captain mel porter outpost keating

The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. "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.". 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. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. 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. [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. It's true that some of the Taliban fighters casually strolled through the camp, believing they had won. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. For the most part, yes. Read more from At War here or follow us on Twitter. He died when his truck fell off the cliff, and the outpost was later named Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. 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. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. 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. |. In the end, we gaveThe Outpost movie a Historical Accuracy Score of 8.5/10. 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. And he was becoming disillusioned with the possibility of what he thought. 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." They should had just followed their fucking orders. 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. 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. [7]:95,268. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. Daniel Rodriguez, who took part in the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie. 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. They performed heroically and bravely.. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. The camp burned into the night and some of the building walls fell to the ground. He later set up the tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support and medevac. [31] 3 soldiers were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and 18 others the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor. [5] Within two minutes of the beginning of the attack, American forces suffered their first casualty. Yes. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. They made sustained attacks over a two-day period, drawing American support forces and widespread air forces into the battle. The entire Outpost Keating was recreated. The 53. Email us at atwar@nytimes.com. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. Of the 53 U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle of Kamdesh at Outpost Keating, 45 survived, 8 lost their lives, and 27 were wounded. These groups could clash violently over water rights, pasture, and religious beliefs. 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. Additionally, 20 Afghan troops, two Latvian soldiers and a dozen Afghan security guards were at Keating. The elder considers this to be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. 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. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. "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. In Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming, Jonathan Shay calls this form of catharsis the communalization of grief, in which trauma survivors tell their stories and listeners can listen, believe and remember. This is when the circle of healing is complete. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Martina Skokova. Not an Ordinary Engagement Something had to be done to bring Nuristan on to the American side. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. 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. To avoid damaging the trust they had established with the Afghans, Cali and another semi-hostile dog named Willie Pete were shot by Staff Sergeant Ian Boone and another soldier. After assisting with securing the OP from potential follow on attacks, members of the Quick Reaction Force descended from the mountain's peak to COP Keating on foot. "We're surrounded, and we're sitting in a bowl," Porter said on "Good Morning America" today. His death had a traumatic effect on the morale of 3-71 Cav. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. Troops", "Outnumbered and With Taliban Overrunning the Base, Clinton Romesha Was Awarded MoH at the Battle of Kamdesh", "4th ID Soldier awarded Distinguished Service Cross", "Army vet honored with Distinguished Service Cross for combat heroics in Afghanistan", "Pilots receive Distinguished Flying Cross for valor", "Airmen honored by college for heroism in Afghanistan", "Army veteran Clinton Romesha receives Medal of Honor for Afghan fight", "Obama awards Ty Carter Medal of Honor for Afghan battle", "US soldiers hold back Taliban attack on COP Keating", COP Keating Report at DefenseTech.org: After Action Report, before and after photos, maps, analysis, Executive Summary - AR 15-6 Investigation re: Complex Attack on COP Keating - 3 Oct 09, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Kamdesh&oldid=1135532495, Served with United States Army since 2003 and Participated in, Killed by a single gunshot wound in the head, Served with United States Army since 2004 and Participated in, Killed by multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body, Served with United States Army since 2006 and Participated in, Served with United States Army since 2005. Several days after the battle, U.S. aircraft bombed the location in an effort to destroy any munitions that remained. In the movie, he dies almost immediately after landing at the bottom of the cliff. JavaScript is disabled. 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. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . 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. The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the war in Afghanistan. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. 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. Operation Deep Strike began on May 5, 2006. Director Rod Lurie is himself a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. Need to know. A new counter-insurgency strategy seemed to offer a way around these problems. He jumped up undeterred and ran through heavy fire to get more ammunition. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. 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. Mace survived long enough to be evacuated to a nearby medical facility. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. Cordovas care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost, the battle narrative stated. This seems to be displayed rather accurately in the movie, at least with regard to how it's described in Tapper's book. Again, it was later noted that many of Porter's decisions were sound. The report said the heroic action of American and Afghan soldiers contributed to a "severe tactical defeat for the Taliban" that resulted in as many as 150 Taliban fighters being killed. ", Yes. View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. 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. According to one account, Hill without hesitation picked up a Latvian sniper rifle and eliminated the target at a distance of over 300 meters., 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann, de facto ground commander, worked to slow the fire in the operations center and salvage equipment. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. 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. U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. But he was ineffective in actually making the men understand why/how he came to certain decisions. 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. It was only then that I truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the healing process. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. He wanted to avoid risking the lives of his men while traveling on an unstable road subject to ambush with an overweight vehicle. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. Allowed many of Porter 's decisions were sound known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG walls. A specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG least regard. Men while traveling on an unstable road subject to ambush with an overweight vehicle a better experience, enable. 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