And we experienced that on that mountain.. Children of varying ages ran around the coffins, playing and yelling, not yet old enough to understand the sacrifices these warriors made. The back of the aircraft contained the flag-draped coffins of 16 great Americans: the fallen Night Stalkers and SEALs from Turbine 33. The loss weighed heavy on the men. Collect, curate and comment on your files. "Someone said Erik wouldn't be on the helo, recalled his mother, who goes by Sam. We argued for what seemed like 10 minutes but was actually about 30 seconds, Brady recalled. "We're so over this. The flight back was pure silence. I don't know if I want to do this the rest of my life. Not wanting to leave their brothers, the SEAL team commander hatched a plan with the Night Stalkers to insert higher up on the ridgeline and fight their way down to the crash site so Turbine 34 could fly back to Jalalabad, pick up as many SEALs as he could, and fly back to reinforce the eight SEALs. As I stared into the maze of pines, my heart rate increased, the sweat still pouring down my browine. I will never accept defeat. Smith and the others in Turbine 34 watched helplessly as the Chinook full of their fellow aviators their friends crashed into the mountain and erupted in a ball of flames. As the Night Stalkers slept, the SR team was discovered by a numerically superior force of enemy fighters. In his book, Brooks wrote, I got my first real look at Afghanistan from the side of the mountain after offloading from a helicopter onto the Sawalto Sar, a mountain in Afghanistans Kunar Province. 28, 2005 in Afghanistan. There was still some smoldering from the crash site, and I could see the glow from the heat through my night vision.. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matt Rogie arrived in Bagram just before the Night Stalkers came back after dropping off the recovery force. Chris, Turbine 33 has just been shot down, he told Eicher, whod earned the nickname Iceman for his always cool demeanor. It didnt look like there was any way anybody could have survived, Graham said. Not wanting to leave their brothers, the SEAL team commander hatched a plan with the Night Stalkers to insert higher up on the ridgeline and fight their way down to the crash site so Turbine 34 could fly back to Jalalabad, pick up as many SEALs as he could, and fly back to reinforce the eight SEALs. He asked Graham to repeat, unable to register what he had just heard. Some of the fallen members of Turbine 33 prior to being flown out. As the Night Stalkers slept, the SR team was discovered by a numerically superior force of enemy fighters. When Turbine 33 was shot down, they received orders to fly back along with Turbine 34 and the Apache gunships until the next phase of the mission was developed. It didnt look like there was any way anybody could have survived, Graham said. The Chinooks took off toward the mountains once again, but as they climbed in elevation, severe weather rolled in. For the Night Stalkers of the famed 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the war on terror continued. Smith said everyone on the Chinook was angry. It wasnt an ideal insertion, but the Night Stalkers had accomplished their mission. They were exhausted and angry with the mistake the U.S. Air Force had made when they allowed Space-A seating to be filled on this leg of the flight home. One of the SEALs even drew his pistol and attempted unsuccessfully to force the Chinook to land so they could try to save their friends. Kristensen attended Washington's Gonzaga College High School. He could play the trumpet, he could sing, he could write," recalled his first cousin, Jennifer Casey. Good, Brady recalled Reich saying. The sun was fading behind Afghanistans Hindu Kush mountains the evening of June 27, 2005, as a team of four US Navy SEALs walked up the ramp and into the back of US Army Capt. "Lone Survivor" included a shot of Kristensens Birkenstock-clad feet trudging out of his quarters after Murphy's call for help is received in the tactical operations center in Jalalabad. At Jalalabad, Brady was approached by SEAL Commander Erik Kristensen in the command operations center. Soon they learned that their son Erik was among those killed in action. Im glad youre here because I am spent, Eicher told him. There were 100-foot-tall trees on all sides of the Chinook, and they were so close the pilots had no room to sway as they descended. Erik Kristensen and the fallen of Turbine 33 did not. Many of the men suffered scorched hands from gripping the rope through gloves for such a long descent. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor from the initial four-man SEAL reconnaissance element. Tim Graham standing by in Bagram. A Taliban high-value target sat tucked into the corner away from them all, guarded by other soldiers. The 160th had only lost helicopters during daylight missions at that point theyre calledNight Stalkers for a reason. It was a gut-wrenching decision for everyone on the mission, as they knew the original SEALs on the SR team were fighting for their lives and one of their own aircraft and crew was burning on the side of a mountain. "But he was on the helo," his mother told ABC News, as the family marked the tenth anniversary of Erik's death in Operation Red Wings last weekend. The SEALs did their best to hide the rope and keep their presence on the ridgeline hidden from enemy fighters. A down to earth, happy-go-lucky guy," Roth said. As the lead aircraft descended, it became clear the LZ was on a steep slope of the mountain, making descent difficult due to the front rotors approaching the mountainside faster than the rear of the aircraft. Since the SEALs werent sure where exactly the compromised team