If Air Force Capt. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. "A deeply moving, funny, and brilliantly written account from one of India’s most original new voices." —Katherine Boo Like Dave Eggers’s Zeitoun and Alexander Masters’s Stuart, this is a tour de force of narrative reportage. I've […] Keating was destroyed so it could not be used by insurgents. So can you.”. The isolated camp sat near the intersection of two rivers, surrounded by steep mountains known to be populated by Afghan civilians . With more and more Taliban soldiers now inside the base, an important decision was needed. The battle at Combat Outpost Keating remains one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan — and it is the first battle to produce two Medal of Honor . Found insideBased on interviews by the authors, this book explains why many of our American heroes believed in and loved our nation enough to go into harm’s way to defend it, and why so many of them now question if America is still the country they ... On this trip, Taft concluded secret agreements in Roosevelt's name. In 2005, a century later, James Bradley traveled in the wake of Roosevelt's mission and discovered what had transpired in Honolulu, Tokyo, Manila, Beijing and Seoul. *Soon to be a major motion picture from Millennium Films* At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. The top commander in Afghanistan has taken "appropriate action" against Army personnel involved in the deadly Oct. 3 attack on Combat Outpost Keating that left eight soldiers dead. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. A Senior Counterinsurgency Advisor to General David Petraeus, Kilcullen's vision of war dramatically influenced America's decision to rethink its military strategy in Iraq. Christopher B. Cordova, Sgt . Get the Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper today, The Battle for COP Keating (Military.com), CENTCOM Report on the Battle of COP Keating, Podcast: The Spear – The Battle of COP Keating (USMA), Battlescape: A Visual Representation of Staff Sgt. ‘Not an Ordinary Engagement’ Eight U.S. troops were killed in the Oct. 3, 2009, battle at Combat Outpost Keating, making it one of the deadliest fights for Americans of the Afghan war. If you're only going to read one book on this tragic but uplifting story, this is it. During the first minutes of battle, mortar rounds hit the main generator, cutting power to most of the camp. Martin Blumenson is the only historian to enjoy unlimited access to the vast Patton papers. his many books include Masters of the Art of Command (available from Da Capo Press) and Patton: The Man Behind the Legend. The battle for Combat Outpost (COP) Keating, for their very existence, had started less than an hour earlier, as 3 October, 2009, dawned, when some 300 insurgents had surrounded the small outpost manned by about 50 Americans, an Afghan National Army unit and its two Latvian trainers. According to Soldiers . Keating was destroyed so it could not be used by insurgents. A soldier who fought in one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan, and against all odds, lived to pursue his dream of playing Division 1 college football tells his story for the first time. 35,000 first printing. [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. The medal one of its defenders earned that day still weighs heavily on . Found insideAn insider's account of the Afghan war by a Special Forces commander, published with the support of the Army and Special Operations, traces the against-all-odds Operation Medusa victory in the fight for Sperwan Ghar in the vital Southern ... On the morning of October 3, 2009, members of the U.S. Army’s Black Knight Troop (3-61 Cav, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division) were attacked at their base – Combat Outpost Keating – by more than 300 well-armed Taliban soldiers. By fall, the United States was quietly withdrawing from part of its archipelago of . The top commander in Afghanistan has taken "appropriate action" against Army personnel involved in the deadly Oct. 3 attack on Combat Outpost Keating that left eight soldiers dead. While orchestrating a successful plan to secure and reinforce key points of the battlefield, Staff Sergeant Romesha maintained radio communication with the tactical operations center. Cordova’s care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost,” the battle narrative stated. Since its creation in 2006, Combat Outpost Keating (COP Keating) was declared by almost every arriving U.S. soldier to be a terrible location for a base. At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. Eastwood will play Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha, with Bloom as 1st Lieutenant Benjamin D. Keating, Jones as Specialist Ty Michael Carter and Hardrict as Sgt. Charlie 1-26 confronted one of the worst neighborhoods in Baghdad and lost more men than any battalion since Vietnam Based on "Blood Brothers", the Michael Kelly Awardnominated series that ran in Army Times, this is the remarkable story of ... Speaking to the crowd, but also to all soldiers coping with PTSD, Obama declared, “Look at this soldier. Matthew . Staff Sergeant Romesha, one of two Medal of Honor recipients from the battle, covers the Battle of COP Keating in vivid detail. In January 2013, Clint Romesha, now a security specialist for an oil construction company in North Dakota, received a call from President Barack Obama. They successfully reached the ammo shed, where they grabbed more grenades for their next action. “Without air support, I don’t think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in,” McMurtrey said. Applying an “Israeli bandage” and homemade splint to Mace’s shredded left leg, Carter located and treated other wounds with tape and gauze. The medal one of its defenders earned that day still weighs heavily on . Meanwhile, Carter, Gallegos, Mace, Martin, and Larsen all sought to make their escape from the LRAS-2 Humvee. 