Today is the five-year anniversary of the battle of Combat Outpost Keating, one of the deadlier battles of the war, that occurred near the town of Kamedesh in eastern Afghanistan. Eight soldiers lost their lives, and 28 were wounded defending what was really an indefensible position against over 300 Taliban insurgents.
Tapper, who wrote the best-selling book on the battle titled, “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor,” took to Twitter this morning to both honor those who lost their lives and to give a mini history lesson for those who are just learning about this underreported story of Americans at war:
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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