Rough men who stand ready: Wounded troops refused to leave Afghanistan firefight
An incredible account from ABC News reporter Karen Russo, who notes that wounded troops refused to leave the battlefield this weekend during the deadly siege at Kamdeysh:
Flying into the besieged Afghan base during a nighttime firefight this weekend is a harrowing mix of overwhelming noise, stomach dropping maneuvers and shadows hurrying through the gloom.
When the chopper lifted off moments later with three wounded soldiers, it left behind others who were wounded but refused to be MEDEVACED out of the combat zone so they could return to fight with their buddies.
As fighting at two U.S. outposts raged on the ground this weekend, the MEDEVAC team at a nearby base waited – with both patience and frustration.
MEDEVAC teams are known for flying into some of the most deadly areas in the world to rescue injured soldiers. MEDEVAC helicopters are unarmed so they often need supporting aircraft to protect them, and sometimes the cover of darkness is their only defense.
On Saturday night, the team finally received the go-ahead as the sun set. Within moments of receiving the call, we rushed to the helicopter and quickly sped to the outposts.
As we were flying into the attack space, the MEDEVAC team with one medic and a doctor were preparing for the oncoming patients, setting up IV’s, pulling out medical equipment and making other last minute preparations…
The eight American troops killed in the battle were all from Fort Carson in Colorado Springs:
In the deadliest day for Fort Carson since Vietnam, eight soldiers from the post’s 4th Brigade Combat Team died in Afghanistan on Saturday when insurgents attacked a pair of remote outposts in Nuristan province.
The Army hasn’t identified the dead, but several military sources confirmed that all eight were from the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade, which went to war in May and in recent days began withdrawing from remote areas to better provide security in cities and villages.
“My heart goes out to the families of those we have lost and to their fellow Soldiers who remained to finish this fight,” Col. Randy George, the brigade’s commander, said in a statement late Saturday. “This was a complex attack in a difficult area. Both the U.S. and Afghan Soldiers fought bravely together; I am extremely proud of their professionalism and bravery.”
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“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
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Categories: Afghanistan
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Good men lost.
My heart goes out to the families of those brave soldiers we lost. Their bravery and courage will not be forgotten by those who support them and carry them in their hearts.
Our Republic has the most wonderful military in the whole world! God bless and protect each of them, please.
I just wish to goodness we has a POTUS that thought the same thing.
L
OUTSTANDING! I know EXACTLY what that’s like! OUTSTANDING!
Meanwhile, back at the den of criminals, our pos President dithers about sending reinforcements.
In the mean time, Obama is choosing the champagne for his anniversary dinner.
I know exactly how they feel – no way am I going to let my buddies down.
And the WOUNDED stay to fight, because their President will not send needed reinfocements.
Washington… full of those who have no shame…
This is why America is so great! We have brave men and women (and their families) who are willing to stand up for America even when some of our politicans will not.
Do you think he will be able to make up his mind in time?
“Band of Brothers” indeed. The story could be repeated time and time again, but without any publicity. I will not leave – I can’t let them down. I couldn’t be prouder of these torchbearers. The only reason this particular incident comes to light is because of the ABC reporter. All of us who have been in the military could cite hundreds of such incidents that got no fanfare, and those involved wouldn’t want it to come to light.
Here is the reporter. She had guts, too.
Don’t forget about Michelle Obama’s sacrifice of flying to Copenhagen….
Well, okay, forget it.
Rough men who stand ready stand with their fellows–I fear they are better than this country deserves right at the moment. Rough men have always stood ready for us-I hope I was one of them. And time and again this country has not given them the support they deserve. Someday we will call and no real men will answer.
I will have to read the transcript but Rush Limbaugh just quoted somebody referring to Obama as a Beta Male and Putin’s b!tch. Sounds right. I guess Obama fears us as much as we fear him, thus his need for a civilian alternative to the military-AKA street thugs and hustlers.
I wish our TOTUS had as much courage as Karen Russo.
TOTUS ignores the Commander of all forces in Afghanistan for 70 days, then spends 25 minutes chewing him out, while Karen risks her life to show us the courage of the soldiers TOTUS ignores.
The caliber of our military personnel shows itself once again.
How is it that the XYs in DC share only those common sex chromosomes with real men like these soldiers?
God bless our military and their family’s!
Michelle Obama doesn’t know the meaning of the word sacrifice. Sacrifice is what the military does EVERY DAY.
It has been especially noted by the poor souls downrange from their positions. Sucks to be them.
As soon as the Dear Leader has finished his workout at the gym. tells us again how he saved us from economic ruin, and is finihsed proclaiming YET AGAIN that we wll all die without State run healthcare, I am sure he will take time to see that the wounded soldiers are being taken care of.
/sarc
That’s the thing about military service, particularly in the combat arms: although you’ll certainly meet your share of people that tax every ounce of restraint you can muster just to tolerate being in the same room with them, there are also others for whom you’d literally give, or do, anything.
Because you know that they’d do the same for you, without question or hesitation.
Leave in the middle of a firefight? Not these guys. Not a chance. It’s the blood cord that binds generations past and present, like the example of Marine 1LT William Hawkins during the battle of Tarawa in 1943: wounded 3 times, he refused his mens’ pleas to have them treated, replying “I came here to kill Japs, not to be evacuated!”
The only thing that could take him from the fight was when he was mortally wounded a 4th time, upon which he simply said, “Boys, sorry to leave you like this.” Somehow, service rivalries aside, I think that were his spirit watching those soldiers in action last weekend, he’d have approved.