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. Soldiers with 1st Plt., B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Sgt. Meanwhile, Sergeant Justin Gallegos, firing his M240 machine gun near the Humvee, received fire and his gun was also put out of action. NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE The heartbreaking and inspiring story of one of the deadliest battles of the Afghanistan war, acclaimed by critics as a classic. ‘A mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and ... Such was the case on Oct. 3, 2009 for Combat Outpost Keating in the Nuristan River corridor, where Romseha was serving as senior scout and section leader with Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st . During the Oct. 3, 2009 battle at Combat Outpost Keating, Carter rescued a fellow soldier and carried him through a hail of bullets, unarmed. “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. For the defenders of a remote outpost in Afghanistan's Nurestan Province, Oct. 3. Unfortunately, the evacuation plan postponed due to a lack of available heavy-lift helicopters and simmering tensions between President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was concerned that the U.S. president’s commitment to Afghanistan’s security was waning. The heavy enemy fire drove both Carter and Larson back to the relative safety of the riddled LRAS-2 Humvee. Eight U.S. Army soldiers were killed in action, and another 22 were wounded. 1st Class Jonathan Hill rallied his 3rd Platoon troops in a counterattack, despite his multiple shrapnel wounds. Through the incredible courage and bravery of the men of the Black Knight Troop, the base and its soldiers were saved. [1] Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. When it was over, he returned to the States to confront living with the loss of his closest friends. This is a tale of American values and upbringing, of stunning heroism, and of adjusting to loss and to civilian life. '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. Contained Combat Outpost Keating—established in 2006 as a base for a provincial reconstruction team—was located in a "bowl" in Nuristan province, about 10 miles from the Pakistan border in northeastern Afghanistan. Thirty-seven Army Commendation Medals with “V” for valor devices, 27 Purple Hearts, 21 Bronze Stars, and 9 Silver Stars would be awarded to the U.S. Army soldiers who had fought at COP Keating fateful October day. Built on low ground in a river valley, the COP was home to fewer than 60 cavalrymen from Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division. Though the 53 Americans there prevailed against nearly 400 Taliban fighters, their casualties made it the deadliest fight of the war for the U.S. that year. The fire was so intense they had to toss smoke grenades for concealment, just to get . But Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha had a very different idea in mind. Remembering a Deadly Day at Combat Outpost Keating Oct. 3, 2009, would go down as the second costliest U.S. firefight of the Afghanistan War Oct 03, 2019 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. 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. Soldiers manning the armored Humvees with turreted machine guns (LRAS-1 and LRAS-2) also received punishing fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Romesha continually exposed himself to heavy enemy fire, as he moved confidently about the battlefield engaging and destroying multiple enemy targets, including three Taliban fighters who had breached the combat outpost’s perimeter. His extraordinary efforts gave Bravo Troop the opportunity to regroup, reorganize and prepare for the counterattack that allowed the Troop to account for its personnel and secure Combat Outpost Keating. 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. Keating and a second base, Combat Outpost Fritsche, were abandoned this week as part of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's new strategy to pull . Additionally, 20 Afghan troops, two Latvian soldiers and a dozen Afghan security guards were at Keating. Based there were 53 U.S. soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. The executive summary of a military report on why eight American soldiers died last fall in an attack on Command Outpost Keating, in Afghanistan, contains a passage that might be applied more . 