Battle Battle of Shok Valley

special forces soldiers oda 3336 , af cct zachary rhyner in shok valley



members of afghan 201st commando kanak, 2 months before battle

upon attempting infiltrate stronghold along sheer-sided agricultural terrace, staff sergeant luis morales first observe armed insurgents moving along ridge , opened first salvo of automatic fire on enemy. unit came under heavy enemy attack rocket-propelled grenade (rpg) , machine-gun fire hig positions. initial salvo of machine gun fire aimed @ command element of american forces. immediately, unit s interpreter killed , 1 of special forces communications sergeants badly wounded. pinned down, , ana forces responded small arms , sniper fire. after afghan commando incapacitated while attempting render aid wounded , pinned communications sergeants, oda s combat cameraman, specialist michael carter, ran through open recover wounded soldier while element s commanding officer, captain kyle walton, provided cover fire. 2 switched roles in providing cover in order recover second wounded soldier. while lead elements engaged hig positions, walton knew need close air support , again provided cover while carter ran out recover unit s communications gear.

with communications gear restored, sra zachary rhyner, air force combat controller attached oda, began directing close air support , air strikes orbiting f-15e strike eagles , ah-64 apache attack helicopters onto hig targets. rhyner used f-15s observations platforms, avionics systems acting reconnaissance tools maintain visual on enemy positions , movements. while air strikes hitting fortified town, massive explosion occurred in 1 of buildings, causing temporary lull in fighting. rear elements of special forces detachment used opportunity maneuver new positions , begin sniper fire on hig heavy weapons positions. while providing first aid sgt behr, oda s intelligence sergeant, luis morales, struck in thigh. ssg morales applied tourniquet , returned giving care. second shot went through morales boot @ ankle blowing out bone , severing achilles (morales later lose foot). in ensuing fire fight, sgt john wayne walding had leg severed single shot. walding applied tourniquet leg, autoinjection of morphine , folded mangled leg upward crotch , tied 2 bootlaces belt in order retain ability move , shoot.

by time, f-15 overhead reported massive reinforcement element moving in valley. daylight running out, several wounded soldiers, ammunition running short , weather beginning turn, oda began scout exfiltration route extraction zone. carter , oda s team sergeant, msg scott ford, scouting route down sheer terraces when ford hit twice sniper fire, 1 of shots severing left arm. combined afghan , american forces withdrew down mountain, oda s sniper, commanding officer , combat cameraman remained behind collect or destroy weapons not carried. oda sniper covered last of withdraw before himself making way extraction zone.

in all, battle lasted 7 hours. primary target of action, gulbuddin hekmatyar, not captured. according rhyner s air force cross citation, on course of battle directed on 50 attack runs using total of 4,570 cannon rounds, 9 hellfire missiles, 162 rockets, dozen 500-pound bombs , 1 2,000-pound bomb.