Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. 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. Michael Polidor and Capt. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. 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. [34], The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apache helicopters were later decorated for actions during the battle. But he was ineffective in actually making the men understand why/how he came to certain decisions. Not exactly, but in researching The Outpost's historical accuracy, we learned that a similar incident happened the year prior, in 2008, involving more than just one dog. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. You are using an out of date browser. "[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. Many of the Afghan National Army members there in support of the coalition troops fled. [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. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. 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. 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. It also showed Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kolenda (commander of American forces in Naray) with a crisis. The movie is based on the 2012 nonfiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by CNN's Jake Tapper. 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 . The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. 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. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. 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. But I never told the story from my own perspective. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. 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". 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. In the end, we gaveThe Outpost movie a Historical Accuracy Score of 8.5/10. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. Brown would also note that it was a failure of leadership on Porter's part because of Porter's absolute refusal to explain to his troops why the mortars were being limited. Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. Despite overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ (R) Cordova was able to . Yes. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in September 2019. Area of Operations. The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. He was awarded the medal on 26 August 2013. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. 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. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. 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. From November through January 2008 members of the Shura traveled the villages of the Kamdesh area, informing the residents of the support agreement and stating that the era of holy war was over, and that local government would bring peace and prosperity. 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. To further complicate the situation, nearby Observation Post Fritsche was unable to provide mortar support to Keating, as it also was overrun by Taliban. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. Sgt. [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. It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].. . I was not on the outpost when the battle kicked off. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. Extending control further along the river was expected to counter the AAF expansion and activity in the summer of 2007. Ty M. Carter pauses during a patrol outside Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, where he was deployed with the 61st Cavalry Regiment in 2009. [17], 27 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. 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. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . Four U.S. Army officers were reprimanded for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command." 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. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. Like in the movie, the quick reaction force (QRF) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey devastation. If they shoot from the hills, US troops can shoot at them without fear of hitting civilians in town, and it makes an enticing target. The elder considers this to be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. It could not be seen or supported with indirect fire due to the multi-level and complicated terrain. 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. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. The growling soon escalated into outright hostility, which deeply frightened the boy. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. Haji Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and murdered. (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. 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. -The New Yorker, "On average, we'd get hit three to four times a week," says Sgt. Joshua Hardt, who until this time had been MIA. 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 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. [35] Capt. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. Youre reading this weeks At War newsletter. The Soviets had to contend with a rebel group known as the Dawlet of eastern Nuristan. 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. Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. His death had a traumatic effect on the morale of 3-71 Cav. I'll have to give it a read sometime. prosthetic makeup effects technician: Millennium FX. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. The report found that a "mindset of imminent closure" led the unit to not improve the outpost's defenses despite intelligence reports that warned of a possible attack by "a large enemy force.". The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? So it was something that had its objective changed and wasn't moved due to limited resources and it being 'probably good enough' there? Shot in the head by a Taliban sniper after being wounded by RPG fire. 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. The note was signed "Mullah Omar". The soldiers heard over the radio, "Enemy in the wire The enemy is inside the camp." The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. "[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. The population of Nuristan is ethnically distinct from the rest of Afghanistan, and divided into four major groups, the Kom, Kata, Kushtoz, and Kalasha. He discussed their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future. Defense officials confirm that three other Army officers face disciplinary action for their role in the attack on the military outpost in Wanat in July, 2008 that led to nine dead U.S. soldiers and 27 wounded. 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 Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. 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. On Oct. 3, while Cordova was in the aid station keeping Mace alive, I was fighting to get back with a company of reinforcements. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. 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. -CBS Sunday Morning. [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. 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. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Nuristan provincial reconstruction team base was strongly recommended by Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. [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. [7]:229,256,26380[12], The Battle of Saret Koheh made good on the threats of the "Night Letter". MAJ Porter talks about his first couple of days into country as he was getting set up and received direct attack resulting . Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. The camp was originally constructed to be a PRT (i.e., Provincial Reconstruction Team), called PRT Kamdesh, but due to extremely high levels of fighting in the area it remained a fire base instead of a PRT. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal *, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor. Given its proximity to Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating was part of a counter-insurgency strategy. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. Anyone can read what you share. Anthony Parker. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. Robert Yllescas. They made sustained attacks over a two-day period, drawing American support forces and widespread air forces into the battle. [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. The first effort was made by First Lieutenant Dave Roller. 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. Nine soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for valor. Not an Ordinary Engagement 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. Was the mortars limited supplies or an ROE thing? 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. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. Above their paygrade. 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. Who plays Nia on the outpost? 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. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. Combat. Set up new plants in Mirdesh and Gawardesh. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. He later set up the tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support and medevac. [7]:21530, The closeness of the action, and coordinated fire from both sides of the valley indicated that the attackers in this ambush were different from the groups that had been using sporadic, long range, harassing fire. 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. [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. October 03, 2019. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. Or invite someone to subscribe through this link. "Needed force protection improvements were not made because of the imminent closure of the outpost. 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. Let's get back on topic please. Does this give anyone else flashbacks to he purple hair admiral in The Last Jedi? Captain Frank Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit, was dismayed to discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. This will happen to you." The logistical location of the outpost, which was located deep in a valley surrounded by three steep mountains, put the soldiers at an enormous disadvantage. Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. 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. Keating saw these programs as producing mixed results. The military had planned to relocate the outpost in August 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere. Zorias Yunger), most of what unfolds in the movie is largely accurate. The movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating. Loss of life was inevitable and the government. Keating's November 26, 2006 death deeply affected his platoon, who wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless care for them. "We're constantly under observation." [7]:12930 1345,156. On the day of our visit, the cast and crew were filming the scene when Mace finally arrives at the aid station. aircraft.[5]. The following day, insurgents kidnapped and murdered Fazal Ahad, an elder from Badmuk who was attempting to end the Kom/Kata tribal disagreements by arranging a meeting in Kamdesh. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. The Outpost real story confirms that rocket-propelled grenades and mortars caused the camp to catch fire. 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. [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). [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. Surprised they didn't frag him. Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defense of COP Keating. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. 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. Even some of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life. [9], Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron "Destroyers", 61st Cavalry Regiment manned COP Keating. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. | Trademarks and service marks of VFW. It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. The first didn't take place at the camp. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. Rather off-topic but wasn't Poe at that moment demoted by Leia beforehand? 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. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. That was our troopers advantage up there. As I neared the camp that evening, Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors. Clint Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the film. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. And he was becoming disillusioned with the possibility of what he thought. He wanted to avoid risking the lives of his men while traveling on an unstable road subject to ambush with an overweight vehicle. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. 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. 2023 All rights reserved. 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.
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