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. 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. Chris Cordova with actors who portrayed him and medics under his command. Portis had been in command of the platoon for less than two weeks when, on Oct. 3, 2009, the Taliban attacked Combat Outpost Keating while he was away visiting a mountain observation post. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. Yes. AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. In this December 2012 interview, MAJ Melvin Porter, US Army, Signal; discusses his deployment to Afghanistan as a company commander for 3-61 Cavalry (CAV) in 2009 through 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). 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. As soon as they left, the insurgents would come back.. Zorias Yunger), most of what unfolds in the movie is largely accurate. Not an Ordinary Engagement On the day of our visit, the cast and crew were filming the scene when Mace finally arrives at the aid station. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. Nine years earlier, Cordova and his medics toiled away in the aid station to treat the wounded and save the dying. The entire Outpost Keating was recreated. Keating died while serving at the base in 2006 and it was . In the wake of the attack, several soldiers based at COP Keating told ABC News that they did not know the attack was as large as it was because they received enemy fire with such frequency. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. Mace survived long enough to be evacuated to a nearby medical facility. 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. Within moments of entry, members of the QRF discovered and confirmed the death of Sgt. Towards the end, resupply flights were limited to moonless nights when near total darkness offered some protection to helicopter crews and their craft. He was awarded the medal on 26 August 2013. Resistance in Nuristan revolved around a specific group of Islamic fighters known as Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin or HIG. The attacks size and urgency may have had something to do with the US Soldier Bounty issued by the Ruskies. Second, the search for Bowe Bergdahl, in June 2009, had used up so many resources none were available to address the base's unsuitable location. The Outpost true story reveals that the soldiers were surrounded by more than 300 Taliban fighters, many of whom were rushing in from Pakistan, which was only 14 miles from COP Keating. Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Army.When the battle ended after more than 12 hours, eight U.S. soldiers were killed and another 22 wounded. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. The movie details Keating's November 2006 death, which occurred when his truck fell from a clifftop road during a convoy run. [30] In the report released to the public, the U.S. Army concealed the names of the four disciplined officers. -The Outpost book. The Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the war in Afghanistan. Something had to be done to bring Nuristan on to the American side. Their checkpoints[11] and "taxes" was used to finance AAF operations. Feb. 5, 2010— -- A military investigation of a Taliban attack last fall on a remote U.S. army outpost that left eight American soldiers dead and 22 wounded has resulted in administrative punishments for two commanders blamed for "inadequate measures taken by the chain of command.". A base at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills which are. [10], OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. This strategy depended upon extending government control by building and maintaining provincial reconstruction team bases. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". The first didn't take place at the camp. Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another deployment. [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. Lieutenant Keating, first commander of the Kamdesh PRT, was determined to make COIN a success in the region. -The New Yorker, "On average, we'd get hit three to four times a week," says Sgt. Harder, from Minnesota, just 29, was in charge of a small team of soldiers at the combat outpost, COP Keating. [6], The films The Outpost and Red Platoon are based on the events that occurred in the Battle of Kamdesh. A new counter-insurgency strategy seemed to offer a way around these problems. Armando Avalos, Sgt. 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. Troops, Amazon.com: The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor eBook: Tapper, Jake: Kindle Store, Wehrmacht wins at Dunkirk: Description of the battle that never was. The pick up zone for Able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the side of an 8,000-foot mountain. I'll have to give it a read sometime. By now, Porter had strained relations with nearly all of his subordinate leaders. 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. 3-71 Cavalry conducted many successful combat missions in the area surrounding the camp and repelled various attacks on the base. During the Soviet occupation, HIG received more support from the CIA than any other Mujahideen resistance group. However, author Jake Tapper says that this is entirely untrue. "[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. Let's get back on topic please. The shops name means house of culture.. Despite air and artillery support the American forces suffered significant losses. The elder considers this to be a bad omen and demands that there be retribution. 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. Sgt. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. [5] The U.S. military estimated that 150 Taliban insurgents were also killed as a result of repulsing the assault. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. In 2006, Allied commanders identified the Kamdesh area to be key to denying anti-coalition militia the required access to supply lines crossing into and out of nearby Pakistan. Quick reaction forces (QRF) from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment did not reach the outpost until 7:00pm that day, while insurgents remained in parts of the outpost as late as 5:10pm. The idea was to stop the insurgents' supply lines coming in from Pakistan. A commander who has no trust for or from his subordinates, keeps them in the dark, and fails to make the intent of his orders clear is making it harder for everyone else to do their jobs and jeopardizing mission success. He saw service in the First Barbary War, the War of 1812 and in the West Indies.On July 2, 1812, Porter hoisted the banner "Free trade and sailors' rights" as captain of USS Essex. These valley and road intersections combined with the political leadership in the area inspired the positioning of the Nuristan PRT. The landing zone was placed on the other side of the river on a rocky peninsula jutting into the river near Urmul. Contained between the Landay River and steep mountains, Keating was attacked from multiple directions by 300 enemy fighters. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. The first of these would be "Operation Mountain II", an effort to extend a series of observation posts west to control the villages between COP Keating and the Afghan village of Saret Koheh. 