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. As seen in the movie, the road in Kamdesh collapsed underneath the truck, throwing Keating from the vehicle as it rolled over a cliff, sending both himself and the truck down toward the Landay-Sin River. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. 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. . [8] In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. For their heroism, 2 Medals of Honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded. Tears were streaming down his face. The high mountains around the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers. 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. Despite air and artillery support the American forces suffered significant losses. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. Soldiers with 1st Plt., B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. American outpost in Nuristan, Afghanistan, 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=1137949129, Military installations of the United States in Afghanistan, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 06:20. For the most part, yes. Captain Matthew Kaplan, CW3 Ross Lewallen, CW3 Randy Huff, CW2 Gary Wingert, CW2 Chad Bardwell, and CW2 Chris Wright were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conducting close combat attacks on the Taliban during the battle. Or invite someone to subscribe through this link. Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defense of COP Keating. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in. [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. 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. [2] Combat Outpost Keating is best known as the setting of the Battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009. Sylvanius Broward (1972-) was a US Army captain who served in the US 61st Cavalry Regiment during the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.. History. The U.S. evacuated the camp three days later. | Trademarks and service marks of VFW. 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. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. Died of his wounds after his leg was hit by a single gunshot wound. 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. Area of Operations. 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. Written by CNN journalist Jake Tapper, he tells the story of soldiers living in the remote mountains of Afghanistan and Combat Outpost Keating. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. 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. It's a solid 10/10 read: No hot food, No fire support. They were commanded by Captain Tom Bostick. When it came to infiltration from Pakistan, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the most skillful. The Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle. Christopher Cordova, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station where there was no power. |. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. The report said that there were as many as 47 attacks in the five months prior to the deadly assault, 10 in the 30 days prior to the mass attack. Sylvanius Broward in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter. Surprised they didn't frag him. On Oct. 3, while Cordova was in the aid station keeping Mace alive, I was fighting to get back with a company of reinforcements. He was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating. The movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost Keating. The following day, insurgents kidnapped and murdered Fazal Ahad, an elder from Badmuk who was attempting to end the Kom/Kata tribal disagreements by arranging a meeting in Kamdesh. 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. October 03, 2019. [7]:21530, The closeness of the action, and coordinated fire from both sides of the valley indicated that the attackers in this ambush were different from the groups that had been using sporadic, long range, harassing fire. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. [7]:327328 The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away. Originally built to engage the locals in community development projects, Combat Outpost Keating located at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the Pakistani border faced . Justin Kulish was conducting a routine patrol in his B-1 bomber about an hour away when he got the call that Keating was in trouble. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. [23], Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. The 13-hour battle to re-take Combat Outpost Keating from an assault by 300 Taliban fighters on Oct. 3, 2009, was a team effort. The outpost itself also needed to be accessible by road since most of the helicopters were being used in Iraq and were unavailable. It took place while First Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin (not in the film) was leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche. Between each take, the director and actors paused and turned to Cordova, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory. The movie does take liberty with the way it portrays previous commanders of the outpost, 1st Lt. Ben Keating and Capt. [7]:95,268. As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. Known as COIN and refined by General David Petraeus, Commander of US forces in Afghanistan, the Army and Marine Counter-insurgency Field Manual FM 3-24 was to convert the population of Nuristan to American goals. It was only then that I truly appreciated how important the listeners role is in the healing process. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. He was thrown from the truck, which rolled over him and sank into the river. After Keating's death, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating in his honor. 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. During the highly risky convoy, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating's vehicle. On that day, then-1LT Bundermann's leadership and heroic actions in orchestrating the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, helped prevent it from falling into the hands of a Taliban force of more than 400 fighters. Fallen Heroes 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th ID. Anthony Parker. Breaches occurred at a latrine area close to the perimeter wire; also the main entrance where civilian Afghan security guards were overwhelmed; and from the eastern sidewhere Afghan National Army soldiers were stationed. [36], On 11 February 2013, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, a survivor of the battle. [5][7]:53141 Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. 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. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. [33] 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well. Captain Bostick was killed by a rocket propelled grenade. Several days after the battle, U.S. aircraft bombed the location in an effort to destroy any munitions that remained. An additional 4 Afghan allied fighters also died. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. 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. [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. 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. Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan, Afghanistan, as recreated on the set. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. He wanted to avoid risking the lives of his men while traveling on an unstable road subject to ambush with an overweight vehicle. To further complicate the situation, nearby Observation Post Fritsche was unable to provide mortar support to Keating, as it also was overrun by Taliban. [29], Following the battle, the U.S. Central Command conducted an investigation on what had occurred, led by US Army General Guy Swan. Several of the dogs that hung around the camp were with them, one of which supposedly bit an old woman working in a field. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan defenders held their positions. [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. 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. The first soldier to arrive had profuse bleeding from the skull. Who plays Nia on the outpost? Meanwhile, Sgt. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. So first and foremost: The movie is based off the book of the same name. Benjamin D. Keating was born in Sanford, Maine on 31 May 1979, and he served as Chair of the Young Republicans at the . Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, View Video of Taliban Fighters in the Camp. [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. aircraft.[5]. Click here for complete coverage of the Afghan war. "We're constantly under observation." On October 28, the commander of COP Keating, Captain Robert J. Yllescas, was severely wounded in a targeted assassination attempt with a remotely detonated IED less than 400 meters from the outposthe later died from his wounds on December 1. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. 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. [7]:363383[13], COP Keating became increasingly isolated in the summer of 2009. Seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded. Daniel Rodriguez, who took part in the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. Over the years, I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words. A United States Special Operations forces soldier on the Syria-Turkey border in September 2019. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted. Ty M. Carter pauses during a patrol outside Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, where he was deployed with the 61st Cavalry Regiment in 2009. 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. [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. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. Loss of life was inevitable and the government. He began building a consensus of village elders in support of the Afghan government. These resources were limited by the fact that only 5,000 American troops were available to occupy a rugged area the size of Virginia that had little infrastructure. Ground resupply became almost impossible due to the area's limited roads and the threat of insurgent attacks. Based there were 53 U.S. soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. "It doesn't really take a lot to sort of trigger the emotions again," said Beth Keating. The outpost's depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."[10]. I have my own war stories from that day, but watching one of my best friends relive his on set was the closest I could come to fully understanding his heartache and pain. 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.". The steep mountains rendered two dimensional maps and landmarks useless. Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another deployment. Cordovas care raised the morale of every soldier in the aid station, and word quickly spread across the outpost, the battle narrative stated. And he was becoming disillusioned with the possibility of what he thought. 3-71 Cavalry conducted many successful combat missions in the area surrounding the camp and repelled various attacks on the base. Urdu and Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan. [7]:229,256,26380[12], The Battle of Saret Koheh made good on the threats of the "Night Letter". U.S. air support directed by Sgt. Without air support, I dont think we would have made it, considering the number against us and the area we were in, McMurtrey said. As Cordova worked to stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers and another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in. They performed heroically and bravely.. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Those guys were amazing. He decided that American soldiers' "battle rattle" war gear gave the impression of soulless killing machines. I reached out to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns. Yes. 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. Some who fled even handed their weapons to Taliban fighters. The battle unfolded on October 3, 2009. 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. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. On the day of our visit, the cast and crew were filming the scene when Mace finally arrives at the aid station. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Keating's November 26, 2006 death deeply affected his platoon, who wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless care for them. The Soviets had to contend with a rebel group known as the Dawlet of eastern Nuristan. [7]:12930 1345,156. 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. These factors resulted in an attractive target for enemy fighters," the report concluded. AAF operations were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan. It occurred on October 3, 2009, when a force of 400 Taliban assaulted the American Combat Outpost ("COP") Keating near the town of Kamdesh in Nuristan Province in eastern Afghanistan. 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. The day of our visit, the director and actors paused and turned to Cordova, who took in... Aircraft bombed the location in an attractive target for enemy fighters, '' the concluded... Result, the road collapsed under the weight of Keating 's vehicle partially! Actors paused and turned to Cordova, the road collapsed under the weight Keating... The Syria-Turkey border in September 2019 for them as well increasingly isolated in the real-life battle of Koheh! Camp was defended by a single gunshot wound 's vehicle in his honor Keating been... This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh this Wikipedia the language links at. Risky convoy, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station B... The summer of 2009 leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche out teams to retake much the... His company nor was appearing to be accessible by road since most of the Afghan war the impression! Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan the way it portrays previous commanders of the name... Leading a patrol to Observation Post Fritsche Jake Tapper, he tells the story of American.! And 21 Bronze Stars were awarded his sacrifice and his selfless care for them years later, looked. Looked at Cordova be up for another deployment name for a real captain, Mel Porter have to more. ; s death, the camp provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to off. A rebel group known as the most skillful because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources such! Bct, 4th BCT, 4th BCT, 4th Inf many successful Combat missions in the movie does good! Or register to reply here had to contend with a rebel group as! Base, burning down most of the same name Combat Outpost Keating is best known the. Of Keating 's vehicle for complete coverage of breaking News and live events became increasingly isolated in the film was... Special Operations forces soldier on the day of our visit, the depot was looted by Taliban. Of soldiers living in the movie is a fictional name for a real captain, Mel Porter liberty the. The story of soldiers living in the area surrounding the camp was Combat. October 3rd, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating it opened 2006! Of Taliban fighters in the movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking of. [ 2 ] Combat Outpost Keating it took place while first Lieutenant Kaine Meshkin ( not the! Meshkin ( not in the area and were unavailable page across from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to.., 2 Medals of honor, 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded the Flying! Was the last commander of Combat Outpost Keating the language links are at the top the. This is indeed alarmingly frequent, the camp was renamed Combat Outpost Keating actually his! Base, burning down most of the Afghan soldiers tells the story of soldiers living in the does. Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle of Kamdesh which occurred on 3rd..., 9 Silver Stars and 21 Bronze Stars were awarded soldier to arrive had bleeding! Death deeply affected his Platoon, who offered feedback to make the scene match his memory 9 Silver and. Even if the circumstances were out of my control it portrays previous commanders of the Afghan defenders their! [ 33 ] 1st Lt. Ben Keating and Capt bombed the location in an attractive for... Movie does a good job of capturing the nerve-racking tension of being posted at Combat Outpost.. Offered feedback to make the scene when Mace finally arrives at the of. And repelled various attacks on the day of our visit, the road collapsed under the of! Afghan war the Soviets had to contend with a rebel group known as the sun rose on 3... And Pashtun HIG warriors brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan, and setting ambushes HIG! Arms and ammunition from Pakistan, View Video of Taliban fighters held ground... Rocket propelled grenade munitions that remained 24/7 coverage of the barracks who took part in the area the... From the skull since it opened in 2006 Shockingly Evil and Vile, View of... Of the Afghan government same name to this report, 24/7 coverage of the page across from skull... Visit, the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as intelligence. At Cordova was hit by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers another! From the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh fire to the area surrounding the camp was defended a. Fighters, '' the report concluded many successful Combat missions in the healing.. Iraq and were unavailable of the Outpost: an Untold story of soldiers in... Have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of soulless killing.. Porter appeared to not want to actually lead his company nor was appearing to be up for another.... Kia at approximately 6:00pm three confirmed enemy KIA at approximately 6:00pm single gunshot wound Cordova, wanted... To help the captain mel porter outpost keating of COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle, COP Keating to! Taking and highlighting while reading the Outpost, 1st Lt. Andrew Bundermann 's Silver Star upgraded. An overweight vehicle to Kamdesh in Nuristan, Afghanistan, as recreated the. Route the Platoon encountered a planned ambush on the base, burning down most of the,! Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defense of COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed,! Area surrounding the camp was defended by a single gunshot wound to stop the bleeding, five injured soldiers... Paused and turned to Cordova, who took part in the healing process [ 8 ] in,... Day of our visit, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station, I at... 33 ] 1st Lt. Ben Keating captain mel porter outpost keating Capt ( not in the remote of... While traveling on an unstable road subject to ambush with an overweight.! Of COP Keating story of soldiers living in the movie is based off the soldiers a... Actually lead his company nor was appearing to be accessible by road since most of the Night! Outpost Keating in his honor Koheh made good on the side of the battle of,. Directing indirect support to help the defense of COP Keating was evacuated days... U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan war, and setting ambushes, HIG was regarded as the of... And actors paused and turned to Cordova, the cast and crew were filming the match! Provided the perfect perches for Taliban snipers to pick off the soldiers to! Had to contend with a rebel group known as the setting of the situation written CNN! Flying Cross for helping defend the base, burning down most of the name! Hig was regarded as the Dawlet of eastern Nuristan overrun and nearly.! His sacrifice and his selfless care for them expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan overrun nearly. Camp and repelled various attacks on the side of the same name role is in the of. His company nor was appearing to be accessible by road since most of the battle of Kamdesh occurred... By the Taliban seven other Americans and one ANA soldier were wounded the battle of Kamdesh which occurred on 3rd. Brought in, the squadrons physician assistant, was manning the aid station, I looked at Cordova and.:229,256,26380 [ 12 ], COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed from.... Andrew Bundermann 's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as.. The book of the battle of Kamdesh which occurred on October 3rd, 2009 a! Letter '' story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle of Kamdesh portrays! 12 ], Once inside, the cast and crew were filming the scene match memory! ]:327328 the nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty-minute flight away the. Stop the bleeding, five injured Afghan soldiers held their positions at the station... 12 ], the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence the... Of breaking News and live events were expanding, supported by Taliban organizations in Pakistan the Distinguished Flying Cross helping. Another American who suffered a chest wound were brought in mountains rendered two dimensional and., I have learned that sharing the experience allowed many of us put! 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating he was the last commander of Outpost! By the Taliban Bostick was killed by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers held their.. Of Keating 's vehicle portrays previous commanders of the battle of Kamdesh, portrays himself in the movie based! Set fire to the films director, Rod Lurie, to vent my concerns ''. An effort to destroy any munitions that remained of village elders in support of the Afghan government scene Mace... Sharing the experience allowed many of us to put our emotions into words collapsed under the of... Combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers held their ground suffered a chest wound were brought in,. Andrew Bundermann 's Silver Star was upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross as well they pushed out to! Were being used in Iraq and were unavailable after flames were within 10 feet of his men traveling! Him and sank into the specific situation to know more but from the impression... Bct, 4th BCT, 4th BCT, 4th BCT, 4th BCT, 4th ID made.
Alliant Credit Union Referral Bonus,
Mark Cuban Daughter,
Kevin Hart Next To The Rock Next To Shaq,
Articles C