Troops Kill Enemy Fighters, Find Weapons

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2011 – International Security Assistance Force troops in southern Afghanistan killed or wounded several insurgents over the past 24 hours, military officials reported.

During separate clearing operations in Helmand province, insurgents engaged three ISAF patrols with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in the province’s Sangin and Kajaki districts. Coalition forces returned fire and called for air support. The air weapons team supporting ground forces engaged the enemy positions, killing the insurgents.

Afghan and ISAF forces also discovered several caches in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

In Helmand, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Paktika and Zabul provinces, Afghan forces and ISAF patrols found three assault rifles, 20 full assault-rifle magazines, 3,000 small-arms rounds, two machine guns, 22 mortar rounds, three artillery rounds, 34 rocket-propelled grenades, a rocket, 17 RPG boosters, five RPG warheads, two anti-personnel mines and loose ammunition.

In addition, forces found 10 bomb detonators, homemade explosives, 100 pounds of the banned ammonium nitrate fertilizer often used in making explosives, 10 jugs of shrapnel and ball bearings, several electronic components, multiple pressure plates and three chest racks.

In other operations yesterday:

-- Afghan and coalition military forces detained a Taliban leader along with several other suspected insurgents in Kandahar province’s Arghandab district. The Taliban leader was responsible for storing and distributing enemy supplies and conducting attacks against coalition forces. He was associated with the district’s Taliban leaders, and reportedly had acquired bomb components, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and other equipment from a Taliban insurgent for an upcoming attack, officials said. The combined security force killed an armed insurgent who threatened them during the operation.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader in Ghazni province’s Gelan district, along with several other suspected insurgents. The Taliban district leader was responsible for planning, coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces

-- In Takhar province’s Khwajah Ghar district, Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected insurgents and killed several armed combatants while searching for a high-ranking senior leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist organization who specializes in bombing attacks against Afghan government officials and coordinates the district Taliban leader’s movements, officials said. Multiple intelligence sources led the security force to a building where armed combatants engaged them with small-arms fire. The security force returned fire, killing several armed combatants. The building caught fire and was rocked by multiple explosions. Villagers told the security force the Taliban forcibly took over the building’s guest house.

-- Afghan and coalition forces seeking a Taliban bomb manufacturer in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district detained numerous suspected insurgents.

-- In Nimroz province’s Khash Rod district, Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents while seeking a Taliban leader responsible for weapons facilitation.

-- ISAF troops killed numerous insurgents after receiving small-arms fire during a dismounted patrol in Helmand province’s Marja district. ISAF forces returned fire and called in close air support to suppress the insurgent fire. An insurgent wounded in the engagement was taken to a medical facility and detained.

In other news, Afghan forces and U.S. Navy SEALs conducted routine patrols in Zabul province Jan. 23, resulting in numerous insurgents killed, several others detained, and the destruction of numerous homemade bombs.

The insurgents were killed and detained when Afghan soldiers advised by SEALs were involved in an engagement with insurgents in the province’s Khak-e Afghan district.

On a separate patrol in Nawbahar district Afghan police, partnered with Afghan soldiers and U.S. Navy SEALs, found and destroyed three homemade bombs.

Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.


Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Collin Thomas, 33, of Morehead, Ky., died Aug. 18 during a combat operation in eastern Afghanistan. Thomas was assigned to an east coast-based SEAL team.

For further information related to this release, contact Lt. Arlo Abrahamson at 757-763-2007 or 757-620-3109.

Bush Confers Highest Military Decoration on Fallen Navy SEAL

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

April 8, 2008 - President Bush today posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Mansoor, a Navy SEAL whose mortal sacrifice in Iraq saved the lives of two fellow SEALs and several Iraqi soldiers. The fallen SEAL's parents, George and Sally Monsoor, accepted the honor on their son's behalf during a White House ceremony. The Medal of Honor, awarded for gallantry in combat exceeding the call of duty, is the nation's highest military decoration.

"In September 2006, Michael laid down his life for his brothers in arms," Bush said. "Today, we remember the life of this faithful Navy SEAL, and on behalf of a grateful nation, we will present Michael Mansoor's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned."

Monsoor, a 25 year-old machine gunner with SEAL Team 3, was providing security at a sniper lookout post on Sept. 29, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, when a fragmentation grenade hit his chest and bounced to the floor. Positioned next to the single exit, only Monsoor could have escaped harm.

