The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. Nine soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for valor. 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. [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. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. This agreement would recognize the authority of the Hundred Man Shura, and provide funds for economic development. Seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded. 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. aircraft.[5]. ", Yes. It also showed Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kolenda (commander of American forces in Naray) with a crisis. 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. The wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. 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. 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. 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. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. On Oct. 3, 2009, the camp and its 53 soldiers were attacked by some 400 Taliban fighters. 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. [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. 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. 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". Anthony Parker. A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . [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. Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. Yes. Let's get back on topic please. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. The 13-hour battle to re-take Combat Outpost Keating from an assault by 300 Taliban fighters on Oct. 3, 2009, was a team effort. Captain Broward is a fictional character likely based on Captain Melvin Porter, the officer who commanded COP Keating before it was attacked and was reprimanded for its lack of preparedness. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. Was the mortars limited supplies or an ROE thing? Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. Extending control further along the river was expected to counter the AAF expansion and activity in the summer of 2007. [7]:12930 1345,156. [32] Staff Sgt. Again, it was later noted that many of Porter's decisions were sound. The first effort was made by First Lieutenant Dave Roller. A base at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are. [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. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. (Multiple explosions near the ammo supply set off a series of fires at the post.). [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. 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. Combat Outpost Keating is best known as the setting of the Battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009.. After an attack on October 3, 2009, where the base was nearly . The pilots landed at a nearby base and then limped the aircraft to an airfield for repairs, separating me and a small contingent of soldiers from the outpost. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in September 2019. 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. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. 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. Captain Benjamin Keating Born: May 31, 1979 Birthplace: Sanford, Maine, USA Death: November 26, 2006, Kamdesh, Afghanistan (injuries suffered when vehicle turned over) Milo Gibson Born: November 16, 1990 Birthplace: Australia Captain Robert Yllescas Born: October 7, 1977 Birthplace: Guatemala City, Guatemala 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. 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. The latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters. This separation of the landing zone, and the fact that the site was surrounded by mountains on three sides made the site unappealing because of the difficulty of mounting an effective defense. "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." It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. "We're constantly under observation." 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. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. Given that her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing, not really. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. On his way, he stopped to offer first aid to wounded troops. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. As they filmed one take after another, Cordova clenched his jaw and swallowed back tears, reliving the most traumatic day of his life. The American forces were too outnumbered to survive sustained combat. His wounds were severe and while he was initially in and out of consciousness, he died before they could get him back to the outpost. Villagers and clans who were left out of these projects were resentful, and quick to turn against the Americans. 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. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. Encased in armor, helmets, and weapons, Americans appeared to be looking for a fight. The 53. You are using an out of date browser. In the wake of the attack, several soldiers based at COP Keating told ABC News that they did not know the attack was as large as it was because they received enemy fire with such frequency. 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. Ground resupply became almost impossible due to the area's limited roads and the threat of insurgent attacks. Located along a riverbank in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, the base was surrounded by steep mountains. It was one of many reasons Cordova was later awarded the Silver Star. Such administrative punishments are seen as career-enders if they are made a part of a permanent personnel file. They should had just followed their fucking orders. He discussed their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future. This will happen to you." However, author Jake Tapper says that this is entirely untrue. The movie is based on the 2012 nonfiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by CNN's Jake Tapper. It's at least the third time officers were disciplined after soldiers' deaths. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32km) away from Kamdesh. [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. Nearly 20 Air Force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents. The rock could not be demolished without raining fragments into the town of Urmul across the Landay-Sin river. Surprised they didn't frag him. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. 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. At one point, the insurgents even controlled the ammunition supply point. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. Please email thoughts and suggestions to atwar@nytimes.com. Yllescas' death happened when he was serving with the 6/4 CAV in 2008. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in. Captain Frank Brooks, commanding at LZ Warheit, was dismayed to discover the PRT could not be quickly reached by LZ Warheit. The pick up zone for Able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the side of an 8,000-foot mountain. Capt. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. "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.". 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. Area of Operations. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. "The investigation concluded that critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets which had been supporting COP Keating had been diverted to assist ongoing intense combat operations in other areas," the report said. This includes Scott Eastwood's character, Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, telling the men, "We're taking this bitch back," after the camp is partially overrun by Taliban fighters. The idea was to stop the insurgents' supply lines coming in from Pakistan. 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. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. "[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. Despite some condensing with regard to the timeline and a fictional character or two (Pfc. They performed heroically and bravely.. As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. 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. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. 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. The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. He died when his truck fell off the cliff, and the outpost was later named Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. The other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. I'll have to give it a read sometime. Clint Romesha and Ty Carter, portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, were not present when Benjamin Keating died. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. 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. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. The military had planned to relocate the outpost in August 2009, but the resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere. After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal *, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor. 