THE GREEN BERETS of OPERATIONAL DETACHMENT "ALPHA" 574

Episode 3: "The Sacrifice"

On November 14, 2001, U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment "Alpha" 574 - an "A" team of Green Berets known as ODA 574 - infiltrated the mountains of southern Afghanistan to carry out a tribal revolt against the Taliban




Learn more about ODA 574 in The Only Thing Worth Dying For by Eric Blehm and look for the fourth installment of this incredible story in September


This is a fitting lead up to the observances of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 - it was my intent to make a special presentation dedicated to a friend and colleague who paid the ultimate price, but I'm on the road for the next two weeks and circumstances probably won't allow for much posting if any at all. The NRA's excellent Life of Duty presentation is a fitting tribute to all who have served and especially those who sacrificed everything - over there on distant dusty battlefields and here at home on the battlefields of that terrible day at Ground Zero in Manhattan, the Pentagon in Northern Virginia, and an otherwise nondescript field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania which marks the spot where our side first fought back against the terrorist enemy. Let us never forget all of those who have given everything in this struggle against barbarism. - S. L.

INSIDE THE GREEN BERETS - OPERATIONAL DETACHMENT "ALPHA" 574

MSG Jefferson D. Davis, SFC Daniel H. Petithory and SSG Brian C. Prosser of 5th Special Forces Group were Killed In Action on December 5, 2001 in the B-52 J-DAM fratricide incident.

ODA 574 was a part of 3d Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. I say was because since 574 performed their heroic work in the winter and spring of 01-02, US Army Special Forces has gone to a four-digit designation system for the ODAs. 574's goal was to set the condition for a democratic government in Afghanistan to replace the insurgent Taliban rulers. Jason Amerine was the Detachment Commander, but as everyone knows Army Special Forces is run by the NCOs, and in many cases the Captain is just along for the ride. (This is not to disparage Amerine - he was an effective leader and was decorated after participating in several battles of the Invasion of Afghanistan.)

Codenamed "Texas 12" (Texas One-Two), the detachment's goal was to set up a new government in Afghanistan. The group was made up of 12 Americans under command of Captain Jason Amerine. They worked side-by-side with the anti-Taliban militia led by Hamid Karzai, who planned to take the Islamic spiritual center of Kandahar. The key to the province was the town of Tarin Kowt. The civilians of the town overthrew the Taliban governor, so Karzai and Amerince planned to defend it. The 12 Americans of Operational Detachment Alpha 574 and 35 Afghans defended Tarin Kowt from 100 Taliban trucks carrying 1,000 insurgents. The town was successfully defended by the brave troops of Alpha 574 as well as the Afghan freedom-fighters, who drove back the Taliban. Fighting again along the Arghandab River, Alpha 574 defeated the Talibans at Shawali Kowt and Sayyd Alma Kalay. These victories were the key to the Kandahar Campaign, ending when Kandahar fell to US Marines. When Kandahar fell, Karzai became the interim president of Afghanistan, so Alpha 574's mission was complete.


A charter member of Team STORMBRINGER found the following on Blackfive



I found it very interesting, and there are a whole series of them to be seen so get over to Blackfive and enjoy!

Take care and have a nice weekend - more to follow so y'all come back now . . .

- S. L.

RIP SSG JEREMY A. KATZENBERGER

This one came across the wire yesterday, from a personal friend:


Sean -

We buried this warrior on Fort Leavenworth this morning. The entire post, to include the Command and General Staff College student body, the School for Command Preparation (Brigade Commanders prep course) and the School for Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) emptied their classrooms and hallways to line the roads of the post to bid a proper farewell to this hero.

We are currently running a combined training operation with the Brits (over 200 here TDY) and have over 100 international officers from around the world, who are students in CGSC Class 11-02 and 12-01. They all participated in the event and based on the muted tones and lack of cohesive gaggles, I'd say to the last man they were in awe of the way we pay respect to our soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

US Army Staff Sergeant Jeremy A. Katzenberger, 26, of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, died June 14, 2011 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. SSG Katzenberger was buried with full Military Honors at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas yesterday, 28 June 2011.

"From a Grateful Nation."

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D-DAY - Fact & Fiction

Omaha Beach, 6 June 1944



Remember the opening scene in "Saving Private Ryan" where the officer takes over the beach breakout?



That really happened, and the guy's name was Brigadier General Norm Cota.




