On Tuesday 28 June 2005 will become a black day for the U.S. Navy SEAL.
In "Operation Redwing whose aim was to neutralize or eliminate the leaders of the groups of Taliban was infiltrated a team of four SEALs in the Afghan province of Kunar, in order to capture the Taliban leader Ahmad Shah who was the chief the rebel group known by Americans as Mountain Tigers.
The team of four men of SEAL Team 10 was led by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, and in turn composed of noncommissioned officers Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell. After getting to infiltrate the area with success, they found one such threat that the military Paradoxically most feared Special Operations: civilians in enemy zone.
Thus, the objective way they met almost face to face with a father and son could jeopardize the mission. After discussing among themselves what to do, the majority opinion was to let them go, and even Lt. Murphy gave one of those energy bars at the boy with the hope that they will not betray the Taliban. But it was not.
From left to right, Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, California; Sergeant expert in Information Systems (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, New Hampshire., Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Florida.; Nurse Combat 2nd Class (SEAL) Marcus Luttrell; Machinist 2nd Class (SEAL) Eric S. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nevada, Lieutenant (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, New York. With the exception of the sole survivor, Luttrell, all the rest were killed on June 28, 2005 by enemy forces as part of Operation Redwing
At about 13:30 hrs. A group of between 25 and 50 Afghans attacked the SEAL group that chose to retreat down the mountain. At one point decided to establish a 360 degree defense at one point and ask for help from friendly forces, since they were vastly outnumbered. In a first attempt, Petty Officer Dietz tried to contact the team radio, but the mountain environment and its own position prevented communication, being in turn reached a hand. At that time, Lt. Murphy, ignoring the risk to her life decided to try to reach a clearer light and draw through a satellite phone. His words were clear: "My kids are dying." He was hit in the stomach and back, and still managed to return to the defensive perimeter and continue the defense.
Soon after, a Predator UAV arrived in the area and the CG was able to see live U.S. how his unit was surrounded by the Taliban at a distance almost melee, which close air support (CAS in its acronym in English) was unworkable and had to perform a rescue operation in the old style, more reminiscent of the jungles of Vietnam in the '70s than in the rugged Afghan mountains in the XXI century.
As if things were not as "difficult", the night and threw them over a menacing cold front was about to reach the area, which the weather was assured.
The head of the SEALs in Bagram, Commander Erik S. Kristensen requested the dispatch of a rescue force and in turn, the pilots of the 160th SOAR (who had already achieved fame in Somalia when "Black Hawk Down") then put about two huge MH-47D Chinook for the operation would be escorted by two AH-64D Apache (Longbow).
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Medal of Honor
Unfortunately, when performing the approximation to the area, one of the MH-47D 8 SEAL carrying with her 8 crew, was hit by an RPG that came through the rear ramp of the device and can not continue the flight and having to take emergency. The pilot spotted a ledge on the mountain and tried to approach him, but between taking hard and inertia of the rotors, the huge helicopter rolled over and died rushing to empty its 16 occupants, including the commander Kristensen.
Murphy and Axelson
The fire was so intense that the other unit could not download his men, having to return to Bagram with SEAL's full load. Meanwhile the darkness came and took SEALs Murphy to try to break contact with the Taliban. It was not possible. After two hours of flight, a mortar shell fell near the group.
When he awoke, Petty Officer Luttrell horror found that two of their comrades lay dead a few meters, and another was missing. Shocked, hurt and alone, began to walk down the hill in search of refuge where they could rescue him. He soon found a shepherd, who gunpoint.
-American! Ok!, Ok! - Said the pastor with the thumbs up.
-You ... Taliban?
"No, no ... not Taliban.
And so, despite the bad experience with other civilians, Luttrell realized he had little choice, and decided to accompany the man of the mountains. This, then known as Gulab Mohammed, father of six children, took him to the nearby village of Sabray, put it in his hut, and there he began to wash wounds and give him milk and food. Aware
the Taliban appeared to claim it, and took one of those strange things that surprise in the war. Although offered money and the danger that the Taliban meant for the family and the life of an enemy that welcomes, Gulab refused to give him backed by the entire village. And although Islam has tried for centuries to break with all Afghan tradition, one of the few that survive is that of supporting and protecting him who asks, even your enemy. Gulab protects Luttrell, and that was it. The Taliban left and not reappeared in the area. In the disbelief
Luttrell as he had seen, he still had to see how Gulab's father fell about 8 km down the hill with a note from Luttrell to deliver it to the outpost of the Marines at Camp Blessing.
immediately organized a rescue operation in full-scale, supported by attack aircraft A-10 Thunderbolt II and AC-130 Spectre gunships supporting the HH-60 Black Hawk rescue. But such caution was not necessary. One of the Black Hawk landed at the small village of about 15 huts, Luttrell and Gulab picked up and brought to the Bagram base without major problems. It was the July 1 since it had begun operation.
When the corpses of the other crew members were rescued by Lieutenant Murphy, it was found that the less we had five bullet wounds or shrapnel in his body, and around you is evidence of between 50 and 100 Taliban killed or wounded.
In Bagram, Luttrell was immediately hospitalized to treat their wounds, while Gulab is offered throughout. From money to protect your family. He refused to everything, and Luttrell himself was that, to say goodbye with a hug as he said "I love you, brother, took off his wristwatch and handed it to Gulab, who accepted.
Luttrell was decorated for action Navy Cross (Navy Cross), as were their peers wastage Dietz and Axelson, the latter posthumously. Was also posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Lt. Michael P. Murphy.
LAS BAJAS
SEAL Team:
• LT Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, New York
• STG2 (SEAL) Matthew Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, CA
• GM2 (SEAL) Danny Dietz, 26, of Littleton, Colorado
Las bajas en el MH47D:
160th SOAR “Nightstalkers”:
• Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio
• Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minnesota.
• Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Indiana
• Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tennessee
• Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
• Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Virginia
• Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida
SEALs:
• FCC(SEAL/SW) Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana
• ITCS(SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, New Hampshire
• Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, California
• ET1(SEAL) Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Oregon
• Lt. Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., 30, of Portville, New York
• QM2(SEAL) James E. Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Florida
• HM1 (SEAL / FMF) Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, West Virginia
• MM2 (SEAL) Shane E. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nevada
Source:
http://www.xtremeteam.es
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