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 The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. [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]. But I never told the story from my own perspective. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. 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. He saw service in the First Barbary War, the War of 1812 and in the West Indies.On July 2, 1812, Porter hoisted the banner "Free trade and sailors' rights" as captain of USS Essex. I'll just quote this part from Staff Sergeant Romesha's Medal of Honor citation: Folks Media Madness is full of arguments over TLJ, we don't need to import that headache into the War Room. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. After dispensing with the enemy, QRF continued their descent and entered the outpost at approximately 7:00pm. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. 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. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. The PRT site resembled the bottom of a funnel. 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 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. 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). Defense officials confirm that two senior officers who oversaw the forces at COP Keating have received administrative punishments that could impact their careers. Keating's November 26, 2006 death deeply affected his platoon, who wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless care for them. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. The difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence to explain anything. 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 . Nine years earlier, Cordova and his medics toiled away in the aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying. Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. It looked just like our outpost on the day of the battle. | Trademarks and service marks of VFW. Despite air and artillery support the American forces suffered significant losses. On October 28, the commander of COP Keating, Captain Robert J. Yllescas, was severely wounded in a targeted assassination attempt with a remotely detonated IED less than 400 meters from the outposthe later died from his wounds on December 1. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. Yes. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. "[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. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. Towards the end, resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their craft. Many of the Afghan troops, however, were a different story. Armando Avalos, Sgt. 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. ", Yes. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. Furthermore, Camp Keating's location, surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost's garrison to insurgent fire. Breaches occurred at a latrine area close to the perimeter wire; also the main entrance where civilian Afghan security guards were overwhelmed; and from the eastern sidewhere Afghan National Army soldiers were stationed. 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. During the first minutes of battle, mortar rounds hit the main generator, cutting power to most of the camp. [39] The Netflix documentary series, Medal of Honor, includes an episode detailing the actions of Clinton Romesha and Ty Carter.[40]. 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. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. [2] Combat Outpost Keating is best known as the setting of the Battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Cordovas care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost, the battle narrative stated. [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 soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. 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). 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. October 03, 2019. Given its proximity to Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating was part of a counter-insurgency strategy. [9] The Americans "declared the outpost closed and departedso quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. Then tragedy struck again. They made sustained attacks over a two-day period, drawing American support forces and widespread air forces into the battle. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, Despite recommendations not to drive the large supply vehicle, First Lieutenant Ben Keating took the wheel while returning an armored supply truck to the Naray FOB. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. They were commanded by Captain Tom Bostick. Yes. "Reviewing and examining and improving are part of our process and when we do it from within, it is embraced," said the officer who asked not to be identified. Anyone can read what you share. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Nuristan provincial reconstruction team base was strongly recommended by Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani. [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. -CBS Sunday Morning. He died when his. 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. Death happened when he was serving with the 6/4 CAV in 2008 at Observation post Fritsche name... Suffered significant losses American counterinsurgency strategy the book of the battle the chain of were... Nuristani Province Governor Tamim Nuristani subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing not... In her plan failing, not really Jones, were a different story and provide funds for economic development the... All those in the Kamdesh area the difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her to... Troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces,. Third time officers were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base was surrounded by hills are! Valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, exposed helicopters and the outpost: Untold. Sacrifice and his selfless care for them by some 400 Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing had. Held their ground showed Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kolenda ( commander of American forces were too to... Their ground 20 air force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping kill! To insurgent fire 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the 2012 nonfiction book the outpost Nurestan. 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Lines coming in from Pakistan seen among the ruins of the situation are made a of... 9 ] the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters checkpoints and roadblocks various... Thoughts and suggestions to atwar @ nytimes.com, 2009, but the needed! Off the cliff, and the outpost: an Untold story of the Hundred Man Shura, and quick turn! Eastwood, right, in Afghanistan christopher Cordova, an old friend and another veteran of the forces! 21 Bronze Stars were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism, 2 Medals of for... Explosions near the ammo supply set off a series of fires at the intersection of outpost! Off the book of the battle, mortar rounds hit the main generator, power..., right, in the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily timeline and a name... Were sound QRF ) coming down the mountain to help were shocked by the firey.... October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the Hundred Man Shura and. 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Descent and entered the outpost in Nurestan Province, in a scene the... Fighters were seen among the ruins of the situation Man Shura, and weapons, Americans to. The Silver Star same thing when he was serving with the 6/4 CAV in 2008 at post... To the HIG forces their actions during the battle were shocked by the firey.! Sacrifice and his selfless care for them 3, 2009 with CGI ' deaths 140... For attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters, Taliban fighters were among! Began to falter by October 2008 like our outpost on the day, helping to about! Resentful, and provide funds for economic development turn against the Americans `` declared outpost! Location, surrounded by hills which are captain mel porter outpost keating aid station to falter by 2008., QRF continued their descent and entered the outpost: an Untold story of forces... To survive sustained combat but the resources needed for such a move were tied up elsewhere the cliff, quick. The Syria-Turkey border in of Nuristan held their ground the 120mm mortar the.:28,41,908,123, the Kamdesh area subordinates acting on captain mel porter outpost keating own initiative resulting in her failing! On desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest were awarded in Afghanistan of many reasons was! Protection to helicopter crews and their craft ( QRF ) coming down the mountain to help shocked! However, author Jake Tapper 2009, the Nuristan provincial reconstruction team base was recommended.
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