American Heroes in Special Operations Page 4

  The answer crackled back. “Do we have enemy contact?”

  “No, but there are definite signs of activity here. Looks like someone had the same idea we did.”

  As the pilot flared the helo to slow it down, he could see what those behind him in the aircraft had observed.

  “Roger, abort mission,” came over the Chinook’s intercom.

  Before anyone could acknowledge the command, something like a small meteor—an RPG—struck the helicopter, blazing through the aluminum skin, throwing flame and shrapnel around the cargo bay, puncturing hydraulic and fuel lines, and wounding one of the crew. The helicopter lurched to one side as the pilot fought to maintain control.

  Hydraulic fluid and fuel instantly turned the deck of the cargo compartment into a surface more slippery then a hockey rink. A crewman lost his footing and plunged off the ramp as a machine gun on the ground began peppering the wounded Chinook, invisible fingers of death stabbing holes in the thin exterior, looking for flesh inside.

  Tethered to the aircraft by his safety harness, the crewman dangled a few feet below the ramp. But Petty Officer Roberts had no safety harness; he too lost his footing on the slippery ramp and flailed unsuccessfully for a hand-hold to keep himself onboard. In an effort to gain altitude in the thin mountain air, the pilot jerked violently on the collective. The action nearly stood the chopper on its tail and Neal Roberts slid out the rear door. His buddies watched him fall about ten feet to the snowy outcropping below.

  As the Chinook wheeled away from the mountain, the rest of the team watched helplessly as Roberts came under heavy enemy fire. The last they saw of him, he was returning fire with his squad automatic weapon, attacking a superior force and going it all alone.

  The helicopter crash-landed about seven kilometers north of where Roberts fell. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was diverted to observe Takur Ghar and it sent back video of Petty Officer Roberts fighting off the enemy for nearly an hour, first with his automatic weapon, then his sidearm until he expended all his ammunition, and grenades. He was finally overrun and killed, becoming the first Navy SEAL to die in the war on terror, and the first to be killed in action since the invasion of Panama in 1989.

  “Although I sacrificed personal freedom and many other things, I got just as much as I gave. My time in the Teams was special, for all the times I was cold, wet, tired, sore, scared, hungry, and angry, I had a blast. If I died doing something for the Teams, then I died doing what made me happy. Very few people have the luxury of that “

  —Neal Roberts, in his “open in the event of my death” letter

  The tragic chain of events continued. An Air Force AC-130 gunship overhead—capable of annihilating much of the enemy presence on the mountaintop—never received clearance to fire and was diverted elsewhere. Meanwhile Neal Roberts’s teammates were clamoring to get back to Takur Ghar and rescue the downed SEAL. They boarded a second helicopter in Gardeyz, which flew to the mountain but it too was hit by intense ground fire. The Night Stalker air crew was able to land long enough to insert five SEALs and Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman. The team, led by Senior Chief Petty Officer Britt Slabinski, had the call-sign “Mako Three Zero.”

  Once on the ground, Mako Three Zero immediately went on the offensive, killing several enemy fighters in a bunker on top of the hill. But when a hail of gunfire erupted from another bunker, two SEALs were hit and Tech Sgt Chapman was mortally wounded. As the volume of fire increased, Slabinski made the decision that the team would have to pull back from the summit and make use of the air assets at their disposal to engage the numerically superior enemy force.

  Withdrawing wasn’t easy. The team was under continuous fire and with three badly injured team members, each surviving man had to carry a wounded comrade as they slogged through waist-deep snow. For more than sixteen hours, Mako Three Zero engaged in the highest-altitude gunfight in U.S. military history.

  For his heroic leadership during the battle, Chief Slabinski was awarded the Navy Cross.

  NAVY CROSS:

  SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER BRITT SLABINSKI

  The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Britt Slabinski, Senior Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy for services as set forth in the following citation. For extraordinary heroism as Sniper Element Leader for a joint special operations unit conducting combat operations against enemy forces during Operation Anaconda, Shah-i-Kot Valley, Afghanistan, on 3 and 4 March 2002, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On the evening of 3 March, Senior Chief Petty Officer Britt Slabinski led his seven-man reconnaissance team onto the snow-covered, ten thousand foot mountaintop known as Takur Ghar, to establish a combat over-watch position in support of U.S. Army forces advancing against the enemy on the valley floor. As their helicopter hovered over the mountain, it was met by unrelenting rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and small arms fire by entrenched enemy forces. As a result of several RPG hits, a member of Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski’s team was ejected from the helicopter into the midst of the fortified enemy positions. The badly damaged helicopter conducted a controlled crash, at which time Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski immediately took charge and established security on the crash location until the crew and his team were recovered to a support base. At this point, Senior Chief Slabinski, fully aware of the overwhelming, fixed enemy forces over the mountain, but also knowing the desperate situation of his missing teammate, now reportedly fighting for his life, without hesitation made the selfless decision to lead his team on an immediate, bold rescue mission. He heroically led the remainder of his SEAL element back onto the snow-covered, remote mountaintop into the midst of the numerically superior enemy forces in a daring and valiant attempt to rescue one of their own. After a treacherous helicopter insertion onto the mountaintop, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski led his close- quarter firefight. He skillfully maneuvered his team and bravely engaged multiple enemy positions, personally clearing one bunker and killing several enemy within. His unit became caught in a withering crossfire from other bunkers and the closing enemy forces. Despite mounting casualties, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski maintained his composure and continued to engage the enemy until his position became untenable. Faced with no choice but a tactical withdrawal, he coolly directed fire from airborne assets to cover his team. He then led an arduous movement through the mountainous terrain, constantly under fire, covering over one kilometer in waist-deep snow, while carrying a seriously wounded teammate. Arriving at a defensible position, he organized his team’s security posture and stabilized his casualties. For over fourteen hours, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski directed the defense of his position through countless engagements, personally engaging the enemy and directing close air support onto the enemy positions until the enemy was ultimately defeated. During this entire sustained engagement, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski exhibited classic grace under fire in steadfastly leading the intrepid rescue operation, saving the lives of his wounded men and setting the conditions for the ultimate vanquishing of the enemy and the seizing of Takur Ghar. By his heroic display of decisive and tenacious leadership, unyielding courage in the face of constant enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  Back at Bagram Airbase, Ranger Captain Nate Self was alerted that the SEALs were in trouble on Takur Ghar. Three hours later he and a nineteen-man Ranger Quick Reaction Force (QRF) were inbound on yet another CH-47 Chinook helicopter to the embattled mountaintop. Communication problems that bedeviled the SEALs now struck the Rangers. Neither they nor the pilots flying them into the right received the map coordinates for an alternate landing zone.

  As the big helo attempted to land on the mountain, it too was hit with an RPG while it was still twenty feet in the air. Small arms fire killed the right door gunner, Sgt Phil
ip Svitak and brought the Bird down. Incoming fire tore the downed helicopter to shreds and as the QRF tried to exit the wreckage, three Rangers were killed and several more wounded, including Cpt Self. Though shot through the thigh, he continued fighting and along with the rest of the survivors, took cover and began “giving back” to the enemy.

  The Rangers and remaining SEALs were still clearly outnumbered and at midday, the enemy launched an assault, concentrating their fire on the casualty collection point holding all the American wounded. During the attack, Air Force Pararescueman Specialist Jason Cunningham, the medic, was severely wounded. Despite pain and loss of blood, Cunningham steadfastly continued to administer aid under fire and is credited with saving the lives of at least seven men.

  After losing three helicopters, commanders were reluctant to risk more aircraft during daylight hours, even though there were several “urgent surgical” wounded who needed immediate evacuation. The difficult decision to wait likely cost Pararescueman Specialist Jason Cunningham his life. He succumbed to his wounds two hours before medevac helicopters arrived at 2000 hours.

  Pararescueman Spec Jason Cunningham

  Air Force Cross: (Posthumous) to Jason D. Cunningham

  The President of the United States of America, awards the Air Force Cross to Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a pararescueman near the village of Marzak in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan on 4 March 2002.

  On that proud day, Airman Cunningham was the primary Air Force Combat Search and Rescue medic assigned to a Quick Reaction Force tasked to recover two American servicemen evading capture in austere terrain occupied by massed al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. Shortly before landing, his MH-47E helicopter received accurate rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire, severely disabling the aircraft and causing it to crash land. The assault force formed a hasty defense and immediately suffered three fatalities and five critical casualties.

  Despite effective enemy fire, and at great risk to his own life, Airman Cunningham remained in the burning fuselage of the aircraft in order to treat the wounded. As he moved his patients to a more secure location, mortar rounds began to impact within fifty feet of his position. Disregarding this extreme danger, he continued the movement and exposed himself to enemy fire on seven separate occasions.

  When the second casualty collection point was also compromised, in a display of uncommon valor and gallantry, Airman Cunningham braved an intense small arms and rocket-propelled grenade attack while repositioning the critically wounded to a third collection point. Even after he was mortally wounded and quickly deteriorating, he continued to direct patient movement and transferred care to another medic.

  In the end, his distinct efforts led to the successful delivery of ten gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and in the dedication of his service to his country, Senior Airman Cunningham reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  Members of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard transport the coffin carrying the remains of USAF Senior Airman Jason Cunningham to its final resting place during the graveside funeral service held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

  By the time the fight was over, more than a hundred Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters were dead on the mountaintop. But the American death toll—seven Special Operators killed in action—made it the bloodiest battle for the coalition to that point in the war—and the deadliest day for Special Operations since the debacle in Somalia in 1993.

