Battle of Shok Valley

Battle of Shok Valley
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Members of ODA 3336 in the Shok Valley
Date 6 April 2008 Location Shok Valley, Nuristan Province of Afghanistan Result Target not captured or killed.
Belligerents
United States of America Islamic Republic of Afghanistan	Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin
Commanders and leaders
Capt. Kyle Walton	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Units involved
Task Force Bushmaster[1] ODA 3336, 3rd Special Forces Group 1st Company, 201st Commando Battalion, ANA Commando Brigade	Local and foreign Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin fighters
Strength
Approx. 15 US Forces Approx 100 ANA	Approx. 200 Initial force Approx 50-200 reenforcements
Casualties and losses
US: Multiple US Army wounded, 1 embedded, local interpreter killed ANA: 2 Killed, multiple wounded	150-200 killed (US estimate)[citation needed]

The Battle of Shok Valley, also known as "Operation Commando Wrath," was a joint US-Afghan raid designed to kill or capture Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) in the Shok Valley of Nuristan Province of Afghanistan on 6 April 2008.^[2] Ten Special Forces soldiers^[3] and their combat cameraman^[4] were awarded the Silver Star for bravery, the greatest number of such awards for a single battle since the Vietnam War.^[5] In addition SrA Zachary Rhyner, ODA 3336's attached Air Force Combat Controller, was awarded the Air Force Cross.^[6]

Insertion

The decided batte plan call for the Afghan commandos Afghan National Army led by American Special Forces soldiers inserted into the valley via helicopter. From there they were to move on foot to the terraced slopes around the fortified town and take the HIG forces by surprise.^[7] The coalition's CH-47 Chinook helicopters were unable to land so their soldiers were forced to jump from the hovering helicopters. Due to the austere and barren nature of the valley HIG forces immediately spotted the incoming US and ANA forces and had several minutes to set up ambush positions.^[2]

Battle

Upon attempting to infiltrate the stronghold along a sheer-sided agricultural terrace, the attackers came under heavy rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and machine-gun fire from HIG positions. The initial salvo of machine gun fire was aimed at the command element in the American line. Immediately, the unit's interpreter was killed and one of the Special Forces communications sergeants was badly wounded. Now pinned down, the US and ANA forces responded with small arms and sniper fire. After an Afghan commando was incapacitated while attempting to render aid to the wounded and pinned communications sergeants, the ODA's combat cameraman, Specialist Michael Carter, ran through the open to recover the wounded soldier while the element's commanding officer, Captain Kyle Walton, provided cover fire. The two then switched roles in providing cover in order to recover the second wounded soldier. While the lead elements engaged HIG positions, Walton knew he would need close air support and so again provided cover while Carter ran out to recover the unit's communications gear.

Members of the Afghan 201st Commando Kanak, two months before the battle

With the communications gear restored, the ODA's attached combat controller began directing close air support from orbiting F-15E Strike Eagles and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters onto HIG targets. Over the course of the battle, Rhyner, the controller, would direct over 70 "danger close" air strikes. Rhyner used the F-15s as observations platforms, their avionics systems acting as reconnaissance tools. While the air strikes were hitting the fortified town, a massive explosion occurred in one of the buildings, causing a temporary lull in the fighting. The rear elements of the Special Forces detachment used this as an opportunity to maneuver into new positions and begin sniper fire on HIG heavy weapons positions. In the ensuing sniper exchange, the ODA's Intelligence Sergeant, Luis Morales, was struck and his leg nearly severed. Morales folded his mangled leg upward into his crotch and tied two bootlaces to his belt in order to retain his ability to move and shoot.^[7]

By this time, the F-15 overhead reported a massive reinforcement element moving in the valley. With daylight running out, several wounded soldiers, ammunition running short and the weather beginning to turn, the ODA began to scout an exfiltration route to an extraction zone. Carter and the ODA's Team Sergeant, Scott Ford, were scouting a route down the sheer terraces when Ford was hit twice by sniper fire, one of the shots nearly severing his left arm. As the combined Afghan and American forces withdrew down the mountain, the ODA's sniper, commanding officer and their combat cameraman remained behind to collect or destroy weapons that could not be carried. The ODA sniper covered the last of the withdraw before himself making his way to the extraction zone.

In all, the battle lasted for seven hours. The primary target of the action, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, was not captured.

References

1. ^ New York Times staff (25 July 2010). "View Is Bleaker Than Official Portrayal of War in Afghanistan". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/world/asia/26warlogs.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=operation%20commando%20wrath&st=cse. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Soldiers Honored With Silver Stars Following Extraordinary Battle in Afghanistan". PBS. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec08/silverstars_12-12.html. 
3. ^ Rusty Dennen. "Fredericksburg native awarded Silver Star for valor during harrowing April battle in Afghanistan". fredericksburg.com. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/122008/12132008/431769/index_html. 
4. ^ Gina Cavallaro. "Valor of combat cameraman earns him Silver Star". Army Times. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/army_combatcamera_121508w/. 
5. ^ "Incident Report: A Raging Firefight". Wikileaks via New York Times. 2010-07-25. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/world/asia/26warlogs.html?_r=1. 
6. ^ Department of Defense. "Zachary J. Rhyner Award Citiation". Military Times. http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3601. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Patrick Jennings. "Danger Close". Defense Media Network. http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/danger-close-oda-3336-in-the-shok-valley/. 

External Links

• United States military's Operation Commando Wrath classified report via New York Times
• NBC Nightly News segment on awarding of medals for the Battle of Shok Valley
• Redacted audio/video clip from Battle of Shok Valley