was located, Kristensen believed inserting at a position of tactical advantage was the best option. Back in the operations center, leaders were busy trying to figure out the SEALs' last known location and calculating how many soldiers each helicopter could fly with. Graham and his co-pilot whipped their Chinook around to look for survivors. "There are some things you just don't delegate," Ed Kristensen said of his sons fateful action, at times welling up with emotion. However unusual a personality he had, those who knew him agree that he fell in battle personifying the words stamped into that dogtag picked up by the paratrooper in the grime of Turbine 33's wreckage ten years ago. But militants were waiting in ambush and shot down an Army MH-47E Chinook chopper as Kristensen and his men were preparing to fast-rope to the ground, killing all 16 aboard. Photo courtesy of Daniel Bell. It doesnt make sense., But he knew and lived by the Night Stalkers promise to every customer: If we put you in, well stop at nothing to get you out even if its technically someone elses job.. With that, they retired to their rooms to rest for phase two of the operation the following night. Russell went to work right away getting the crews together to prep the aircraft for the mission. Turbine 33s nose dipped down, and the aircraft slid to the left, appearing to almost recover. Franais : L'Opration Red Wings est une opration de contre-insurrection mene par l'arme amricaine le 28 juin 2005 contre les talibans de la province de Kounar. Photo courtesy of Matt Rogie. Graham made a stop at a Forward Arming and Refueling Point just outside of Jalalabad. : r/CombatFootage by GGdigger NSFW Rare footage of the disastrous Operation Red Wings from the Taliban PoV. Search instead in Creative? Before and after his presidency were some of the greatest contributions Jimmy Carter made to the world we know today. [2] [38] Graham watched from Turbine 34 as Turbine 33s ramp lowered and the crewman walked onto it to observe the landing zone below. Almost every variety of special operations troops in the U.S. military inventory participated in a coordinated effort through some of Afghanistans most dangerous and austere terrain during the search for their brothers both alive and fallen. Matt Bradys MH-47 Chinook helicopter on Bagram Air Base. Walking toward the flight line, the SEAL commander quipped, What made you want to fly such ugly helicopters?, Theyre not much to look at, but they get the job done, Brady fired back. As he approached the insertion site, Brady could see lights dotting the mountains below through his night-vision goggles. The projectile flew through the open ramp of the Chinook and exploded inside. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. We argued for what seemed like 10 minutes but was actually about 30 seconds, Brady recalled. The order was given to again abort the mission and return to base. We reverence the ultimate sacrifice they made while engaged in that fierce firefight on the global war's front lines on terrorism (GWOT). Their war-weary faces were chiseled stone as they watched the task force solemnly load 16 flag-draped interment cases into the C-17. The task force commander denied the request and ordered Turbine 34 back to Jalalabad. Kristensen applied but wasn't selected for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL school out of the academy. The Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community will forever remember June 28, 2005, and our special operators' heroic efforts and sacrifices. Believing the gunship could make it back on station in time for the insertion, Brady made the call to continue the mission. Doc's platoon was alerted . It would take them until . Brady said it seemed like the whole base turned out to give the fallen a proper sendoff. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 5 lessons the Army teaches from the movie We Were Soldiers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Operation Red Wings Through the Eyes of the Night Stalkers. The distinctive black MH-47G Chinook special operations helicopter. "That was the one part of the movie that I enjoyed. The commander explained that the ground force commander had already rejected that plan and didnt want to wait any longer. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He told Reich pushing the mission back would allow Shah to continue his terrorist activities, likely leading to the death of locals and US military in the area. Two months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the film Black Hawk Down was released, telling the story of U.S. Army Rangers who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu and helped rescue the crew of a downed Black Hawk helicopter. After covering his landing, Brooks book goes through a nearly hour-by-hour recounting of the rescue and recovery mission that lasted almost two full days. Weve got two military-aged males, possibly armed, on the northernmost LZ, the crew reported. Photo courtesy of Steven Smith. The C-17 sat on the runway with the ramp down, waiting to receive the 16 interment cases containing the fallen warriors. As a pilot in the 160th, Brady was the air mission commander for the operation. The two Apaches had arrived on station, drawing heavy gunfire, but nonetheless giving Turbine 34s crew back in the operations center a good look at the crash site. Photo by Cpl. ", "Erik was probably the furthest from what you would have thought of a Navy SEAL. But Reich cut the debate short. Share This: Rangers, Special Forces, and PJs were already moving up the mountain toward the crash site. Navy SEAL Lt. #OperationRedWings pic.twitter.com/FWsObBsX6n Boot Campaign (@BootCampaign) June 28, 2019 The four SEALs on the ground had continued the fight, killing an estimated 35 militants, until Murphy, Axelon and Dietz were killed, leaving Luttrell gravely wounded and laying in a ravine after a grenade blast knocked him unconscious. After landing, Graham saw the same five Black Hawks that had peeled off earlier parked on the runway. Steven K. Young, courtesy of DVIDS. After several tense moments of struggling to bring in the rope, they decided to cut it loose. Were completely separate commands. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. The C-17 closed its ramp and taxied down the runway and took flight. Brady said he pleaded with Reich to at least let him come with and act as an extra gun and set of eyes. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. I felt like I was in the wrong place, I was doing the wrong things and I could do more, Brooks said. Back at Jalalabad, the commanders decided they had no choice but to wait for better weather and try again the next night. And if we just glamorize war all the time, I think thats a problem. He could relate to the most junior guy and to a general or admiral," Paro said. "It is very redeeming thing. At the Bagram operations center, Major Stephen Reich approached Brady urgently, asking why he didnt follow abort criteria and fly back with the SR team after the AC-130 had to leave the airspace. The rescue operation, known as Operation Red Wings II, continued for weeks. Photo courtesy of DVIDS. The fallen Night Stalkers of the 160th SOAR included: Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach. Brady told his operations NCO to give him a minute to gather more information to get the next plan of action in place. The Night Stalkers would then circle back and pick up the remaining SEALs who offloaded at Jalalabad. Kent Paro, who led SEAL Team 10 at the time and was Kristensen and Murphy's commander in Afghanistan, told ABC News last week. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. There was still some smoldering from the crash site, and I could see the glow from the heat through my night vision.. He didnt think much of it at the time, but many years later he found out a new platoon leader came into their company within the 160th and was responsible for those Black Hawks. Finally, 150 U.S. Marines would come in to establish blocking positions for the SEALs assault on Shahs compound. Feb 24, 2015 - By Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr Amid the 1200-page military investigation into the crash in Wardak province in August are photos of the helicopter. This is my mission.. He was a non-conformist. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. A California Marine remains in the brig, accused of threatening to chop up his wife with a machete. The back of the aircraft contained the flag-draped coffins of 16 great Americans: the fallen Night Stalkers and SEALs from Turbine 33. We would have to drop a man down with a hoist in that hole of an LZ, Brady explained. Thunder boomed as lightning struck all around them. The C-17 sat on the runway with the ramp down, waiting to receive the 16 interment cases containing the fallen warriors. Guys gave him a lot of grief but he was witty about it," Redman, author of "The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader," said in an interview. The mission was to capture or kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban commander. Flying toward Jalalabad en route to the last known position of the SEALs, they received word from Bagram on the number of men they could have on board each aircraft and still fly at the extreme elevation. Photo courtesy of Matt Rogie. Kristensen agreed with Bradys evaluation, and after the SR team radioed that they would be lying down for the day in their hide site, Brady and Kristensen called it a night. It can go from 100 degrees to 50 in an hour, Brooks said. It was this sort of behaviour from SEALs at the time, which seemed to be rampant across all NATO ops, which caused army SF to constantly hate on them and talk shit. "We would have to drop a man down with a hoist in that hole of an LZ," Brady explained. After leaving the service, he earned his CrossFit Level 1 certificate and worked as a personal trainer while earning his paramedic license. "Erik leaned to the left. All the men were anxious, angry, and ready to retrieve their brothers in arms. Then the realization hit: He was now in charge. The note said that Marcus Luttrell was alive at a nearby village. Finally, 150 US Marines would come in to establish blocking positions for the SEALs assault on Shahs compound. Its earned. The memorial service display in Bagram, Afghanistan. Navy SEAL Lt. As Brady approached the Chinook hed be flying, he noticed the tail number: 1-4-6. Its extremely rare to have something that high-profile as your first mission, I recognize that, Brooks said. They engaged in a fierce firefight, and at some point the task force lost contact with them. Brooks told American Military News his experience on that mission added to his appreciation for Luttrells survival. Kristensen confronted him about the decision to cut the rope at the LZ and asked if the Night Stalkers would go back and retrieve it. Soldiers sit on the rear deck of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter while flying over southern Afghanistan Oct. 19, 2010. Almost every variety of special operations troops in the US military inventory participated in a coordinated effort through some of Afghanistans most dangerous and austere terrain during the search for their brothers both alive and fallen. Grahams aircraft pulled off to the right to circle around and insert their payload of SEALs after Turbine 33 moved off to allow their entrance.