Instead, he threw himself onto the grenade. Monsoor used his body to absorb the blast and shield two nearby SEALs. The SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers survived, some with wounds, others unscathed. Monsoor died a half hour later.

"One of the survivors puts it this way: 'Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, "You cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead,"'" said Bush, quoting one of the SEALs saved by Monsoor.

In remarks today, the president characterized the petty officer as an unlikely candidate for the SEALs. As a child, he suffered from asthma attacks and coughing fits that routinely landed him in the hospital, Bush said.

But the asthmatic child resolved to wean himself off his inhaler, strengthening his lungs by challenging his siblings in swimming races. The determined child grew into a young man who eventually completed SEAL training, which Bush called the "ultimate test of physical endurance."

"Less than a third of those who begin this training become SEALs," he said. "But Mike would not be denied a spot."

The maritime component of U.S. Special Operations Command, Navy SEALs are expert reconnoiters and stealth warriors, often performing clandestine operations that larger forces cannot conduct undetected. Today Monsoor became the first SEAL to earn the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and the second SEAL to receive the award since Sept. 11, 2001.

Monsoor will be inducted tomorrow into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, where his name will be engraved alongside some 3,445 recipients of the nation's highest honor.

The petty officer previously was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with combat "V" device, and a Purple Heart before becoming the fourth servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor since the beginning of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Awarded by the president in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 as a personal award of valor for members of the Navy. Today, every service branch confers the rare honor upon those who distinguish themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life."

"The Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to undertake it," the president said. "Yet those who knew Michael Monsoor were not surprised when he did."

Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Parents of Navy SEAL

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy's parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy's is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

"Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice," Bush said. "By presenting Michael Murphy's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL."

On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.

Despite intense combat around him, Murphy -- already wounded in the firefight -- moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.

By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting.

As a somber postscript to Murphy's bravery, the helicopter that he requested crashed after being struck by a rocket- propelled grenade, killing everyone on board. In total, 19 Americans died in what Bush referred to as "the deadliest for Navy Special Warfare forces since World War II."

The president characterized Murphy as a born Navy SEAL.

"SEALs get their name from operating by sea, air and land, and even as a toddler, Michael could find his way through any obstacle," Bush said. "When he was just 18 months old, he darted across a neighbor's yard and dove into the swimming pool. By the time his frantic parents reached him, Michael had swum to the other side with a big smile on his face."

In addition to his physical strength, Bush said Murphy's strong moral character also was apparent at an early age.

"One day in school, he got into a scuffle sticking up for a student with a disability. It's the only time his parents ever got a phone call from the principal, and they couldn't have been prouder," Bush said. "Michael's passion for helping others led him to become a caring brother, a tutor, a life guard and eventually a member of the United States armed forces."

The president welcomed Murphy's parents and brother, John, who hail from Patchogue, N.Y., to the White House's East Room, noting that Murphy's decision to join the U.S. military was not easily accepted by his family. "As a Purple Heart recipient during Vietnam, Michael's father understood the sacrifices that accompany a life of service. He also understood that his son was prepared to make these sacrifices," Bush added.

Murphy is remembered by fellow SEALs as a wisecracking friend who went by "Mikey" or "Murph," a patriot who wore a New York City firehouse patch on his uniform in honor of the heroes of 9/11, Bush said.

"And they remember an officer who respected their opinions and led them with an understated yet unmistakable sense of command. Together Michael and his fellow SEALs deployed multiple times around the world in the war against the extremists and radicals," Bush said. "And while their missions were often carried out in secrecy, their love of country and devotion to each other was always clear."

Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The president has presented medals to the families of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died in Iraq.

Navy SEALs Share War Stories From Anbar Province

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

May 25, 2007 – Two Navy SEALs who recently returned from Iraq shared some of their combat experiences and described the progress they witnessed in Anbar province, during a panel discussion yesterday at the Naval Heritage Center here. Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian, a heavy weapons operator and breacher, and Lt. Chris, SEAL Team Five Bravo Platoon's commander, are identified only by their first names for security reasons. They spent seven months in Anbar province training Iraqi security forces to operate independently.

The SEALs painted an unfiltered picture of their experience on Camp Corregidor in the city of Ramadi, which was mortared an average of three times a day when they first arrived.

"No matter where we went, whether it was a PortoJon, the chow hall, wherever, if you left 25, 50 meters outside of your base or outside your barracks, you had to have full kit on," Brian said.