In World War II, (then Colonel) Cota was involved in the successful North African invasion Operation Torch. Next, he was instrumental in the conceptual planning for Operation Husky, the allied invasion of Sicily. Promoted to Brigadier General, he served as the United States adviser to the Combined Operations Division in the UK to observe and supervise the preparations for the seaborne invasion of France, Operation Overlord.

During the planning phases, BG Cota adamantly opposed daylight landings, believing pre-dawn landings would stand a better chance of success. Made Assistant Division commander of the 29th Infantry Division, slated to land on Omaha Beach, Cota pleaded for a night time assault; he did not get his way. Despite his protests, with time running out and a run of bad weather, the Allied high command had little choice.

Most D-Day commanders assured their men that the Germans would be annihilated by the Allies' pre-assault bombardments, and that the defenders were outnumbered, inexperienced and demoralized. All of these assessments were revoltingly inaccurate. On the afternoon of June 5 Cota gave one of the few accurate estimates to the soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division:

". . . The little discrepancies that we tried to correct (in amphibious training) are going to be magnified and are going to give way to incidents that you might at first view as chaotic. The air and naval bombardment and the artillery support are reassuring. But you're going to find confusion. The landing craft aren't going in on schedule and people are going to be landed in the wrong place. Some won't be landed at all. The enemy will to some degree prevent our gaining 'lodgement.' But we must improvise, carry on, not lose our heads."

Despite his unique foresight, even Cota underestimated the utter carnage that awaited V Corps (the 29th and 1st Infantry Divisions) on Omaha beach on the morning of 6 June, 1944.


BLOODY OMAHA

Cota landed with a part of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division, in the second wave, approximately one hour after H-Hour, on the Omaha sector known as Dog White. His boat came under heavy machinegun and mortar fire; when the ramp went down three soldiers were killed immediately.


Dead U.S. soldiers at the waterline, Omaha Beach, 6 June 1944


Cota was one of the highest ranking officers on the beach that day. He is famous for personally directing the attack, motivating the shell-shocked, pinned-down survivors into action, and opening one of the first vehicle exits off the beach. Two famous quotes are attributed to him during this time:

Encountering Max Schneider, commander of the 5th Ranger Battalion, Cota asked “What outfit is this?” Someone yelled "5th Rangers!" Cota replied “Well, goddamn it then, Rangers, lead the way!”.

"Rangers lead the way" became the motto of the 75th Ranger Regiment.


Robert Mitchum portrayed BG Cota in The Longest Day

Cota is also quoted as saying to his troops, "Gentlemen, we are being killed on the beaches. Let us go inland and be killed." In the 1962 film The Longest Day, Cota renders the similar encouragement. However, historical evidence suggests these words were actually said by Colonel George A. Taylor: "There are only two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are already dead and those that are gonna'die. Now get off your butts, you're the fight'in 29th!"

Killed in Action, Omaha Beach, 6 June 1944

Cota received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism on Omaha Beach. In 2004 a movement arose to have the Army reconsider upgrading Cota's decoration to the Medal of Honor.

Both Gen. Cota and his high commanding officer, Dwight D. Eisenhower knew one another from early West Point Days while playing football. They remained good friends.


*********************************************************************


Matt Damon as the fictitious Private James Francis Ryan

Although the story for the search for Private Ryan is fictional, there was a real paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division whose family apparently suffered the loss of three out of four sons in combat in a short period of time.


Sergeant "Fritz" Niland, 3rd Bn, 501st Parachute Infantry Regt, 101st Airborne Division

Sergeant Frederick "Fritz" Niland was a member of the 101st Airborne's 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, and was one of those that made the drop into Normandy on June 6, 1944. He landed southwest of Carentan in Raffoville, and he was eventually able to make it back to his unit on his own.

Niland's three brothers served in other units; Technical Sergeant Robert Niland was a paratrooper in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Lieutenant Preston Niland served in the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, and Technical Sergeant Edward Niland was a pilot in the Army Air Force.


B-25 Mitchell in flight


Edward had been reported missing over Burma in the Pacific Theater on May 16, 1944. His B-25 had been shot down and he was reported as MIA and presumed killed. Robert was killed on D-Day at Neuville-au-Plain. Preston was killed on June 7th in the vicinity of Utah Beach.


Neuville-au-Plain, approx 3 miles north of Ste Mere Eglise (first town liberated in France, 6 June 1944)

Unlike the fictional Ryan, however, there was no need to send out a rescue mission to find Sergeant Niland. When Father Francis L. Sampson, chaplain of the 501st, learned that two of Niland's brothers were dead, and that a third was presumed dead, he began the paperwork necessary to send Niland home.


