Posted: 5/30/2010 12:27:25 PM EDT
Planning on making a trip to a statue of a fallen SEAL tomorrow, doing some research. Came across this Wiki article on the events...Operation Red WingOperation Red Wing was a counter-insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the United States Navy SEALs, which took place on June 28, 2005. Three of the SEALs were killed during the initial operation, as were other American Special Operations soldiers (SEALs and Nightstalker pilots) whose helicopter was shot down while flying to provide support and rescue to the team. Marcus Luttrell, the only surviving American SEAL, was protected by local villagers who sent an emissary to the closest military base allowing a rescue team to locate the wounded SEAL. The firefightThe SEAL team, led by LT Michael P. Murphy and consisting of petty officers Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell, were on a mission to kill or capture Ahmad Shah, a Taliban leader who commanded a group of insurgents known as the "Mountain Tigers," west of Asadabad. After an initially successful infiltration, local goat herders stumbled upon the SEALs' hiding place. Unable to verify any hostile intent from the herders, Murphy asked the team what should be done with them. Axelson reportedly voted to kill the Afghans, and Dietz didn't offer an opinion, causing Murphy to state that he would vote the same as Luttrell, who said the herders should be set free. Shortly after the goat herders disappeared over the mountain ridge, the SEALs were confronted by a force of Afghan fighters, estimated between 50-200 strong, causing Luttrell to believe that the released herders had given away their position. The insurgents set up a "well organized, three-sided attack", which forced the SEALs to begin running down the slope. After 45 minutes of fighting, Murphy moved into the open, after noting the team's radio transmitters weren't functioning properly in the mountains, and placed the emergency call for support from his cell phone. He was shot in the abdomen during the conversation. Nevertheless he returned to his cover after the call and continued to battle. After two hours of fighting, only Luttrell remained alive, although he was lying unconscious behind a ridge where he had been knocked out by the blast of a rocket-propelled grenade. Failed rescue Matthew G. Axelson; Daniel R. Healy, James Suh, Marcus Luttrell, Shane E. Patton, and LT Michael P. Murphy prior to the battle. Two MH-47D helicopters, four UH-60 Blackhawks and two AH-64D Longbows attempted to come to their rescue to provide extraction in the mountains of Kunar. One of the MH-47 helicopters, carrying eight Navy SEALs and eight 160th Nightstalkers, was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade shot through the open rear ramp, causing the pilot to lose control of the craft. It hit a mountain ledge, and then fell to the bottom of a ravine, killing all sixteen on board.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Red_Wing#cite_note-rmn-11][12][/url] Shah, the original target of the SEAL team, later gave an interview where he claimed that his forces had set a trap for the American forces, "We certainly know that when the American army comes under pressure and they get hit, they will try to help their friends. It is the law of the battlefield." Search and rescueThe only survivor of the attack, Luttrell tried to hide himself as he waited for rescue from the search helicopters flying overhead. Driven by thirst, shot in the leg and with three cracked vertabrae, he traversed 7 miles over the remainder of the day. He remained unnoticed until, falling from a ledge, he was discovered by an Afghan shepherd named Gulab, who summoned his companions to help carry the wounded Luttrell to the village of Sabray-Minah. The villagers took care of Luttrell, providing food and medical attention, and protecting him from the Taliban that came to the village demanding that he be turned over to them. Meanwhile, nearly two days after the initial confrontation, the military had 300 men searching for the team, and had located the downed helicopter and verified that all 16 aboard had been killed. A spokesman for the Taliban, Mofti Latifollah Hakimi, confirmed that the helicopter had been shot down by insurgent fire, and promised to deliver the video made during the assault to media outlets. Despite multiple attempts, the search helicopters were unable to locate the wounded Navy SEAL. On July 2, the village elder, armed with a note from Luttrell, went down to seek help from Camp Blessing, a Marine outpost several miles away, and approached First Lieutenant Matt Bartels with his information. With this news, the U.S. forces drew up extraction plans which according to Lt. Col. Steve Butow were "one of the largest combat search-and-rescue operations since Vietnam". As the rescue teams closed in upon the village they ran into Luttrell and some of the villagers who were moving him from one hiding place to another. Six days after the operation, an American search team located Murphy's body. For the next four days, they held out hopes that Axelson might be found alive. American |