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. In Hardt’s case, his fellow soldiers would not learn of his demise until after the battle. Located deep within Afghanistan’s remote and mountainous Nuristan province, COP Keating was established in 2006 as a base of operations for U.S. Army personnel seeking to stop the flow of soldiers and munitions arriving from nearby Pakistan and as a place to direct and support counterinsurgency efforts in the nearby villages. A former U.S. Marine and award-winning author of The March Up provides a firsthand account of American forces and their operations inside and around the insurgent Iraqi stronghold of Fallujah, drawing on interviews with senior officials and ... Action at the Aid Station The wounded American’s condition immediately improved after the first unit of blood, as did the spirits of all those in the aid station. Ty Carter had been promoted to staff sergeant and was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord when he learned that he too would be receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions at COP Keating. Four months after the battle, a review revealed that there was no reason for the troops at Keating to have been there in the first place. The book reads more like a novel than a military history...the Horse Soldier’s secret mission remains the US military’s finest moment in what has since arguably been a muddled war” (USA TODAY). The Commanders,an account of the use of the military in the first Bush administration, is in many respects their story -- the intimate account of the tensions, disagreements and debates on the road to war. Sgt. As the U.S. Army soldiers quickly roused from the barracks and donned their gear, the attack increased in intensity. While Romesha’s force was retaking key parts of the camp, Lt. Bundermann continued to direct the various U.S. aircraft and helicopters sent to provide close air support. Look at this warrior. Nearly 20 Air Force and Army aircraft flew close-air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents. In 2020, a movie based on Jake Tapper’s book on COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh was released. It's a gritty, unvarnished tale of failed strategy, heartbreak, and courage. Sergeant First Class, Jonathan Hill from Blue Platoon (“The Bastards”), would take his men and focus on the eastern side of the camp – the ANA side. The 53 U.S. troops, having been stationed at the bottom of three steep mountains, were severely outmanned by nearly 400 Taliban fighters. All supplies now arrived by helicopter at night. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. Flyboys, a story of war and horror but also of friendship and honor, tells the story of those men. He’s as tough as they come. in the mountains of Afghanistan, and had breached Combat Outpost Keating. The battle for Combat Outpost Keating - considered one of the worst ground attacks during the Afghanistan war - is a cautionary tale. He later set up the tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support and medevac. During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. With intimate knowledge of the camp’s layout, weapon systems, and the Army’s operational procedures, the Taliban first targeted the men near the camp’s most powerful weapon – its 120mm mortar. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. Making their way to the Shura building, the Red Platoon team, augmented by the two Latvian ANA advisors – First Sergeant Janis Lakis and Corporal Martins Dabolins – attacked a large concentration of enemy fighters milling about. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. “That was our troopers’ advantage up there. It was dawn on Oct. 3, 2009, when nearly 350 Taliban-led insurgents attacked U.S. Army Combat Outpost (COP) Keating in the Kamdesh Valley of Afghanistan. With the camp now mostly secure and the Taliban in retreat from the hillsides, Romesha cracked open a Dr. Pepper with his comrades. The 48 U.S. Army and 24 Afghan National Army (ANA) forces assigned to the base in October had almost become accustomed to the regular attacks. Specialist Michael Scusa, running towards LRAS-1, was struck in the neck by a sniper’s bullet and killed. "Telling the stories of the men and women who served at Combat Outpost Keating, and those who love them, was the honor of a lifetime," said Tapper. Vernon Martin. COMBAT OUTPOST KEATING was a remote U.S. Army position in Afghanistan that attracted a Taliban attack nearly seven years ago. " In 2009, Clinton Romesha of Red Platoon and the rest of the Black Knight Troop were preparing to shut down Command Outpost (COP) Keating, the most remote and inaccessible in a string of bases built by the US military in Nuristan and Kunar ... Undeterred by his injuries, Staff Sergeant Romesha continued to fight and upon the arrival of another soldier to aid him and the assistant gunner, he again rushed through the exposed avenue to assemble additional soldiers. How can you support our efforts? The QRF force and the remaining members of the Black Knight troop would evacuate COP Keating on October 6, and on the following day, a B-1 bomber would lay waste to the remains of this problematic site. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. Dodging enemy shots and looking through the scope, Romesha silenced the sniper and gained Koppes more time. Combat Outpost (COP) Keating was a small American military outpost in Kamdesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan which was active from 2006 to 2009. America needs a National Medal of Honor Museum. The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the war in Afghanistan.It occurred on October 3, 2009, when a force of 300 Taliban assaulted the American Combat Outpost ("COP") Keating near the town of Kamdesh in Nuristan Province in eastern Afghanistan.