Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The lives of the 4 US soldiers killed in Niger
CNN ^ | 10/18/17 | Holly Yan

Posted on 10/20/2017 3:45:24 AM PDT by Redmen4ever

Sgt. La David Johnson married his childhood sweetheart and was expecting his third child. Staff Sgt. Bryan Black learned Hausa because he wanted to communicate directly with Nigeriens. Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson earned more than a dozen military commendations. And Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright came from a family deeply rooted in military service, dating back to 1812.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; armyspecialforces; niger
The Green Berets were in the area to assist the security forces of Nigeria fight terrorism.

An ambush occurred the facts of which continue to be assembled by the Department of Defense. Air support (from French Mirage warplanes) came on site within a half hour, it is reported; but, it's not clear what role air support played in dispersing the attackers.

Four U.S. personnel were killed, two others wounded, and I think one Nigerian was killed. During the incident, Sgt. La David Johnson, one of the four, was or became separated from the others, and his body was discovered by forces remaining at the scene to search for him, two days later.

This operation was part of a growing U.S. presence in Africa, most of which is to support local security forces fight terrorism. U.S. military involvement in Africa spiked under the prior administration. We have, I think, 800 men in Nigeria of which this detachment was part.

In real time, the increased deployment was hailed by, among other people, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson of Florida. Congress was informed of the deployment by President Obama under the War Powers Act, and continuously provided funding.

Of course, now that there are dead Americans to bury, each one precious beyond description, nobody wants to own up to the grave responsibility of sending our men into danger. Instead, President Trump serves as a dumping ground for some to grandstand and other to unload their grief.

1 posted on 10/20/2017 3:45:24 AM PDT by Redmen4ever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Redmen4ever

I do not recall this sort of human interest story when the Benghazi 4 were killed.


2 posted on 10/20/2017 3:54:07 AM PDT by dontreadthis (I finally came up with this tagline)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dontreadthis

really?? there was tons!! they even made a movie about it... and was actually good.


3 posted on 10/20/2017 3:57:16 AM PDT by wyowolf (Be ware when the preachers take over the Republican party...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: wyowolf

Alt Left MSM was not interested.


4 posted on 10/20/2017 4:01:37 AM PDT by Chgogal (Sessions recused himself for shaking an Ambassador's hand. Shameful!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Redmen4ever

The left is very skilled at turning tragedies into a way to destroy their avowed enemies: Republicans. There was one non-White man killed, and it’s his family that is blaming Trump for showing disrespect. (It was a setup). The media immediately seized it and started hyping it - it was perfect for their agenda - “Trump showing disrespect”. They knew it had legs and hyped it for all it was worth.

Drop Charlottesville. Forget the destruction in Puerto Rico (for a while. they’ll get back to it). They now have something they can embellish, nourish, exaggerate and build into a super meme with a mind of its own.

The left/media knows what it’s doing. They are crafty. They hate this country and I hate them.


5 posted on 10/20/2017 4:06:02 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Lying Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dontreadthis
I do not recall this sort of human interest story when the Benghazi 4 were killed.

The guys killed in Benghazi were contractors. The guys in Niger were Army. Contractor dudes don't get the same degree of attention.

Besides, the president at the time of Benghazi was not in the habit of acknowledging people who died on his watch. And don't you remember, Al Qaeda was defeated and the war was almost over.

The interesting "between the lines" story is that the youngest guy had enlisted in 2014 and had only 3 years service under his belt. For an 18B he must have been an awfully green green beret.

6 posted on 10/20/2017 4:42:18 AM PDT by InABunkerUnderSF (Dump Flake)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Redmen4ever

CNN. Exploiting America’s fallen for political gain. Have they no shame? Bastards. FUCNN!


7 posted on 10/20/2017 4:42:25 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Has Sheila JACKSON LEE changed her name yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer

http://freebeacon.com/politics/wilson-laughs-rock-star-feud-with-white-house-military-widow/


8 posted on 10/20/2017 4:43:50 AM PDT by lilypad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: wyowolf

Movie was entertainment. The truth wasn’t even close.

In all honesty, I’d probably die from shock if Hollywood started putting out truth.


9 posted on 10/20/2017 5:05:27 AM PDT by Bulwyf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Redmen4ever

The lives of the 4 US soldiers killed in Niger

_______________________________________________________

They should never have been there.


10 posted on 10/20/2017 5:19:43 AM PDT by Bishop_Malachi (Liberal Socialism - A philosophy which advocates spreading a low standard of living equally.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Redmen4ever

And yet the nearly 2000 soldiers who died when Obama was pResident are unknown to everyone in the media


11 posted on 10/20/2017 5:25:18 AM PDT by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dontreadthis

I wonder if Sgt. La David Johnson’s mother knew Obama sent her son to Africa? RIP great American.


12 posted on 10/20/2017 5:29:51 AM PDT by angcat (THANK YOU LORD FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Redmen4ever

Neocons still running foreign policy apparently. Do we have troops in Nepal too? How about Madagascar? I’ll bet there’s some need for some “advisors” there too.


13 posted on 10/20/2017 5:47:33 AM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: angcat

My mom didnt know of quite a few places she sent me off too. Whats your point?


14 posted on 10/20/2017 6:01:24 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21

Well if you don’t understand then forget it and it was not directed at you anyway.


15 posted on 10/20/2017 6:10:20 AM PDT by angcat (THANK YOU LORD FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

Uh, I have been thinking it is still Obama’s Military. Until our Military gets the funding and the personnel that can run the Military effectively, it is Obama’s Military. Obama didn’t want the Military to be effective.


16 posted on 10/20/2017 6:15:38 AM PDT by originalbuckeye ('In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act'- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: digger48

Correct. When Bush was President, the New York Times felt morally obligated to have an obit for every serviceman killed overseas. Then, under Obama, that moral obligation went away. Now, under Trump, the moral obligation is back. I don’t think anybody is fooled by the New York Times. (This doesn’t mean I believe everything that Trump says, either.)


17 posted on 10/20/2017 6:29:35 AM PDT by Redmen4ever (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: I want the USA back

This is clearly a propaganda ploy to turn this into an uncaring Trump sending boys to their death. They will conflate it with benghazi or Mai Lai or anything to bring Trump down. That action on the Gold Star family to mock Trum’s call is despicable.

The collusion of the DNC and MSM, proved by the Podesta emails, has left our Democracy in shambles. Without a true free press untold atrocities by the government can take place, and the brave whistle-blowers are murdered. Trump is alone up there except for many Americans who stopped believing the pressential and are seeking other means.


18 posted on 10/20/2017 6:55:30 AM PDT by Titus-Maximus (It doesn't matter who votes for whom, it only matters who counts the votes - Joe Stalin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: originalbuckeye

Maybe. I disagree that the DoD needs even one more nickel. But besides funding problems why the heck are we in so many hellhokes still?


19 posted on 10/20/2017 7:46:40 AM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

I would just like to see our Military pilots be able to get the parts they need to make their jets/planes fly safely. I agree we are too far flung. Which President was it that sent our troops into Africa to ‘train and advise’? I am heartened that ISIS has been ejected from Raqaa, but want to see more ISIS failures, too. Sadly, the Dem Military mantra was coined by J F Kerry (paraphrase) ‘ you better study hard or you could end up in Iraq”. It’s ridiculous that ANY Dem can claim he is pro-Military. I would also like to see SOME RESPECT for our Military from ANY Dem. The ridiculing of Gen Kelly is disgusting. Rant over.


20 posted on 10/20/2017 8:11:14 AM PDT by originalbuckeye ('In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act'- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson