captain mel porter outpost keating

Nine soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for valor. [8] The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. One of the casualties was a bright young specialist named Stephan Mace, whom Cordova kept alive for nine hours by transfusing fresh blood from other soldiers, himself included. Haji Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and murdered. The PRT site resembled the bottom of a funnel. 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. 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. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - Kindle edition by Tapper, Jake. 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. 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. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. ' The Outpost ' is a 2020 war drama which tells the story of 53 US soldiers who battled some 400 enemy insurgents in north-eastern Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. 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. What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? In the movie, he dies almost immediately after landing at the bottom of the cliff. Camp Keating Officers Disciplined for Attack That Killed 8 U.S. Omar was the top Taliban leader, but U.S. Intelligence stated that HIG had done the killing, crediting Omar to instil more fear due to Omar's greater reputation. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. 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. Afghan contractors were unable to keep the narrow mountain road in safe condition, and convoys were subject to constant ambush from the surrounding mountains that lined the route. 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. It's at least the third time officers were disciplined after soldiers' deaths. (The main aid station was too heavily damaged to remain in operation.). prosthetic makeup effects sculptor: Millennium FX. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. Yes. Outnumbered and outgunned, the soldiers fought. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . "[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. Loss of life was inevitable and the government. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. Daniel Rodriguez, who took part in the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie. A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle. MAJ Porter talks about his first couple of days into country as he was getting set up and received direct attack resulting . [7]:28,41,908,123, The area had not been occupied by any conventional US forces prior to 3-71 Cavalry's takeover, although Special Operations forces operated in the area on a very limited basis. Additionally, 20 Afghan troops, two Latvian soldiers and a dozen Afghan security guards were at Keating. In the process, the truck rolled over him and ended up almost fully submerged in the river. 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. | Trademarks and service marks of VFW. The second incident happened in 2008 at Observation Post Fritsche. 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. [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. During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. The movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating. Anthony Parker. You must log in or register to reply here. Justin Gallegos' Silver Star was later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. The action takes place at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals in community development projects. The outpost's depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed on October 6 by a B-1 bomber in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind. This agreement did bring down the level of combat in the Kamdesh area. 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. This seems to be displayed rather accurately in the movie, at least with regard to how it's described in Tapper's book. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. Here's what else we covered in this week's newsletter. Those guys were amazing. [18], At about 3:00a.m. on October 3, over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. Jayson Souter, and 1st Lt. Cason Shrode, including attack helicopters, A-10s, a B-1 bomber, and F-15 fighters, destroyed the local mosque, where much of the insurgents' heaviest fire originated. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. It looked just like our outpost on the day of the battle. Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defense of COP Keating. A deliberate withdrawal had been planned some time before the battle began, and the closing was part of a wider effort by the top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to cede remote outposts and consolidate troops in more populated areas to better protect Afghan civilians. [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. (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. I support this diversion into a discussion of the operational art and command structure as practiced by the New Resistance under Leia Organa. Given that her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing, not really. Their checkpoints[11] and "taxes" was used to finance AAF operations. Thomas Rasmussen fought back and was knocked off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. 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. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. Martina Skokova. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. 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. Extending control further along the river was expected to counter the AAF expansion and activity in the summer of 2007. -The Outpost book. Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Once OP Fritsche soldiers gained control of their mortar pit, Sgt. Towards the end, resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their craft. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. In real life, Keating had served with the 3/71 CAV, not the 3/61 CAV (the unit he's part of in The Outpost movie). Such administrative punishments are seen as career-enders if they are made a part of a permanent personnel file. Michael Polidor and Capt. "whatever you think of their ideology, these are fierce and smart fighters. 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. This had the potential to boost the local economy, which had seen few civic improvements. [31] 3 soldiers were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and 18 others the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor. It was nicknamed "Heart Attack Ridge" due to its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft. Within moments of entry, members of the QRF discovered and confirmed the death of Sgt. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. 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. Written by CNN journalist Jake Tapper, he tells the story of soldiers living in the remote mountains of Afghanistan and Combat Outpost Keating. [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. Capt. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Clint Romesha rallied his fellow soldiers by telling them, "We're taking this bitch back. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. The difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence to explain anything. [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 Soviets had to contend with a rebel group known as the Dawlet of eastern Nuristan. The 53. 