Niger: June 2016 October 2016, Awards: Dustin Wright died Wednesday. If we have drones and satellite eyes in space, how do we let American troops get abandoned? In the day preceding the ambush, the Nigerien and US soldiers conducted a mission attempting to locate and capture or kill Doundou Chefou, a commander in the ISGS. ", "APNewsBreak: US soldier fought to end after ambush in Niger", "ISIS Affiliate Claims October Attack on U.S. [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. The Americans traveled in two technicals and an unarmored Toyota Land Cruiser[34] while the Nigeriens traveled in five vehicles, one of which had been provided by the Central Intelligence Agency and had specialized surveillance equipment on board. They thought they could handle it at first -- no immediate need to call for backup or air support. 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 . Johnson enlisted in the Army in October 2007 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist. [67] Johnson had her name tattooed on his chest. [120] On 26 October, Phillip Carter and Andrew Swick wrote on Vox, sharing a similar view that missions similar to the one in Niger "have never been specifically authorized by Congress, let alone discussed and debated by the American public". [105] Officials from the Department of Defense said that soldiers had carried out 29 similar operations in the past six months with no problems, and such operations were considered routine by the time of the ambush. They offered to return it to the US by legal means. Soldiers, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tongo_Tongo_ambush&oldid=1133945159, Green Beret senior Officers and team leaders disciplined for the outcome of the ambush, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 06:37. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. [76], Goub Mahamadou Issaka was a NCO-cadet of the Gendarmerie.[77]. . [92] On 23 October, Trump wrote on Twitter, "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation! Black, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson "were never captured alive by the enemy," the summary said. Copyright 2023 Military.com. [134], Six medals were awarded to Nigerien soldiers. He was awarded a Bronze Star . They were: Sgt. q. "Wright stopped, returned to Staff. Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, 39; Sergeant La David Johnson, 25; and Staff . He was eventually assigned to the Second Battalion, Third Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. [23] The DoD inquiry, completed in 2018, found that the 11-member US special forces team was not prepared for the mission, and identified other flaws in planning. so the convoy stopped near the village of Tongo Tongo to resupply. At this point the team's vehicle became bogged down and unable to continue. Bryan C. Black, 35, and Staff Sgt. [54], In December 2017, Major General Mark Hicks, the commander of Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA), wrote a letter to the Special Operations Forces that read, "To reinforce and clarify guidance going forward I would like to emphasize that we must reduce our risk exposure and build trust in our ability to exercise sound judgment and disciplined planning and execution". Families of those slain soldiers have argued for years that blame for the botched Oct. 4, 2017, mission was unfairly placed on the 11-man Army Special Forces team that fought through the unexpected attack, rather than the senior officers who greenlit the operation. and Operation New Dawn. While there, the Team OUALLAM commander conducted an . Black, killing him instantly," the summary said. Wright immediately backed up the SUV to bring him into cover. Jeremiah Johnson (gridiron football) (born 1987), American and Canadian football running back. The four fallen troops "gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and died with honor while actively engaging the enemy," the summary said. Jeremiah Johnsons own Silver Star medal will be presented to his parents in the coming weeks. The award citation is not releasable due to PII and information that will compromise a specific mission or operation. Djibouti: April 2016 September 2016 Dustin Wright and Sgt. On 7 October, the deceased Nigerien soldiers were buried after their bodies were taken from the city morgue in Niamey with Defence Minister Kalla Moutari, US Ambassador Eunice Reddick, and Nigerien lawmakers watching. The mission plan was assessed and approved by the AOB Niger and SOCCE commanders and on 3 October at 5:59 am (local time), the team of 11 personnel consisting of eight US Special Forces operators, two support, and an intelligence contractor accompanying 35 Nigerien personnel from the Security and Intelligence Battalion (Bataillon Scurit et de Renseignement or BSR) and the 433rd Special Interdiction unit, departed toward the vicinity of Tiloa in an eight vehicle convoy. At Dachau's cold-water immersion baths, Nazi doctors calculated death to arrive at around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq. La David Johnson was born on January 2, 1992, in Miami, Florida. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed by small-arms fire. Combat Infantryman Badge The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide a lethal Joint Force to defend the security of our country and sustain American influence abroad. In summing up the findings of the investigation, Cloutier said, "I think the first point is that all of our soldiers fought valiantly that day. Afghanistan: July 2015 - September 2015, Awards: I did watch the head cam. Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant Wright and Sergeant Black were in the black S.U.V. [19], Bryan Christopher Black (19822017) of Puyallup, Washington,[60] was born in Camp Pendleton, California, to Henry and Karen Black. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Search by Name . "What it shows, Meek said, is Jeremiah . All soldiers had their serviceable equipment including their body armour and boots taken from them. Two . As of October 2022, Jeremiah John was awarded the Silver Star. We can't have a debate on US intervention overseas if we don't even know where are our forces are, let alone to what end". Simultaneously, Black was slightly ahead of the SUV and was hit by small arms fire, killing him instantly. [1], In January 2013, a senior Nigerien official told Reuters that Bisa Williams, the then-United States Ambassador to Niger, requested permission to establish a drone base in a meeting with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou. Combat Action Badge. 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. As they continued their movement towards the south under fire, Jeremiah Johnson fell to the ground, leaving him exposed to enemy fire. [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. