[67], Johnson's family enrolled him in 5000 Role Models, a mentorship program of US Representative Frederica Wilson that prepared African American children for college, vocational school, or the military. Jeremiah Johnson (gridiron football) (born 1987), American and Canadian football running back. The winding tale of how the lightly armed team wound up in the melee, and why the militarys investigation placed primary blame on the ground force rather than senior leaders, has been covered extensively, including in a recent ABC documentary, 3212 UN-REDACTED. ", "APNewsBreak: US soldier fought to end after ambush in Niger", "ISIS Affiliate Claims October Attack on U.S. All rights reserved. The mission plan was assessed and approved by the AOB Niger and SOCCE commanders and on 3 October at 5:59 am (local time), the team of 11 personnel consisting of eight US Special Forces operators, two support, and an intelligence contractor accompanying 35 Nigerien personnel from the Security and Intelligence Battalion (Bataillon Scurit et de Renseignement or BSR) and the 433rd Special Interdiction unit, departed toward the vicinity of Tiloa in an eight vehicle convoy. [41] However, the meeting would drag on with the local leaders delaying the soldiers' departure by stalling and keeping them waiting. The team radioed in that they were being overrun, then destroyed their radios to avoid them getting in the hands of the enemy. [105] Officials from the Department of Defense said that soldiers had carried out 29 similar operations in the past six months with no problems, and such operations were considered routine by the time of the ambush. Staff Sgt. The remains were retrieved from the spot near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, where Johnson and three other American soldiers were ambushed and killed on Oct. 4 by ISIS-linked militants. [123], Interviewed in a 2020 documentary, United States Army veteran and author Paul Rieckhoff described the significance of the incident:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, When I watch that video I think of the worst-case scenario. She said she didn't like Trump's tone and that she broke down when Trump fumbled her husband's name. A team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team's movement south to regroup with the Nigeriens. Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon [100], On 26 October, Robert Karem, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and Air Force Major General Albert Elton briefed the Senate Armed Services Committee in a closed session. [116], On 18 October, Mark Landler and Yamiche Alcindor, reporters from The New York Times, drew comparisons between the incident with the phone call to La David Johnson's widow and Trump's feud with the parents of another American soldier killed in action, Humayun Khan, during the 2016 US presidential election. Approximately 85 meters (93yd) southwest of the SUV, Jeremiah Johnson was hit by enemy fire and collapsed; Wright stopped running and returned to Jeremiah Johnson's position. FILE - These images provided by the U.S. Army show, from left, Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright defending a fatally shot Staff Sgt. Staff Sgt. [107], On 10 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released an unclassified executive summary of the DoD's investigation and gave a briefing on the outcome of the department's investigation. [17], In 2015, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara was established by Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, who was a spokesperson and senior leader of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), a splinter group of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. [56], On 6 October, the body of LaDavid Johnson was found by children tending cattle. The video below, which is age restricted, contains combat footage of the 2017 Niger ambush. Jeremiah Johnson. Members of the 3rd Special Forces Group, 2nd battalion cry at the tomb of US Army Sgt. Niger vehicles one and two were the first vehicles to depart. Dustin Wright died Wednesday. They offered to return it to the US by legal means. ", The attackers brought up a truck-mounted heavy machine gun and raked the tree, the summary said. [61] At the age of 20, Black earned a business degree at Central Washington University. During this manoeuvre, Sergeant LaDavid Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers became separated from the rest of his team. An account of what happened in Niger last Oct. 4 was released Thursday by the Pentagon and U.S. Africa Command. [52][50][53][13] Even though there was now air support, the French pilots could not engage because they could not readily identify enemy forces in the firefight. However, Senator Richard Blumenthal said, "I could not look those families in the eye and say we're doing everything we need to do to provide sufficient intelligence that will enable them to be successful in their missions and avoid the kind of catastrophe that we saw here". [113], On 25 October, Michelle Black said she was grateful that Trump called her and spoke to her children: "So, yeah he was very gracious and I appreciate anyone who calls cause, like I said, that takes quite a bit of bravery to call into that kind of situation". [29][31] In May 2015, Sahrawi spoke on the behalf of al-Mourabitoun and had pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. [75], A small section of Georgia Highway 1 was named in memorial of Wright in April 2019. The account was in the form of an unclassified eight-page summary of a classified 3,600-page Article 15-6 fact-finding investigation ordered by Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the AFRICOM commander, and led by his chief of staff, Army Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier. Dates of Service: July 2007 - October 2017. