Night Into Day
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In summary, the 24 July mission netted two Taliban killed by the Hellfire missile from the Reaper but that was just another day. On the 25th, soldiers at Kajaki killed two Taliban. On 26 July, here, just near FOB Jackson, Sniper Team Kris Griffith and Justin De Lange dropped another Taliban from 1,100 meters with the .338 rifle, and were themselves barely missed by a Taliban “sniper” who fired two shots, but remained concealed. I was not involved in the firefight but was close enough to hear the firing and explosions. During the same engagement, the mortars and 105mm howitzers fired 15 rounds each and killed three more, for a total of four Taliban killed. The sniper kill on the morning of 26th was the fifth confirmed for the two sniper teams during this tour. This morning, 27 July, while finishing off this report, the enemy fired an RPG at a British helicopter but missed. Later at Kajaki, a British soldier was killed by an IED. A U.S. Reaper came back on station in Sangin and was tracking armed targets that I saw on the monitor. The kills would have been easy, but the British commander here, LTC Rob Thomson, and the Reaper crew, were looking for a good shot that would cause no civilian casualties, and eventually an Apache who fired 60 rounds from the 30mm. Later in the day we received nine casualties in Sangin, and the A-10s came in and were firing their cannons, and as the dispatch is finished late afternoon on the 28th, a vibrant firefight is unfolding outside the perimeter. An RPG just fired.
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Michael Yon
P O Box 5553
Winter Haven, FL 33880-5553
I will continue to do my part in telling the stories that are not being told. Readers must also do their part by keeping the cash flowing. Cash is essential .
Thank you!
Michael
Comments
Anyway, your story made me make another donation to you. Keep safe!
Thanks, Mike.
Rog
http://www.thunderrun.us/2009/07/from-front-07292009.html
Thanks for all you do.
That said, the Taliban control the towns and all the people including the Children. The Mosque is the center of their universe and our ROE will not allow our soldiers to destroy the Mosque even after Taliban store arms and receive aid and comfort.
Are we there to kill a few Taliban when we can and the revert control back to the Taliban when our soldiers leave - that is how it appears to me.
Should our military be used to beat the Islamists into submission and force a Democratic government mirroring our own (nation building) as we did in WW2. That means very limited ROE and Mosques are now legitimate military targets.
I don't have the answer - but Mr. Yon does show our troops putting their lives on the line going on a patrol with no clear objectives other than to kill a the stray taliban where you find them - as long as they are armed and not in a Mosque.
Are we fighting the Islamist ideology that demands we submit to their will? I think we are!
I don't know Michael, I've never met him. But consider: who do you trust more when it comes to Afghanistan - that AP reporter who is phoning it in using 3rd hand sources & garbling up his article with political bias and spin, or Michael, actually IN Afghanistan, going on missions with troops, writing to us and for us his first-hand reports and impressions? No contest.
'We' are sacrificing so that 'we' can live without someone telling 'us' who or what to worship, who can or can't be educated, how we can or can't live...it's called freedom.
So nutcases like the Taliban can't force the people of a country like Afghanistan to submit to the Taliban's perverted version of Islam, and offer scum like Al Qaeda a base from which to plan, train, and export violent jihad.
What oil have we taken from Iraq? What oil is there to be taken from Afghanistan?
And did you notice that the people fighting FOR the freedom of the Iraqis and Afghanis are people of all colors, as seen in Michael Yon's photos?
Please crawl back under your rock and stay there.
You do not speak for 'us'.
Michael has a mission. He is trying to stay out of the politics and give you first hand knowledge of what is going on on the ground. This is not something anybody could do. You have to be a little crazy to do this type work, and you have to have the mental and physical ability and stamina to handle it. Michael has been in combat for over five years straight.
I was in combat for 19 months and had had enough to last me a lifetime.
Everyone who can should pony up and give Michael money to continue doing this. He is not paid by some employer, nor has any grants. If you can spend a hundred dollars a month on cable and beer, you can give the same so that Michael can continue his mission.
Thanks Michael, stay safe and remember like I have told you before...you ain't bullet proof.
Papa Ray
West Texas
Thank a veteran today and everyday.
And in response to Asif Ali - get a clue buddy! The only land America ever "takes" from another nation/people is the land needed to bury our fallen heroes. Also, I know for a fact that the 4 African-Americans and 8 Hispanics I had in my platoon of 39 couldn't possibly disagree with you more. Consequently, your arguments of imperialism and race-based targeting are completely unfounded...and make you sound absolutely clueless.
The US Military did not decide to pull out of Vietnam. Politicians in Washington decided, it was a political decision.
It was seldom reported and often wrong when it was, but there was a substantial effort on the part of US Military to learn customs and language in both Vietnam and Iraq. That only works when the troops have time to establish a relationship with the locals, and when the locals are receptive to a relationship. Given both it was quite successful.
We were winning when I left.
Semper Fi
It is always a political decision to go into or come out of war and that is as it should be in our form of government.
Thank you for sharing them.
Mr. H
http://www.allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/
-These things we do that others may live.
I'm curious what your load out on a mission like this is. The military folks call it "battle-rattle". How much are you lugging around on a hot day as opposed to the plucky Brit soldiers(you did mention that they're carrying 2x times you, right?)?
I ask for someone, or any number of someones out there who read your dispatches, to perhaps boost their contribution by a buck or two for me, until I can again.
The black and white photo, evocative, mysterious, rich with stories the reader will want to know every word of. Wow.
I continue to look to you for your reportage and continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
I keep all Our Troops on my mind and in my prayers. Daily, throughout my day, grateful for the sacrifices they and their families make, and for their service.
Please do let the Brits know that for sure this American values their friendship and amazing victories as if they were our own. Of course I pray for them too.
Watch your 6.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-30/the-taliban-pr-push/?cid=hp:beastoriginalsC4
I'll take issue with the following characterizatio n: "...during the cowboy years since 2001, Afghanistan got worse". I don't consider Luttrell, Murphy, Axelson, and Dietz...just to name a small, but NOT insignificant representation...a bunch of cowboys. Out.
Love the dialogue........
Thank you Michael!!!
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