On Twitter Friday, American journalist and author Jake Tapper remembered true heroes lost in one of the deadliest battles of the war in Afghanistan.
To mark the five-year anniversary of the battle of Combat Outpost Keating, the author of the best-selling book “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor” presented a unique and touching tribute:
5 years ago: the battle of Combat Outpost Keating, one of the most decorated and deadliest days for US in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/PTlFf5qwNI
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Pfc. Kevin Thomson ran out to his gun in the mortar pit to repel the enemy; he was the 1st man killed that day. pic.twitter.com/rvx0pf1YK4
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
SGT Joshua Kirk, considered one of the bravest at COP Keating, ran out to return fire and was also killed. pic.twitter.com/rvTxcfQZ9P
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Men at guard posts soon running low on ammo, SGT Michael Scusa ran to bring them more. An enemy sniper got him first. pic.twitter.com/aThRwpPpDl
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
COP Keating was incredibly vulnerable; at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the Pakistan border
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Up to 400 insurgents were in the mountains, with the high ground advantage. At COP Keating: just 53 US troops.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Soon it became clear that in the overwhelming enemy fire, 5 US troops were pinned down and trapped in a Humvee.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
SGT Joshua Hardt volunteered to lead a mission to save the men in the Humvee. pic.twitter.com/WWfh8u3adF
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
The last words anyone heard from Hardt came over the radio, his saying an insurgent was pointing a gun right at him.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
SPC. Chris Griffin also went on the ill-fated mission to rescue the men in the Humvee. And also didn’t make it back. pic.twitter.com/gemBNHY4aR
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
So many heroes that day. SSG Clint Romesha was later awarded the Medal of Honor. http://t.co/muLWjrxlIN
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Sgt. Ty Carter, one of the 5 men trapped in the Humvee, was also later awarded the Medal of Honor. http://t.co/WPiRJlTLVi
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Eventually the 5 men in the Humvee decided they needed to make a break for it. COP Keating was so remote, air support was far away still.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Carter & SGT Brad Larson provided cover fire while the others ran, the last time anyone saw SGT Vernon Martin alive pic.twitter.com/cVEM15Ou7j
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
SGT Justin Gallegos soon tried to return to the Humvee to save a badly wounded SPC Stephan Mace. He didn’t make it. pic.twitter.com/w06wAMJWme
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
W/air support & the efforts of Carter, Romesha and many others, Mace got to the Aid station. He’d lost a lot of blood pic.twitter.com/7hZHhC2l00
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
5 men donated blood to Mace, and he hung on valiantly, ’til he got to FOB Bostick, but he didn’t make it, either. pic.twitter.com/0XXKtCmpxR
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
So many heroes. Silver Stars awarded to CPT Chris Cordova, 1LT Andrew Bundermann, SFC Jon Hill, SGT Tom Rasmussen. pic.twitter.com/q1kkNffOJu
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
The U.S. Ultimately beat back the insurgents, but it was the deadliest day for the U.S. In Afghanistan that year, five years ago today.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Many wounds remain. Pvt. Ed Faulkner battled PTS and ODed less than a year later. pic.twitter.com/GFY5KE6eOM
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
Here are the brave survivors of the Battle of COP Keating, 3-61 CAV, a few days later at FOB Bostick. http://t.co/J3k15bgpa9
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
RIP COP Keating heroes. From 5 years ago today: Thomson, Kirk, Scusa, Hardt, Griffin, Martin, Gallegos, Mace.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
There’s much more on COP Keating at this Facebook page: https://t.co/lCb8UveeRd
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
And RIP COP Keating heroes from previous years: Keating, Hughie, Pfeifer, Bostick, Fritsche, Yllescas.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 3, 2014
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