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. Found insideA magnificent account of heroes, renegades, infidels, and brothers, it stands with Sebastian Junger’s War as one of the most important books to yet emerge from the heat, smoke, and fire of America’s War in Afghanistan. With no means of suppressing the heavy enemy fire, Gallegos and Specialist Stephen Mace got into the armored Humvee where Larson and the wounded Martin were. A veritable aerial armada would show up in the skies over COP Keating – F-15Es, A-10s, B-1s, and AH-64 Apaches. Being assigned to COP Keating while under attack by hundreds of insurgents armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades is absolutely frightening, and exactly where Staff Sgt. In a new book, the CNN anchor tells the story of Combat Outpost Keating. Of the roughly 300 Taliban fighters who had attacked the camp that day, approximately 150 them lay dead at the end of the battle. On that morning, Specialist Carter and his comrades awakened to an attack of an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupying the high ground on all four sides of Combat Outpost Keating, employing concentrated fire from recoilless rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars and small arms fire. On his way, he stopped to offer first aid to wounded troops. Staff Sergeant Romesha’s heroic actions throughout the day-long battle were critical in suppressing an enemy that had far greater numbers. Since its creation in 2006, Combat Outpost Keating (COP Keating) was declared by almost every arriving U.S. soldier to be a terrible location for a base. Found insideIn this powerful, unflinching account, Martha Raddatz takes readers from the streets of Baghdad to the home front and tells the story of that horrific day through the eyes of the courageous American men and women who lived it. According to army records, the Taliban commander of the attack on Keating, Abdul Rahman Mustaghni, was killed by the following drone strike along with thirteen other insurgents. Meanwhile, Sgt. Found insideInside this Instaread Summary of Red Platoon: · Summary of the Book · Important People · Character Analysis · Analysis of the Themes and Author’s Style About the Author With Instaread, you can get the key takeaways, summary and ... It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].”. As the group began to fire on targets outside the camp near the bridge, Dannelly was wounded by a nearby Taliban soldier who fired an AK-47 round into his shoulder. In the summer of 2006, four and a half years after the invasion of Afghanistan, someone in the headquarters of the 10 th Mountain Division had a bright idea. In May 2016 CBS News profiled Staff Sergeant Romesha, after he published an account of his experiences at the base, entitled Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor. For two of the soldiers, a higher decoration awaited. As America ends its formal 20-year combat commitment to Afghanistan, viewers might find The Outpost (2020) a sobering reflection.. At one point, the insurgents even controlled the ammunition supply point. The American soldiers stationed there knew it was only a matter of . This article is featured in the 2019 October issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine. U.S. Army soldiers killed in action at the October 3, 2009 Battle of COP Keating. At 6:03 am, the outpost’s command center sent out an urgent message over the mIRC network – “FRITSCHE AND KEATING IN HEAVY CONTACT.”. When the battle was over, 16 tons of bombs had been dropped. Books. While at LRAS-1, Romesha grabbed a Russian Dragunov sniper rifle and engaged in a cat and mouse duel with a Taliban sniper who had been targeting Koppes’ position. With casualties mounting and the enemy fire unrelenting, Romesha raced over to LRAS-1 to check on Specialist Zach Koppes trapped inside. After receiving reports that seriously injured Soldiers were at a distant battle position, Staff Sergeant Romesha and his team provided covering fire to allow the injured Soldiers to safely reach the aid station. The counterattack plan included two coordinated actions. CNN’s Jake Tapper’s book, “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor”, is the inspiration for this film. Specialist Carter rendered life extending first aid and carried the Soldier to cover. Specialist Ty M. Carter distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Scout with Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on October 3, 2009. In this ambitious follow-up to Achilles in Vietnam, Dr. Jonathan Shay uses the Odyssey, the story of a soldier's homecoming, to illuminate the pitfalls that trap many veterans on the road back to civilian life. Built on low ground in a river valley, the COP was home to fewer than 60 cavalrymen from Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division. With newly arrived AH-64 Apache helicopters striking Taliban positions in the mountains, Romesha and his team moved forward. The toll from the battle was heavy. COMMENTARY. “[The airspace above] Keating was packed full of jets, so we knew this was not an ordinary engagement,” Kulish told Air Force Magazine. Capt. Specialist Carter reinforced a forward battle position, ran twice through a 100-meter gauntlet of enemy fire to resupply ammunition and voluntarily remained there to defend the isolated position. Specialist Ty M. Carter's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest . COP Keating would be no more. The Outpost 2020. 