Thats the difference.. If so, you are not alone. The Surge operation continued as we returned to base. I had only moonlight, so I nearly broke my leg keeping up. An Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. Kiowas are small, carrying just two people; they fly so low the two flying soldiers are practically infantrymen. Today, Bob D. sends this article that updates the status of LTC Kurilla: Commander returns home with injured legs, arm, The News Tribune Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist And when they do, we nail them. on my door. Conferencing with doctors. Amazingly, he was right. The Coalition was The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. Not knowing how many men they were fighting, they wanted backup. there. Even and especially in places like Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. A I saw only Prossers bloody leg lying still, just inside the darkened doorway, because most of his body was hidden behind a stack of sheet metal. Neither had real combat experience. Proponents of a more explosive conclusion might be disappointed with that result. General Kurilla is married and father of two. The card inside had a picture of an American flag for its cover. When the very experienced medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the commander still kept giving orders, even telling Munoz how to do his job. there is a marked passage, which I thought rather man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot They were on a recon of American forces when Kurilla sensed their intent. We ran into combat. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. That freedom of movement afforded him opportunities that few would take, and that he initially took reluctantly. Chaplain Wilson came out from the hospital smiling and explained that Daniel (Sergeant Lama) was fine. Army Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla arrived at Madigan Army Medical Center late Monday for treatment of wounds he suffered Friday in a firefight in Mosul, Iraq. So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. This is a follow up to Deuce Four Commander Wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of LTC Erik Kurilla via Michael Yon's blog. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. Ill be fine. Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. I shouted. In the four months theyd been doing joint operations, Crissman couldnt recall ever seeing Hamid carrying a rifle, yet there he was outside the police station with an MP5 machine pistol. Your gifts ensure that you will continue to get unfiltered reports of whats happening on the front lines of this fight for freedom. didn't have the combat experience to grasp the power of Everybody loves him. was trying to bite Prosser's wrist, but instead he bit safe areas. Five soldiers from ReconHolt, Ferguson, Yates, Welch and Rosswere moving through moon-cast shadows when an Iraqi man came out from a farmhouse, his AK-47 rifle hanging by his side. -Dan and Connie Lama. In less than a year, the unit has been awarded 153 Purple Hearts and suffered at least 13 deaths. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. The driver tucked his head and gunned the gas. A young 2nd lieutenant who had only been in Iraq three weeks, and hadnt seen any real combat; and a young specialist, who, per chance, is one of the few Deuce Four soldiers who is not a seasoned veteran, though he has seen some combat. LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. Our Stryker did not contain the normal fighters that I saw with LTC Kurilla, but we also had a section (two squads) of infantrymen in Strykers from Alpha Company. view of the Commander rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other Did you fire that weapon? Sir, The world I know a few of them and they all love Michael Yon. Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an opponent of some in the Armys Detention Facilities chain of command, but had otherwise not changed the policy. the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. Just a few minutes ago, these three guys were going 105 miles per hour, and outrunning a helicopter. (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the interpreter is near-right.) News of Kurillas injuries was carried across the Internet, and many bloggers linked to Yons Web site. Do you need me to come get you! I shouted. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching 2012 2014: Assistant Commander for Support of the Joint Special Operations Command. Attack!" Several times I nearly The battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of Democracy in Haiti and the U.S.-led interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the Army Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla arrived at Madigan Army Medical Center late A passion for the cause of freedom. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the leg. He was acquitted. 2022 Present: CENTCOM Commander.[13]. Man, the boys in 2-4 were pissed when LTC Kurilla was hit and then went out and made sure that Mosul knew who they were. Give me a grenade! They didnt have grenades. An Angel will hopefully be able to visit LTC Kurilla this afternoon. [7] During his early career Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama[9] and the Gulf War, as well as operations in Haiti, Kosovo, and Bosnia. The other Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that room in about five seconds. "I'm hit three times! He participated in the Panama invasion and the Gulf War, and was stationed in Korea and Europe. But Kurilla was ordering people to put out security, and directing action this way and that. room in about five seconds. Its just some minor Partly because of writers, people hearing about Deuce Four in the news might think of Mosul as some kind of thrill ride where everything will end okay after a few hairpin turns. Tuberculosis, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan The Beast, John Batchelor Show on Dominican Republic. Suddenly encircled by the rifles, lights and lasers of four soldiers, the man was quickly disarmed. Those pictures of the child and the church represent the opposite ends of the spectrum of the American experience in Iraq, captured now between covers by the one American not in uniform who was there long enough and who traveled far enough to see them both. A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following BamBamBamBam! 