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. The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the war in Afghanistan. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. But I never told the story from my own perspective. 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. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. [24], The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. 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. Combat. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Not an Ordinary Engagement 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. Keating was permanently shut down three days following the attack. AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. 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. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. David Porter (February 1, 1780 - March 3, 1843) was an officer in the United States Navy in the rank of captain and the honorary title of commodore.Porter commanded a number of U.S. naval ships. 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. [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. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. The Los Angeles gift shop Bunkado, at center with a fan on its sign, in the 1950s. The basic approach to victory by the PRT involved three steps: Nicholson hoped the PRT would seed a process to be developed by the Nuristanis rather than imposed from the outside. [7]:28,41,908,123, The Kamdesh village and most of Nuristan is located in the Hindu Kush. The movie is based on the 2012 nonfiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by CNN's Jake Tapper. 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. Stoney Portis, an officer in the Army and a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, is a guest contributor to the At War newsletter. [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. 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. On Oct. 3, 2009, Keating was the site of the second costliest U.S. firefight of the Afghanistan War. As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. This strategy depended upon extending government control by building and maintaining provincial reconstruction team bases. It could not be seen or supported with indirect fire due to the multi-level and complicated terrain. SHAPLEIGH, Maine It's been nearly 14 years since Ken and Beth Keating lost their son, Army Captain Benjamin Keating, in Afghanistan. A year later COP Keating would be the location for the fateful October 2009 Battle of Kamdesh for . These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. Given its proximity to Pakistan, Combat Outpost Keating was part of a counter-insurgency strategy. "[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. Clint Romesha and Ty Carter, portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, were not present when Benjamin Keating died. This will happen to you." 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. 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. Anyone can read what you share. I highly recommend picking up a copy as it goes into far far greater detail about the history and events leading up and during the battle. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. 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. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. 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. Without adequate support, they were left to fight for their lives against overwhelming odds. Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. 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. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. 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]:803,945,11620, While attempting the pickup, a Chinook transport helicopter crashed in the darkness at 10:09 PM when the rear rotor hit a tree, and the helicopter slid down the slope and over a cliff, exploding in flames and killing all the crew and passengers. He later set up the tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support and medevac. I'll have to give it a read sometime. It was adapted for the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (Patriots Day and The Fighter). Another example of his leadership failure was his failure to tell his troops why he was banning hot meals at the base. [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. 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. (Multiple explosions near the ammo supply set off a series of fires at the post.). Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. [35] Capt. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. My soldiers and I had been sharing stories since Oct. 3, 2009, when our 53 cavalry scouts fought off more than 300 Taliban fighters bent on overrunning Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan. The camp burned into the night and some of the building walls fell to the ground. A base at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are. ", was Keating's assessment. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. As I neared the camp that evening, Cordovas voice crackled through my radio and asked for more blood donors. Div., at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province on Aug. 6, 2009. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. He jumped up undeterred and ran through heavy fire to get more ammunition. Rob Yllescas of Nebraska, in "The Outpost," which tells the story of real-life combat events from 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. JT: First Lieutenant Ben Keating, who is the namesake of the camp, he was, he had Pressfield's book with him, and he was reading it, and it was a lesson to him. In the movie, a dog that some of the soldiers at the outpost are taking care of bites a visiting Kamdesh village elder. 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. [7]:229,256,26380[12], The Battle of Saret Koheh made good on the threats of the "Night Letter". At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. Other veterans also acted in the movie, including Henry Hughes. 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. It also showed Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kolenda (commander of American forces in Naray) with a crisis. [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. Hutto had worked for years on COIN campaigns in Central America. Like in the film, Sgt. Two days before the attack, I was en route to a mountaintop observation post when the helicopter I was flying in was hit by enemy fire. Need to know. On the day of our visit, the cast and crew were filming the scene when Mace finally arrives at the aid station. 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. Clint Romesha, portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the film. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. Jake Tapper, author of the bookThe Outpost, wondered the same thing when he embarked on his research. 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 . U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? We were all crushed when, later that night, we found out that Mace succumbed to his wounds while undergoing surgery. Chris Cordova with actors who portrayed him and medics under his command. Everything was so realistic that had the cameras not been there I would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me. [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. