The Valor And Valorous Acts Of The Most Decorated Unit In Afghanistan

The Battle of Wanat in Afghanistan, which took place on July 13, 2008, is considered one of the most intense battles of the war, resulting in nine U.S. soldiers killed and 27 wounded. The 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade was the most decorated unit in this battle, receiving numerous awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation, three Medals of Honor, two Distinguished Service Crosses, and 26 Silver Star Medals. The Battle of Wanat has since become a pivotal episode in military history, shaping the way small units are prepared for intense combat and leaving an indelible mark on those who fought with valour and sacrifice.

The Battle of Wanat

On July 13, 2008, around 200 Taliban insurgents attacked a group of American soldiers stationed near Quam, in the Waygal district of Afghanistan's eastern Nuristan province. This became known as the Battle of Wanat.

The Taliban encircled the remote base and its observation post, attacking from Quam and the surrounding farmland. They destroyed much of the US troops' heavy munitions, broke through their lines, and entered the main base before being repelled by artillery and aircraft. The US troops responded with machine guns, grenades, and claymore mines, and artillery guns at Camp Blessing fired 96 155mm artillery rounds. After almost half an hour of intense fighting, reinforcements arrived in the form of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and a Predator drone armed with Hellfire missiles. Later, a B-1B Lancer bomber, an A-10, and an F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were called in. The militants withdrew about four hours after the battle began.

Nine US soldiers were killed, and 27 were wounded. Between 21 and 65 militants were reported killed, with another 20 to 40 wounded. The Battle of Wanat was one of the bloodiest Taliban attacks of the war and became the focus of much debate in the US. Several investigations were launched into the events leading up to the battle, and the initial investigation was completed in August 2008.

The battle was the result of a chain of tactical mistakes, lapses in judgment, failures to understand the human terrain, and failures of leadership. The US troops were critically short of basic necessities such as water and sandbags, and their base was in a precarious position. The rugged terrain isolated the local population, and the US forces' counterinsurgency mission was unsuccessful despite their best efforts.

The Battle of Kamdesh

On October 3, 2009, the Battle of Kamdesh took place in Afghanistan's Nuristan Province. Over 300 Taliban fighters attacked the small American Combat Outpost (COP) Keating, which was home to around 50 US Army and 24 Afghan National Army soldiers. The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat in July 2008, which took place 20 miles away.

The base, located in a vulnerable position surrounded by mountains on three sides, was nearly overrun and demolished by the Taliban fighters. Eight US soldiers and four Afghan defenders were killed, and 22 US soldiers and eight Afghan soldiers were wounded. The US military estimated that 22 Taliban insurgents were killed, but this number has been questioned.

The attack began around 6 am, with the Taliban opening fire from the surrounding mountains with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. The US soldiers quickly responded, and within the first hour, they had collapsed into a tight internal perimeter, defending themselves from multiple enemy positions. The battle lasted throughout the day, with US forces eventually regaining control of key parts of the camp with the help of close air support from helicopters and fighter jets.

The counterattack was led by Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. Romesha and his team successfully reached the ammo shed and attacked a large group of enemy fighters. They moved on to the dining hall but could not progress further due to heavy counterfire. They secured the entrance to the camp and provided covering fire to allow injured soldiers to reach the aid station.

The battle ended around 7 pm when Quick Reaction Forces arrived at the outpost, and the remaining Taliban fighters retreated. The outpost was evacuated and abandoned shortly after the battle, and it was bombed by US planes to destroy the abandoned munitions.

The Battle of Mogadishu

The United Nations had initially sent troops to Somalia to provide food aid, which was being hampered by local warlords in the absence of a functional government. The UN's mission later shifted to democracy building and the restoration of a central government. As part of this effort, US forces launched a raid on the Abdi House in July 1993, killing numerous members of Aidid's clan, the Habr Gidr. This led to the first targeted killing of American personnel by Aidid on August 8, 1993, prompting US President Bill Clinton to send Army Rangers to capture Aidid.

On October 3, 1993, US forces planned to arrest two of Aidid's senior lieutenants during a meeting in the Aidid-controlled section of Mogadishu. The raid was intended to last one hour but turned into an overnight standoff and rescue operation that dragged on into the next day. During the operation, Somali forces shot down two American Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters using RPG-7s. A desperate defence of the downed helicopters began as more American troops were sent in to protect the survivors.

On the morning of October 4, a UN armoured convoy fought its way to the helicopters and suffered further casualties but was eventually able to rescue the survivors. The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, with 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalis killed. The exact number of Somali casualties is unknown, but estimates range from several hundred to several thousand. The battle also resulted in 13 casualties among UN personnel.

The Global War on Terror

The 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, also known as the Chosen Company, is considered the most decorated unit of the Global War on Terror to date, particularly for their role in the Battle of Wanat. On July 13, 2008, the Chosen Company fought off a wave of over 100 Taliban fighters in the Nuristan province of Afghanistan. Nine U.S. soldiers were killed, 27 were wounded, and dozens of Taliban fighters lay dead. For their valour, members of the 2nd Battalion received numerous awards, including:

• Three Medals of Honour
• Two Distinguished Service Crosses
• 26 Silver Star Medals
• A Presidential Unit Citation

The Battle of Wanat has since been integrated into the core curriculum at West Point and the Command and General Staff College, shaping how young officers and NCOs are trained for intense combat situations.

The War in Afghanistan

One of the most decorated units in the War in Afghanistan was B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. They were involved in the Battle of Kamdesh, or the Battle of Keating, on October 3, 2009, which was one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces since the beginning of the war. The unit was awarded two Medals of Honor and nearly a dozen other combat valor awards, making them one of the most decorated units of the war. Staff Sgt. Ty Carter and Staff Sgt. Clinton L. Romesha received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle, which included running through enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers and providing critical medical aid.

Another highly decorated unit in the War in Afghanistan was Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. They were involved in the Battle of Wanat on July 13, 2008, which was a significant battle that has since been used to prepare small units for intense combat. The battalion received numerous awards for their actions during the deployment, including a Presidential Unit Citation, three Medals of Honor, two Distinguished Service Crosses, and 26 Silver Star Medals.

In addition to these units, there have been many individual soldiers who have been highly decorated for their service in the War in Afghanistan. For example, Army Sgt. 1st Class Erich Phillips received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star for leading his platoon's defense against an insurgent attack in 2007. Similarly, Army Cpl. Angelo J. Vaccaro, a line medic, received two Silver Stars for treating wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire before being killed in action in 2006. These soldiers, and many others like them, embody the highest levels of battlefield heroism and have been rightfully recognized for their bravery and sacrifice.

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