U.S. Air Force personnel who have died in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and related actions.
From left to right: Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman and Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham.
Posted on 05/25/2002 11:56:57 AM PDT by Jen
WASHINGTON, May 24, 2002 – The battle on an Afghan mountaintop called Takur Ghar is a story of American courage and bravery. It is a story of a small band of highly trained professionals overcoming the fog and friction of war. It is also at heart, a story of Americans service members' unwillingness to leave one of their own behind.
The battle featured special operations forces from all three services. Navy SEALs, Army Rangers and pilots and Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen fought against entrenched al Qaeda fighters atop a 10,000-foot mountain.
According to an executive summary of the battle, Takur Ghar was the most intense firefight American special operators have been involved in since 18 U.S. Army Rangers were killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993.
U.S. commanders of Operation Anaconda wanted to insert special operators on the crest of the mountain. They reasoned the area would serve as a great observation point.
"Unfortunately, the enemy thought so too," the battle report stated. Al Qaeda had fighters perfectly positioned to fire on helicopters and troops operating in the valley below.
An MH-47E helicopter with the call sign "Razor 03" was to airlift SEALs and an Air Force combat controller to the mountaintop. As it neared landing, it took intense enemy fire. A rocket-propelled grenade struck the aircraft and machine-gun fire severed hydraulic and oil lines aboard it.
The pilot immediately applied power to get out of the area. Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts, a Navy SEAL, slipped on the fluid and fell five to 10 feet onto the snow below the aircraft.
The helicopter flew out of the area and crash-landed about seven kilometers away. Roberts was alone atop the mountain. "Based on forensic evidence subsequently gathered from the scene, we believe Roberts survived the short fall from the helicopter, likely activated his signaling device, and engaged the enemy with his squad automatic weapon. He was mortally wounded by gunfire as the (enemy) closed in on him," the report said.
Another helicopter – "Razor 04" – picked up the SEALs and Air Force TSgt. John Chapman – a combat controller – and went in to save Roberts. The helicopter took fire but was able to deliver the team. The SEALs and Chapman approached the last known area of Roberts, but were fired upon. As they maneuvered, they engaged the al Qaeda fighters and killed several. Chapman was killed and some of the SEALs were wounded.
The SEALs decided to disengage. An Air Force AC-130 gun ship provided covering fire as the SEALs moved down the mountain and requested immediate assistance.
The mission fell to the U.S. Army Ranger Quick Reaction Force based in Gardez. The 23-man team loaded onto two MH- 47E helicopters and headed to the area. Communications breakdowns, however, caused the Rangers to believe the SEALs were still atop the mountain, and that is where one helicopter went.
As the chopper came in, al Qaeda fighters shot it down with RPGs and heavy machine-gun fire. Door gunner Army Sgt. Phil Svitak was killed and both pilots wounded. The MH-47E crashed and all aboard struggled to get out. Sgt. Brad Crose and Cpl. Matt Commons survived the initial fire, but were killed as they exited the aircraft. Spc. Marc Anderson was hit and killed while still in the chopper.
Even with the confusion, the Rangers, the Chinook crewmen and Air Force combat controllers moved to attack the enemy.
Once it became apparent that the al Qaeda force on the mountain was too numerous, the group called in close-air support. The combat controllers called in 500-pound bombs within 50 meters of the special operators position.
In the meantime, the other helicopter with the rest of the Quick Reaction Force landed at another location. The Rangers climbed the 2,000 feet up the mountain to the original position and converged with their comrades at the scene around 10:30 a.m.
The linked teams then assaulted the al Qaeda positions. "As the Air Force (combat controller) called in a last air strike on the enemy bunkers and with two machine-guns providing suppression fire, seven Rangers stormed the hill as quickly as they could in the knee-deep snow – shooting and throwing grenades. Within minutes, the Rangers took the hill, killing multiple al Qaeda," the report said.
The Rangers and airmen consolidated their position. But al Qaeda on another ridgeline about 400 meters away fired on the team's makeshift aid station . Air Force Pararescueman Senior Airman Jason Cunnigham was hit and eventually died from his wounds.
The group stayed on the top of Takur Ghar until nightfall as commanders decided the area was too hot for another daylight rescue attempt.
Seven Americans died in the battle, and 11 were wounded.
Prayers for our troops and their familes. Thank you God for those serving and they are all Heroes.
Combat Controllers are the US Air Force Special Operations Command's ground combat forces. They are organized in Special Tactics Squadrons. Their mission is to deploy into hostile territory to establish assault zones with air traffic control capabilities, emplace enroute and terminal navigations aids, communication command and control, and the demolition or removal of obstacles. Combat Controllers are trained to carry out their mission via parachute, SCUBA, mountaineering, or any number of a wide range of tactical insertions into hostile territory. They are "First There" to provide air traffic control anywhere, anytime, under any conditions.
During World War Two, there were significant problems with the US Army's first major parachute and glider assaults. Personnel and equipment were being dropped as much as 30 miles from their intended drop zones. The Army high command soon realized that they needed better control on the ground to guide the aircraft and landing troops. The Army created the Pathfinders; a small company of parachute infantry trained in air traffic control.
