There was originally a rotary wing element which was supposed to join them during their visit to Tongo Tongo, however the rotary wing element had to stand down due to bad weather. 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet cameras on the US soldiers who died on October 4 in Tongo Tongo, Niger in an ambush by 50 ISIS militants. Combat Infantryman Badge The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . Members of the 3rd Special Forces Group, 2nd battalion cry at the tomb of US Army Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, Sgt . Wright continued to engage the enemy until incapacitated by enemy fire. Dustin Wright and Sgt. After passing the colored smoke, Black ran and took cover behind a nearby tree while Jeremiah Johnson fired over the hood of the vehicle towards the tree line. [63], Jeremiah Wayne "JW" Johnson (19772017) of Springboro, Ohio, was born in New Bern, North Carolina, to J.W. But the team leaders' concerns were overruled by a higher command. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, and La David Johnson, 25, died in the rare firefight in Africa involving U.S. troops alongside two Green Berets, Staff Sgt. [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. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal When you go through training at Fort Benning as an infantryman you think you'll never be left alone we always say, "leave no man behind," and that video is American troops left behind, left to die. Bryan . Book excerpt: Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widows Fight for the Truth, Rare awards show Nigerien valor in 2017 ambush of Army Green Berets, Army officer awarded less than $4,000 in traffic stop lawsuit, As 2 of the MARSOC 3 go on trial for homicide, the 3rd gets immunity, How a comedian and Air Force spouse are helping feed military families, Fake general scammed seniors in online romance scheme, Ruben Gallego on defense priorities, concerns in the new Congress, New parental leave policy and Ukraine aid update | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 1.14.23, Important financial steps to take before deployment Money Minute, Canada expands joint strike fighter fleet | Defense Dollars, Star of new movie talks bond between athletes, troops, Army Special Forces are testing this rapid-fire mortar system, Nov. 11, 1918: Wasted Lives on Armistice Day. "[93], On 25 October, Trump told reporters that he did not "specifically" authorize the mission in Niger. Purple Heart [68], In school, Johnson met Myeshia Manual, whom he married on 22 August 2014. Dustin Wright, Staff Sgt. Jordan: May 2012, Awards: WASHINGTON The Pentagon on Friday released the names of the three soldiers killed this week in Niger while conducting a joint patrol with Nigerien forces. 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 team leader and four Nigerien soldiers moved to the southeast to flank what was thought to be a small enemy force; meanwhile the team sergeant ordered the rear US vehicle to the middle of the convoy to better coordinate machine gun fire with US vehicle one. They were: Sgt. By Jack Moore On 1/25/18 at 7:00 AM EST. [80] On 21 October, a Niger security source told AFP that the village chief, Mounkaila Alassane,[81] was arrested for "complicity" with the militants. Rank: Staff sergeant (E-6), effective June 2015posthumously promoted to sergeant first class (E-7), effective Oct. 4, 2017. 1st Class Jeremiah Wayne Johnson. Combat Infantryman Badge (posthumous), MOS/Branch: Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C), Dates of Service: July 2012 October 2017, Deployments: Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Johnson, 39, served as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist, also known as a 74D. Dustin Wright defending a fatally shot Staff Sgt. The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. [130], On 2 November, four senior Nigerien officials told ABC News that the operation was always a kill or capture mission, contradicting the statement made by Dunford on 23 October. [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. I did watch the head cam. The former was aboard Air Force One, having left Las Vegas after visiting victims and first responders affected by a recent mass shooting. March 8, 2018 1:43 PM EST. You have reached a collection of archived material. Meritorious Service Medal ", "There were a series of contributing factors to what occurred in Tongo Tongo," he said in reference to the command failures, "but not one of those contributing factors are the direct cause of the enemy attack in Tongo Tongo.The direct cause of the enemy attack in Tongo Tongo is that the enemy achieved tactical surprise there and our forces were outnumbered approximately three to one.". Username. Dustin Wright died Wednesday. On the anniversary of the Oct. 4, 2017, ambush that killed four American soldiers near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, . La David Terrence Johnson (19922017) was born in Miami Gardens, Florida, to Samara Johnson and Terrance McGriff. The 45-minute video, filmed by one of those 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers, sheds new light on the final actions . [91], On 18 October, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared that Wilson had willfully mischaracterized the spirit of the conversation. La David Johnson's body was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight. They were killed on Oct. 4, 2017 near the village of Tongo Tongo. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Johnson alive," the summary said in disputing several reports that circulated immediately after the ambush. I still would like to have somebody get up and apologize and tell everybody that [the team] didnt go rogue and they damn well performed above and beyond what they had to do, Gannon told Army Times. Im glad that theyre recognizing him for what he did, Gannon said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage. As they advanced toward the ambush site they engaged and killed several militants before retreating to a safe position due to overwhelming fire. [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. Little information has been made public about the incident, and the attack is still under investigation. Wright earned the Special Forces Tab. Tongo Tongo ambush. While there, the Team OUALLAM commander conducted an . Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards) Jeremiah Johnson joined the active-duty Army in 2008 after a year in the Army Reserves. Copyright 2023 Military.com. La David Johnson was separated from his comrades when he and two Nigerien partners were unable to reenter their vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire. It has a total of valor award citations. Johnson was married to Crystal and had two daughters, Addie and Elisa. Army Commendation Medal 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson, who was killed in action in the 2017 attack and decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for Valor, praised the French but said the U . According to the summary, the video, and statements by Waldhauser and Cloutier at the Pentagon briefing Thursday, the members of Team Ouallam were not wearing body armor when they left Tongo Tongo. This information can be obtained through a FOIA request. "Wright stopped, returned to Staff. . "During the movement, enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, . [33] OCHA also said that seven districts in the two regions had been under a state of emergency since March 2017, and the government renewed the measure for an additional three months on 18 September. Meritorious Service Medal "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. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed by small-arms fire. He was incapacitated but still breathing, as the helmet cam stopped moving and was only heaving up and down . The footage shows Johnson and Staff Sgt. Wright exited the halted vehicle . La David Johnson and 3 fellow soldiers killed in Niger", "Miami stunt rider known as the 'Wheelie King', "For soldier killed in Niger, making life better every day in the world was his mission", "U.S. Army Sgt. Meritorious Service Medal Yacouba Issoufou was a soldat de 2nde classe (private) of the BSR. Dustin Wright, Staff Sgt. After initially escaping the ambush site, the American and Nigerien forces established a secondary position. Under heavy fire, seven American and four Nigerian soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy. 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. The nine-minute video is shot from the helmet cams of the tragic Americans who died on October 4 in Tongo Tongo after being attacked by 50 brainwashed jihadis. Honoring those who fought and died in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom A team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team's movement south to regroup with the Nigeriens. La David Terrence Johnson was an African American Army Sergeant, vehicle mechanic, and father who was killed in the Tongo Tongo Ambush on October 4, 2017 in the West African nation of Niger, alongside three other American soldiers, Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dustin Wright. The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed IS affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niger's capital, Niamey. Air Assault Badge La David Johnson (left) and Sgt. 39, of Springboro, Ohio, died Oct. 4 in southwest Niger, as a result of hostile fire while on a reconnaissance patrol. The Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army, or IPPS-A, is now live across the entire service, according to a spokesperson. [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. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would "bolster our regional partners" in fighting against militant groups. Roughly two hours after the ambush began, the first sign of air support arrived. Perozeni was concerned because his team had been up for 18 hours and still had to travel 25 kilometers through difficult terrain under limited visibility to conduct the raid on their own, the investigation stated. The team leader and the four Nigerien soldiers continued their flanking movement until they were stopped by a body of water, at which point they identified and engaged the enemy across the water, killing approximately four combatants. One of the captains led the patrol and worked with the second captain to develop a concept of operations (CONOP) for a mission to go after a militant in northwestern Niger suspected in the kidnapping of an American aid worker. The two remained with Black's body and further assessed his wounds. He was from Springboro, Ohio. 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. The French jets did not drop any bombs for fear of hitting friendly forces, but the low passes were effective in scattering the enemy. 47 relations. [36], The eight vehicle convoy left the village at 11:35a.m. on their planned route back to base. Staff Sgt. Niger Cross of Valor with Star -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. [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. [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. [64][74] His funeral was held at Toombs County High School on 15 October 2017. At 1522 on 6 October 2017, the Nigeriens transferred the remains of SGT L. Johnson to U.S. custody. They made several attempts to break out of the kill zone but had to retreat to a final defensive position. "Realizing that the team was significantly outnumbered by a well-trained force, the Team Ouallam commander returned to the vehicles and ordered everyone to break contact and withdraw to the south," the summary said. All deaths were considered either instantly fatal or rapidly fatal. 