Photo By Sgt. 1st Class James Downen | Michigan Army National Guard Sgt. Michael Anderson, Spc. Tommie Owens, Sgt. Michael...... read more read more
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COMBAT OUTPOST WHITEHORSE, Afghanistan - The infantry Soldiers of 1st Squad served in multiple locations during their tour of duty, performing security missions to protect Security Force Advisory Teams and sometimes assisting with the training of Afghan National Police units.
In February, a Koran, containing Taliban propaganda, was burned at Bagram Air Base. This incident angered Col. Ibrahimi, a community elder considered to be the unofficial mayor of Imam Saheb, who called for a Jihad against the Americans. The soldiers of 1st Squad were performing a security mission to protect a SFAT team at COP Whitehorse during this time and the soldiers received intelligence that Col. Ibrahimi would be leading a protest against their installation on Feb. 26, 2012. Alpha team leader, Sgt. Michael McNichol said, “We received intel that the Afghans in the nearby town of Imam Saheb were going to protest at 1 P.M. on the 26th so we planned and rehearsed how we would occupy defensive positions and defend COP Whitehorse in case things became violent.”
COP Whitehorse was an ANP installation containing an Afghan compound and an American compound divided by a wall. McNichol and his Soldiers were working out at 12:00 P.M., when they heard gunfire. McNichol said, “The ANP began firing in the air when protesters lead by Col. Ibrahimi tried to get through the entry point to our outpost. We moved to our assigned positions the way we did in our rehearsals. My position was security on the door dividing the installation. Three other soldiers were in a position near mine, Sgt. Michael Anderson took up a position with his M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon in the guard shack and medic Spc. Tommie Owens organized the casualty collection point. All of our positions were behind a Mine Resistant All Terrain Vehicle that blocked the entry to our part of the outpost and it blocked most of the rocks and bricks the rioters were throwing at us.”
The rioters continued to throw rocks and bricks at the defending Soldiers. McNichol said, “We held our positions while dodging rocks and bricks, some soldiers began suffering minor injuries from being hit. One soldier, Spc. David Fuentes-Bueno, was hit in the face and moved to my position behind the M-ATV. The SFAT team fell behind the M-ATV as well. Non-lethal rounds and tear gas were used to try and disperse the crowd. After a few minutes, I heard and felt a loud explosion, flames, shrapnel and rocks were thrown all over us. Later, it was determined that we had been hit by a grenade. I saw several soldiers fall to the ground and I dropped to my knees. I regained my footing, went to the soldier who was standing next to me and realized he had life threatening injuries. I grabbed him and dragged him until another soldier helped me get him to the casualty collection point. The medics took charge of the soldier once we got him to the CCP. I noticed another soldier unresponsive and not breathing, so I helped Owens treat the soldier. We gave him first aid and I gave Owens a nasopharyngeal airway to get him breathing again. Once he was stabilized, I went back to the CCP to get a protective mask.”
Owens described the events and challenges he faced that day as a combat medic, “We had nine soldiers injured during the attack; fortunately, none were fatalities. Our main entrance was blocked by the M-ATV to keep the rioters out so we had to use buddy carries to drag and move the injured soldiers in body armor once the decision was made for the medevac Blackhawks to land on our COP to pick up the wounded.”
McNichol said, “I met up with Sgt. 1st Class Travis Garza, our platoon sergeant, and he saw I was wounded so he told me to return to the CCP for treatment. After being treated, I got the M-ATV ready to secure the landing zone when Owens came to the vehicle and told me the medevac helicopters were going to land on our COP instead of using the landing zone. Our Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller called in a show of force run by F-15 fighter jets to drive off the rioters. The show of force run worked and the crowd dispersed. The two medevacs landed one at a time, each bird retrieved four wounded and flew them to the German base at Kunduz. The first bird returned and picked me and another Soldier up and flew us to Kunduz as well.”
“The German medical personnel at FOB Konduz were very helpful and provided excellent treatment for our wounds. Six of our wounded required additional higher level treatment and were flown to Bagram, then Germany and eventually, the United States for recovery. My stay was overnight and I was back at the COP within 48 hours.”
The 1st Squad defenders credited their successful defense of COP Whitehorse to training and teamwork. McNichol said, “No matter how boring, mundane or repetitive the training is, know that we train for a reason. Be prepared as you can for the fight and ready to react under great stress. Always learn everything you can from the experienced leaders in your unit and pass it on to those below and around you. Make sure your team members are prepared as possible.”
Owens said, “Train to move wounded who are wearing a full combat load including body armor. It is tough to move heavily loaded Soldiers, but it must be done to move them to safety under combat conditions. Always have a back-up plan for every situation that may occur, for example, we went from a plan using a M-ATV for casualty evacuation to helicopter medevac because of the circumstances we faced when our COP was attacked.”
McNichol and Owens were decorated for their actions at COP Whitehorse. McNichol received a Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart for wounds received during the riot. Owens received an Army Achievement award with Valor, recognizing the medical support he provided that day.
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2013 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 116812 |
| Location: | COMBAT OUTPOST WHITEHORSE, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,207 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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