captain mel porter outpost keating

These subgroups were in turn divided into clans and sects, depending on lineages and the interpretations of individual religious leaders. The shops name means house of culture.. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. The report found that a "mindset of imminent closure" led the unit to not improve the outpost's defenses despite intelligence reports that warned of a possible attack by "a large enemy force.". They should had just followed their fucking orders. [2] A day after, on October 7, Taliban fighters were seen among the ruins of the outpost. [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. He worked throughout the battle, calling in strikes on enemy positions, even amidst a winter storm that blew in right at the height of the battle. 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. 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. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. During this battle Taliban members outnumbered US forces in a staggering 5 to 1 ratio and was considered one of the bloodiest battle of the War. [7]:1238,1368,18191,407. From November through January 2008 members of the Shura traveled the villages of the Kamdesh area, informing the residents of the support agreement and stating that the era of holy war was over, and that local government would bring peace and prosperity. In my moment of being the listener to a war story I previously told, I realized that The Outpost was as honest as any war story. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. In the process, the truck rolled over him and ended up almost fully submerged in the river. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. The outpost was renamed Camp Keating in December 2006 (not in 2009). (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. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. ' 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. AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. Yes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Those guys were amazing. I only watched the trailer. It looked just like our outpost on the day of the battle. 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. View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Capt. I'll just quote this part from Staff Sergeant Romesha's Medal of Honor citation: Folks Media Madness is full of arguments over TLJ, we don't need to import that headache into the War Room. Keating was killed in November 2006 when he volunteered for a dangerous mission to drive an army truck loaded with supplies up to the camp, along treacherous 200-foot cliffs. On Oct. 3, while Cordova was in the aid station keeping Mace alive, I was fighting to get back with a company of reinforcements. By now, Porter had strained relations with nearly all of his subordinate leaders. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. The Shapleigh native volunteered to drive an Army truck loaded with supplies along a treacherous 200-foot cliff at night . https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. [26] The attack accelerated those plans, with the troops' departure taking place so quickly after the battle that some munitions were abandoned. A recreated Red Platoon barracks bunk bed. They were eventually repelled from the small base through the actions of what the investigation's report said were the camp soldiers who "fought heroically" and counterattacks by Apache helicopters and attack jets. Why would the U.S. military put an outpost at the base of three Afghan mountains that were teeming with Taliban fighters who were eager to kill U.S. soldiers? He was awarded the medal on 26 August 2013. Despite overwhelming odds and volume of injuries, MAJ (R) Cordova was able to . That was our troopers advantage up there. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. 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. [7]:229,256,26380[12], The Battle of Saret Koheh made good on the threats of the "Night Letter". 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. Ground resupply became almost impossible due to the area's limited roads and the threat of insurgent attacks. Who plays Nia on the outpost? Chris Cordova with actors who portrayed him and medics under his command. Once OP Fritsche soldiers gained control of their mortar pit, Sgt. Despite air and artillery support the American forces suffered significant losses. On his way, he stopped to offer first aid to wounded troops. [5][10] Two USAF F-15E fighter bombers circled overhead, led by Captains Mike Polidor and Aaron Dove and their wingmen, 1st Lt. Justin Pavoni and Captain Ryan Bone, for almost eight hours, helping coordinate airstrikes by 19 other aircraft. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. The punishments reflect a recent trend in Afghanistan to hold military commanders accountable for battlefield failures. Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. Let's get back on topic please. 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. Villagers and clans who were left out of these projects were resentful, and quick to turn against the Americans. An officer also received administrative punishment for his role in a delayed artillery response to an ambush last September on a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol that left four Marines and nine Afghans dead. Soldiers with 1st Plt., B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Using the 120mm mortar means the base can command the entire valley. Given that her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing, not really. Unlike Donahue, Nicholson was a supporter of COIN in addition to seeing Kamdesh as a decisive control point. [35] Capt. [38], The battle of Kamdesh is documented in the 2017 book Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor by Clinton Romesha, a former United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle for Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan. [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. However, author Jake Tapper says that this is entirely untrue. Mawlawi Abdul Rahman was a local elder impressed with this new approach. [7]:12930 1345,156. 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 . Unlike the movie, The Outpost true story reveals that Keating was not alone in the truck. Lurie, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, listened to what I had to say and agreed to let me visit the set. Formalized as "The Commitment of Mutual Support" the agreement also provided the Shura would provide local security in return for an end to uninvited American military searches of local towns and mosques. Between each take, the director and actors paused and turned to Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. By all quantifiable metrics, my unit won the fight, but at a devastating cost: Eight soldiers died, 22 were wounded and our camp burned to the ground. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. [9] The Americans "declared the outpost closed and departedso quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. A new counter-insurgency strategy seemed to offer a way around these problems. The Taliban surprised the outpost with mortar fire and a massive infantry assault which partly overran and nearly destroyed COP Keating, and, while the Americans and their allies held off several Taliban attacks on the base in the bloodiest battle in Afghanistan since the 2008 Battle of Wanat, the outpost was shut down shortly after and its depot This seems to be displayed rather accurately in the movie, at least with regard to how it's described in Tapper's book. Combat Outpost Keating was a small American military outpost in Nurestan Province, in Afghanistan. Youre reading this weeks At War newsletter. It was only then that I truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the healing process. [7]:31214,371, The shura began to falter by October 2008. 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. JavaScript is disabled. At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. 1.33 million dollars was budgeted for these projects. American forces had already planned to pull out of the area as part of a plan to move forces to more densely populated areas, so closure of the base was imminent when the attack occurred. (Multiple explosions near the ammo supply set off a series of fires at the post.). The landing zone was placed on the other side of the river on a rocky peninsula jutting into the river near Urmul. Provide clean water by installing gravity fed pipelines. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. Actor Milo Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, portrays Capt. They did their jobs, and Im here because of what they did, but air support was definitely a must.. These troops were ambushed on the Naray-Kamdesh road and shot up badly enough to prevent their arrival in Kamdesh. The 53. 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. 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. Then tragedy struck again. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. While there are numerous accounts of bravery that day, two Medals of Honor and nine Silver Stars (two have since been upgraded) were awarded. 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. In Afghanistan, MAJ (R) Cordova was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating on the 3rd of October 2009. [37], Staff Sergeant Ty Carter (then Specialist) was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle. (The main aid station was too heavily damaged to remain in operation.). Brown would also note that it was a failure of leadership on Porter's part because of Porter's absolute refusal to explain to his troops why the mortars were being limited. Served with United States Army since 2008. During the first minutes of battle, mortar rounds hit the main generator, cutting power to most of the camp. Lieutenant Colonel Mike Howard, Squadron Commander, saw COIN as a process of providing three services: This would improve the local economy while providing improved communications with the central government and the rest of the nation. [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. 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. [10][27][28], On October 5 and 6, Coalition troops conducted operations in the area in an attempt to locate and destroy the Taliban forces responsible for the attack on the outposts. "Needed force protection improvements were not made because of the imminent closure of the outpost. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. Div. 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). The camp was originally constructed to be a PRT (i.e., Provincial Reconstruction Team), called PRT Kamdesh, but due to extremely high levels of fighting in the area it remained a fire base instead of a PRT. Relief had been slowed in reaching COP Keating due to a lack of available aircraft and density of terrain. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. Matthew McMurtrey a cyber systems operator was attached to the 61st Cav and woke at6 a.m. that day to the walls of his bunk shaking, alerting him to the attack. In response to this, the local Afghan officials sent more government troops into the area. Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2006 by the US Army's 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Mountain Lion. 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. [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. 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