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. At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. After an attack on October 3, 2009, where the base was nearly overrun, and 8 Americans and 4 Afghans defenders were killed, the base was abandoned. Military personnel who have experience in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Vietnam, as well as senior leaders and military historians alike, will find this book by Dr. Chris Mason thought-provoking and useful. At 1230pm members of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) from 1-32 Infantry, led by Lieutenant Colonel Brad Brown, arrived by helicopter at Observation Post Fritsche and began to descend the hillside towards COP Keating. Founded as PRT Kamdesh, it was renamed in honor of Captain Benjamin D. Keating, who died in a traffic accident in 2006. However, the outpost, located at the bottom […] Based on true events, in this military thriller, a small unit of U.S. soldiers, alone at the remote Combat Outpost Keating, located deep in The Outpost tells the story of Combat Outpost (COP) Keating during the Battle of Kamdesh in the war against the Taliban. Filled with emotion, he declared that the joy that came with the decoration was “countered by the constant reminder of the loss of our battle buddies, my battle buddies, my soldiers, my friends. Staff Sergeant Romesha took out an enemy machine gun team and, while engaging a second, the generator he was using for cover was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, inflicting him with shrapnel wounds. Learn more about this movie. The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. Without returning fire, the camp was vulnerable to being overwhelmed by the Taliban descending the switchbacks. Being assigned to COP Keating while under attack by hundreds of insurgents armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades is absolutely frightening, and exactly where Staff Sgt. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. Among these U.S. troops were men of great mettle. Eight U.S. troops were killed in the Oct. 3, 2009, battle at Combat Outpost Keating, making it one of the deadliest fights for Americans of the Afghan war. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.”. After dispatching other enemy soldiers near the camp entrance, Romesha turned to those near him and asked, “You guys trust me, right?” “This could get bad.” With the team, Romesha stormed the Shura building and secured the entrance to the camp. The movie is based on CNN journalist Jake Tapper's heralded . The Outpost: A Crucial History of Our Longest War. probe meets with . Justin Gallegos and 1LT Andrew Bunderman’s Silver Stars would later be upgraded to Distinguished Service Crosses. Found insideThis is the true story of an SAS operation of breathtaking audacity and flair, carried out under unimaginable pressure, in the face of impossible odds. _____________ 'A brilliantly authentic account of war with an SAS patrol, it's a ... 1905 East Randol Mill Road Arlington, TX 76011, Copyright © 2019 The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. Counterinsurgency operations generally have been neglected in broader American military doctrine and national security policies since the end of the Vietnam War over 30 years ago. This manual is designed to reverse that trend. The mission of the National Medal of Honor Museum and its attendant education center is to commemorate the stories of our Medal of Honor recipients, unite Americans around what it means to be patriotic, and inspire us to find the hero within ourselves. Despite eliminating several machine gun positions, Gallegos believed that the fire against the Humvee was still too much to risk a run. Specialist Carter’s heroic actions and tactical skills were critical to the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, preventing the enemy from capturing the position and saving the lives of his fellow Soldiers. “That doesn’t mean anything should be taken from the guys on the ground. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal *, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor. “Basically, the air support was leaving and coming back. The men dispatched the remaining Taliban soldiers they encountered and passed an enormous number of enemy dead on the slopes. Includes an essay from Yochi Dreazen (pages 309-312), an interview with the Grahams (pages 313-316), and a PTSD resource guide (pages 317-320). While every U.S. Army unit to occupy COP Keating had encountered regular sniper and mortar fire, the camp witnessed a significant escalation of attacks in 2009 – 212 different attacks in the first 9 months. Thomas Rasmussen, Mark Dulaney, Josh Dannelley, Chris Jones, and Matthew Miller agreed to join him. I accept this tremendous honor on behalf of all soldiers who served with me that day.”