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Staff Sgt. Liver-Eating . U.S. forces are in Niger helping train and advise Nigerien security forces; they are not serving in a combat role, according to officials at U.S. Africa 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. But the militarys accusation that the team went off-script on the mission still bothers her. 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. [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. They saved the lives of many soldiers. Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon Get the latest DOD News products delivered to your inbox. From the truck bed of his vehicle, Sgt. [48][49] The team leader returned to the halted convoy at 11:57a.m. and ordered the convoy to head south to prevent getting outflanked. The Tongo Tongo ambush was a 4 October 2017 attack on Nigerien and American soldiers in Tongo Tongo, Niger, by armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the . [73] He attended Georgia Southern University and Fayetteville State University. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed . His hands "were not bound and he was not executed but was killed in action while actively engaging the enemy," the summary said. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson, was one of four U.S. special operations soldiers killed in Niger on October 4, 2017, when Islamist fighters ambushed their team. [106] General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided new information about the ambush to the public and said that the operation was initially a reconnaissance mission. "The enemy did not capture Sgt. [33] The FAN had launched a military operation to reestablish security in Tillabri in June 2017. Stumps Up $60 Million for Africa Counterterrorism Force", "McCain: Niger attack information 'may require a subpoena', "Mattis, McCain meet a day after subpoena threat", "The Latest: Graham Says Senators to Be Briefed on Niger", "US Defense Officials Brief Lawmakers on Niger Attack", "Senators diverge on Niger ambush after classified briefing", "John McCain blames Niger killings on budget cuts: 'We should be embarrassed', "Rep. Gallego: Shanahan's involvement in a 'cover-up' of the Niger attack is disqualifying", "Mattis says Niger ambush was 'considered unlikely,' pledges probe", "Everything we know about the Niger attack that left 4 U.S. soldiers dead", "U.S. Gen. Following this intelligence, the team submitted a mission plan for the vicinity of Tiloa the next day. [28] On 19 October, Kelly, whose son was killed in the War in Afghanistan in 2010, defended Trump's call with the widow of La David Johnson. About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. 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. [58] On 12November, additional remains of LaDavid Johnson were found at the site where his body was recovered. Army Good Conduct Medal (three awards) Army Good Conduct Medal Eventually, as enemy combatants pushed forward, they hastily abandoned their position. [107], On 10 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released an unclassified executive summary of the DoD's investigation and gave a briefing on the outcome of the department's investigation. [66] After graduating high school, Johnson owned and operated a business until he enlisted in the US Army as a CBRN specialist in October 2007. Niger Cross of Valor with Star They tried a textbook maneuver to end the threat. 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. As the enemy force mounted and advanced through the tree line, the convoy halted. . [33], On 2 October 2017, a US special forces (SOF) team from 3rd Special Forces Group based in Quallam received intelligence that placed a high value ISGS sub-commander in their area of responsibility. Army Commendation Medal w/C Device Clockwise from upper left (ascending order for mobile users): Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright, Sergeant La David Johnson. The Americans and their Nigerien partners fought back fiercely, but they were outnumbered and outgunned. The team reported enemy contact and immediately returned fire using vehicle mounted M240 machine guns while the rest of the team dismounted from their vehicles, donned protective equipment, and began to exchange small arms fire. Twelve members of the Army's Third Special Forces Group were in three of the vehicles and about 30 Nigerien troops were in the other four. [64][66] He would later be assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group as a support element. Army Commendation Medal "There are three cases there that will be dealt with by [Special Operations Command]" to determine whether disciplinary action or a court-martial is merited, he said. 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. [67][68] After his mother's death in September 1999, Johnson's care was entrusted to Richard and Cowanda Johnson. Staff Sgt. Niger Cross of Valor with Star Dustin M. Wright", "Lyons community gathers together for SSgt. [119], On 20 October, Jason Ditz wrote an article for The American Conservative saying, "Niger provides a terrifying reminder of how far we are from being an informed American public that serves as a check and balance on what our military is doing in our name. National Defense Service Medal Black and Jeremiah Johnson moved alongside, providing covering fire. He previously deployed to Jordan in 2012. 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. Army Commendation Medal w/ C Device The new footage provided a more comprehensive understanding of Johnsons actions during the ambush, and directly led to the decision for the upgraded award, Army spokesman Matt Leonard confirmed. [47] The team leader observed a larger enemy force moving from his east consisting of armed men on motorcycles and vehicles with mounted machine guns. Jeremiah Johnson and Sgt. Sgt. Silver Star medal Niger ambush Tongo Tongo ambush Army medals to Niger ambush soldiers killed in Niger U.S. Africa Command October 2017 Niger Sgt. All three were assigned to the Army's 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North . Ranger Tab The team circled the area and recovered the injured team leader. [24][26] In October 2015, Niger and the US signed a military agreement committing the two countries "to work together in the fight against terrorism". Under heavy fire, seven American and four Nigerian soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy. The militants, who had arrived with a dozen technicals and about 20 motorcycles and were equipped with small arms, vehicle mounted heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and mortars had allowed the convoy to move through the kill zone before attacking, trapping the rear of the convoy.