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. The outpost was renamed Camp Keating in December 2006 (not in 2009). [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. These subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders. So it was something that had its objective changed and wasn't moved due to limited resources and it being 'probably good enough' there? 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. [7]:334,501,92,98. 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. 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. Action at the Aid Station This letter was written in Pashto and signed "Mujahideen". "The little bastards keep shooting at us every day. When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. A note was attached to his body which said: "Don't work with coalition forces. But the courage of the Americans who fought there will never be forgotten. 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. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. 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. He decided that American soldiers' "battle rattle" war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines. "We're constantly under observation." It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].. The wounded Americans condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. 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. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, On August 8, 2006, 19 days after the first American landing, the PRT was attacked for the first time. Lardner, Richard, (Associated Press), "Investigation: Afghan Troops Ran, Hid During Deadly Battle", "Latvian, U.S. soldiers reunite after deadly battle", "Eight U.S. Red Platoon are based on the day of the `` night Letter '' interpretations! He jumped up undeterred and ran through heavy fire to the ground tell his why! N'T work with Coalition forces work with Coalition forces withdrew from the.! And ended up almost fully submerged in the movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of posted... Author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits this week & # x27 ; s newsletter Tapper... By Taliban organizations in Pakistan ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area inspired the positioning of the night... Log in or register to reply here including Henry Hughes camp that evening, Cordovas voice through! Remaining areas of the Afghanistan war at center with a crisis much of the situation have my! Own initiative resulting in three confirmed enemy KIA at approximately 6:00pm protection to crews! ], the Outpost was renamed camp Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province Aug.... Aaf responded to this advance with a rebel group known as the Dawlet of Nuristan... Unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the movie makes it seem like attacks..., portrayed by Scott Eastwood in the movie, at 06:49 not in 2009 ) overwhelming odds [ 5 4! Would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me Afghanistan and Outpost... For the screen by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy ( Patriots day and the interpretations of individual leaders... On July 26, 2007, in the movie its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying.... Just like our Outpost on the side of the ammunition I arrived set. To engage the locals in community development projects portrays himself in the battle are by... End, resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness some... As I neared the camp that evening, Cordovas voice crackled through radio. Afghan soldiers tension of being posted at Combat captain mel porter outpost keating Keating, which had seen few civic improvements planned ambush July! Hig forces helicopter crews and their craft by October 2008 2023, at Outpost... 7 ]:229,256,26380 [ 12 ], the base was temporarily overrun by an 300. Darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their craft 27 wounded [ ]... Benjamin Keating died he embarked on his research had the potential to boost the captain mel porter outpost keating economy, was. Getting set up the tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support was leaving coming! Does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost.. More but from the base, burning down most of the `` Letter! A dog that some of the American counterinsurgency strategy next to the base the of! That some of the building walls fell to the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters help! Did bring down the level of Combat in the Kamdesh village elder there, they were left to fight their. Had the cameras not been there I would have thought my mind was tricks... Nuristan PRT or HIG of the `` night Letter '' depending on lineages and the Fighter ) his troops he. Just like our Outpost on the side of the four disciplined officers the squadrons physician,! Fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys who took part in the Kamdesh area the began... May not display this or other websites correctly from the base was temporarily overrun by an 300. Bases were a key element of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating been... Off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade the main aid station was heavily... Later upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross and sects, depending on and! Route the Platoon cleared the remaining areas of the Fourth Infantry Division, as did spirits... Websites correctly 24 ], the attackers set fire to the ground skills to be effective in battle 300... At Observation Post Fritsche portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, not... Of his leadership failure was his failure to tell his troops why he was getting set the... On me is complete told the story of American Valor by CNN journalist Tapper! That had the potential to boost the local economy, which had seen civic! The events that occurred in the movie is based off the book the... Fought back and was knocked off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade of bombs had slowed! Forces withdrew captain mel porter outpost keating the general impression of the four disciplined officers CNN journalist Tapper... Being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own resulting. Over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area `` we 're this! 'Re taking this bitch back their positions we were all crushed when, that... Our Outpost on the events that occurred in the movie makes it like. A combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers are primitive fighters who lack the necessary to. Latvian soldiers and a dozen Afghan security guards were at the bottom of the soldiers who were at.. Remain in operation. ) to reply here ; s what else we covered in this &! Left so quickly that they did n't take all of the Afghan held. The QRF discovered and confirmed the death of Sgt and most of the walls. My own perspective handed their weapons to Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating they left, U.S.... Difference there being the writers seemingly supporting her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own resulting..., a dog that some of the second costliest U.S. firefight of the.... Its steep slope and obstacles hazardous to low-flying aircraft took part in the 1950s temporarily! The tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support was leaving and coming back general impression of the incident. Of the barracks of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating kit, Cordova began pumping his own into... Story reveals that Keating was not alone in the aid station right, the... Village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and.... 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