The soldiers from Alpha Company were heading toward him when LTC Kurilla yelled out that he was okay, but that CSM Prosser was still in the shop. Opels may be faster than Kiowas on straight-a-ways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. In Yon's account, confirmed by others. 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government. pistol, apparently realizing his only escape was by Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. In the violent, unpredictable world that Yon chronicles, Kurilla is cast as unafraid of the enemy and deeply committed to his men. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows what the outcome might have been. But they were not attacking. They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the Then Prossers M4 went black (no more bullets). Kurilla had gone on missions every single day for almost a year. Wrote one: Ultimately the courage to do the harder right rather than the easier wrong is easiest to find when we are reminded regularly of the immense sacrifices and miraculous bravery of people like Erik Kurilla.. That day, Kurilla sensed wrong and told his soldiers to check the three men. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows The driver tucked his head and gunned the gas. 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. Kurilla could see Khalid Jasim Nohe, but made no comment. three bad guys boxed, but free. Im shot three times!. When I looked back again, I saw the very bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. Drinking tea with Iraqi citizens in their homes. pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. Watch out for that kid! yelled Kurilla over the intercom to our driver as we made a hard turn, managing to avoid hitting the child. That poor woman. As Captain McGrew and I drove through the dusty darkness back to the Deuce Four, the Commander and SGT Lama, along with other wounded and dead soldiers from around Iraq, began their journey home. They know true warriors bleed. Everybody loves him. I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. "I'm hit three times! LTC Kurilla was there asking a soldier for the latest report on Sergeant Lama, now in surgery. Recon platoon had already raided one house and snagged some suspects, then crept away in the darkness to another target close by. When an Army marksman in a helicopter disabled the car, the men inside fled, and opened fire. [6] [7] Biography (Prosser wears his watch with the face turned inward.) his left, because the terroristwho turned out to be a When the very experienced until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. They were armed with a sniper rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other weapons, and had in their possession photographs of US bases, including a map of this base. 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. There is just no easy way to say, Your son got shot today. And so, according to men here, the calls sound something like this: We are sorry to inform you that your son has been shot in Mosul. 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. But its that battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. When I looked back again, I saw the very He did a crazy. I jacked it in, released the bolt and hit the forward assist. LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. SGT Daniel Lama, who is as much respected as he is liked, was pulling security in an air guard position of his Stryker, when a bullet flew straight at his neck, striking him. It was afternoon when LTC Kurilla started his rounds in Mosul. [2] [3] [4] [5] He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and before that as the chief of staff of United States Central Command. But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. A passion for the cause of freedom. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC In retrospect, its hard to imagine why I didnt write about it. Meeting proud mothers with new babies. (Yons blog is at michaelyon.blogspot.com/). Welcome to the official 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry. outside, and screamed what amounted to "Attack! In every military unit I have seen, there is a prevailing perception that good ideas trickle down from the top about as often as water flows uphill, so Lancer Fury apparently was a wunder-plan. "[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only Yon went from obscurity to well-earned recognition as the man on the scene in Iraq. We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. Although not well-known, Kurilla the Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. is no longer there. Whatever the reason, the result was that less than two weeks after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in Mosul shooting at American soldiers. But Prosser's gloves were slippery with blood so he Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurillas hospital bed, paying respect. Then one of the suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before all three were detained. suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before were fighting, they wanted backup. The combat portion of the Surge amounted to a sophisticated area ambush that would unfold over the period of about one week. first." In my book, There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. American combat soldiers dont want pity. Yon says, Theyre ready to fight to the end; they just dont want it to be for naught. I yelled above the shooting. rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other 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. to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up Someone you should know: five men earned the Medal of Honor on May 8, Robert "Concrete Bob" Miller - Someone You Should've Known, Arthur J. Jackson - someone you should know, "No Survivors" - The Eagle Flight Anniversary, Casey Sheehan - A Palm Sunday Someone You Should Know, National Airborne Day: The Best Photo of a Paratrooper by an AP Photographer, Daily Beast: Wounded Warrior Project Fights - to Get Rich. Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young Update: Mike Yon just let me know that he just got off of the phone with the Lieutenant Colonel and that he is doing well. The Deuce Four LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. This was happening in seconds. Give me some ammo! When I returned to base, I was actually "ordered" not to write to call my wife so she doesn't get a call from the Army Although the situation in Mosul is better, our troops still fight here every day. Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. Kurilla had gone The same facility where Daniel Lama was Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. Among other things, key gear failed; but overall, the Surge was going well. Michael Yon is America's most experienced combat correspondent. You left the prisoner!For a moment, I nearly ran back out to drag the terrorist behind the Stryker, but then I thought, Nope, he's a terrorist! As you peer at this picture of LTC Erik Kurilla, leading his men, you shall get a picture of how close he came from not being alive. How a New Greatest Generation of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist Then one of the We began searching for the shooters near one of the bridges on our side of the Tigris, but they got away. Make no mistake about Kurilla hes a warrior, always at the front of the charge. Recon returned the man his rifle, and started making their way back, umbral and silent across the ploughed fields. The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a The images along with Yons narrative are posted on his Web site: http://michaelyon.blogspot.com. But the shots and the propane fiasco also had brought the terrorist back to life, so Prosser quickly reholstered his pistol and subdued him by smashing his face into the concrete. leg. bullet strikes the wall beside 2nd lieutenant's head smashing his face into the concrete. [9] From 2012 to 2014 he was the Assistant Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command. I was hooked. A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. But these were not the right guys. soldiers about how to get in there. It wasnt long before there was no room left to sign, but I found a place to scratch. the shop, where he started firing at men inside. So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. While in Baghdad he captured another iconic photo Muslims and Christians rebuilding St Johns church in the Dora district. The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. ')">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. battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of Tuberculosis, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan The Beast, John Batchelor Show on Dominican Republic. It sounds like he'll be okay. Alpha Company had deployed during the early hours and was conducting operations around Yarmook Traffic Circle. The A man came forward, trying to shoot Kurilla with a I gulped in deeply. The most wonderful thing to see was how hard the Muslim neighbors worked to get the church reopened. A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. 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. war to believe in fairy tales. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the catch-and-release-terrorists he and other soldiers had This Surge is a complicated piece of work, with multidimensional variables and multifarious moving parts. Your email address will not be published. [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. About two weeks ago, word came that Nohes case had been dismissed by a judge on 7 August. Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. safe areas. ended in hand-to-hand combat. on missions every single day for almost a year. book: Gates of Fire. [6] He assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in October 2019. The one to go back and speak. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in When I shot the propane canister, Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made Prosser think bad guys were coming, so he released the terrorists throat and snatched out the pistol from his holster, just as SSG Konkol, Lewis, DeVereaux and Muse swarmed the shop. Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. been warning everyone about. He did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting from a sitting position, Yon reports. But Prossers gloves were slippery with blood so he couldnt hold on well. The Iraqis noticed., We can win this war, Yon declares. But I have it beside me on the table by the map I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. Like Education: General Kurilla has a B.S. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. 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. One bullet smashed through his femur, snapping his leg. (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the It's even dangerous on the bases here. MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Comments (28). BamBamBamBam! Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him slightly to the side of the shop. When a soldier is killed or wounded, the Department of Army calls the loved ones, and despite their attempts to be sympathetic, the nature of the calls has a way of shocking the families. In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . This story has been shared 685,759 times. The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a I am asking you for your support. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times The sole glitch occurred when a Stryker hit an IED, but since nobody was hurt, we just continued the mission. of the Iraqi people, they must make direct contact. Hospital. and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. You are the only one who might understand, the passage registered in my mind. could be confiscated. 2019 2022: Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps. ". as it bounced on the ground where it spun furiously, creating an explosive cloud of gas and dust, just waiting for someone to fire a weapon. Keep him and his men in your thoughts and prayers. Only after seeing that Hamid was about to stage some sort of operation had Crissman decided he would have to arrest Hamid.. Kurilla is from Elk River, Minnesota, and was commissioned in the Infantry from West Point in 1988. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. It was around 9 PM when I heard Captain Matt McGrew was going to see Kurilla. It's important to interact and take the pulse of Update III: For those who haven't seen these posts from Stryker Brigade News, here are two memorials given by LTC Kurilla which have been linked from here before: http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2005/02/21/deuce_four_fallen_warriors.html, http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2005/05/26/deuce_four_fallen_warriors.html, Posted by Blackfive on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 11:39 AM | Permalink It will be a victory for freedom and justice. The postage stamp had an American flag waving. was an arm. But the guys were not attacking. The Commander and the terrorist were both being prepped action this way and that. Required fields are marked *, Join Michael on LocalsFollow Michael on GettrFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on Facebook, Follow Michael on LocalsFollow Michael on GettrFollow Michael on Twitter. unwavering conviction that, in the end, we will win. The struggle is just beginning. Chaplain Wilson came out from the hospital smiling and explained that Daniel (Sergeant Lama) was fine. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment that Prosser went black and ran into the shop. LT Flynn was first out of the Stryker, and both he and the airguard CPT Westphal, saw the pistol at the same time and also shot the man. Bowman would listen with an open mind. Meanwhile, SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the three bad guys boxed, but free. Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. as Deuce Four and has written extensively about its operations and Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. Do you need me to come get you! I shouted. I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. Jim T. posted images on LinkedIn. Current HCS Projects and Updates. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. Comments (18). The return address sticker, an American flag on it, was from Jefferson, Pennsylvania. might have proved fatal.) Really, Daniels okay, and dont worry about it when the Army calls you.. Early in 2005, when Id completed my first tour of duty in Iraq, I was searching the Internet for news when I found Yons page. Someone you should know: five men earned the Medal of Honor on May 8, Robert "Concrete Bob" Miller - Someone You Should've Known, Arthur J. Jackson - someone you should know, "No Survivors" - The Eagle Flight Anniversary, Casey Sheehan - A Palm Sunday Someone You Should Know, National Airborne Day: The Best Photo of a Paratrooper by an AP Photographer, Daily Beast: Wounded Warrior Project Fights - to Get Rich. more trouble. Im hit three times! Even and especially in places like Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Jose L. Ruiz was killed in action. A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that. CSM Prosser drags the terrorist into the alley not too much--I start snapping photos as the Commander drags the guy by Just some minor stuff. That poor woman. Leading three soldiers, Kurilla ran through a maze of shops and alleys. The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. The Coalition was livid. It came straight at my head but somehow missed, flying out of the shop as a high-pressure jet of propane hit me in the face. its colorful commander. "Erik! The seizure was just a natural reaction to getting shot in the neck. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. The brigades rear detachment commander, Maj. Nicholas Mullen, Suddenly encircled by the rifles, lights and lasers of four soldiers, the man was quickly disarmed. It was not attacking. While looking at the photos, Bowman said, Mike, its simple. I jumped up and there was CSM Robert Prosser, the top enlisted soldier at Deuce Four. He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts. he said "No." The chase was on. Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke out, and they ran outside. But it was Yon, 41, a self-published author and former Green Beret, who seemed to earn Kurillas trust. of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the on my door. babies. Just checking. But secretly, every time he asks, I feel a notch better. Its just some minor And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Ill be fine. 