Captain Broward is a fictional character likely based on Captain Melvin Porter, the officer who commanded COP Keating before it was attacked and was reprimanded for its lack of preparedness. 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. Clint Romesha and Ty Carter, portrayed by Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones, were not present when Benjamin Keating died. Surprised they didn't frag him. 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. The AAF responded to this advance with a well-organized ambush on July 26, 2007, in the river valley at Saret Koheh. | Trademarks and service marks of VFW. Understandable discrepancies emerge when a book that covers four years at a remote mountain outpost is compressed into a two-hour production, but the film unquestionably captures the essence of the soldiers sacrifices, as well as the love we feel and the sorrow we share. Something had to be done to bring Nuristan on to the American side. It seemed like the entire COP was burning [70 percent did].. It also said the commanders had become "desensitized" to reports of imminent large scale attacks because previous warnings had turned out to be on a much smaller scale. At one point, he and his men came under heavy sniper fire. 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). AAF would disguise themselves in ANA uniforms and set up fake checkpoints to extract taxes and tolls from local contractors, and allied themselves with smugglers transporting illegal timber and gems into Pakistan. They expanded the perimeter all the way back to the entry control point and to the buildings on the western edge of the outpost, which became their final fighting position. 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. 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. However, author Jake Tapper says that this is entirely untrue. Roller attended his next meeting with village leaders dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. That was our troopers advantage up there. 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. The other two mountains that surrounded the actual outpost were inserted with CGI. Staff Sergeant Vernon Tiller, the most senior mechanic, was in the passenger's seat when it went over the cliff. During the first minutes of battle, mortar rounds hit the main generator, cutting power to most of the camp. Shane Courville; Cordova; George Arvidson as Cordova. 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. 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. While exploring the movie's historical accuracy, we confirmed that during the real-life Battle of Kamdesh, Taliban fighters got inside Outpost Keating. The camp was constructed by 3-71 Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) in the summer of 2006 and was manned by their ABLE Troop element until June 2007. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. The pick up zone for Able Troop 2nd Platoon was called PZ Reds, located on the side of an 8,000-foot mountain. Even some of the dialogue is taken word for word from real life. 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.". 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. Served with United States Army since 2005 and Participated in. This was a re-deployment from the Cowkay and Korangal Valleys to Kamdesh. The movie was filmed in 2018 on a set created at the base of a mountain in Bulgaria, not far from the city of Sofia. Villagers and clans who were left out of these projects were resentful, and quick to turn against the Americans. Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defense of COP Keating. When I learned that my U.S. Army cavalry troops war story was being made into a major motion picture, I worried that a Hollywood account of the battle would be inaccurate. Years later, I still feel guilty for not getting there until nightfall, even if the circumstances were out of my control. Action at the Aid Station A dog named Cali growled at the eldest son of an Afghan Security Guard, who would often come to the post with his father. Additionally, 20 Afghan troops, two Latvian soldiers and a dozen Afghan security guards were at Keating. A press release issued by the NATO military command in Afghanistan said Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the senior U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, had taken "appropriate action" against the officers after reviewing the report. 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. American troops in Nuristan found themselves directly in opposition to the HIG forces. At 6 a.m., Oct. 3, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, came under complex attack by an enemy force estimated at 300 fighters. Located along a riverbank in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, the base was surrounded by steep mountains. ", Yes. The latest acronym for attackers used by the Americans was AAF, for anti-Afghan fighters. [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. In 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was positioned perilously close to Taliban forces, in the sandy hills of Afghanistan, and vulnerable to attack. Scott Eastwood, right, in a scene from The Outpost. The film tells the story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. 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 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. Read more from At War here or follow us on Twitter. These AAF were more professional and probably represented groups from areas outside of Nuristan. Of the 53 U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle of Kamdesh at Outpost Keating, 45 survived, 8 lost their lives, and 27 were wounded. 8 killed 27 wounded[5] 4 killed 10 wounded. He died in a vehicular accident in 2006, and Combat Outpost Keating, the site of the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh, was named in his honor. 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. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. "[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. Given that her reticence led to her subordinates acting on their own initiative resulting in her plan failing, not really. Regrouping there, they pushed out teams to retake much of the outpost. On Oct. 3, 2009, the odds were against U.S. troops at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistans Nuristan province, located just 10 miles from the Pakistan border. As a result, the depot was looted by the Taliban. He was awarded the medal on 26 August 2013. . If they shoot from the hills, US troops can shoot at them without fear of hitting civilians in town, and it makes an enticing target. I'd have to look more into the specific situation to know more but from the general impression of the situation. [32] Staff Sgt. As we walked into the replica aid station, I looked at Cordova. October 03, 2019. The 48N6 missiles of the S-400 (and why they were designed by flat-earthers), WI: Instead of a NATO pull-out, the bases/forces in Afghanistan are handed over to the UN Peacekeeping. 37 soldiers were awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor. The Distinguished Flying Cross was given to 7 aviators who assisted in defending the base. Area of Operations. 2023 All rights reserved. The combination of volatile weather and rugged mountains make any kind of travel and life in general difficult and challenging. 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. The 53. For the most part, yes. During the day-long battle at Combat Outpost Keating last Oct. 3, the base was temporarily overrun by an estimated 300 Taliban fighters. "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.". The assassin was later found in Urmul and appeared to have the assistance of one of the Afghan day laborers at Camp Keating and the acquiescence of Urmul's elders. Wed love your feedback on this newsletter. Cordova continued to treat the wounded even after flames were within 10 feet of his location. The soldiers heard over the radio, "Enemy in the wire The enemy is inside the camp." 