Soldiers of the 90th Inf Div linking up with 82d Airborne Division "All American" paratroopers in the Cretteville-Baupte sector of Normandy; June, 1944


Niland remained with his unit for some time, but once the paperwork cleared he was forced to return to the States, where he served in New York as an MP for the rest of the war.

Fortunately for the Niland family, Edward Niland had not been killed, but had spent almost an entire year in a Japanese prisoner of war camp before being rescued by British forces.


Thanks, Veterans.



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FALLEN HERO

DEFINITION OF A VETERAN

A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life."- Author Unknown


Specialist Kyle J. Wright, 22, of Romeoville, Illinois, was killed in action 13 January 2010 when his Stryker vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team; part of the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Kyle was a third-generation soldier. “Kyle was a better man than me when I was 22, and was well on his way to being a better man than I am today,” said his father Richard Wright, who was a combat medic with the 82nd Airborne Division. “He was the most honorable man I’ve ever known in my life.” Wright said the bomb that killed his son went off under the driver’s seat and that Kyle was dead by the time soldiers pulled him from the wreckage.

Wright is the 31st member of the Brigade killed in action since it deployed to southern Afghanistan last summer. All but one were killed by IED’s.

A graduate of Romeoville High School, Kyle Wright reported to Fort Lewis in January 2007 when the 5th Brigade was originally formed, his father said, and he went through intensive Arabic language training when the Brigade prepared to deploy to Iraq.

“He was one of the smarter kids in the outfit, so they tagged him with learning Arabic,” Richard Wright said. “He wasn’t supposed to be driving; they just needed someone with nerves of steel at the wheel.”

His body was escorted home by his brother-in-law, an NCO in the 5th Brigade. Kyle Wright is survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother. He had a serious girlfriend from Tacoma, Washington.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *



Kyle will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, in accordance with his wishes. A memorial tribute will be held on February 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Romeoville Recreation Center, 900 W. Romeo Road, Romeoville Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to:

Operation Support our Troops, Illinois
1807 S. Washington Street
Suite 110, #359
Naperville, IL 60565

Donations should be noted: "In Memory of Kyle Wright"








“He was a United States Soldier. Honor him.”




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CIA MEMORIAL WALL

There are 90 stars carved into the Memorial Wall at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia, each one representing a CIA employee who died in the line of service. Paramilitary officers of the CIA's Special Activities Division comprise the majority of those memorialized.


The Wall bears the inscription:


IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY


The Memorial is beautiful in it’s simplicity. Its message of sacrifice and service is a powerful reminder that "Freedom is not Free." The price of Freedom is paid for generation by generation with the blood of patriots.


A Book of Honor lays beneath the stars, encased in an inch-thick plate of glass. This book lists 56 names of those who died in CIA service; the other 34 names remain secret, even in death.






The Memorial Wall includes Christopher Mueller and William "Chief" Carlson, both Paramilitary Operations Officers killed in the line of duty.

Mueller, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and Carlson, a former Army Special Forces soldier, Delta Force operator, and member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, were killed while tracking high level terrorists near Shkin, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2003. Both officers saved the lives of others, including Afghan soldiers, during the ambush.

The pair were working for the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, which conducts clandestine intelligence-gathering and covert operations. The CIA consulted the dead officers’ families and decided their names could be released without compromising ongoing operations.

"The bravery of these two men cannot be overstated," Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet told a gathering of several hundred Agency employees and family members of those "Chris and Chief put the lives of others ahead of their own. That is heroism defined."

The region where Carlson and Mueller were operating is part of the remote mountainous region along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding. It is also a stronghold for al-Qaida, Taliban and other anti-U.S. fighters.

Carlson and Mueller are the third and fourth CIA operatives acknowledged to have been killed in the line of duty since the 9-11 attacks on New York and Washington. The first, paramilitary officer Johnny Micheal Spann, was killed during an uprising of Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners in northern Afghanistan on Nov. 25, 2001. The second, Helge Boes, died in a training accident in eastern Afghanistan, on Feb. 5, 2003.





I served with Chief Carlson. The irony here is the CIA thing wasn’t working for him like he thought it would, and he was talking his old outfit (SFOD-D) about coming out of retirement, going back INTO the Army, but he had to finish up his contract with The Company first. - S.L.



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A TALE OF TWO HEROES

An incredible story of modern war, an amazing series of coincidences; UNLESS - like me - you don't believe in coincidences. - S.L.

