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December 08, 2008
In Country With Our Troops In Afghanistan
Task Force Eagle Assault Patrols Skies Above Southern Afganistan
A door gunner for an Army CH-47 helicopter scans the mountains and desert of southern Afghanistan during a mission
By Sgt. Paul David Ondik
Combined Joint Task Force - 101
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan
In southern Afghanistan, the aircraft of 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, Task Force Eagle Assault patrols the skies over some of the most rugged terrain in the world.
In an area dominated by desert badlands, TF Eagle Assault is a lifeline for troops of almost a dozen nations.
“We will fly upwards of 2,000 missions,” said Lt. Col. Tommy Stauss, the unit’s commander. “It’s a very large area. It constitutes 20 to 30 percent of the country.”
Service Members Prove Themselves in Ambush
By 2nd Lt. Zack Moss
6th Squadron, 4th Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan
The mountains of Konar Valley in eastern Afghanistan are some of the most treacherous and contested in the world. They are also home to Task Force Raider, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas.
The squadron began to train for the challenges of the harsh Afghan environment the instant they were notified of their deployment. This training was put to the test during a mission this fall.
1st Platoon, Charlie Troop, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, a supporting Civil Affairs team, a platoon from the 2nd Kandak, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, of the 201st Corps of the Afghan national army and their supporting U.S. Marine Corps Embedded Training Team were traveling down the only improved road in the Nari District to check on development projects and resupply voter registration sites.
The movement south was uneventful until the patrol reached the Tsunel Valley.
The enemy was crouching among the houses on a hillside, waiting for the convoy. When the convoy came by, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired and impacted approximately five feet in front of the lead International Security Assistance Force truck, blowing a three-foot hole in the surface of a culvert.
“I saw an explosion to my front that opened a hole in the road, and the window cracked in front of me as bullets struck it, so I knew we were in an ambush,” said Spc. Brian Engel from San Antonio. “I drove to avoid the hole in the road and get out of the kill zone, but an RPG hit the engine of my truck.”
It was an all-out firefight and several Soldiers exited the vehicles as gunners from the vehicles fired on the enemy.
Pfc. Leonard Kroll, from Ontario, Calif., was fighting from outside the vehicle and helping Sgt. Daniel Ward, from Steamboat Springs, Colo., when he was struck just above the ankle by a bullet. As Ward continued to return fire he gave the order to Spc. Christopher Christensen from Fort Smith, Ark., and Engel to get Kroll into the truck to treat his injury.
Some vehicles from the convoy, despite damage, were clear from the enemy’s fire, but not all.
They had to get to the high ground; Ward’s truck was still in the kill zone, said Lt. Col. James Markert, 6-4 commander.
Sgt. Jammy Randell, from Smyer, Texas, took the lead, moving his scout team up the hill to establish an attack position on the high ground.
Randall, Markert and Pfc. Kirk Goff, from Swansea, S.C., engaged the enemy from approximately 400 meters away, suppressing the RPG team that was still firing at the ETT, ANA and Ward’s truck. Sgt. 1st Class Scott Huffman, from Copperas Cove, Texas, grabbed the medic and moved back down the hill to provide treatment for Ward.
Markert called for fire, and the first 155 mm shell exploded on the hill above the enemy positions.
Soon after, Alpha Troop arrived as the quick reaction force. They suppressed the enemy as some of the more seriously wounded were medically evacuated for treatment.
“We were lucky that even though there were quite a few wounded Soldiers, very few of the wounds were serious,” said Capt. Amanda Cuda, a doctor from Kailua, Hawaii.
The shooting stopped, but the fight wasn’t over. Artillery from a nearby base continued to explode onto the battle scene.
“We tracked them down and engaged with an appropriate level of force,” said Sgt. Maj. Gregory Turner from San Antonio. “Although well planned, we were expecting an attack so the enemy lost the element of surprise.”
The mission didn’t go as planned, but the battle drills that they had been practiced a hundred times did, leading to a successful battle without the loss of personnel.
“I was proud of the way my Troopers fought that day,” Markert said. “They demonstrated the aggressiveness and quick thinking expected in Cavalry units.”
Wild Thing's comment.........
Thank you to all our troops! Prayers for those that are injured and for all of our troops and their missions.
It is so wonderful that we can hear about how they are doing.