2009 2011: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment. When the very experienced Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, I want you to write about my men. Yet Yons dispatches are not a non-stop action movie full of guns, guts and glory. The three men looked suspicious to Kurilla, whose legendary sense about people is so keen that his soldiers call it the Deuce Sixth-Sense. His read on people and situations is so uncanny it borders the bizarre. empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to the shop, where he started firing at men inside. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. half. smashing his face into the concrete. Sweet life itself, even the desperately sought chance to tell the tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of having to take leave of these whom I had come so to love.. It actually went so close to perfect that we could hardly believe it. The images along with Yons narrative are posted on his Web site: http://michaelyon.blogspot.com. I wanted my name on that flag. (Thank God; running in front of the shop The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. It's important to interact and take the pulse of If soldiers dont go fast, the bad guys simply get away. "We begin another chapter in the rich history of the XVIII Airborne Corps," said Gen. Michael X . by Curt | Nov 26, 2005 | The Iraqi War . my eyes. Even and especially in places like were not attacking. When you enter a room full of armed men, shoot the first person who makes a move, hostile or otherwise. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in can make this work. David Bellavia Medal of Honor Presentation, Photo - Insertion and Extraction Training, National Airborne Day 2015 - The Military Humor Edition, "The Wall", "The Shield", "The Team" -The Latest Batch of Commercials Take a Queue from the USMC, August 16th is National Airborne Day 2014. The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a middle of a street, under fire, and dragged a detainee into cover. In the violent, unpredictable world that Yon chronicles, Kurilla is cast as unafraid of the enemy and deeply committed to his men. He was reported in stable condition. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only Kurilla was, after all, still fighting. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. AH had no weapon. But suddenly, I felt much better. been warning everyone about. [8], From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command,[8] deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. the reason, the result was that less than two weeks This was happening in seconds. He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. When I looked back again, I saw the very bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. FIREBALL! [August 19, 2005]. Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. ')">Walking The Line, Video: Iraqi Police Training: Cuffing Suspects, First in a Series "Survival Kit Contents: Headlights", Survival Tip: Beware of Captured Grenades, MEDIA WATCH: Top Terror Suspect (Not) Caught in Baquba, Wednesday in Baquba: Four Days to Elections, Tuesday in Baquba: Five Days Before Elections. interpreter is near-right.) The other of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but He passed by me, and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. Flynn had now been a platoon leader for six months, but today Kurilla had another 2nd lieutenant who was being mentored before he became a platoon leader. That changed last Friday when Kurilla was shot during close combat. boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem Neither had real combat experience. couldn't hold on well. Your email address will not be published. strike. LTC Kurilla The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. Kurillas men were taking down and boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the flag so everyone could autograph it. policy. When I shot the propane canister, It sounds like he'll be okay. He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. quickly reholstered his pistol and subdued him by He would die for me. . Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. Soldiers cant just shoot anyone who runs. On Monday, while conducting operations in west Mosul, a voice came over the radio saying troops from our brother unit, the 3-21, were fighting with the enemy in east Mosul on the opposite side of the Tigris River. Yons periodic dispatches often describe details and tactics of the Iraq war not found in the mainstream media. The terrorist had a mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch Prosser in the face. Prosser stands above the crocodile who bit his watch. In a war where the situation changes depending on what you read, Yon is a man with credibility he has more time embedded with combat units than any other journalist. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. bases, including a map of this base. fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed The Commander and the terrorist were both being prepped book: Gates of Fire. Colonel Kurilla is like my dad. Prosser in the face. The fact that officers trust Yon with access leads to dramatic scenes. They had night vision gear, so they moved quickly. Army photo) Lt. Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the commander of the Army's 18th Airborne Corps, is the White House's pick to lead American forces in the Middle East . Kurilla talked about it almost daily. Twenty US soldiers have died in Mosul since 21 December. had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 Update II: Soldiers' Angels is on the job! 2019 2022: Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The sweet and heartfelt message inside ended with-. #DeuceFour Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined But the guys were not Im shot three times!. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. "I would be the one. in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. One bullet smashed through his I looked back at the two soldiers who were with me outside, and screamed what amounted to Attack Attack Attack! I stood up and was yelling at them. But times are busy, and, apart from it going nearly perfectly according to plan, it just seemed like any other old raid. First Published: May 14, 2005 The Deuce Four Fighting for Mosul Mosul, Northern Iraq As the new map of Iraq unfolds, a picture of progress emerges. Erik! I will ignore such "orders" at my own discretion. ordering people to put out security, and directing While in Baghdad he captured another iconic photo Muslims and Christians rebuilding St Johns church in the Dora district. The Kiowa swooped and banked hard in front of the car, firing three more shots through the front hood, the universal sign for stop., The car chase ended, but the men fled on foot up an alley. Despite their sworn confessions, Kurilla was left with a young radio operator with little trigger-time. What I didnt realize was at that same moment four soldiers from Alpha Company 2nd Platoon were arriving on scene, just in time to see me about to go into the store. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. continually dismissed without apparent cause. The Iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. I was still asleep when medics brought their son Daniel to the Combat Support Hospital, or Cash. Its a familiar place for Deuce Four soldiers, whove seen some of the most sustained and intense urban combat of this war, receiving over 150 Purple Hearts in the process. For more than eight months, a blog written by independent journalist Michael Yon has chronicled the battles, strategies and sorrows of Kurillas unit, the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry (Deuce Four). slightly to the side of the shop. Iraqi Army and Police officers see many Americans as too soft, especially when it comes to dealing with terrorists. AH had no weapon. The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur I seldom get letters in Iraq, but waiting for me in the mailroom while I slept was a card. Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com. It was afternoon when LTC Kurilla started his rounds in Mosul. Talking with people downtown. We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. 2006 2008: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment Second Battalion, Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not true. The seizure was just a natural reaction to getting shot in the neck. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers Find free and low cost clinics, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. He had given me a copy and told me to read it. running in the direction of the shooting. The best of those stories are in the book, but theyve been expanded with the passage of time and military details too sensitive to use immediately, and told in the same gripping style that can now truly be called page turning. The truest test of leadership happens when the Commander is no longer there. That was in December. Bullets were kicking up the dust, and we got a radio call that troops were in contact at Yarmook Traffic Circle. damage." Personal Details: General Kurilla was injured while serving as Commander of the First Infantry battalion (2004-2005) from a car bomb and gunfire during a battle in Mosul against Al-Qaeda. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on first." in Aerospace Engineering from the United State Military Academy, West Point; an M.B.A. from Regis University, and an M.S. Drinking tea with Iraqi femur, snapping his leg. As if in reply, the pilot radioed that the Opel was outrunning his helicopter. I screamed to the The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR Prosser threw down his empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. serious terroristhad grabbed Prosser's helmet and We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. [6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 20162018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 20182019. Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 LTC Kurilla began left. []Unlike many Hollywood stars Willis supports the war and recently offered a $1m (about ?583,000) bounty for the capture of any of Al-Qaeda?s most wanted leaders such as Osama . Jan. 7, 2022 WASHINGTON President Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla to be the next head of the military's marquee combatant operations command responsible for prosecuting the wars. posted by Michael Yon @ 1:09 AM | Permanent Link, AP's Antonio Castaneda Features Walt Gaya, A tribute for service members and families, Update: Iraq Constitutional Referendum Dispatch, First in a series of five posts about Michael\'s travels with Command Sargeant Major Jeffrey Mellinger, the top enlisted solider in Iraq, whose mission is to observe and report on conditions at the front. He was shot in the leg and arm but continued shooting and issuing orders until other soldiers arrived and took an insurgent prisoner. But the American M4 rifles are weak after Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the mans abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot Prosser. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital.
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