PVT BRENNON ON PATROL THAT CAPTURES HVT RESPONSIBLE FOR MASTERMINING COUSIN'S DEATH



SGT Joshua Brennan, B Co 2-503, 173rd Airborne Brigade, KIA 26 Oct 07

Josh Brennan was critically wounded on 25 October 2007 in a Taliban ambush on patrol with his platoon in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. During the ambush the Taliban attempted to drag Josh away. SPC Hugo "Doc" Mendoza gave his life, and two others were severely wounded attempting to save Josh from the enemy. His platoon continued to fight the enemy and were successful in getting Josh back. One of those men has been nominated for the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.



SGT Josh Brennan on the day of his last mission: Operation Rock Avalanche


Inspired by his cousin's footsteps, Joseph Brennan enlisted in the US Army, went Airborne (that's Joe Brennan being pinned with his cousin's wings at Fort Benning), and shipped out to Vicenza, Italy to join the same outfit his cousin had served in.

Two years to the day after Josh was killed in action, Private Joseph Brennan entered the same platoon that Josh had served in and met several of Josh's friends. Their outfit - 2d Battalion of the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment - deployed to Afghanistan just before Christmas, 2009. Joseph's platoon was sent to Camp Joyce, in Kunar province where his cousin Josh was ambushed and killed.

Joseph has already been out on several missions since Christmas. Then his family got the word; his platoon CAPTURED THE GUY WHO PLANNED THE AMBUSH THAT KILLED JOSH BRENNAN AND HUGO MENDOZA.

The entire incredible story is over at tankerbabelc's blog FROM COW PASTURES TO KOSOVO

Some of the facts:

* SGT Brennan was wounded in combat on 25 October 2007 and died of his wounds the next day, 26 October 2007.

* PVT Brennan left the US for his overseas duty station in Vicenza, Italy on 26 October 2009 (the second anniversary of his cousin's death)

* PVT Brennan was assigned to the same unit his cousin SGT Brennan had served in: B Company, 2nd Battalion of the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

* PVT Brennan's platoon went on patrol that captured the High Value Target who masterminded the ambush that killed his cousin SGT Joshua Brennan.



PVT Joseph Brennan, graduating from Airborne school and being pinned with his cousin Josh's wings.

Four Taliban were captured that day in this unbelievable chain of events, including the HVT known to have planned the ambush where Josh Brennan and Doc Mendoza were killed. His family got the word immediately afterward, from Joe Brennan himself.




173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE - "SKY SOLDIERS"

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TWO SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS KILLED IN PHILIPPINES

An old buddy of mine from Okinawa Uncle Jimbo carried this story on his blog Blackfive. I became aware of this last night, as I sat at the bar scrolling through my Blackberry, so of course I did the modern thing and texted this sad news throughout my contacts in the Brotherhood. Then I had one in honor of our fallen heroes - S.L.




FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Oct. 1, 2009) – Two U.S. Special Forces Soldiers died when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device Sept. 29 on Jolo Island, Philippines.

The following Soldiers, both assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) headquartered at Fort Lewis, Wash. They were in the Philippines supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, a native of Natchez, Miss., was on his second deployment in support of OEF-P.For Sgt. 1st Class Shaw's bio, click here. For the Shaw's Family statement, click here.

Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26, was a native of Bethany, Okla. This was Martin’s first deployment in support of OEF-P; he was a veteran of Operation Iraq Freedom. For Staff Sgt. Martin's bio, click here.


Honor them.





Jimbo mentions how, during his first deployment to the Philippines 20 years ago, terrorists killed SF icon COL Nick Rowe. I was there also, in a different part of the P.I. - needless to say it was a bad time for the home team. In the years that followed that event - right up until very recently - I had the honor to be involved the US Army SERE program, at the US Army Special Warfare Center and School, Camp MacKall NC. SERE - Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape - was COL Nick Rowe's creation based on his experience in Communist Vietnamese prison camps in the U Minh Forest, south of Saigon. - S.L.

SGT WILLIAM J. CAHIR, USMC, KIA

ARLINGTON, Va. — Marine Sgt. William J. Cahir, a former news reporter and congressional candidate, was laid to rest with full military honors Monday at Arlington National Cemetery.