| LT Michael P. Murphy | Part of 4-Man Seal Team killed in an ambush | Patchogue, New York | |
| STG2 Matthew Axelson | Part of 4-Man Seal Team killed in an ambush | Cupertino, CA | |
| GM2 Danny Dietz | Part of 4-Man Seal Team killed in an ambush | Littleton, Colorado | |
| FCC Jacques J. Fontan | killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| ITCS Daniel R. Healy | killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Exeter, New Hampshire | |
| LCDR Erik S. Kristensen | killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | San Diego, California | |
| ET1 Jeffery A. Lucas | killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Corbett, Oregon | |
| LT Michael M. McGreevy, Jr. | killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Portville, New York | |
| QM2 James E. Suh | killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Deerfield Beach, Florida | |
| HM1 Jeffrey S. Taylor | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Midway, West Virginia | |
| MM2 Shane E. Patton | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Boulder City, Nevada | |
| Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | of Danville, Ohio | |
| Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Clarks Grove, Minnesota. | |
| Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby | Killed aboard the helicopter when it was shot down | Pompano Beach, Florida | |
| Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles | Killed aboard helicopter when it was shot down | Shelbyville, Indiana | |
| Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III | Killed aboard helicopter when it was shot down | Franklin, Tennessee | |
| Maj. Stephen C. Reich | Killed aboard helicopter when it was shot down | Washington Depot, Connecticut. | |
| Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell | Killed aboard helicopter when it was shot down | Stafford, Virginia | |
| Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach | | Killed aboard helicopter when it was shot down | Jacksonville, Florida |
Aftermath
On September 14, 2006, Dietz and Axelson were posthumously awarded
the Navy
Cross for "undaunted courage" and heroism. Luttrell was also
awarded the Navy Cross in a ceremony at the White
House. In 2007, Lieutenant Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.
the Navy
Cross for "undaunted courage" and heroism. Luttrell was also
awarded the Navy Cross in a ceremony at the White
House. In 2007, Lieutenant Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.
In April 2008, Ahmad Shah, who was the target of
Operation Red Wing, was killed during a shootout with Pakistani police in the North-West
Frontier Province.
Operation Red Wing, was killed during a shootout with Pakistani police in the North-West
Frontier Province.
Additionally, June 28, 2008, Luttrell and the family members of
soldiers killed overseas were honored at a San Diego Padres game.
In addition, the United States Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs,
brought in the American flag, the POW/MIA flag and the San Diego Padres flag. The
attendees were given a standing ovation by the more than 25,000 there to
watch the game.
soldiers killed overseas were honored at a San Diego Padres game.
In addition, the United States Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs,
brought in the American flag, the POW/MIA flag and the San Diego Padres flag. The
attendees were given a standing ovation by the more than 25,000 there to
watch the game.
A statue entitled The Guardians stands in the Cupertino Veterans Memorial Park, in Cupertino, California. The statue
depicts both Matthew Axelson and James Suh, natives of the region,
standing back-to-back.
depicts both Matthew Axelson and James Suh, natives of the region,
standing back-to-back.
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I have the book on Operation Redwing, called Victory Point, by Ed Darack. It's a very slow read, as it is very text booky, with lots of background history, but I'm working my way through it.
http://www.amazon.com/Victory-Point-Operations-Whalers-Afghanistan/dp/B002VPE9O0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275252797&sr=8-1#noop |
| Good on you for making the trip. I'm going to our local cemetary, it's got veterans in it all the way back to the Civil and Indian Wars, be putting in some flags for them. I remember when some of the neighbors protested danny's statue because it had a gun on it. Sheesh! |
| You should read Victory Point it tells the rest of the story of that campaign and operation. |
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this |
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Quoted:
Planning on making a trip to a statue of a fallen SEAL tomorrow, doing some research. Came across this Wiki article on the events... The actual name of the Operation was "Red Wings." The SEAL SDV team was the Recce element to locate HVTs, in a larger Marine operation. Because of the convoluted command relationship between CJSOTF forces and non-CJSOTF elements, the CJSOTF commander required his forces not to have a direct relationship to the Marines preventing them from providing a QRF. |