Bagram Airfield Attack Kills Two U.S. Servicemembers, Wounds Six

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2009 – Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and at least six other personnel were wounded yesterday during an early morning indirect-fire attack on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, officials said.

The injured were taken to a U.S. medical facility for treatment.

“On behalf of the Combined Joint Task Force 82 team, we offer our condolences and sympathy to the families of our two brave servicemembers,” said Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of the task force. “Their sacrifice in the name of security and a better way of life for the Afghan people will not be forgotten.”

The names of the servicemembers are being withheld pending notification of their families.

Also yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces detained four suspected militants during a patrol in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province to disrupt weapon and foreign fighter facilitation operations in eastern Afghanistan.

In other news from Afghanistan, Afghan and coalition forces confiscated weapons and opium and detained four militant suspects June 20 during operations against Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network forces in Helmand and Khost provinces.

In June 19 operations:

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained four suspected Haqqani militants during a patrol in Khost province as part of efforts to disrupt foreign fighter operations in eastern Afghanistan.

-- Coalition forces medics treated 23 Afghans who were injured when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Arghandab district of Zabul province.

-- Afghan and coalition security forces met with local elders in the Khak e-Safed district of Farah province after the forces’ operation against prominent militant leadership in the area. Discussion topics included providing safety for the district’s citizens, as well as ways to satisfy local infrastructure and medical needs, officials said.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)

[SandRat]

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[rlmorel]

These men and women are in my thoughts daily, especially under the command of this POSCIC.

I hope their families may find comfort, and that their memories are honored in the memories of those who knew them, as well as the rest of us.

[Sola Veritas]

“Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and at least six other personnel were wounded yesterday during an early morning indirect-fire attack on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, officials said.”

Can someone on this forum with more information on current Field Artillery capabilities explain to me why we didn’t have the place protected by FA to provide immediate conter batery fire? Obviously, we can’t stop them from firing in, but why can it be at a great cost?

Also, with all the overhead Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconaissance capabilities availably to our military....why wasn’t a grouping of person preparing to lauch rockets or mortars not spotted and neutralized quickly.

Can someone “on the ground” there in Afganistan give me a better operational view of the situation? Don’t we have layers of ISR and FA to interdict this stuff?

Hooah!

[phormer phrog phlyer]

CRAM?

[jackv]

My son was stationed at Bagram in 2007 and will be going back this summer. I just asked him this same question. He said the place is surrounded by mountains and the taliban can pretty much climb up there and hide and aim downward. He said unfortunately, it happens alot, they just don't usually hit the base. God bless our troops and their families!!