While I commend the sentiment, I had friends who insisted on returning to Viet Nam. They have to bare a tremendous burden and never feel they have finished the job. We need to be careful about encouraging it at their detriment.
the pig was busy scamming the public that Dr.’s are on board for his boondoggle……This is same group of 150 Doctors that have been “bribed”. Why won’t even Fox tell the truth about this group……80% of Doctors say no thanks.
why does this evil guy still have 50% approval rating.
Please don’t buy the leftist ideal that the US Government IS the Country…
The Country deserves these men… as they are part of that Country…
The Government? IMO does not…
POST OF THE DAY
I saw this posted as a comment on another website regarding the Dear Leader as Commander in Chief…..
“mmm mmm mmm…..Lyndon Baines Obama”
Well said.
Those men are true heroes; but there is another side to this story. It’s about an incompetent president who received a General’s report over a month ago detailing what was needed to help our troops fight this battle.
Rather than taking care of our troops most pressing problem; requiring his utmost attention; that incompetent fool his been playing king and having loads of fun with his dopy wife and Oprah, instead of doing his job.
Screw the Olympics, screw your anniversary and screw your Socialist health care experiment. Obama, you are a disgrace to the very country that elected you. So screw you Obama, you are a worthless piece of garbage.
We are the country-the government, like fire sometimes does, has stopped being our servant and has become a fierce sum foe and hard task master. It needs to be contained and put back in it’s rightful boundary.
Our Leftist countrymen, as with children, must be kept away from the fire so the fire stays contained.
I hope that helps.
My condolences go out to the fighting paras from the Spartan Brigade.
I pray a more liberal ROE will be ordered, and help you more safely complete your mission.
God bless you all!
The blood of those brave soldiers is on Osama Obama’s hands, and he is not worthy of that. He’s not good enough to carry their bedpans.
When will someone in Congress grow a pair and say enough?
I’m always in awe of the amazing men and women who serve our country.
America has many brave men and women willing to sacrificially serve their fellow Americans. And then we have those in Washington, DC.
I know which I prefer…
I am in awe of the men and women who have faithfully served this nation!
The V Corps motto was “It shall be done!” These guys put it on the line for their country and their buddies! God bless them all!
God Bless every single one.
Indeed,God bless them.
They are in my prayers each and every night. Godspeed.
Yes, May God the Father Almighty Bless and keep these “Rough Men”.
I have a question, why were there no AC-130U Gunships available for close air support? I have stated this question to some friends at Hurlburt Field and am waiting for an answer (if they can provide one). I pray that the fool in the White House has not withdrawn them from the Afghan theater.
Where do we find such men as these?
God bless them and keep them safe. You make us so proud to be Americans.
Thank you, anyone who serves our country. Eternal gratitude from my family.
G-d’s speed to our troops in the field.
To absent Comrades!
My respects to the brave men of the Iron Eagles of the 4th BCT of 4th Inf Div. who fought so gallantly and well.
Hooah!!!
Are we worthy of the tremendous sacrifices of these brave warriors? Let us band together and be the best nation worthy of their sacrifice and great courage. Vote and be involved as an American and have allegiance to the values our country was founded on and not political party or personalities.
God bless and keep our troops in His care.
A few days ago the Washingon Times had a chilling drawing of two soldiers pinned down in a foxhole. First soldier asked “Did you call in for reinforcements?” Second answered “Yeah, but the White House put me on hold!”
This is a hard world that is ruled by force and violence. Thank God America has a Band of Brothers who put their lives in harms way to defend us.
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his
blood with me, Shall be my brother; be ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle
his condition. And gentlemen in England now abed, Shall think themselves
accursed they were not here, And hold their manhood’s cheap whiles any
speaks, That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”
– William Shakespeare (“King Henry V”)
They are fighting overseas for us. We need to fight here for them too. Impeach the traitor Obama.
Well poor Obama….is it his fault we elected him?…he has never had to work a schedule before…he has never had to prioritize before…the only real job he had before being commander in chief was being a Senator…and he did not show up for that job very often..if you count how many times he was available to vote…the poor man is just not use to pressure, not use to having to make decisions, no wounder he “ran away” to play olympics
Someone once said that the regular soldier in battle, isn’t fighting for his country, he’s fighting for his buddies. How true it is.
But General McChrystal makes the President angry.
This is why we elect experienced military people, its a great deal easier to trust our children’s lives to someone who’s felt the sting of battle and will do anything to help them.
Trillions for the Democrat re-election committee, our kid’s in harms way? He’ll get back to us.
God bless these great and brave Americans!
Remembering what happened in Somalia, as depicted in Mark Bowden’s book and the movie Blackhawk Down, the answer is never.
Even when that moron Aspin went to Congress and asked what they (he as SecDef) should do in Somalia, all they could do is ask for his resignation since they were too cowardly to do anything more about that total cluster caused by Bubba.
I wonder what Gates is waiting for.
…for 70 days and counting.
From the ABC News article by Karen Russo:
Ahhh, but it was Meanchelle that sacrificed….
/sarc
I have been wondering myself. I was shocked Obama asked him sto stay and shocked he did stay. I do not know–does he feel he can hold some line or is it ego? I do not know.
I hope he is a “mole” for OUR military. We need someone inside to monitor the moron in charge.
I wonder if he knows what planning is going on behind his back? Obama is obviously not getting military advice from those who have America’s best interest in mind.
Would to God we had representatives in DC that fought for our liberties with the same tenacity.
May God bless those soldiers fighting with a knowledge of His Grace and keep them safe. I’m seriously humbled and inspired by courage like that.