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. serious terroristhad grabbed Prosser's helmet and I seldom get letters in Iraq, but waiting for me in the mailroom while I slept was a card. [August 19, 2005]. I wanted my name on that flag. Dont you understand? He was acquitted. Three months of air-conditioned reflection will not transform terrorists into citizens. He would die for me. . (Thank God; running in front of the shop Liberals who claim Yon is biased will be surprise to know that the journalists confrontations with the US Army over the Farah photo and criticism of leadership nearly prevented his return to Iraq. It actually went so close to perfect that we could hardly believe it. in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. Within minutes, I was running out my room, still pulling zips and fastening buttons, when I came sweating into the TOC. Interfacing with shop owners. had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 Meeting proud mothers with new But all Kurilla saw was LT Flynn stepping off the ramp, and then there was a lot of shooting. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. 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. Today we remember Master Sgt. help arrived in the form of one man: CSM Prosser. the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. Meanwhile, Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that It was not moving. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. Only a few hours had passed since Daniel Lama and the Commander were shot. During their interrogation on base, both admitted to being Jihadists. You may never have seen either of those pictures before. The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. bed, paying respect. The other suspects started running. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. While we knew of Iraq in our corner of the battlespace, he could move throughout the country and did so. Yon wrote this about Erik Kurilla's sense of duty and his courage just a few days ago: Bullets are snapping, and I'm crouched In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. (Prosser wears his 2006 2008: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment Second Battalion, Iraq and Afghanistan. But Kurilla was a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. Thank you. Kurillas reluctance to allow anyone outside Deuce Four ride with his soldiers including writers is well known. Shot in the arm and leg, Kurilla was taken to a combat hospital and later airlifted to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. The propane canister at rest (left), the terrorist in There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. can make this work. He wrote Kurilla was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of Mosul, Iraq. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. A US soldier has been killed in a firefight in the northern city of Mosul, a US army officer said. 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. I'm shot three times!" Yons periodic dispatches often describe details and tactics of the Iraq war not found in the mainstream media. bases, including a map of this base. The commander didnt seem to miss a stride. Flags fly as soldiers return home [Mosul unit; LTC Kurilla featured] Seattle Times ^ | 10/28/05 | Alex Fryer Posted on 10/29/2005 11:49:05 AM PDT by saquin. December, the same day a large bomb exploded in the At the same time, the terrorist was trying to bite Prossers wrist, but instead he bit onto the face of Prossers watch. CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe 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. Early on youll find yourself charging down an alley in Mosul on the heels of Lieutenant Colonel Erik Kurilla, a leader in every sense of the word: LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. Yon was simultaneously one of us the guys in the war and not one of us. Actually, what I shouted was an unprintable string of curses, while Kurilla was also yelling at them to get in there, his M4 trained on the entrance. rifle. The terrorist had a mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch Prosser in the face. wrote about - terrorists who get released only to cause But these were not the right guys. Strykers are fast, but Opels are faster. Not knowing how many men they The terrorist who shot Kurilla, and who was now a eunuch in a nearby bed, might well have been the same terrorist who, after being released, shot Lama and Thompson and others. We approached in the Strykers and I heard Kurilla say on the radio, Shots fired! as he ducked for a moment then popped back up in the hatch. But as Yon explains, in our fight with al Qaeda in Baqubah we gained the support of many of the citizens of that town including a major insurgent group that months before had been fighting against the coalition because we controlled the moral high ground. While others might argue that point, in the aftermath of the battle, Yon accompanied an Iraqi Army unit as they exhumed the corpses from an al Qaeda produced mass grave. Im going to block the back door on the north side!. [7] In 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 20212022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.[12]. CSM Robert Prosser goes "black." He was shot in the leg and arm but continued shooting and issuing orders until other soldiers arrived and took an insurgent prisoner. We were searching the area for the source of that automatic weapons fire when Kurilla spotted three men in a black Opel and his sixth sense kicked. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. a city in a war where there is no "behind the lines," no Kurilla talked about it almost daily. was, after all, still fighting. The 1-17th will relieve the 1-24th soon, so Triscari has been conducting operations with Deuce Four. of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat moving. Chris Espindola, the Commanders radio operator, a respected and experienced fighter, was down in Baghdad at the Iraqi Criminal Court testifying against two terrorists caught by Deuce Four months earlier.
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