The Pathfinders were tested in combat during the invasion of Italy in September, 1943. The 82nd Airborne Division was parachuted into Salerno Italy to reinforce the initial invasion forces. A Pathfinder company was dropped minutes before the 82nd made their drop. Using radios, smoke pots, and flares, the Pathfinders marked the way for the landing Airborne forces. The operation was a tremendous success. Pathfinder units were made operation units for the Airborne Divisions and played a crucial role in the parachute and glider landings in Normandy, France during Operation Overlord in June of 1944. In September 1944, Pathfinders from the 101st Airborne Division participated in operation Market Garden and were the key to the successful insertion of Airborne troops in precise locations.
When the US Air Force was made a separate service in 1947, the Pathfinders went with them but still retained responsibility for supporting Army Airborne and ground troops. Their mission expanded to include navigation aid and air traffic control for the expanding Airlift Command and were made operational units of the Aerial Port squadrons. Their name was then chnaged to Combat Control Teams. They continued with these missions until 1984 when they were designated as independant squadrons reporting to Wing commanders.
During the 50's and 60's, the CCTs participated in numerous emergency operations around the world. From lebanon to Cuba to the Congo, the CCTs were called upon to perform vital control of the air movement of men and materiel. During the Vietnam War, Combat Controllers were key to several operations including the reinforcement and later evacuation of Khe Sahn and two Combat Controllers were among the last Americans to be evacuated from the American Embassy in Saigon in 1975. During the 70's, Combat Controllers were sent to support reliefe operations after a severe earthquake in Central America and CCTs operated throughout North Africa to control the delivery of tons of food and relief supplies to drought ravaged countries.
In 1983, 12 Combat Controllers parachuted from 500 feet onto the tiny island nation of Grenada. Within hours they had emplaced numerous navigation beacons and had establish a command and control center for air, ground and naval forces deployed for the rescue operation. In 1989, Combat Controllers and Army Rangers landed and secured 2 key airfields during Operation Just Cause in Panama. After taking control of the airfields, the Combat Controllers established an air traffic control network to direct the hundreds of aircraft bringing in the assault forces and their supplies. Combat Controllers played a key part in the air traffic and air to ground communications of the UN forces during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Combat Controllers played a crucial role in the rescue of Army Rangers after their helicopters had been shot down in Somalia. Combat Controllers were inserted and established critical communication links with support aircraft and ground forces that allowed the trapped Rangers to be rescued with a minimum loss of life. This mission was the culmination of continuous operations where the CCTs controlled the arrival and departure of aircraft carrying relief supplies for the western African country.
Combat Controllers are assigned to 4 Special Tactics Squadrons in the United States. The 21st and 24th STS is stationed at Pope AFB in North Carolina, the 22nd STS is stationed at McChord AFB in Washington, and the 23rd STS is stationed at Hurlburt Field in Florida. In addition, the 720th Special Tactics group is stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida and the Combat Controller school is located at Pope AFB in North Carolina.
To become a Combat Controller requires 55 weeks of training at a wide range of schools. It is a rigourous schedule and only about 20% of those who enroll make it all the way through.
| School | Duration | Location |
| Selection Process | 12 weeks | Lackland AFB, TX |
| Special Forces Combat Diver | 5 weeks | NAS Key West, FL |
| Army Airborne | 3 weeks | Ft. Benning, GA |
| Army Military Free Fall | 4 weeks | Ft. Bragg, NC |
| USAF Combat Survival | 3 weeks | Fairchild AFB, WA |
| USAF Air Traffic Control | 16 weeks | Keesler AFB, MS |
| Combat Control | 12 weeks | Pope AFB, NC |
Combat Controllers continue to operate around the world whenever and wherever the US Air Force or US Army need to land large amounts of equipment or troops from the air. They stand ready to be "First There" to establish landing and drop zones to bring in Airborne and Airmobile forces safely and on target.
Good ground is good ground... both sides want it.
If you wait, they'll fortify it. If you move quickly, you might take it.
It's a crap shoot... no more, no less.
Let us all remember those who have given the full, final measure for our country.
From Lexington and Concord to Anaconda... and the meat grinders in between.
God bless our Republic!
Fierce Battle Produces Heroism On A Legendary Scale ArmyTimes.com | April 18, 2002
Tale Of Airman s Courage Draws High Praise Air Force Times | April 8, 2002
The history of Pararescue began in August of 1943, when 21 persons bailed out of a disabled C-46over an uncharted jungle near the China-Burma border. So remote was the crash site that the only means of getting help to the survivors was by paradrop. Lieutenant Colonel Don Fleckinger and two medical corpsmen volunteered for the assignment. This paradrop of medical corpsmen was the seed from which the concept of Pararescue was born. For a month these men, aided by natives, cared for the injured until the party was brought to safety. News commentator Eric Severeid was one of the men to survive this ordeal. He later wrote of the men who risked their lives to save his: "Gallantis a precious word; they deserve it".