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. WASHINGTON American special operations forces fought valiantly against overwhelming odds in the battle against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists outside Tongo Tongo, Niger, and while a number of factors contributed to the clash, no single factor within the control of U.S. forces caused the deaths of four U.S. Army soldiers and four Nigeriens, a military investigation has concluded. Jordan: May 2012, Awards: Dustin M. Wright", "Lyons community gathers together for SSgt. Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards) They made several attempts to break out of the kill zone but had to retreat to a final defensive position. Army Commendation Medal w/ C Device This account was disputed by Trump, who said that he "had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife" and accused Wilson of "fabricating" her account. Upon realizing Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Wright were missing, Two team members volunteered to head back to the ambush site in an attempt to locate vehicle three. The second Nigerien soldier was shot and killed about another 110 meters further on. About two hours after the initial attack, they were preparing to make a "last stand" when French Mirage fighters arrived overhead and made several "tree-top level" passes. [95], On 13 December, Wilson told Jonathan Capehart on his podcast that there was a cover-up. The Defense Department released the results of the U.S. Africa Command-led investigation into the Oct. 4, 2017, ambush on U.S. and Nigerien forces near Tongo Tongo, Niger. Bryan C. Black and Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. The first call for air support came 53 minutes after they started taking fire. [28] On 19 October, Kelly, whose son was killed in the War in Afghanistan in 2010, defended Trump's call with the widow of La David Johnson. La David Johnson was born on January 2, 1992, in Miami, Florida. [24] On 5 February, officials from both Niger and the United States said that the two countries signed a status of forces agreement that allowed the deployment of unarmed surveillance drones. 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Djibouti: April 2016 September 2016 After what I saw him do, yeah, Im glad theyre recognizing him for that., Jeremiah composed himself after being shot three times and he was still helping Dustin, telling him where the [enemy] shots were coming from, and he was still shooting.. "They were last seen by team members actively engaging the enemy from defensive positions near their vehicle and preparing to withdraw with the rest of the team," the summary said. "That's not what the evidence indicates," he said, but Cloutier and Waldhauser said there were "processes" throughout the chain of command that need addressing. Wright, 29, was a native of Lyons, Georgia. Niger is a hotbed of Islamist insurgent groups to include al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, and Boko Haram. LaDavid Johnson was unable to enter his vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire and was forced to escape and evade on foot with the two Nigeriens. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, La David . La David Johnson of the 3rd Special Forces Group were killed Oct. 4 when their 12-man team and roughly 30 Nigerien soldiers were ambushed near the village of Tongo Tongo. From there, he "continued to return fire against the pursuing enemy. La David T. Johnson's Funeral Held Saturday", "Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt. [127] According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has since joined the investigation. The documentary shows what happened as the unit was caught in a surprise ISIS attack in outside the Saharan village of Tongo Tongo. [27] US Army Special Forces personnel (commonly referred to as Green Berets) have deployed on numerous occasions to train personnel of the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) to assist in the fight against terrorists from neighboring countries. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson. [70] In January 2014, Johnson enlisted in the US Army as a wheeled vehicle mechanic (91B). [102] McCain said the ambush was "a direct result" of budget sequestration. [38], At 10:30 am (local time), 4 October, the convoy stopped at the village of Tongo Tongo so that partner Nigeriens could eat breakfast and get water. [55] Within three to four hours after the soldiers called in for support, a French special operations team arrived at the scene. It was ambushed outside the village of Tongo Tongo by a large group of Islamic State militants that had been tracking its movements for hours. [39] The US and Nigerien team leaders objected to the task because they were not heavily armed or equipped for intense combat should they encounter Chefou's ISIS fighters alone. Army Commendation Medal They sent final messages to loved ones on personal devices and prepared for the worst, team members would observe Nigerien soldiers on the ground praying. [4][29][30] In August 2013, MUJAO merged with al-Mourabitoun, which swore allegiance to al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri. Meritorious Service Medal Johnson, 39, served as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist, also known as a 74D. During this sustained attack the ODA leader was thrown from the bed of the team's pickup. He served as a