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. The camp was defended by a combined force of 140 U.S. and Afghan soldiers. One officer in Afghanistan who was familiar with the attack on COP Keating said he had mixed feelings about the criticism leveled against the camp's commanders. Keating's November 26, 2006 death deeply affected his platoon, who wanted to honor his sacrifice and his selfless care for them. [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. . Director Rod Lurie is himself a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. After dispensing with the enemy, QRF continued their descent and entered the outpost at approximately 7:00pm. [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. Anyone can read what you share. 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 And appearing Holdo's subordinates were well aware of the plain. 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. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/magazine/the-outpost-afghanistan-movie.html. Haji Yunus, a village elder of Gawardesh and contractor for an electric plant, was kidnapped and murdered. 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. ABC News' Karen Russo contributed to this report, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. [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. The Allies stopped using the Kamdesh-Naray road. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The soldiers left so quickly that they didn't take all of the ammunition. [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. The first didn't take place at the camp. 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. Follow-up attacks attempted by Taliban forces were subsequently thwarted by U.S. On Oct. 3, 2009, Keating was the site of the second costliest U.S. firefight of the Afghanistan War. U.S. soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. prosthetic makeup effects administrator: Millennium FX. This is a lofty mountain range characterized by steep slopes of enormous granite boulders separated by fast moving rivers in deep narrow valleys. The village leaders elected a representative council of 100 members to form a shura that would produce a regional security plan and obtain an agreement with the American military and the Afghan Karzai government. A deliberate withdrawal had been planned some time before the battle began, and the closing was part of a wider effort by the top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to cede remote outposts and consolidate troops in more populated areas to better protect Afghan civilians. Tears were streaming down his face. 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. Once we got overhead the target, the biggest thing that struck me was how much of Keating was on fire. Melvin Porter of the Fourth Infantry Division, as Keating has been furiously and repeatedly attacked since it opened in 2006. [7][8] The former of which is based on the book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by journalist Jake Tapper. As they filmed one take after another, Cordova clenched his jaw and swallowed back tears, reliving the most traumatic day of his life. 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. He discussed their common values as leaders of families and communities working toward a better future. [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. 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. At such time the platoon cleared the remaining areas of the outpost which members of 3-61 had not yet retaken. 1st Class Jonathan Hill rallied his 3rd Platoon troops in a counterattack, despite his multiple shrapnel wounds. [7]:334,501,92,98. 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. 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. Sgt. [26] The attack accelerated those plans, with the troops' departure taking place so quickly after the battle that some munitions were abandoned. 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. The action takes place at Combat Outpost Keating, which was initially built to engage the locals in community development projects. Rob Yllescas of Nebraska, in "The Outpost," which tells the story of real-life combat events from the War in Afghanistan. Based there were 53 U.S. soldiers primarily with B Trp., 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav Regt., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. However, Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Keating's death actually happened three years earlier, in 2006, not 2009. I'll have to give it a read sometime. From left, Martin Malchev as Specialist Cody Floyd; Jack Kalian as Staff Sgt. A common misconception is that the Taliban are primitive fighters who lack the necessary skills to be effective in battle. 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. While this is indeed alarmingly frequent, the movie makes it seem like the attacks are happening daily. 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. Several of the surviving soldiers were technical advisors on the film, including Medal of Honor recipient Ty Carter, who is played by Caleb Landry Jones. 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. The Los Angeles gift shop Bunkado, at center with a fan on its sign, in the 1950s. Again, it was later noted that many of Porter's decisions were sound. [2] Two Americans, Staff Sergeants Clinton L. Romesha and (then Specialist) Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their role in defending the base.[3]. It involved a small force of 54 U.S. soldiers (Bravo Troop 3-61), in addition to their Afghan and Latvian allies, at the remote Combat Outpost Keating in northeastern Afghanistan near the town of Kamdesh. 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 with Captain Benjamin Keating, the movie pushes both of their deaths to 2009 and fictionally depicts both men as being part of the 3/61 CAV (3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment). As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. Some of the soldiers who were at the battle are interviewed by the book's author, Jake Tapper, during the closing credits. [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. The Outpost real story confirms that COP Keating was evacuated two days after the battle. The population of Nuristan is ethnically distinct from the rest of Afghanistan, and divided into four major groups, the Kom, Kata, Kushtoz, and Kalasha. Insurgents had breached the camp in several locations, including at the main entrance, near the latrine area, and on the eastern side. Need to know. 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. They performed heroically and bravely.. 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. [18], At about 3:00a.m. on October 3, over 350 Taliban backed insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. Keating landed between two rocks nearly 150 feet down the cliffside, next to the river. 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. It was treacherous and subject to enemy ambush. As the sun rose on Oct. 3, 2009, about 300 Taliban launched a surprise attack on COP Keating. I support this diversion into a discussion of the operational art and command structure as practiced by the New Resistance under Leia Organa. Lardner, Richard (Associated Press), "Command Failures". [3] Romesha was critical of the choice of site for the base, describing it as "like being in a fishbowl or fighting from the bottom of a paper cup. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded while the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed. Radio, `` command Failures '' better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding so. 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