Posted by Wild Thing at December 8, 2008 05:55 AM
Comments
Thanks you Chrissie and God bless all our military. Great to read about these brave Dragoons and their sucessful operation.
Posted by: James M at December 8, 2008 06:59 AM
Thank you Chrissie for keeping us all posted on the good things that are happening over there. Obviously, our stupid "Liberal" press isn't going to!!!!!!
It never ceases to amaze me how our troops can continue to win battle after battle when they are handcuffed by our political machine. We go out of our way to make sure that innocent people aren't hurt or killed while putting our men and women's lives on the line every day. This war would be over if they would allow our troops to go on the offense and do what they were trained to do!!! Unfortunately, with pricks like Murtha and all the other traitors to this nation, we will continue to lose precious lives needlessly.
God Bless each and every one of our military men and women for the courageous and outstanding job that they do under the most difficult conditions possible. And God Bless you too Chrissie for all that you do each and every day!!!!
Posted by: John at December 8, 2008 08:14 AM
Death Star II crew loves your Christmassy website decoration and Christmas tree WT! Happy St. Nicholas Day to all and I smell the Nuremburg and Vienna and Krakow Christmas Markets and gluhwein and brats already. St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of seamen too! "Anchors away Blitzen!!" God bless our Operation ENDURING FREEDOM patriots...
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at December 8, 2008 08:26 AM
Our troops are so professional. These men from the 6-4th Cavalry performed just as they had trained. They turned the tide on the Taliban ambushers.
I think of how poorly the Russians did against the same enemy. The difference is in the training and motivation. The Russians, being communist, trained their troops only to follow orders from above, not to think for themselves like American soldiers do.
Posted by: TomR at December 8, 2008 11:45 AM
Two engines and five transmissions, each one louder than the next. The beloved Chinook 'gunship' of Task Force Eagle Assault. I have fond memories of that bird.
What a nasty ambush, just from the description. Glad they all made it out, I just know they were on pure adrenalin, where time alters in the mind, everything is in slow motion and you just can't seem to move fast enough, that's where training and individual actions take over to prevail.
“We tracked them down and engaged with an appropriate level of force”
LMAO!!! Retribution is so sweet. Going straight from a defensive to offensive position. Well done Combined Joint Task Force - 101.
None of that crap of calling in for permission from the Whitehouse to return fire like under RVN ROE's.
Gotta love those guys and their modesty Chrissie, thanks so much for the great article.
Posted by: Jack at December 8, 2008 12:19 PM
James, yes it always makes for a good day to hear something about our troops. Thank you James.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 8, 2008 06:51 PM
John, I agree, I will never forgive the media for how they have been to our troops. Unforgivable.
Thank you John.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 8, 2008 06:56 PM
Darth, thank you so much. giggle Yes Ted E. Bear was busy in the night putting up his decorations at the top of the page. haha
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 8, 2008 06:58 PM
Tom, I love how you put that, thank you. I agree completely.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 8, 2008 07:04 PM
Jack thank you so much for sharing about that.....
"I just know they were on pure adrenalin, where time alters in the mind, everything is in slow motion and you just can't seem to move fast enough, that's where training and individual actions take over to prevail."
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 8, 2008 07:09 PM
Jack, I recall while doing bunker duty at Cu Chi, that the CG of the 25th ID had to give his permission for us to use our .50's. The only exception was if Charlie was in the very last strand of barbed wire. Man that was totally fucked up.
Posted by: cuchieddie at December 8, 2008 07:26 PM
Cuchieddie. Thanks for sharing. Yep it sure was and those ROE's always made my blood boil. I've done bunker duty where the bunker firing ports were zeroed in and shot out with YT inside, I've had my ass reamed more than once for firing back, their excuse was what if it were friendlies out there, well if some sob is shooting at me he isn't a friendly. Besides how did they get the place zeroed if they were so friendly? I trusted the NVA more than I did the ARVN, at least we knew whose side they were on. I never met a grunt that didn't feel the same way. Dusters were a different matter, I spent a week one night learning the intricacy's of humping ammo for that twin 40 until puff gratefully showed up and stole the scene, nobody was whining about friendlies either. Rank, skin tone, whether you are Army, Marine or a CB, you are all the same under fire. Truckers ain't sposed to be playin' cowboys 'n injuns.
Posted by: Jack at December 8, 2008 08:07 PM
