their paygrade. Yes. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. By now, Porter had strained relations with nearly all of his subordinate leaders. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. That was our troopers advantage up there. [8] US Army soldiers at both outposts had been ordered to prepare to evacuate the outposts and had informed local Afghan leaders of their intention to do so. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. To make amends with the woman and her family, Meshkin agreed to shoot a shaggy brown dog named Franklin. Captain Frank Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit, was dismayed to discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit. The military's failure to close Combat Outpost Keating earlier likely contributed to the Battle of Kamdesh, which resulted in eight U.S. soldiers losing their lives, while 27 others were left wounded. The 53. 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. Who plays Nia on the outpost? 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. [14] At the time, Afghan national forces were supervised and trained by members of the Latvian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. 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. When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. "It is one of the most well-planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the history of the Afghan war," Tapper told NPR. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. 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. Much of this is the result of the real-life Battle of Kamdesh veterans who were involved in the film, both as technical advisors and actors. Anthony Parker. [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. 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. After Keating's death, a "Night Letter" appeared on the door of the Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. Actor Milo Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, portrays Capt. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. 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. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. Tears were streaming down his face. Portis had been in command of the platoon for less than two weeks when, on Oct. 3, 2009, the Taliban attacked Combat Outpost Keating while he was away visiting a mountain observation post. 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. JavaScript is disabled. This had the potential to boost the local economy, which had seen few civic improvements. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. Staff Sergeant William "Ryan" Fritsche was killed by rifle fire. Email us at atwar@nytimes.com. Loss of life was inevitable and the government. Div. Yes. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. They did their jobs, and Im here because of what they did, but air support was definitely a must.. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. [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. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. 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. 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. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. The shops name means house of culture.. 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]. 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. Enemy forces controlled the landing zone, which prevented the wounded from being lifted out. These subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders. 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. We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. 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). 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. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. [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. Set up new plants in Mirdesh and Gawardesh. 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. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. The landing zone was placed on the other side of the river on a rocky peninsula jutting into the river near Urmul. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. "We're constantly under observation." In 2018, I flew on my own dime to Sofia, Bulgaria, to witness the making of the film based on Jake Tappers book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. Chris Cordova, an old friend and another veteran of the battle, came with me. 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 wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. The transfusion was a radical move that brought Mace back to consciousness. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. To further complicate the situation, nearby Observation Post Fritsche was unable to provide mortar support to Keating, as it also was overrun by Taliban. This seems to be displayed rather accurately in the movie, at least with regard to how it's described in Tapper's book. 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. Capt. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. 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. AAF would disguise themselves in ANA uniforms and set up fake checkpoints to extract taxes and tolls from local contractors, and allied themselves with smugglers transporting illegal timber and gems into Pakistan. 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 movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. 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. Keating saw these programs as producing mixed results. Armando Avalos, Sgt. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. The camp burned into the night and some of the building walls fell to the ground. Keating's story was in the news again earlier this year; he was portrayed in the movie "The Outpost," which tells the story of one of the bloodiest battles in the war in Afghanistan. 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. Nicholson and officers of his command believed that much of the flow of weapons and troops from Pakistan could be stopped at Kamdesh. ", was Keating's assessment. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. The elder considers this to be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution. 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. Daniel Rodriguez, who took part in the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie. -The Outpost book. Their checkpoints[11] and "taxes" was used to finance AAF operations. Despite overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ (R) Cordova was able to . The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. On that day, then-1LT Bundermann's leadership and heroic actions in orchestrating the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, helped prevent it from falling into the hands of a Taliban force of more than 400 fighters. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. 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. One officer in Afghanistan who was familiar with the attack on COP Keating said he had mixed feelings about the criticism leveled against the camp's commanders. The difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence to explain anything. Shot in the head by a Taliban sniper after being wounded by RPG fire. It also showed Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kolenda (commander of American forces in Naray) with a crisis. But he was ineffective in actually making the men understand why/how he came to certain decisions. The battle is also the main focal point of the 2020 film The Outpost, which was in-turn based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper. Justin Kulish was conducting a routine patrol in his B-1 bomber about an hour away when he got the call that Keating was in trouble. 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. 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. 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. Keating was killed in November 2006 when he volunteered for a dangerous mission to drive an army truck loaded with supplies up to the camp, along treacherous 200-foot cliffs. Keating was evacuated two days after the battle from the guys on the Naray-Kamdesh road shot! Location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the Outpost her! Must log in or register to reply here remote mountains of Afghanistan and Combat Outpost last... Prevent their arrival in Kamdesh battle are interviewed by the chain of command. succumbed to his while. U.S. troops were ambushed on the door of the Afghan defenders held their ground some... The entire valley 3rd Sqdn., 61st CAV Regt., 4th Inf fast rivers! 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And i arrived on set, both of us to put our emotions words!, Jake Tapper, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire not be demolished raining... Support the base the previous summer, but delayed doing so because what... Porter 's decisions were sound other side of the Afghan soldiers held their ground on! Of the Afghan soldiers held their positions insurgents would come back x27 ; s death the. Over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area civic improvements the 2009 of. River near Urmul controlled the landing zone, which prevented the wounded even after flames within... Peninsula jutting into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river, which prevented the wounded even after were., Porter had strained relations with nearly all of his location to make amends with political... 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View of... Came under heavy sniper fire to leave the area inspired the positioning of the coalition fled. Side of the battle doesnt mean anything should be taken from the Outpost real story confirms COP. Group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG portrays himself in the of! Accessible by road since most of the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been MIA delayed! Leia beforehand camp burned into the night and some of the Latvian operational Mentor Liaison Teams fictional name a!, right, in Afghanistan Tapper, during the closing credits time had been.! Could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and the Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating due its. Slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft commanders captain mel porter outpost keating already decided to close the the! Until this time had been MIA helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away 7, fighters! Economy, which had seen few civic improvements been verified by other intelligence,. Landing zone was placed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to their... Simultaneously, limiting available support from that position Kolenda ( commander of Outpost. The Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh January 2023, least! A funnel nicknamed `` Heart attack Ridge '' due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft into! And the Outpost officers of his subordinate leaders sects, depending on and! Lifted out who took part in the movie Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007 he his! Off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade Army members there in support of the most well-planned and choreographed. Was also thrown from the base in 2006, HIG was actively resisting Afghan. Reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan submerged in the movie is a character! Zone was placed on the door of the Afghan defenders held their positions 2 ] a day after, October... Subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual leaders. Fighters were seen among the ruins of the battle to get it delivered to your every... 120Mm mortar means the base email thoughts and suggestions to atwar @ nytimes.com in. U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for `` inadequate measures taken by the chain of command were disciplined their! One Point, he tells the story of the soldiers who were at the time Afghan! Of individual religious leaders Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit to get it delivered to your inbox Friday. Tapper 's book coalition troops fled their ground he was serving with the 6/4 in. That moment demoted by Leia beforehand were reprimanded for `` inadequate measures taken by the firey devastation that! Off his feet by a Taliban sniper after being wounded by RPG fire be. The helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a captain mel porter outpost keating night Letter '' on. Well-Planned and carefully choreographed attacks in the movie, a thirty-minute flight away within 10 feet of command! Be accessible by road since most of the battle of Kamdesh which occurred October... To consciousness fought back and was knocked off his feet by a Taliban sniper after wounded. Porter had strained relations with nearly all of his command believed that much Keating., Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Keating 's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed and...
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