Posted on 04/04/2002 9:39:46 AM PST by BluH2o
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan " Soldiers here are careful not to use the term "hero" when describing actions observed on the battlefield. Not to say heroic actions haven't taken place. But the title is a badge of honor placed on only the most worthy combatants.
And it's being used to describe one airman. In fact, many commanders here say this "hero" is worthy of the Air Force Cross. Some even suggest the airman deserves the nation's highest military honor.
The enlisted tactical air controller, or ETAC, was part of a bloody 14-hour battle March 4. That day two Army MH-47 Chinook helicopters were brought down by enemy rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire near the town of Gardez.
Six of 21 commandos on the first helo were killed, including two airmen and four soldiers. A Navy SEAL from the second helo was killed when the 32-year-old apparently fell out as the Chinooks retreated from the hostile fire.
Lt. Col. Kenneth Rozelsky, commander of the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, met some of the survivors when they returned to base.
"[One] came up to me and said "Sir, I lost four guys on this mission. If it wasn't for your ETAC, we would have lost the whole platoon. I will never go anywhere without my ETAC again."
"From a Special Forces master sergeant, to me, that's the highest praise you can get."
The ETAC, who is still in-country, declined an interview and cannot be named due to operational security reasons. But his story is becoming well known at this former Soviet air base.
A hero steps forward.
Troops here are familiar with how an outnumbered band of Americans squared off against al-Qaida forces willing to fight to the death in the Shah-e-Kot valley. Troops say it was there, amid the frigid, rocky terrain at least 8,000 feet above sea level, that a hero stepped forward, a hero some commanders and combatants say deserves the Medal of Honor.
Sources say the ETAC took two rounds to the torso, which may have been halted by his bulletproof vest, and took shrapnel in his shoulder during the battle of Shah-e-Kot valley.
Still, he ran out of his covered position and placed himself between the downed helicopter and the enemy. Crouched down behind a rock and partially exposed to enemy fire, the ETAC stood his ground and called in air strikes for 14 hours.
F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons pounded al-Qaida positions. AC-130 gunships, which fly at lower altitudes, soon joined the fight. According to reports from the area, they strafed al-Qaida positions with their M102 105 mm howitzers and 25 mm Gatling guns, which indicates the gunships were AC-130U Spookys.
The ETAC reportedly emptied 14 clips, 420 rounds, during the battle. But his greatest weapons were circling the skies above and dropping ordnance "danger close."
U.S. commanders at a mobile command post watched the battle from cameras mounted on RQ-1 Predator unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. They could see what one Pentagon official called "a large number of enemy forces" advancing on the survivors.
One senior commander here saw the Predator footage of the battle and heard the ETAC's transmissions. He drew a deep breath before he was able to recount what he saw.
"This airman, this injured airman, put himself between the troops and the enemy," he said. "I heard him at one point tell a pilot, 'good shot; that one was about 100 meters from me'. Then he told the pilot to bring it in even closer."
The officer said he had no doubt the ETAC was knowingly placing himself in harm's way to keep the enemy off his injured allies.
"If that's not absolute heroism, then I sure as hell don't know what is."
The Medal of Honor was last awarded to Army Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon and Army Sgt. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart for their actions Oct. 3, 1993, in support of Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Both snipers received the award posthumously.
"You are so touchy because you know that the AF personifies what is wrong with the US military,"
Actually, what I'd say is wrong with the military is its inability to rid itself of small minded, archaic folks like you, who boast a warrior mentality while spending most of their careers working behind a desk.
"And be advised the Brits are in the area and last war the USAF killed more of them than the enemy did."
Besides being grossly incorrect again, you are just confirming what I've already said about you. Maybe some of your Marine brethren can explain to you how mistakes happen in the heat of battle. Marines killed 7 of their own in four differenct incidents in the Persian Gulf. The Air Force killed 7 more in a single incident at Khafji. Everytime, it was a tragedy that shouldn't have happened. Only a sick and pathetic individual would use those incidents to try and claim some sort superiority.
I don't think they are. With your track record, I'm certainly not going to take your word for it.
"the AF does not train properly to support CAS. How much money is now being spent on Combat ID?"
In my jet I use a system called Situation Awareness Data Link (SADL) that links me to every Army unit on the ground within 160 miles of my position. It puts a big X over their position when I roll in. It also lets forward air controllers transmit targeting data without ever saying a word over the radio. Every single Block 30 F-16 flying in the USAF has the same system. The A-10's are also getting it. Amazingly, the Marines aren't. Almost every weapon dropped in Afghanistan has been part of coordinated air support using a ground controller talking to a pilot. I doubt there is a strategic target in all of Afghanistan. Yet, for some reason, the Air Force is flying there every day, and last time I checked, has dropped a vast majority of the ordnance. Reread the article that started this thread. You're standing in forest asking where the trees are. .
"Show me how much many is spent on tactical air, show me how much time is spent in training."
