Operation Enduring Freedom
With the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the 160th went to war and began one of their most intensive and largest operations ever.
March 2, 2002 was a black day for the 160th and American special operations in general. Two MH-47E's from 2nd Bat were inserting observation teams in the southern end of the Shah-e-Kot Valley. incomplete
The next morning two more MH-47E's, Razors 1 and 2 approached the mountaintop with members of a Ranger Quick-Reaction Force. Dawn was just begning to break as Razor 1 began it's landing from the south. Immediately heavy small-arms peppered the aircraft and the door gunners began to return fire. Suddenly a RPG round hit the side of the aircraft, but unlike Razor 3 the night before Razor 1 was too badly damaged to limp away and crashed on the mountain top, badly wounding many Rangers and both pilots. To make matters worse the right hand door gunner, Sgt Phil Svitak had been hit by AK-47 fire just before the crash and died soon thereafter. One member of the Ranger QRF was hit and killed inside the aircraft and two more died as they tried to exit and set up fighting positions. Only air support and the supreme effort of the other members of the QRF who'd advanced 2,000 vertical feet under fire after having been dropped off in a safer position below saved the crew and passengers of Razor 1.
"The Lord knows the way I take, and when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" JOB 23:10
NSDQ