From this event the need for a highly trained rescue force was found; thus, Pararescueman was brought into being. Rescues since then have occurred in virtually every corner of the world. Since that first rescue, many airmen, soldiers, and civilians have had first hand experience that when trouble strikes, Pararescuemen are ready to come to their aid.
Some of the most inspiring stories originate from the conflict in Southeast Asia involved heroic deeds performed by Pararescuemen. They risked their lives flying over hostile territory to find friendly forces needing aid. Daily, Pararescuemen volunteered to ride a rescue hoist cable into the Vietnamese jungle to aid wounded infantrymen and injured pilots, whose aircraft had been shot down. The Air Force awarded nineteen Air Force Crossesto enlisted personnel during the South East Asian conflict; ten of the nineteen were awarded to Pararescuemen.
Pararescuemen provided medical treatment for injured and wounded men picked up from the jungles. These deeds are still performed daily, even in time of peace. Distinctive recognition came to Pararescuemen in early 1966.General John P. McConnell, then Air Force Chief of Staff, approved the wearing of the maroon beret. The beret symbolizes the blood sacrificed by Pararescuemen and their devotion to duty by aiding others in distress. To Pararescuemen living up to their motto, "That Others May Live," is a daily reality.
The formal training of a Pararescueman is a never ending program. They continually strive to perfect procedures while constantly searching for new techniques. A major development in Pararescue was the combination of parachuting with scuba techniques. When ready to jump, the scuba equipped Pararescueman carries as much as 170 pounds of equipment.
One of the most dramatic events involving Pararescue scuba action was at the termination of the Gemini 8 space flight. When the decision was made to halt the mission due to difficulties encountered by Astronauts David Scott and Neil Armstrong, rescue forces on alert at stations in the Far East went into action. A rescue crew from Naha Air Base, Okinawa, flew to the predicted splashdown area and arrived in time to see the spacecraft hit the water. Three Pararescuemen parachuted into the ocean and had flotation equipment attached within 20 minutes. The Pararescuemen stayed with the astronauts until a Navy destroyer arrived three hours later to take them all aboard.
Pararescuemen provided continued support to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Skylab missions. Presently, Pararescuemen are providing rescue support to the space shuttle program. Pararescuemen have constantly trained to remain responsive to NASA's needs.
The primary purpose of Pararescue is to save lives. The work of the Pararescuemen is an important phase of the rescue concept. For example, in a two week period, Pararescuemen were called upon to aid two Russian transport merchant seamen in two different areas. The first mission involved a badly burned sailor on a Russian transport vessel in the Atlantic, 700 miles from the nearest land. Two Pararescuemen, stationed in the Azores were flown to the Russian ship. They parachuted near the ship and treated the sailor until the ship reached port days later saving his life. Two weeks later another distress call from a Russian ship was relayed. This time the ship was a fishing vessel in the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon Coast. A team of three Pararescuemen from Portland parachuted into the Pacific. They treated the Russian sailor for serious back and head injuries caused by the fall. When the ship was close enough, a Coast Guard vessel picked up the sailor and took him ashore to a hospital.
In 1989, Pararescuemen were instrumental in recovering and treating injured motorists at a collapsed section of highway following a devastating earthquake in the San Francisco, California area. Pararescuemen were the only rescue people "on-scene" who would volunteer to crawl between the sections of collapsed highway to access conditions and recover casualties. In recognition of the selfless dedication to saving lives President Bush personally recognized the heroic actions of these men.
More recently, Pararescuemen were among the first U.S. combatants to parachute into Panama during operation "Just Cause" (1989). Their combat medical expertise was heavily utilized during this short, intense operation. In fact, using specially modified vehicles dubbed "RATT-V's" they recovered and cared for the majority of the U.S. casualties that occurred on the two Panamanian controlled airfields that were taken by the initial invasion forces.
Recently, Pararescuemen were tasked with rescue missions involving downed aircrew members and injured combatants during United Nations operation" Desert Storm". This action for the liberation of Kuwait again proved the value of the Air Force Pararescueman. Among the missions performed by Pararescue was the rescue of a downed F-14 navigator in a very hostile area; involving the destruction of enemy forces in very close proximity to the survivor. Pararescue also provided extensive support for airlift operations providing humanitarian relief to Kurdish refugees fleeing into northern Iraq.
Most recently, Pararescuemen were involved in the struggle to capture Somalia leader Mohammed Farrah Aidid. Assigned jointly with army Rangers, PJs were tasked to operate in a Search and Rescue (SAR) role on Army helicopters. After the initial assault began, two Army helicopters were shot down, PJs responded to the scene to assist survivors and treat the wounded. The helo crashes were in the middle of the battle zone. The PJs, along with a Combat Controller and additional Army Rangers, were inserted into the firefight, removed injured personnel from further danger and administered life saving emergency medical treatment. As a direct result of their actions, the mission was completed and many lives were saved in the process.
Extracted from 342 TRS/CTFI Pamphlet 50-1
SrA Cunningham was a PJ. Thought maybe we should have something about them as well.
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