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Bradys maintenance officer woke him and said the SR team was in trouble and the Night Stalkers had orders to spin up and pull the team out. Since the SEALs werent sure where exactly the compromised team was located, Kristensen believed inserting at a position of tactical advantage was the best option. I could see the grass being blown by the rotor wash and all the remains bags being lined up in a row 16 of them, Rogie recalled. Guys gave him a lot of grief but he was witty about it," Redman, author of "The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader," said in an interview. A dog tag with the "Warrior Ethos" inscribed on it, discovered in the wreckage of a shot down MH-47 helicopter in Operation Red Wings on June 28, 2005. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor from the initial four-man SEAL reconnaissance element. "He was just a wonderful person. Chris, Turbine 33 has just been shot down, he told Eicher, whod earned the nickname Iceman for his always cool demeanor. The mission was to capture or kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban commander. They broke off and flew out of reach of the enemy fire. As the pilots climbed the last 1,000 feet of elevation, the AC-130 crew providing overwatch on their destination radioed to say they had to leave their position due to a mechanical issue. There were 100-foot-tall trees on all sides of the Chinook, and they were so close the pilots had no room to sway as they descended. Erik Kristensen and the fallen of Turbine 33 did not. Night-vision goggles, weapons and helmets from both sites were recovered over the next two years from Taliban fighters killed in firefights and found in arms caches in the Korengal Valley. Their war-weary faces were chiseled stone as they watched the task force solemnly load 16 flag-draped internment cases into the C-17. "It is very redeeming thing. Receiving the transmission, Brady couldnt believe it. of 1 The 160th had only lost helicopters during daylight missions at that point theyre calledNight Stalkers for a reason. I sat down with a former Ranger medic from 3rd Ranger Battalion for a few hours to talk about the massive rescue and recovery operation following Operation Red Wings. This article originally appeared on Coffee or Die. I don't know if I want to do this the rest of my life. The sun was fading behind Afghanistans Hindu Kush mountains the evening of June 27, 2005, as a team of four US Navy SEALs walked up the ramp and into the back of US Army Capt. The militia leader, Ahmad Shah, was killed a few years later. As he watched the two Chinooks taxiing onto the runway, he locked eyes with Russell, his platoon sergeant. To me at the moment, it was just another mission, we didnt recognize the importance of it until years later.. A glimmer of metal caught a Rangers eye and he picked up a stainless steel dogtag bearing not a name but the Armys Warrior Ethos: I will always place the mission first. Some of the fallen members of Turbine 33 prior to being flown out. They were exhausted and angry with the mistake the U.S. Air Force had made when they allowed Space-A seating to be filled on this leg of the flight home. "Someone said Erik wouldn't be on the helo, recalled his mother, who goes by Sam. Brady stood next to a SEAL commander both had to take command of their respective units when Reich and Kristensen were killed on Turbine 33. Even after a decade, his only child's loss "is still a very raw thing. Part of. The Chinooks took off toward the mountains once again, but as they climbed in elevation, severe weather rolled in. Flying toward Jalalabad en route to the last known position of the SEALs, they received word from Bagram on the number of men they could have on board each aircraft and still fly at the extreme elevation. The mission was to capture or kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban commander. They would have to offload eight SEALs from each helicopter before continuing. As they were turning around, Graham saw five Black Hawks performing a star-cluster evasion. One of the SEALs even drew his pistol and attempted unsuccessfully to force the Chinook to land so they could try to save their friends. Photo courtesy of DVIDS. Once on the ground, theyd have to pick up the rope, hook it to themselves, and get hoisted back up. Two months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the film Black Hawk Down was released, telling the story of U.S. Army Rangers who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu and helped rescue the crew of a downed Black Hawk helicopter. He was a bit of a chucklehead. Born and raised in small-town South Dakota, he grew up playing football and soccer before serving as a forward observer in the US Army. They were exhausted and angry with the mistake the US Air Force had made when they allowed Space-A seating to be filled on this leg of the flight home. We've hated to say no because people are very kind, Sam said. Brady had no way of knowing at the time, but it would be the last time anyone at Bagram would ever see three of those four Americans alive. Its not glamorous. As the next night approached, the task force went to work, planning another insertion onto the deadly ridgeline. The task force commander debriefed the men and then focused on planning their next steps. Graham made a stop at a Forward Arming and Refueling Point just outside of Jalalabad. As with the specifics of the planning of this phase, 2/3 played no direct role in command and control, as this was the "SOF supported" portion of the operation. Its extremely rare to have something that high-profile as your first mission, I recognize that, Brooks said. The flight crew kicked out the ropes, and the SEALs fast-roped down. Brady stood next to a SEAL commander both had to take command of their respective units when Reich and Kristensen were killed on Turbine 33. Im glad youre a thinking air mission commander and not simply one that takes a black-and-white view of the situation.. Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and other Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) personnel loaded onto five Chinooks. Back at Jalalabad, the commanders decided they had no choice but to wait for better weather and try again the next night. There was still some smoldering from the crash site, and I could see the glow from the heat through my night vision.. Photo by Spc. Kristensen attended Washington's Gonzaga College High School. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. 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That's who Erik really was," said Jason Redman, who served in SEAL Team 10 as an officer with Kristensen at the time of the Operation Red Wings disaster and had once been in Murphy's platoon. The birds call sign was Turbine 33. And if we just glamorize war all the time, I think thats a problem. He and some of his fellow Night Stalkers felt the SEALs plan was too risky. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Smith and the others in Turbine 34 watched helplessly as the Chinook full of their fellow aviators their friends crashed into the mountain and erupted in a ball of flames. Theyve got their own quick reaction force. A lot of guys really wanted to stay on the mission, recalled Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tim Graham, one of the pilots on Turbine 34. When Turbine 33 was shot down, they received orders to fly back along with Turbine 34 and the Apache gunships until the next phase of the mission was developed. The task force commander debriefed the men and then focused on planning their next steps. Pastors from the task force lead the caskets onto the C-17. The birds call sign was Turbine 33. Brady said he estimated the AC-130 would only be off station briefly and that the crew had reported no hostile activity on the LZ. Assigned to replace Eicher as senior flight lead, he was trying to learn as much as he could before hopping into an aircraft and joining the mission. Box 4666, Ventura, CA 93007 Request a Quote: taurus 1911 45 acp extended magazine CSDA Santa Barbara County Chapter's General Contractor of the Year 2014! Theyve got their own quick-reaction force. Photo courtesy of Steven Smith. He and Eicher hurried back to the operations center. Brady rushed to the operations center where Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chris Eicher was telling the task force commander that they should wait until dark before sending the QRF because going in during daylight would subject them to more danger. "I will never leave a fallen comrade, it read. Troops searching for the KIA and survivors. The 2007 book Lone Survivor was later adapted into a movie of the same name in 2013. As he watched the two Chinooks taxiing onto the runway, he locked eyes with Russell, his platoon sergeant. Primary and secondary zones appear to be clear of potential threats.. They ascended and flew back to Jalalabad to link up with another group of SEALs and standby as a quick reaction force (QRF) in case the SR team was compromised. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matt Rogie arrived in Bagram just before the Night Stalkers came back after dropping off the recovery force. He said visibility got so bad that he couldnt see the heat glow of the engines from the Chinook in front of him. Brady said he pleaded with Reich to at least let him come with and act as an extra gun and set of eyes. But seeing the site, even so long after, was helpful. Brady ran over to where his platoon sergeant, Sgt. Three of the 160ths MH-47D Chinooks on the flight line in Bagram, Afghanistan. "Erik did what any SEAL would do: go help SEALs in trouble," Navy Capt. Brooks said all of those events, happening within a matter of months, had been the momentum changer that inspired him to join the Army Rangers. They rolled out with a convoy and with some vengeance, and they fought their way up that mountainside, all the way up to the crash site.. As the next night approached, the task force went to work, planning another insertion onto the deadly ridgeline. Brady persisted with the details. Operation Red Wings was a pyrrhic victory U.S. victory. The Night Stalkers would then circle back and pick up the remaining SEALs who offloaded at Jalalabad. As the Night Stalkers approached Bagram they could see what looked like everyone on base standing outside, showing their respect for the fallen. July 1, 2015, 6:11 AM. SEALs: Who's Had More Impact in the War on Terror? Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. I could see a lot of vehicles with troops armed to the damn teeth, Smith recalled. In July 2005, a few weeks after the crash of Turbine 33, the callsign of the MH-47E that Kristensen and 15 other SEALs and Task Force 160 Nightstalker special operations airmen perished aboard, a squad of paratroopers and Rangers descended the steep slope, charred black from burning jet fuel, with tree trunks sheared off from the exploding chopper. The Night Stalkers would then circle back and pick up the remaining SEALs who offloaded at Jalalabad. Thunder boomed as lightning struck all around them. "But he was on the helo," his mother told ABC News, as the family marked the tenth anniversary of Erik's death in Operation Red Wings last weekend. It just didnt look good.. After refueling, he continued on to Jalalabad and off-loaded. The odds of enemy fighters hearing the echo of the dual-rotor helicopter increased every second it remained in a hover. When you hear all four directions, everyone gets pretty tense, Brady said. I find it all really strange, all the hero talk. The Taliban had pilfered the site, as well as the remains of Murphy -- they even stole his wristwatch -- and fellow SEAL operators Matthew Axelson and Danny Dietz in another location down the mountain in the forest. The members of the task force said their final goodbyes. He told Reich pushing the mission back would allow Shah to continue his terrorist activities, likely leading to the death of locals and US military in the area. Kristensen and his SEALs were waiting on the ramp, standing in a circle. Nope, I want you to take my spot as the operations officer and monitor from here, Reich replied. (Dr. Tony Books photo/Released) Luttrell wrote of his own experience surviving through Operation Red Wings, a 2005 special operations mission in Afghanistan to stop Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. Not wanting to leave their brothers, the SEAL team commander hatched a plan with the Night Stalkers to insert higher up on the ridgeline and fight their way down to the crash site so Turbine 34 could fly back to Jalalabad, pick up as many SEALs as he could, and fly back to reinforce the eight SEALs. As the Night Stalkers slept, the SR team was discovered by a numerically superior force of enemy fighters. He walked back to the operations center to monitor the situation and provide support from Bagram. Search instead in Creative? Photo courtesy of Matt Rogie. Navy SEALs operating in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. All the men were anxious, angry, and ready to retrieve their brothers in arms. Turbine 33s nose dipped down, and the aircraft slid to the left, appearing to almost recover. Eric Bana plays Erik Kristensen in "Lone Survivor," 2013. He asked the AC-130 crew for one final report on the four potential landing zones the Night Stalkers had identified for the mission. They then used explosives to clear out a large enough area for Chinooks to land when they came back. The 160th SOAR (A) Night stalkers are the only unit in the world to operate this helicopter (Photo: U.S. Army) A source from the Navy's special operations community described the reaction as "Shock and disbelief. When we landed, we just saw a row of Night Stalkers and Rangers and SEALs for as far as I could see, lined up and ready to help transport the remains off and take them to the mortuary affairs section, Brady recalled. He would have been on that bird were it not for the last-minute change. Not really sure who they were, but there was more activity than I expected., Brady rushed to the operations center where Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chris Eicher was telling the task force commander that they should wait until dark before sending the QRF because going in during daylight would subject them to more danger. It was a matter of seniority. The extreme height of the trees made the full length of rope approximately 90 feet necessary. Many of the men suffered scorched hands from gripping the rope through gloves for such a long descent. There were no survivors. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . That meant if the SEALs got into trouble, extraction would potentially require the use of a hoist to pull the SEALs out, which was a time-consuming and dangerous option. Nope, I want you to take my spot as the operations officer and monitor from here, Reich replied. Kristensen confronted him about the decision to cut the rope at the LZ and asked if the Night Stalkers would go back and retrieve it. The order was given to again abort the mission and return to base. Kristensen, 33, was portrayed in the film by Australian actor Eric Bana in a relatively small part. The majority of his book focuses on his first deployment out of Ranger training. military operation. Explosives were used to chop down trees due to width of the trees being too big for chainsaws. Steven K. Young, courtesy of DVIDS. Brady knew that surveillance aircraft going off station without backup was supposed to result in aborting the mission. Jarret Roth, a Naval Academy buddy, said Kristensen was excited about joining his girlfriend in Paris in 2006 after his Afghanistan deployment for an Olmsted Foundation Scholarship to attend the Institute for Political Studies and was thinking beyond his time in the SEAL teams. Follow @CoffeeOrDieMag on Twitter. Photo courtesy of Matt Rogie. Russell went to work right away getting the crews together to prep the aircraft for the mission. The fallen warriors were now on their way home. "Next year, I'm giving him up," Sam Kristensen said, half joking, of future tributes for her son. "The complexity of who he is, to me, is bigger than his being a SEAL. His vibrant personality appeared to live on as a powerful presence as his friends convened for the ninth time since 2005 on Saturday, shouting to be heard over the din of the downpour and laughing louder than the rain. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The weather was turning bad again as they offloaded Marines to assist with security. It was a gut-wrenching decision for everyone on the mission, as they knew the original SEALs on the SR team were fighting for their lives and one of their own aircraft and crew was burning on the side of a mountain. The crash site of Turbine 33. Im glad youre here because I am spent, Eicher told him. All of us were pretty broken up at that point, Rogie said. His parents buried Kristensen -- wearing his beloved Birkenstocks -- at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, which his father had also graduated from three decades earlier. The sun was fading behind Afghanistans Hindu Kush mountains the evening of June 27, 2005, as a team of four U.S. Navy SEALs walked up the ramp and into the back of U.S. Army Captain Matt Bradys MH-47 Chinook helicopter on Bagram Air Base. There was still some smoldering from the crash site, and I could see the glow from the heat through my night vision.. Friends such as John Ismay, who wrote appreciatively about this detail in the New York Times last year, say that was a subtle tribute to Kristensen as a genuine "non-conformist," who didn't fit the Hollywood stereotype of coldly conservative SEAL warriors. The rescue operation, known as Operation Red Wings II, continued for weeks. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor from the initial four-man SEAL reconnaissance element. Marines in the area knew it was an extremely dangerous place filled with Taliban fighters. Not really sure who they were, but there was more activity than I expected.. I could see the grass being blown by the rotor wash and all the remains bags being lined up in a row 16 of them, Rogie recalled. Throughout the mission, as his unit patrolled along exposed mountainsides and ravines, Brooks described the feeling that he and his unit could be ambushed at any moment. Later, militants would display captured U.S. weapons and laptop computers in a video. As the lead aircraft descended, it became clear the LZ was on a steep slope of the mountain, making descent difficult due to the front rotors approaching the mountainside faster than the rear of the aircraft. Steven K. Young, courtesy of DVIDS. All the men were anxious, angry, and ready to retrieve their brothers in arms. Graham reported the situation back to Bagram. Flying toward Jalalabad en route to the last known position of the SEALs, they received word from Bagram on the number of men they could have on board each aircraft and still fly at the extreme elevation. Al and Kip were on the ramp when the RPG impacted, Smith, who witnessed the horrific event, recalled. It means you cant drift any direction without crashing.. As the storm raged, the members of the task force haunted with thoughts of their brothers on the mountain tried to sleep. Arriving on site, the task force members fast-roped in. And that's what happened here. Turbine 34 started taking heavy gunfire from unseen fighters below. Kind of like SEALs.. The three-phase plan called for inserting a four-man SR team the first night, then inserting the second element of SEALs the following night to establish an isolation zone around Shah. Brady said he pleaded with Reich to at least let him come with and act as an extra gun and set of eyes. rested on the cold magazine well of my M4 carbine. So the enemy is one factor, but the terrain and weather are now a huge factor, and theyre starting to overtake the enemy in terms of danger to the force, Brady said. Al and Kip were on the ramp when the RPG impacted, Smith, who witnessed the horrific event, recalled. His creative outlets include Skovlund Photography and Concentrated Emotion, where he publishes poetry focused on his life experiences. Our plan of action is for you to get us to the high ground as close to the troops in contact as you can, and were going to fight our way downhill, Brady recalled Kristensen saying. He rowed crew, played lacrosse and majored in English and French at the Naval Academy and got a master's degree at progressive St. John's College in Annapolis. At the Bagram operations center, Maj. Stephen Reich approached Brady urgently, asking why he didnt follow abort criteria and fly back with the SR team after the AC-130 had to leave the airspace. Once on the ground, they started their search for casualties, potential survivors, and sensitive equipment. By Joshua Skovlund. Photo courtesy of Steven Smith. As the lead aircraft descended, it became clear the LZ was on a steep slope of the mountain, making descent difficult due to the front rotors approaching the mountainside faster than the rear of the aircraft. Assigned to replace Eicher as senior flight lead, he was trying to learn as much as he could before hopping into an aircraft and joining the mission. They engaged in a fierce firefight, and at some point the task force lost contact with them. Operation Red Wings Day 2: June 29. by Pete Nealen Nov 11, 2013. Smith said everyone on the Chinook was angry. The lone C-17 aircraft lumbered through the sky after departing Germany, a necessary stop on the way back to the United States. You hope they could. Kristensen agreed with Bradys evaluation, and after the SR team radioed that they would be laying down for the day in their hide site, Brady and Kristensen called it a night. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Were completely separate commands. They finalized plans and sent the Night Stalkers on their way. A photo of a Rangers gloved hand holding the dogtag imprinted with the Warrior Ethos sits framed in the Kristensens home, but until this month, his parents had never seen the rest of the crash site photos. Brooks told American Military News his experience on that mission added to his appreciation for Luttrells survival. Graham reported the situation back to Bagram. Navy SEALs Conduct an Impressive Capabilities Exercise Here's Rangers vs. It doesnt make sense., But he knew and lived by the Night Stalkers promise to every customer: If we put you in, well stop at nothing to get you out even if its technically someone elses job.. Thats not possible, Brady replied, confused at how quickly the SEALs had become compromised.