As platoon commander leading a foreign internal defense mission, Chris held the reins in "developing Iraqi security force capability to fight insurgents or terrorists, in order to create a self-sustaining and capable Iraqi security force," the lieutenant said.

During SEAL operations the platoon brought six to 10 Iraqis who either led or followed, depending on operational and tactical requirements.

"We would go in at night under the cover of darkness and get positioned to overwatch or basically provide support for an operation during the daytime," Chris said. "We're in there shaping the operation for decisive action.

"So we get setup and we're checking the environment out, looking at the battle space," Chris said. "And as the Army's coming through and we're kind of covering them, we get attacked pretty heavily."

Brian, who was closer to the enemy than Chris, recalled the ensuing ambush.

"(The platoon) was in three different operating positions. Our operating position started taking fire," Brain said. "It was ineffective - shots against the wall, stuff like that - we took a couple grenades against the side of the building.

"Shortly after, our two buddies who were down the street about 100 meters from me, they took heavy fire - rocket-propelled grenade attacks," he said. "One of my buddies got fragged pretty good.

"So when they called in a Quick Reaction Force to come pick him up, we had two Iraqis open the door and go out in the street. Well sometime during the night there was an IED left out there for him. It was either command-detonated or pressure-plate," Brian said. "It was detonated; the Iraqi lost both of his legs at the waist.

"Two other guys were hurt really bad - my buddy Joe and my buddy Elliott - took it pretty bad," Brian said. "Everybody bagged out of our operational positions. Once we heard guys were down we bagged out of there - we took off running down the street; running and gunning."

Brian, Chris and the other SEALs consolidated near their "wounded brothers."

"We grabbed both guys and brought them in a house and started taking care of the wounded to getting those guys ready for transport," Brian said.

Elliott, one of the two wounded, was the biggest corpsman on their team - weighing 250 lbs. without gear, Chris recalled.

"He was laying there bleeding out, and he was telling us how to fix Joe, with no concern for himself," Chris said. "That pretty much sums up Navy SEAL corpsmen."

Meanwhile, aerial surveillance showed "bad guys jumping roof to roof coming after us," Brian said.

"So Chris had a great idea," Brian explained. "He said, 'Everybody (get beneath) a door jamb, get down low, and I'm going to have these Bradley (infantry fighting vehicles) come through here and take off the second decks of all these houses."

In a bold decision, Chris ordered enough ordnance to destroy the second-story of the building in which they were taking cover, and where the enemy fighters were positioned.

"It worked great!" Chris said in a Texas twang and with a wide smile.

The tank artillery campaign crippled the insurgency, what Chris remembered as "two distinct 30-minute periods of intense" fire fights. After the heavy tank reinforcements arrived, Brian, equipped with a machinegun, said he "went through about 800 rounds total."

The mission the SEALs described was one of roughly 65 direct-action combat operations they engaged in during their time in Anbar province, including an operation on the following night.

To illustrate symbols of the cultural progress they witnessed, Brian and Chris projected photographs on a large screen before the audience here.

In one image, a group of Sunni and Shiite members of the Iraqi army carry the casket of a deceased Iraqi soldier as a U.S. Army Colonel looks on. The wooden coffin is draped in an Iraqi flag.

"This is the norm," Chris said. "This is what you're seeing on a daily basis; combined tribal and combined religious connection at things like funerals, mission planning out on operations. It's amazing."

In another one of Chris' slides, Iraqi police and civilians celebrate boisterously on a crowded street.

"After we were able to clear the city of (the enemy) in Eastern Ramadi, the people are able to go to the market, they're able to talk with Iraqi policemen out in the street openly, U.S. forces were able to patrol out in the street," Chris said. "It used to be very dangerous for us to even go down the road because of improvised explosive devices and sniper attacks and small-arms fire attacks."

In another picture, Chris and another SEAL flank a smiling Arab.

"Tribal engagement," Chris said. "This is us with Sheik Jossum up in Sofia, which was the genesis of the whole 'tribal awakening.'

"We trained them in foreign internal defensive and they eventually were able to bring other tribes on board and it really opened up the Anbar province," he said.

After conducting about 110 combat operations with Iraqi security forces in Anbar, the mortaring at Camp Corregidor in Ramadi stopped, Brian recalled.

"We were free to exercise on base," Brian said. "We were free to use the bathroom without having a helmet and body armor on."

Chris added, "That was about the best experience of the whole six months."

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