First you bitch about how much money the Air Force spends, and then you ask why they don't spend more. Ever hear of the JSF? You should since the Marines are part of the program. It will be the largest aircraft program in the history of the world. With the exception of the B-2, I can't think of an Air Force combat aircraft that hasn't been employed in a purely tactical role since Desert Storm.
"While aircraft devoted as many as 2000 air strikes against mobile Iraqi Scud missiles, they may not have hit a single one.”"
Who drove the Scud hunt? It certainly wasn't the Air Force's idea. What happened to all those Special Forces troops that were on the ground looking for Scuds? It doesn't look like they had much luck either. Maybe if the Air Force was allowed to spend a little more time practicing the strategic aspects of its job, it might have been a little more successful. As far as all your stats are concerned, are you suggesting the Air Force should do all the tank killing as well? By the time the ground war started Iraqi troops were surrendering to unmanned drones and television crews. Do you really need anymore help? In the entire conflict the Army and Marine Corps didn't shoot down a single aircraft. What the heck do we give you all those cool SAMs for?
"You also posted false numbers about the amount of destruction caused by the AF."
Tell you what, you give me a source you want me to use, and I'll take a look at it.
"What does AF doctrine say about which is more important?"
You are confused about the concept of doctrine. AF Doctrine doesn't say either tactical air power or strategic air power is more important. It just provides a set of guiding principles to use when using Air Force assets in either a strategic or tactical role.
"While I was refering to the Brits in ground action,"
Then you are still wrong. They lost 19 in ground action. 9 to friendly fire.
"your lack of ability to recognize a vehicle killed them, and Marines."
Does the same hold true for the four seperate incidents of Marine on Marine fratricide?
"The SADL is an AF project that does not work, and cost a fortune."
It was an Army project, it works so well commanders in OEF are specifically requesting it, and it was almost free. How does it feel to be wrong 3 times in one sentence.
"If it did why did you just kill the SF soldiers?"
Because B-52's don't carry it.
"And the USMC gets it money from the Navy and they think SADL is a crock."
As opposed to their highly effective (non-existant) combat ID system. I thought the Air Force didn't spend a dime on tactical air. Looks like the Navy/USMC have a lot of catching up to do.
" And your numbers changed on the Brits again."
No. You are confused again. You said several times the AF killed more Brits than the Iraqis in the Gulf War. When I correctly pointed out that 24 Brits died in the Gulf war, but only 9 were due to friendly fire, you changed your statement to "I meant ground troops". At that point, I correctly pointed out that 19 British ground troops died and only 9 were due to friendly fire.
"The fact that you killed one when you were under no threat is due to the fact that as a service cas is not practised."
What do you suppose we do with our A-10's? CAS is one of the primary missions of every single Block 40 F-16 squadron who are each manned with several Forward Air Controllers. The Air Force has several Tactical Air Control Party squadrons whose sole purpose in life is to orchestrate CAS. As evidenced by the article that started this thread, our combat controllers are some of the best in the business. Your statement is entirely wrong, and once again, based on complete ignorance. By the way, the last CAS fratricide incident involved the Navy in Kuwait. They must not practice CAS either. And you don't know your Marine history very well. 7 Marines were killed by Marines in the Gulf, including four in the battle of Khafji alone. Are you going to blame that on a lack of tactical training?
"...we work our ass off to mitigate it thru training. Do you? No, you don't."
That is an assinine statement based on nothing but your proven ignorance of anything Air Force.
"...example of the tax payer paying a huge amount of money for crap."
Have you ever used it? Have you ever seen it used? Why do you insist on shooting your mouth off about things you can't possibly support. And what do you propose as an alternative? Not only is it an outstanding system. It is the only system.
" I sent you the numbers on the DIA and CIA reports on the air BDA."
OK, where did you find those numbers. You must have a source.
"Just remember you are there to support that 18 year old on the ground"
I would definitely agree with that statement. Interestingly, retired Marine General Trainor disagrees. Here is a quote from him concerning the Gulf War:
But I think you have to recognize that this was the first war in history where the air power was the supported force. Usually air power is the supporting force for the ground forces. This time in a sense the ground forces were providing the support for the Air Forces and that they were holding the enemy in place as the Air Force attacked them. The first time in history.
"The A-10? The aircraft you tried to get rid of? Great example of air force commitment to CAS."
Well, since it was designed to destroy the great Soviet tank threat, you should thank your lucky stars the Air Force decided to keep it around when the Soviets went away.
"Last cas deaths were SF due to your controller."
True
"The navy squadron, another air force controller."
False. The cause was pilot error.
"Your number is wrong about there combat deaths"
False
"And no Marines were killed by Marine pilots in the gulf."
False, on 2 February a Marine A-6E mistakenly bombed a Marine division killing one and wounding 2.
"But in your corporate mentality I am sure you equate money to success."
You must. You keep asking how much the Air Force has spent on Tactical air projects
"Why is the USMC in charge of the JCAS working group?"
Probably because they are the experts. As you know, the only job of Marine Air is to support Marines on the ground. If that was all the Air Force did, we would have lost thousands in Desert Storm.
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