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. COP Keating, which was established in the summer of 2006, was put in the valley for the simple reason that it's where the roads are. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. ", Yes. 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). Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Read more from At War here or follow us on Twitter. Yes. ", Yes. 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. [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. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. Action at the Aid Station What if there was a country in place of the Bay of Biscay? These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. 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. 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. Members of 10th Mountain Division's 1-32 Infantry Regiment were air lifted to the nearest helicopter landing zone on OP Fritsche and arrived at approximately 2:00pm, as recalled by a soldier on scene. Located along a riverbank in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, the base was surrounded by steep mountains. The transfusion was a radical move that brought Mace back to consciousness. On Oct. 3, 2009, a force of about 50 Americans faced down as many as 400 enemy fighters intent on overrunning COP Keating in eastern Afghanistan. Set up new plants in Mirdesh and Gawardesh. So it was something that had its objective changed and wasn't moved due to limited resources and it being 'probably good enough' there? At one point, the insurgents even controlled the ammunition supply point. [26] The attack accelerated those plans, with the troops' departure taking place so quickly after the battle that some munitions were abandoned. 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. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407, Combined with difficult conditions for air supply, and little support from the local population, supply to what was renamed Camp Keating on November 26, 2006, was wholly inadequate. This article is featured in the 2019 October issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine. That process helped us heal, but a bad rendering of the battle would leave us talking about what the movie got wrong instead of what actually happened. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. New roads would be the final stage, built and maintained by local contractors. "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.". He decided that American soldiers' "battle rattle" war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines. This includes Scott Eastwood's character, Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, telling the men, "We're taking this bitch back," after the camp is partially overrun by Taliban fighters. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. Not exactly, but in researching The Outpost's historical accuracy, we learned that a similar incident happened the year prior, in 2008, involving more than just one dog. Killed by a single gunshot wound to the face while in the base mortar pit. When Cordova and I arrived on set, both of us were astounded. Again, it was later noted that many of Porter's decisions were sound. Like in the film, Sgt. Surprised they didn't frag him. The Outpost is a 2020 war film directed by Rod Lurie, based on the 2012 non-fiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper, about the Battle of Kamdesh in the war in Afghanistan.It stars Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom, Jack Kesy, Cory Hardrict, Milo Gibson, Jacob Scipio, Will Attenborough, and Taylor John Smith. The Allies hoped that extending these bases into Nuristan, one of the most remote and isolated eastern provinces in Afghanistan, they could demonstrate to the entire Afghan population the government's credibility and power. An additional 4 Afghan allied fighters also died. It seemed that it would get extremely intense, with a lot of fire, a lot of RPGs hitting the wall, and then it would die, McMurtrey told Air Force Magazine in 2011. Clint Romesha and Ty Carter, portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, were not present when Benjamin Keating died. The pilots landed at a nearby base and then limped the aircraft to an airfield for repairs, separating me and a small contingent of soldiers from the outpost. A bus carrying employees of an Afghan television station was bombed in Kabul on May 30. are assisting Somali soldiers fighting Al Shabab, and by a health care system that utterly failed him, The case has irritated U.S. relations with a crucial military ally. Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. Benjamin D. Keating (31 May 1979-26 November 2006) was a US Army Captain who served in the US 61st Cavalry Regiment during the Afghanistan War. 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. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. 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. It was one of many reasons Cordova was later awarded the Silver Star. The growling soon escalated into outright hostility, which deeply frightened the boy. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. An after-action report stated that within less than a few minutes of fighting, the Afghan soldiers serving at Keating, as well as the Afghan security guards, had fled their positions, allowing the enemy to quickly overrun the post. He died when his. 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. 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. 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. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. Yllescas's charismatic relations with the Shura had supported the transition from 1-91 Cavalry to 6th Squadron, and the Shura's influence and collaboration with ISAF forces declined from this point. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Actor Milo Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, portrays Capt. Captain Benjamin Keating Born: May 31, 1979 Birthplace: Sanford, Maine, USA Death: November 26, 2006, Kamdesh, Afghanistan (injuries suffered when vehicle turned over) Milo Gibson Born: November 16, 1990 Birthplace: Australia Captain Robert Yllescas Born: October 7, 1977 Birthplace: Guatemala City, Guatemala Gul Mohammed Khan, the government administrator for Kamdesh District, lived at the intersection of the Landay-Sin and Darreh Ye Kushtoz rivers. After Keating's death, a "Night Letter" appeared on the door of the Upper Kamdesh mosque on April 29, 2007. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Such administrative punishments are seen as career-enders if they are made a part of a permanent personnel file. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. [7]:95,268. Using a transfusion kit, Cordova began pumping his own blood into the wounded soldier, along with blood collected from other soldiers. 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. Growling soon escalated into outright hostility, which deeply frightened the boy the door of the same name, Keating... A `` Night Letter '' appeared on the other side of the Upper Kamdesh on! Mace survived long enough to be done to bring Nuristan on to the public, base! 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