Soldiers outran and tackled his two associates when they made a run. I asked SFC Bowman to look at the photos and hear what happened. men had inadvertently left the captured man sitting in the open. Im hit three times! LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. Everybody loves him. 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. Like the card in the mailroom, the circumstances behind their capture were more germane to the events about to unfold than anyone might have guessed at the time. A Kiowa helicopter pilot radioed that he spotted the car. As if offering proof, Chaplain Wilson said: When they rolled Daniel over, the doctor stuck his finger in Daniels butt to check his prostate, and Daniel said, Hey! From what I hear about the news back home. 23 Jan 2005. Crissmans interpreter translated and there were smiles and laughter, until Crissman asked if he could talk with Hamid inside his office. "What's wrong with you!?" That was in December. The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurilla's hospital war to believe in fairy tales. on missions every single day for almost a year. young soldiers, "Throw a grenade in there!" Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. The Commander 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. It's important to interact and take the pulse of Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away.. Keep an eye on Yon's blog for the next dispatch. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the This story has been shared 685,759 times. MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an The town was a powder keg of resentment and fear. Both legs and an arm are shot. BamBamBamBam! what I shouted was an unprintable string of curses, Hospital. Update II: Soldiers' Angels is on the job! The other Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that room in about five seconds. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. The seizure was just a natural reaction to getting shot in the neck. I am asking you for your support. In my book, Conferencing with doctors. So SFC Bowman told Munoz to give leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. He arrived in December 2004 as a new type of independent journalist for the Internet age. Of course I feel okay Chaplain Wilson! Although not well-known, Kurilla the highest ranking soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker. Just a few minutes ago, these three guys were going 105 miles per hour, and outrunning a helicopter. About fifteen seconds later our ramp dropped. During a halt in some trees at the edge of the field, I overheard the voice of LTC Kurilla, the commander of the Deuce Four battalion, quietly praising one of the soldiers for showing discipline in not shooting the farmer. Retired Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Currently GS-9 with Range Management Office, Cannon AFB, New Mexico 11mo 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. ended in hand-to-hand combat. (Prosser wears his 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. Crissman jokingly pointed to Hamids MP5 and said, If I go to lunch with you, do I need to bring my machine gun too?. Dont I look okay?. 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. If so, you are not alone. CSM Prosser drags the terrorist into the alley But Kurilla was of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but dismissed by a judge on 7 August. 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. Local Muslims invited me to see the reopening; they wanted Americans to know they protect Christians in their neighborhood, Yon explains. A Bullets were kicking up the dust, and we got a radio call that troops were in contact at Yarmook Traffic Circle. The terrorist had a mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch Prosser in the face. Recon returned the man his rifle, and started making their way back, umbral and silent across the ploughed fields. 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). I thought. understanding of both its value and its costs. 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. Only after seeing that Hamid was about to stage some sort of operation had Crissman decided he would have to arrest Hamid.. I jumped up and there was CSM Robert Prosser, the top enlisted soldier at Deuce Four. and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the Commander. The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a "The commander didn't seem to miss a stride. 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. Interfacing with shop owners. But these were not the right guys. Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken I was going to run into the shop and shoot every man with a gun. At the same time, the terrorist Give me a grenade! They didnt have grenades. in National Security Studies from the National War College. Yons periodic dispatches often describe details and tactics of the Iraq war not found in the mainstream media. I screamed to the young soldiers, Throw a grenade in there! but they were not attacking. 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. Major Craig Triscari from the 1-17th Infantry from Alaska was with Major Mike Lawrence, Q, and other soldiers, when he noticed a car with its hood up. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. Bruce & LTC Kurilla. Talking with people downtown. A US soldier has been killed in a firefight in the northern city of Mosul, a US army officer said. Your email address will not be published. Leading three soldiers, Kurilla ran through a maze of shops and alleys. 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. of Iraq. News of Kurillas injuries was carried across the Internet, and many bloggers linked to Yons Web site. (Prosser wears his watch with the face turned inward.) As the Stryker dropped its ramp, one of the terrorists pulled a pistol from under his shirt. While looking at the photos, Bowman said, Mike, its simple. been warning everyone about. Prosser threw down his bases, including a map of this base. The propane canister at rest (left), the terrorist in 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.. "One soldier was killed . dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. wrote about - terrorists who get released only to cause Police were on the roof with machine guns and AK-47s . In May 2005, he captured what many would consider the iconic photo from Iraq Major Mark Bieger cradling Farah (a young victim of a suicide bomber) in his arms, rushing her to Army medics. Yon wrote of an incident when Kurilla threw himself into a burning Stryker an eight-wheeled combat vehicle to save the men trapped inside. same operating room with one of the all three were detained. Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. He He passed by on my door. To see pictures and read dispatches about Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla : In a harrowing series of photographs, Yon captures the moment Kurilla fell. In the end the jets just flew low in a show of force and then rumbled away, Yon says. Like the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much war to believe in fairy tales. The most wonderful thing to see was how hard the Muslim neighbors worked to get the church reopened. fighting his way out, or dying in the process. Emigdio Elizarraras killed in action on this day in 2006. Reaching around the corner, I fired three shots into the shop. A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. The Iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. [6] [7] Biography The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur might have proved fatal.) Last steps. In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the So SFC Bowman told Munoz to give Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to haul him and the terrorist away to the Combat Support Hospital. Kurilla talked about it almost daily. couldn't hold on well. Recon platoon had already raided one house and snagged some suspects, then crept away in the darkness to another target close by. damage." Tuberculosis, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan The Beast, John Batchelor Show on Dominican Republic. So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. Some blamed his men, while others blamed the terrorists, although blame alone could not compete with disbelief. Reporters from The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and other organizations quoted Kurilla as he explained the insurgency and efforts to train Iraqi forces. The incident began with a miles-long pursuit through Mosul, ending with Lt. Col. Kurilla being shot three times by an attacker who hid inside a shop. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. They had night vision gear, so they moved quickly. after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in I know a few of them and they all love Michael Yon. In less than a year, the unit has been awarded 153 Purple Hearts and suffered at least 13 deaths. It will be a victory for freedom and justice. Commander. but there was no time to reload. 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. down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to An Do you need me to come get you! I shouted. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. But they were not attacking. Mosul, Iraq. It was just a flesh wound. Thank you Michael, Id like to shake your hand someday. Prosser stands above the crocodile who bit his watch. Prosser. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. This was not the Deuce Four I know. Whatever Kurilla went from asleep to wide awake in about a quarter-second, said hello and asked us to sit down. But these were not the right guys. In a widely documented incident in Mosul, Iraq, in 2005, Kurilla, who commanded the 25 Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry at the time, was shot multiple times in a close-quarters . When I returned to base, I was actually "ordered" not to write LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in half. Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. shooting. Dont you understand? He shares a rarely reported aspect of the American effort in Iraq rebuilding: The American soldier is the most dangerous man in the world, he says, and the Iraqis had to learn that before they would trust or respect us. 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. Make no mistake about Kurilla - he's a warrior, always 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. commander still kept giving orders, even telling Munoz BamBamBamBam! LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. "We begin another chapter in the rich history of the XVIII Airborne Corps," said Gen. Michael X . It will be a victory for Iraqis and for the world, and only then will it be a victory for us.. 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. managed to stop the fleeing car. Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 rifle. "I'll be fine. Those parts range literally from boots on our feet to satellites zipping overhead. [August 19, 2005]. Kurilla told her that he and some other soldiers were at the hospital now with Daniel, who was still too groggy to talk. Education: General Kurilla has a B.S. SFC Bowman shields the eyes of his Commander. A until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. Everybody loves him. 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. Kurilla Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . standing out there, alone, next to the terrorist on the sidewalk. When Kurilla keyed in on them, he pointed his rifle at the car and signaled them to get out. And when they do, we nail them. out, and they ran outside. He participated in the Panama invasion and the Gulf War, and was stationed in Korea and Europe. Also in the Stryker was AH, the interpreter, whose courage under fire I had seen before. He passed by me, and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. Proponents of a more explosive conclusion might be disappointed with that result. 2022 Present: CENTCOM Commander.[13]. 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. The only mission Ive seen unfold close to what was planned was a B Company raid a few months back. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the Amazingly, despite being hit by four M4s from multiple directions, the man still lived a few minutes. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment that Prosser went black and ran into the shop. tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of He wrote Kurilla was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of Drinking tea with Iraqi LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. I did. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. Check eligibility, shop for plans, and enroll in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). Today, Bob D. sends this article that updates the status of LTC Kurilla: Commander returns home with injured legs, arm, The News Tribune Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows what the outcome might have been. 2016 2018: Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. his left, because the terroristwho turned out to be a attacking. Combat Support Hospital femur, snapping his leg. 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 . They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that. as 2nd Platoon Alpha Company arrives And now Kurilla lay shot and in surgery in the Prosser think bad guys were coming, so he released the 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. 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.. Folks who havent done much urban fighting might take issue with the wild chases, and they might say that people should always stack up and do things this or that way, but men in Delta Force, SEALs and the like, all know that when chasing wild men into the labyrinth, soldiers enter the land of confusion. Within minutes, I was running out my room, still pulling zips and fastening buttons, when I came sweating into the TOC. But Americans learn from their mistakes. with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. Andrea Notter/U.S. Then Prosser's M4 went "black" (no more bullets). I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue [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. two men. swarmed the shop. I screamed to the 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. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. Comments (18). Meeting proud mothers with new babies. 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. SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. having to take leave of these whom I had come so to But once the shooting starts, a plan is just a guess in a party dress. But I have it beside me on the table by the map Those already familiar with Michael Yons work might have one question regarding his book: Is it simply a printed version of his dispatches from Iraq published on his popular Web site (michaelyon-online.com)? The other suspects started running. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. 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. It will not be a victory for America and Great Britain and others against Iraq. The Surge operation continued as we returned to base. Both legs and an arm are shot. That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots were fighting, they wanted backup. to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up Kurilla is portrayed as tough, dedicated and possessed with an uncanny ability to avoid enemy bullets. Its just some minor fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. When Kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, 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. recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. But the more battle weathered fighters were not there. again. Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. 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. 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. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting. No one but Crissman knew what was about to happen. leg. Kurilla is known both by locals and visiting journalists in Mosul. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didnt seem to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting. love." Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other I was right 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Hunter Biden may be held accountable for first time in his life in baby mama Lunden Roberts' case, Broadway's 'New York, New York' sticks the landing with a thrilling finale, Dems do Dianne Feinstein dirty, but have not done the same to Biden yet, Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, $76K NJ boarding school admits falling 'tragically short' in protecting teen who killed self after bullying, 'rapist' taunts, Meghan Markle's ailing dad says he refuses 'to be buried by her' in 'final ever' interview, Kim Kardashian seemingly shades Kourtney's wedding in now-deleted caption. He did a crazy. I jacked it in, released the bolt and hit the forward assist. When Id sat in on the warning order (notice of impending operations) for Lancer Fury last week, the plan was so cleverly contrived that the leadership at Deuce Four had to grudgingly acknowledge its excellence, even though the idea had originated from higher-up. Welcome to the official 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry. December, the same day a large bomb exploded in the Understood? This was happening in seconds. Im shot three times!. A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. to call my wife so she doesn't get a call from the Army while Kurilla was also yelling at them to get in there, Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. ! Everybody laughed. The terrorist had a And I was scared to death. empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. in Aerospace Engineering from the United State Military Academy, West Point; an M.B.A. from Regis University, and an M.S. I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. itself, even the desperately sought chance to tell the Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined The place suddenly felt hollowed-out. . It is unclear when Kurilla will be released from Madigan Army Medical Center. LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men The one to go back and speak. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government. Several times I nearly Your email address will not be published. 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. Meanwhile, SSG Konkols men were clearing toward us, leaving the three bad guys boxed, but free. mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch 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. LTC Kurilla was there asking a soldier for the latest report on Sergeant Lama, now in surgery. Automatic weapons fire started coming from at least two places. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. A man came forward, trying to shoot Kurilla with a pistol, apparently realizing his only escape was by fighting his way out, or dying in the process. A fifth soldier radioed for the interpreter and together they sorted out that he was a farmer who thought the soldiers were thieves skulking around his property. I had a camera. But these two soldiers News that Kurilla was wounded came first via the online journal of Army Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla arrived at Madigan Army Medical Center late When I came back into the TOC, Major Michael Lawrence who I often challenge to pull-up contests, and who so far has beat me (barely) every time looked me square and professionally, in the direct way of a military leader and asked, Mike, did you pick up a weapon today? It wasn't long That poor woman. A true and abiding understanding of both its value and its costs. (Yons blog is at michaelyon.blogspot.com/). Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? Current HCS Projects and Updates. its colorful commander. Colonel Kurilla is like my dad. boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his There's a risk in that. middle of a street, under fire, and dragged a detainee into cover. 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! bullet strikes the wall beside 2nd lieutenant's head We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. here. Throw a grenade in there! They did not attack. The Coalition was livid. Among other things, key gear failed; but overall, the Surge was going well. place to scratch. Yet Yons dispatches are not a non-stop action movie full of guns, guts and glory. 2019 2022: Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The sole glitch occurred when a Stryker hit an IED, but since nobody was hurt, we just continued the mission. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. But it was Yon, 41, a self-published author and former Green Beret, who seemed to earn Kurillas trust. freelance writer Michael Yon, who is embedded with the battalion known So Kurilla makes sure they can be trusted by mentoring new officers and having them spend three weeks with him before they are allowed to lead men in this unit.
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