Cahir, 40, died Aug. 13 of an enemy gunshot wound while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. - Associated Press, August 31, 2009

I did not know Sgt Cahir but I respect him. When I joined the US Army at age 23, I was considered the Old Man in my platoon. When I retired at the age of 49 I was considered a living fossil. I have nothing but respect for a man who signs up during wartime, at the age of 35. -Sean Linnane


The Death of Sgt Cahir
by John Guardiano

I didn’t know Sergeant Cahir personally; in fact, we never met. But I certainly knew of him. We were both enlisted Marine Corps Reservists who had served with the 4th Civil Affairs Group (CAG) in Iraq. I had returned from my one and only deployment (in 2003) when Sergeant Cahir was preparing for his first deployment with the CAG (in 2004). With great warmth, enthusiasm and affection, several of the Marines had told me about him. “There’s another journalist in our unit!” they exclaimed. “And like you, he asks a lot of questions! He’s also old, too! I think he’s like thirty-five!” For a lot of the younger Marines, Sergeant Cahir’s enlistment was the confirmation that they sought and needed — especially as they were about to go to war. Confirmation that their decision to enlist was a smart and wise decision. Confirmation that there was nobility and wisdom in that decision. Confirmation that even older, better educated, and more professionally accomplished men and women join the Marine Corps and serve in the Marines’ enlisted ranks.


I had been there myself once not too long ago. Indeed, like Sergeant Cahir, I was 34 when I enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve after September 11, 2001. I, too, had worked on Capitol Hill (at the Heritage Foundation) and as a journalist, and had labored in other capacities within the Washington, D.C. policy arena. But whereas I completed just one modest deployment before reluctantly leaving the Marine Corps to earn my commission as a Naval Reserve Officer, Sergeant Cahir remained with the CAG for three full deployments.


His first two deployments were to Iraq, where Sergeant Cahir earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Navy Meritorious Commendation Medal, among other awards. This civic-minded Marine (there is no other kind of Marine really) left his job as a journalist in 2008 to run for Congress in his hometown in Pennsylvania’s 5th District. Cahir narrowly lost the Democratic Party primary, but captured 35% of the vote in a seat that was ultimately won by the Republican Party candidate, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson. Sergeant Cahir was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors from Penn State before moving to Washington, D.C. where he would build his career. Cahir’s first job was as a staffer for Senator Kennedy on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He then worked as a legislative assistant for Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford. Last spring, Cahir embarked on his third deployment in six years, this time to Afghanistan.

The funeral was both sad and uplifting. Sad because you mourn the loss of such a great and noble spirit in the prime of his life. Your heart cries out to his wife and to their two unborn children (the couple’s first) who will never know their father. And you cannot help but think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” And you realize that life isn’t fair, and that war takes from us the best we have. You want to call for a do-over, like you did so often as a kid playing ball with the neighbors in your backyard. You want to call for a do-over so that you can restore Sergeant Cahir’s life: because his life was that good and that important — to his family, to his friends, and to his fellow Marines, his comrades-in-arms. And to his country. But then you realize that in matters of life and death, war and peace, there really are no do-overs. War consumes a country and a people, and especially the warriors who fight it. And a Marine once dead cannot be resurrected (at least not here on earth), no matter how much we wish that it were so.

I left Sergeant Cahir’s funeral with a deeper appreciation for the fragility of life and the relatively short time that we all have here. You don’t remember the last article that you wrote (at last not for very long), or the last report that you prepared, or the last work project that you completed. You do remember, though, the last joke that made you laugh, the last good conversation that you had, and the last good story that someone told you. You remember the people — their strengths and their weaknesses, their virtues and their failings, their kindness and their grace, their quirks and their idiosyncrasies. Their decency. Their camaraderie. Their humanity.

Sergeant Cahir’s death is a tragedy, but his life was heroic and inspiring. And it is his life that we celebrate and must not forget: because by remembering Sergeant Cahir’s life, we ennoble and better our own.


Semper Fidelis, William J. Cahir, Sergeant, United States Marine Corps.

Note: readers can contribute to the Bill Cahir Memorial Fund here. All donations will be used for the education and care of Mr. and Mrs. Cahir’s two children, who are expected to be born in December. Checks and money orders also can be sent to:

Burk and Herbert Bank
c/o Mark Ragland
P.O. Box 268
Alexandria, Va., 22313

He was a United States Marine, killed in action defending Freedom and our American way of life. Honor him. - STORMBRINGER SENDS


This story ran today in NewMajority, posted here with permission. There is a tremendous thirst for news from the combat zones; part of the mission of Blog STORMBRINGER is to help deliver that information.