Special Forces engineer sergeant, or an 18C. At this point two additional team members would head back toward the initial ambush site to help locate the missing teammates. Johnson acknowledged the order and attempted to get behind the wheel, but heavy fire drove him back. At a 2018 Pentagon press briefing, the ambushed team was blamed for poor training and reckless mission planning in their attempt to capture Doundou Chefou, a mid-level commander for the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. [41] The meeting lasted 30 minutes longer than the team leader expected. [65] A memorial service was also held for Black on 19 November in Puyallup. The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide a lethal Joint Force to defend the security of our country and sustain American influence abroad. ", "A Deadly Ambush's Great Mystery: What Are We Doing in Niger? Niger Cross of Valor with Star The lowest recorded core temperature in a surviving adult is 60.8 degrees. At Dachau's cold-water immersion baths, Nazi doctors calculated death to arrive at around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. La David Johnson at his burial service in the Memorial Gardens East . The team leader, Capt. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The team leader, Perozeni, was also initially recommended for a Bronze Star with Valor. Myeshia Johnson wanted to see her husband's body, but was reportedly not allowed to do so by the military. Get the latest DOD News products delivered to your inbox. Army Commendation Medal (two awards) McCain also said that the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which he was the chairman, would like to get the information "it deserves and needs", before deciding whether a formal investigation is necessary. Somehow, it was left behind. In a statement attributed to Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the group said, "We declare our responsibility for the attack on the US commandos last October in the Tongo Tongo region of Niger". The 2017 ambush pitted the outmanned and outgunned 11 U.S. troops and their 30 Nigerien partners against scores of enemy fighters armed with mortars, truck-mounted heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. You have reached a collection of archived material. The four fallen troops "gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and died with honor while actively engaging the enemy," the summary said. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and US soldiers outside the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base after a stop in the village. [83], On 1 November, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said that Niger was open to allowing US drone strikes against terror groups. Staff Sgt. Army Commendation Medal w/C Device The ambush left five Nigeriens, [11] four Americans, [7] and 21 militants dead. La David Johnson were posthumously awarded the Silver Star while Staff Sgt. . The four are, from left, Staff Sgt. [24][26] In October 2015, Niger and the US signed a military agreement committing the two countries "to work together in the fight against terrorism". If we have drones and satellite eyes in space, how do we let American troops get abandoned? La David Johnson's body was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight. Army Service Ribbon Username. The mothers of two of the four soldiers killed in a 2017 ambush in Niger say recently discovered video from the battle is more proof that their sons' valor awards should be reevaluated. Four U.S. soldiers died and it took him 12 days to respond", "Islamic State's Sahara branch claims first attack in Burkina Faso", "Sub-Saharan Africa's Tree "New" Islamic State Affiliates", "Belmokhtar's militants 'merge' with Mali's Mujao", "Confusion surrounds West African jihadists' loyalty to Islamic State", "At least 46 attacks in area of Niger where U.S. troops killed: U.N.", "Niger: Nigerien and US soldiers killed on the Mali border", "US intelligence officials examining video of Nigerien militant group", "Tongo-Tongo and the death of American soldiers", "US soldiers killed in Niger were outgunned, 'left behind' in hunt for ISIS leader", "New details on deadly ambush in Niger that left 4 soldiers dead", "American troops caught in deadly Niger ambush told to proceed despite mission concern", "Senator McCain says subpoena may be required to get answers on", "Oct 2017 Niger Ambush Summary of Investigation", "US special forces 'fought Niger ambush alone after local troops fled', "Hours before death in Niger, U.S. soldiers were targeting militants in Mali", "Troops Ambushed in Niger Waited an Hour to Call for Help, Pentagon Official Says", "Caught in a deadly ambush, US troops in Niger waited an hour for French air power to arrive", "U.S. Sgt. [20] During the ambush, four Nigeriens, four US soldiers, and at least 100+ISGS militants were killed, and eight Nigeriens and two US soldiers including the team commander were wounded. Adjutant Chef Bagu Soumana and Soldier 2nd Class Abdoul Rachid Yarima were posthumously awarded, while four surviving soldiers received their awards in an October 2019 ceremony in Niamey. Niger Cross of Valor with Star The footage shows Johnson and Staff Sgt. [98] On the same day, Senator Lindsey Graham said that the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee will be briefed next week. They tried a textbook maneuver to end the threat. Certificate of Achievement (two awards) ", "What Are U.S. [26] In October 2017, there were about 800 US military personnel in Niger, most of whom were working to build a second drone base for US and French aircraft in Agadez. [16] On 20 October, McCain and Mattis met in McCain's office in the United States Capitol. A helicopter support team pulled out due to weather conditions, leaving the team exposed in Tongo Tongo, near the border with Mali. Soon after leaving Tongo Tongo, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niamey, Niger's capital, they were ambushed by Islamic State-linked militants carrying small arms and machine guns. [54], In December 2017, Major General Mark Hicks, the commander of Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA), wrote a letter to the Special Operations Forces that read, "To reinforce and clarify guidance going forward I would like to emphasize that we must reduce our risk exposure and build trust in our ability to exercise sound judgment and disciplined planning and execution". Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. "What it shows, Meek said, is Jeremiah . Black, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson "were never captured alive by the enemy," the summary said. They quickly put it on as the firefight began. La David Johnson and Staff Sgt. More than halfway back to base, the team received time sensitive intelligence that placed the commander northwest of Tiloa at the Mali border. Members of team Quallem killed several enemies during this movement out of the ambush site. Operational Detachment Alpha Team 3212, also known as "Team Ouallam" for their base in Niger, had just left the village of Tongo Tongo near the Mali border on the morning of Oct. 4 in a convoy of seven unarmored pickups. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Staff Sgt. Combat Infantryman Badge, Rank: Sergeant (E-5), effective April 2017, MOS/Branch: Wheeled vehicle repairer (91B), Dates of Service: January 2014 October 2017, Deployments: "As enemy fighters advanced through the ambush site, they fired several additional bursts into the bodies of the three soldiers.". On 10 October, CNN reported that a US defense official had shared details of an after action report that consisted of interviews with the survivors of the ambush. Gen. Raymond Thomas III, who helmed SOCOM at the time, then downgraded the award again to a Silver Star in December 2018, the records showed. [135], Two Nigeriens received Bronze Stars with Valor for their actions during the ambush one for a Nigerien who joined in a flanking maneuver against the ISGS militants and one for a Nigerien who exposed himself to stop friendly fire coming from a quick reaction force's heavy machine-gun.[136]. 1st Class Jeremiah . . Army Achievement Medal (five awards) The militants, who had arrived with a dozen technicals and about 20 motorcycles and were equipped with small arms, vehicle mounted heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and mortars had allowed the convoy to move through the kill zone before attacking, trapping the rear of the convoy.[43][44][45][46]. La David Johnson and Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Wayne Johnson. Johnson "continued to evade, running west for an additional 450 meters before eventually seeking cover under a thorny tree," the summary said. Jeremiah Johnson. 47 relations. The Americans and their Nigerien partners fought back fiercely, but they were outnumbered and outgunned. [20] Some within the US military were critical of the report because they viewed it as underplaying blame for senior officers who had approved of the mission. The new video was quietly recovered during a French operation to kill the leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara this summer. America's shadow wars in Africa, explained", "US military completes initial Niger ambush investigation", "Mali conflict: US deploys 100 troops to neighbour Niger", "U.S. to base surveillance drones in Niger, ambassador says", "Niger: The death of US soldiers reveals their presence in the Sahel", "Is Niger Trump's Benghazi? The tree where Sgt Johnson's died, seen from an islamist firing position.png 937 616; 541 KB. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed . Two US soldiers who were wounded in the ambush were transferred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. The 45-minute video, filmed by one of those 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers, sheds new light on the final actions . [59], Among the Nigeriens, five were killed and eight were wounded. La David Johnson, made the fight the deadliest on the African continent for . On the anniversary of the Oct. 4, 2017, ambush that killed four American soldiers near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, . Who Is the Army Punishing? [41] The group guarding the vehicles began to suspect that something was wrong when they witnessed two motorcycles race out of the village. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. . Global War on Terrorism Service Medal [67], His funeral was held at a church in Cooper City, Florida, on 21 October 2017. Black, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson were fighting could not disengage. He enlisted in the Army July 2012. [33] The FAN had launched a military operation to reestablish security in Tillabri in June 2017. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . [4][32] However, the declaration was not recognized by the group's leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, and the al-Qaeda loyalists, creating a split in the group. "The enemy did not capture Sgt. The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . Global War on Terrorism Service Medal [97] On 19 October, McCain said that a subpoena may be required to determine what happened in Niger.
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