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Operation Red Wings

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For 1956 series of US nuclear tests, see Operation Redwing.
Operation Red Wing
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
DateJune 28, 2005
Location
Kunar province, Afghanistan
Result Indecisive (both sides suffer heavy casualties).
Belligerents
 United States Taliban insurgents
Casualties and losses
19 killed, 1 wounded,
1 Chinook helicopter shot down		 80-120 killed

Operation Red Wing was a counter insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the U.S. Navy SEALs, which took place June 28th, 2005. Three of the SEALs were killed during the operation. The fourth was protected by local villagers and later rescued by the US military. The story of the rescued SEAL would later become the cover story of Time's July 2005 issue, titled "How The Shepherd Saved The SEAL."

Operation Red Wing

The SEAL team, lead by Lt. Michael P. Murphy and consisting of petty officers Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell, was on a mission to try to find Ahmad Shah,a key Taliban leader, east of Asadabad.[1] However, a goat herder stumbled upon the SEALs' hiding place and alerted local Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. They were surrounded by Taliban forces and a firefight ensued. [2]

Even though they were pinned down, Lt. Murphy broke cover long enough to radio his base for back-up. In the process, he was shot in the stomach and back but he still managed to complete the transmission.[3] The three remaining SEALs continued to fight off the Taliban, gravely wounded, protecting each other as their position was pushed back to lower ground. After two hours of fighting and taking out dozens of Taliban fighters each, only Luttrell remained alive. [4]

In response to the call from Murphy to Bagram Air Base, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying 8 US Navy SEALs and 8 Nightstalkers - members of the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment attempted to come to their rescue to provide extraction in the mountains of Kunar province, Afghanistan. Crew from the escort attack helicopters cited the SEALs on the ground as putting up outstanding resistance, calling it "an unbelievable firefight." The Chinook helicopter was shot down by what is believed to have been a rocket propelled grenade killing all sixteen on board.

Rescue

Now alone and wounded, Luttrell was left to fend for himself. He pulled himself away from the fire zone and tried to hide himself as he waited for rescue from the search helicopters led by Maj. Jeff "Spanky" Peterson. During this time, Luttrell was discovered by an Afghani man. The man claimed to not be Taliban. Shortly afterwards, more Afghani men showed up armed with AK-47 rifles. The men took the rifle from the wounded Luttrell and carried him to the village of Sabray.[5] The villagers in Sabray took care of Luttrell, providing food and medical attention, and even protecting him from the Taliban that came to the village demanding that he be turned over to them.

Despite multiple attempts, the search helicopters were unable to locate Luttrell. Finally, the village elder, armed with a note from Luttrell, went down to seek help from a Marine outpost a few miles away. With this information, the U.S. forces drew up rescue plans. According to Lt. Col. Steve Butow, the plans were "one of the largest combat search-and-rescue operations since Vietnam".[6] The rescue was a success and they managed to bring Luttrell home.

Casualties

SEAL Team:

The service members killed-in-action on the crashed helicopter include:[7]

Nightstalkers:

  • Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio
  • Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minnesota.
  • Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Florida
  • Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Indiana
  • Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tennessee
  • Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
  • Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Virginia
  • Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida

SEALs:

  • Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, New Hampshire
  • Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, California
  • Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Oregon
  • Lt. Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., 30, of Portville, New York
  • Petty Officer 2nd Class James E. Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Florida
  • Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, West Virginia
  • Petty Officer Second Class Eric Shane Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nevada

Awards

On September 14th, 2006, Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz and Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for "undaunted courage" and heroism.

In 2007, Lieutenant Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

References

  1. ^ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgmq1XAfrDpfeFyTbsiAeW7UmofgD8S78VPO0
  2. ^ http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/news/afghan-war-hero171007.aspx
  3. ^ http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/news/afghan-war-hero171007.aspx
  4. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/10/AR2007061001492_2.html
  5. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/10/AR2007061001492_4.html
  6. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/10/AR2007061001492_5.html
  7. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/03/afghan.casualties/

Notes

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