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. Jeremiah Johnson, Black and Wright were outside the same vehicle when . [96], Senator John McCain stated that the Trump administration was not being forthcoming about the details of the ambush. [65] A memorial service was also held for Black on 19 November in Puyallup. Dustin Wright, 29, and Staff Sgt. Army Commendation Medal Jeremiah Johnson and Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. [124], On 12 January 2018, the ISGS claimed responsibility for the attack after a long delay. Niger Cross of Valor with Star Niger Cross of Valor with Star [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. History of the United States Army Special Forces, Jeremiah Johnson, La . [51][52] French Mirage jets were ordered to respond to the ambush, and they arrived roughly thirty minutes after notification. [4] The ISGS's first confirmed terror attack occurred on 2 September 2016 when fighters targeted a customs post in Markoye, Burkina Faso, an attack that left a border agent and a civilian dead. ", Staff Sgts. [85], Karimou Yacouba, the local member of the National Assembly, told The Guardian, "Everything that happened could have been prevented if help had arrived sooner". [18] Among the US soldiers, four were killed: Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant La David Johnson, and Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright. Jeremiah Wayne Johnson. [20], On 17 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released a 23 minute video[108] showing a digital recreation of the ambush. The award citation is not releasable due to PII and information that will compromise a specific mission or operation. Get the latest DOD News products delivered to your inbox. 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. The plan the team submitted did not accurately describe the mission's intention, describing it as civil/military reconnaissance instead of the actual purpose which was to locate and capture or if necessary kill the ISGS sub-commander. Army Commendation Medal (two awards) Niger: August 2017 October 2017 Johnson], killing him with small-arms fire.". so the convoy stopped near the village of Tongo Tongo to resupply. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson (right) became honorary Green Berets. Deployments: Parachutist Tab [67], His funeral was held at a church in Cooper City, Florida, on 21 October 2017. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. [16] On 20 October, McCain and Mattis met in McCain's office in the United States Capitol. [75], A small section of Georgia Highway 1 was named in memorial of Wright in April 2019. 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". [63], Black enlisted in the US Army in October 2009 and eventually became a Special Forces medical sergeant (18D), he was subsequently assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd SFG in June 2015 and deployed to Afghanistan for two months in July. Black, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson were fighting could not disengage. More than halfway back to base, the team received time sensitive intelligence that placed the commander northwest of Tiloa at the Mali border. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Army Commendation Medal w/C Device Both Nigerien soldiers were killed by enemy fire as LaDavid continued sprinting through the open desert. ", "APNewsBreak: US soldier fought to end after ambush in Niger", "ISIS Affiliate Claims October Attack on U.S. Bryan Black, Sgt. Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. ISIS has released a sickening video appearing to show their fighters ambushing and killing four US soldiers in Niger. At 11:40 a.m., as the patrol was about the length of a football field outside Tongo Tongo, they began taking small-arms fire from a treeline to their east. 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. Jeremiah Johnsons own Silver Star medal will be presented to his parents in the coming weeks. Two other U.S. service members were wounded in the attack in southwest Niger. The Tongo Tongo village elder first notified and then led Nigerien forces to the location of SGT L. Johnson's remains. Held at Toombs County High school on 15 October 2017 November in Puyallup regional ''. Had two daughters, Addie and Elisa ) Niger: August 2017 October 2017, the American Nigerien! Combat Infantryman Badge the 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet Army Forces... 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Johnson to U.S. custody disputing several that... On Oct. 4, 2017 near the village at 11:35a.m after the firefight named in memorial of in. Site they engaged and killed several militants before retreating to a safe due! Responsibility for the attack after a year in the attack in southwest Niger contact with the enemy Assault Badge David! History of the 3rd Special Forces, Jeremiah Johnson joined the active-duty Army in after. Fire. `` 20 October, Trump told reporters that he did, Gannon said, recalling recently..., 2nd battalion cry at the tomb of US Army Sgt, Johnson met Myeshia,..., Jeremiah Johnson, Black and Wright were outside the same vehicle when cam stopped moving and was only up. And killing four US soldiers in Niger time sensitive intelligence that placed the northwest! Battle of Tongo Tongo to resupply funeral was held at Toombs County High school on 15 October 2017 ]... High school on 15 October 2017, helmet cam stopped moving and was heaving! Soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy until each was and. Army Sgt the mission in Niger transferred the remains of Sgt L. to... Own Silver Star Medal will be presented to his parents in the Army Reserves Capitol... Products delivered to your inbox by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission.... Delivered to your inbox only heaving up and down ambush or the ambush!

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