Operation Red Wing

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Operation Red Wing
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Date June 28, 2005 Location Kunar province, Afghanistan Result Taliban victory; operational failure.
Belligerents
United States	Taliban insurgents
Commanders
Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen †[1]	Ahmad Shah
Strength
4 Navy SEALs	150-200
Casualties and losses
16 killed in rescue attempt, 3 killed in direct action, 1 wounded	80-120 killed[citation needed]

Operation Red Wing was a failed counter insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the U.S. Navy SEALs, which took place June 28th, 2005. Three of the SEALs were killed during the operation. The fourth was protected by local villagers and later rescued by the US military. The story of the rescued SEAL would later become the cover story of Time's July 11, 2005 issue, titled "How The Shepherd Saved The SEAL."^[2]

[edit] Operation Red Wing

The SEAL team, led by Lt. Michael P. Murphy and consisting of petty officers Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell, was on a mission to try to find Ahmad Shah (code named "Ben Sharmak"), a key Taliban leader, east of Asadabad.^[3][4] However, local goat herders stumbled upon the SEALs' hiding place and alerted local Taliban forces. They were surrounded by the Taliban and a firefight ensued. ^[5]

Even though they were pinned down, Lt. Murphy broke cover long enough to make a call to his base for back-up. The call was placed on a cell phone, due to the fact that the radio reception was very bad on that part of the mountain, and the base could not receive their radio transmission. In the process of placing this call, he was shot in the stomach and back but he still managed to complete the call.^[5] The three remaining SEALs continued to fight off the Taliban, gravely wounded, protecting each other as their position was pushed back to lower ground. After two hours of fighting and killing dozens of Taliban fighters each, only Luttrell remained alive.^[6]

In response to the call from Murphy to Bagram Air Base, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying eight US Navy SEALs and eight Nightstalkers - members of the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment attempted to come to their rescue to provide extraction in the mountains of Kunar province, Afghanistan. Crew from the escort attack helicopters praised the SEALs on the ground as putting up outstanding resistance, calling it "an unbelievable firefight." The Chinook helicopter was shot down by what is believed to have been a rocket propelled grenade shot through the open rear ramp killing all sixteen on board.

[edit] Rescue

Main article: Marcus Luttrell#Operation Red Wing

Now alone and wounded, Luttrell had to fend for himself. He pulled himself away from the fire zone and tried to hide himself as he waited for rescue from the search helicopters flying overhead. During this time, Luttrell was discovered by an Afghani man, who claimed that he was not part of the Taliban. Shortly afterwards, more Afghani men showed up armed with AK-47 rifles. The men took wounded Luttrell and carried him to the village of Sabray-Minah.^[6] The villagers in Sabray-Minah took care of Luttrell, providing food and medical attention, and even protecting him from the Taliban that came to the village demanding that he be turned over to them.

Despite multiple attempts, the search helicopters were unable to locate Luttrell. Finally, the village elder, armed with a note from Luttrell, went down to seek help from a Marine outpost several miles away. With this information, the U.S. forces drew up rescue plans. According to Lt. Col. Steve Butow, the plans were "one of the largest combat search-and-rescue operations since Vietnam".^[6] The rescue was a success and they brought Luttrell home.

[edit] Casualties

SEALs from left to right, Matthew G. Axelson; Daniel R. Healy, James Suh, Marcus Luttrell, Eric S. Patton, and Lt. Michael P. Murphy. With the exception of Luttrell, all were killed June 28, 2005, by enemy forces while supporting Operation Red Wing.

SEAL Team:

• Lt. Michael P. Murphy
• Petty Officer Matthew Axelson
• Petty Officer Second Class Danny Dietz

The service members killed-in-action on the crashed helicopter include:^[7]

Nightstalkers:

• Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio
• Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minnesota.
• Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Indiana
• Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tennessee
• Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
• Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Virginia
• Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida

SEALs:

• Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana
• Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, New Hampshire
• Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, California
• Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Oregon
• Lt. Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., 30, of Portville, New York
• Petty Officer 2nd Class James E. Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Florida
• Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, West Virginia
• Petty Officer Second Class Eric Shane Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nevada

[edit] Awards

On September 14th, 2006, Dietz and Axelson were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for "undaunted courage" and heroism. Luttrell was also awarded the Navy Cross in a ceremony at the White House. In 2007, Lieutenant Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

[edit] See also

• Communications in Afghanistan
• Lokhay Warkawal
• Marawara (village), Marawara district
• Asadabad, Afghanistan
• Bagram
• Bagram Air Base

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Operation Red Wing "satellite phone"
• Mobil-Phone Towers Are Taliban's New Target RFE/RL March 3, 2008

[edit] Notes

• Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson (2007) Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0316067591
• http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/06/afghan.ids/index.html
• Blumenfeld, Laura (2007-06-11). The Sole Survivor - A Navy Seal, Injured and Alone, Was Saved By Afghans' Embrace and Comrades' Valor. Washington Post.