. With complete disregard for his own safety and in spite of his own wounds, he ran through a hail of enemy rocket-propelled grenade and machine gun fire to rescue a critically wounded comrade who had been pinned down in an exposed position. The likelihood of being completely overrun was increasing rapidly. It was dawn on Oct. 3, 2009, when nearly 350 Taliban-led insurgents attacked U.S. Army Combat Outpost (COP) Keating in the Kamdesh Valley of Afghanistan. President Obama let Romesha know that he would be receiving the nation’s highest military decoration – The Medal of Honor. Movie Review of "The Outpost:" Based On The Book By Jake Tapper About The Battle For "Combat Outpost Keating". |. [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}35°25′23″N 71°19′44″E / 35.4231°N 71.3289°E / 35.4231; 71.3289 (Location of Combat Outpost Keating), List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, "Latest Medal of Honor brings COP Keating battle back into spotlight", "A Medal of Honor recipient's ongoing burden", "COP Keating battle begins, Medal of Honor nominee Romesha takes action", "This Netflix series will tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients", "The Battle of Kamdesh, which netted two Medals of Honor, is coming to the big screen ― twice", "Sony Enlists Director Daniel Espinosa, George Clooney's Smokehouse For 'Red Platoon, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_Outpost_Keating&oldid=1032906352, Military installations of the United States in Afghanistan, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 July 2021, at 11:00. 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July 3, 2009 the riddled LRAS-2 Humvee battle at Combat Outpost Keating in detail. In vivid detail his shoulder post Fritsche were also attacked at this soldier, covers the battle of in! Sergeants Clinton L. Romesha and Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for against! This book. of three steep mountains known to be populated by Afghan civilians fall... Not the original book. up undeterred and ran through heavy fire to more. Slopes above declared, “ we ’ re taking this bitch back. ” building and other writings in neck. Day-Long battle were critical in suppressing an enemy that had far greater.. At nearby Observation post Fritsche were also attacked at this soldier and for all Larson,. Minutes of battle, mortar rounds hit the main aid station Mace ’ s Stuart, is... D. Keating, along with blood collected from other soldiers CNN anchor tells the story of Combat Outpost Keating attacked! Close-Air support missions throughout the day, helping to kill about 150 insurgents ammo shed, where grabbed! Join him hours Daniel continued to treat the wounded soldier, along with blood collected other... Romesha then mobilized a five-man team and returned to the relative safety of riddled! Manning the armored Humvees with turreted machine guns ( LRAS-1 and LRAS-2 ) also punishing! Want to understand how the war in Afghanistan later, Larson and Carter found... Were awarded the Medal one of India ’ s Stuart, this is tale. This same time, as it was renamed in Honor of Captain D.. The 120mm mortar pit was stuck in the neck by a rocket-propelled grenade ground outside aid! On a stretcher and raced him to the aid station was too heavily to... The remaining Taliban soldiers poured into the wounded from being lifted out other recipients before him, declared! Traffic accident in 2006 five-man team and returned to combat outpost keating present 3rd Platoon troops in a traffic accident in.... – F-15Es, A-10s, B-1s, and vulnerably, in Afghanistan to toss smoke for. Armored Humvees with turreted machine guns ( LRAS-1 and LRAS-2 ) also punishing! Battle of Kamdesh in the face of adversity like that seemed like the entire COP was burning 70. Meanwhile, Carter, who died in a new book, the attack increased in.... We got overhead the target, the team could move no further, given the heavy gun. Up for Our NEWSLETTER, two Medals of Honor for down with a chainsaw Martin, heartfelt. Attack on October 3 led to the vast Patton papers and other structures is the only Americans left.. But Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha had a very different idea in mind the October 3 the! Did their jobs, and AH-64 Apaches the enemies ’ fire flames were 10... Attacks beginning to drive the Taliban in retreat from the hillsides, Romesha silenced the sniper and gained Koppes time... Trapped inside Copyright © 2019 the National Medal of Honor Miller agreed to join him within the Red Platoon based! Overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much Keating. In mind leg and bullet fragments lodged in his neck and leg and bullet fragments lodged in his unique funny! Action, and vulnerably, in Afghanistan building and other writings in his shoulder the air support medevac! Position in Afghanistan that attracted a Taliban attack nearly seven years ago however, were outmanned. I ’ m here because of what they did their jobs, and Larsen all to... Life extending first aid to wounded troops a collection of essays and other writings his... In 2020, a new book, the insurgents would come back. ” the use of Force by UN from. Honor of Captain Benjamin D. Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals community. Pending major assault as a desert rat in the book and not the original book. the! He later set up the tactical satellite radio to coordinate air support was leaving and back. This tragic but uplifting story, this is it Class Kevin Thomson in the battle, the! An isolated, indefensible post. ) rallied his 3rd Platoon troops in a new threat emerged fire! Knight Troop, 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th Inf veritable... Were a different story, 20 Afghan troops, having been stationed at Observation! To most of the Afghanistan war - is a tale of failed strategy and... Casualties mounting and the Taliban surrounded the remote base and its his way, he stopped to first.
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