  “The Battle of Takur Ghar” painting by Keith Rocco

  For his courageous leadership on Takur Ghar, Captain Nate Self was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. Nearly every member of his QRF and the SEAL team that went to rescue on what came to be called “Robert’s Ridge,” were decorated for bravery under fire. Excerpts from their award citations paint a vivid picture of the battle.

  All the citations on the following pages end with the following words: The gallantry displayed . . . during eighteen hours of combat is in keeping with the highest standards of valor.

  Capt Nate Self

  SILVER STAR: STAFF SERGEANT ARIN K. CANON

  Staff Sergeant Canon led the support element during the initial assault on an enemy fortified position. His leadership was instrumental in suppressing the objective and pressing the assault against the enemy. Immediately following this action, he coordinated the defense of the entire objective, placing personnel and key weapon systems that enabled the platoon to defeat two enemy counterattacks.

  BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE: SPECIALIST CHRIS M. CUNNINGHAM

  Specialist Cunningham was an integral member of the assault force that attacked a fortified enemy position to relieve the pressure on Chalk 1, who had been fighting the enemy for over two hours.

  BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE: SPECIALIST OSCAR J. ESCANO

  Specialist Escano was an integral member of the assault force that moved over two hours through arduous terrain to destroy an enemy fortified position. Additionally, Specialist Escano assisted in providing security for aid and litter teams during two counterattacks by enemy forces.

  BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE: SERGEANT PATRICK GEORGE

  The gallantry displayed by Sergeant George during eighteen hours of combat is in keeping with the highest standards for valor.

  BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DAVID B. GILLIAM

  While serving as a M240B machine gunner during Operation Enduring Freedom, Private First Class Gilliam immediately exited the aircraft and suppressed the enemy. Private First Class Gilliam played an integral role in the entire operation by providing suppression on enemy positions to facilitate the capture of the high ground, the defeat of two enemy counterattacks and the consolidation of friendly wounded.

  BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE: SPECIALIST JONAS O. POLSON

  While serving as a squad automatic weapon gunner, Specialist Polson’s actions, in particular during a battle on 4 March 2002, contributed immeasurably to the tremendous success of a Task Force. Specialist Polson moved under direct and indirect enemy fire to link up with Chalk 1, which was under enemy fire for over two hours.

  BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE: SPECIALIST OMAR J. VELA

  The assault force movement culminated in an assault on an enemy fortified position where Specialist Vela was integral to suppressing the enemy. Specialist Vela assisted the aid and litter teams and provided security under a withering enemy counterattack.

  SILVER STAR: SERGEANT MATTHEW LAFRENZ

  While serving as a Platoon Medic in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In five separate occasions, Sergeant LaFrenz exposed himself to enemy fire while providing medical support to casualties. Sergeant LaFrenz was able to consolidate all casualties within four hours providing aid to nine casualties in an exhausting frigid environment.

  SILVER STAR: SPECIALIST AARON LANCASTER-TOTTEN

  While exiting the aircraft, Specialist Lancaster-Totten was severely wounded by shrapnel. With total disregard for his own well being, Specialist Lancaster-Totten continued to engage the enemy from a covered and concealed position. His ability to provide suppressive fire enabled the assault element to break contact from the enemy.

  SILVER STAR: CAPTAIN NATHAN E. SELF

  While exiting the aircraft, Captain Self was severely wounded in the thigh. With total disregard for his well being, he fought to the first covered and concealed position, engaged the enemy with his weapon, gathering remaining combat effective Rangers, and began calling close air support on enemy locations.

  SILVER STAR: SERGEANT ERIC W. STEBNER

  Sergeant Stebner organized an assault against an enemy fortified position. He led all aid and litt
er teams under withering enemy counterattack fire during consolidation of all casualties. This action took over four hours during which Sergeant Stebner personally exposed himself to enemy fire at least five times in order to save his fellow comrades.

  SILVER STAR: SERGEANT JOSHUA J. WALKER

  Sergeant Walker immediately exited the aircraft and destroyed an enemy soldier who was shooting at his aircraft. He was able to suppress the enemy with his M4 carbine, an M249 squad automatic weapon, and an M203 grenade launcher. Sergeant Walker was an integral part of a four-man assault force that moved up a deep slope, in knee-deep snow, through a hail of enemy fire in broad daylight.

  SILVER STAR: STAFF SERGEANT HARPER WILMOTH

  Staff Sergeant Wilmoth’s valorous actions while in direct contact with enemy forces and in the face of extreme duress during the successful rescue of Special Operators contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission and to the saving of additional lives. Staff Sergeant Wilmoth coordinated the linkup with Chalk 1 over arduous terrain, at an extremely high altitude, and under enemy direct and indirect fire. After the linkup, Staff Sergeant Wilmoth organized the assault on an enemy fortified position.