[43][44][45][46]. [53] Two French Super Puma helicopters were brought in from Mali to evacuate the injured Nigeriens and Americans, while Berry Aviation, an independent contractor, evacuated the bodies of the fallen US soldiers. "During the movement, enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt. [20], On 17 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released a 23 minute video[108] showing a digital recreation of the ambush. [135], Two Nigeriens received Bronze Stars with Valor for their actions during the ambush one for a Nigerien who joined in a flanking maneuver against the ISGS militants and one for a Nigerien who exposed himself to stop friendly fire coming from a quick reaction force's heavy machine-gun.[136]. Johnson "continued to evade, running west for an additional 450 meters before eventually seeking cover under a thorny tree," the summary said. Staff Sgt. [27] A senior US intelligence official told ABC News that at least 21 militants were killed, all of which were buried on the Malian side of the border. The deaths of four U.S. soldiers, Staff Sgt. [128] The US Department of Defense released military records on 26 October that showed that the killed US soldiers had little to no experience in combat. Bryan C. Black and Sgt. 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. Army Service Ribbon Both Nigerien soldiers were killed by enemy fire as LaDavid continued sprinting through the open desert. Believing he had successfully reentered his vehicle, the other vehicles had left the area. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; 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. LaDavid Johnson was killed by small arms between 12:30 and 12:45pm. 1st Class Jeremiah . A helicopter support team pulled out due to weather conditions, leaving the team exposed in Tongo Tongo, near the border with Mali. It was in this attack that Sergeant La David Johnson, 25; Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, 35; Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, 39; and Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright were killed. They worked around to the south, intending to outflank the enemy and sweep the treeline, but were forced to retreat. [118] Laura Seay, an assistant professor of government at Colby College, shared French's view in an article on Slate. The parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, and Sgt. Name. Driver and Mechanic Badge [116], On 18 October, Mark Landler and Yamiche Alcindor, reporters from The New York Times, drew comparisons between the incident with the phone call to La David Johnson's widow and Trump's feud with the parents of another American soldier killed in action, Humayun Khan, during the 2016 US presidential election. [41] The meeting lasted 30 minutes longer than the team leader expected. . The team radioed in that they were being overrun, then destroyed their radios to avoid them getting in the hands of the enemy. He was incapacitated but still breathing, as the helmet cam stopped moving and was only heaving up and down . When found, SGT L. Johnson's hands were not bound and he was laying on his back with his arms to his sides. The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. The Tongo Tongo ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and U.S. soldiers near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base from a mission. [72] with about 1,200 people in attendance, including Representative Wilson. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Staff Sgt. The team leader, Perozeni, was also initially recommended for a Bronze Star with Valor. They quickly put it on as the firefight began. She said she didn't like Trump's tone and that she broke down when Trump fumbled her husband's name. The investigators learned that Wright jumped back into the vehicle and slowly began driving south while Staff Sgts. Jeremiah Johnson joined the active-duty Army in 2008 after a year in the Army Reserves. [16] On 20 October, McCain and Mattis met in McCain's office in the United States Capitol. Wright earned the Special Forces Tab. Parachutist Badge ABC News' investigative journalist James Gordon Meek remembers reporting on the ambush of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 3212, an Army Special Forces team, in Tongo Tongo, Niger, on Oct. 4 . At the Pentagon briefing, Cloutier was asked if the captains had lied. "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. Air Assault Badge Somehow, it was left behind. Wright exited the halted vehicle, looked toward the enemy and then dragged Black into cover. Purple Heart Army Commendation Medal (two awards) The content available is no longer being updated and may no longer be applicable. Wright exited the halted vehicle . But Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks, who led U.S. Special Operations Command-Africa at the time, downgraded the recommended decoration to a Distinguished Service Cross in September of that year, according to award approval records previously viewed by Army Times. Kyle Rempfer is an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. In addition to Jeremiah Johnson, Wright and Black, Sgt. Purple Heart They made several attempts to break out of the kill zone but had to retreat to a final defensive position. Approximately 960 meters (1,050yd) from the initial ambush site, LaDavid took cover under a dense thorny tree and engaged the encroaching enemy. Soon after leaving Tongo Tongo, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niamey, Niger's capital, they were ambushed by Islamic State-linked militants carrying small arms and machine guns. 47 relations. [1], Nine valor medals, including four Silver Stars, were awarded to members of ODA 3212 for their actions during the ambush. Meritorious Service Medal Purple Heart ", The attackers brought up a truck-mounted heavy machine gun and raked the tree, the summary said. 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. Members of the 3rd Special Forces Group, 2nd battalion cry at the tomb of US Army Sgt. Johnson was awarded the Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon during his service. The new video was quietly recovered during a French operation to kill the leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara this summer. [124], On 12 January 2018, the ISGS claimed responsibility for the attack after a long delay. Both women were shown the new video by Army officials in the fall. 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 lowest recorded core temperature in a surviving adult is 60.8 degrees. At this point two additional team members would head back toward the initial ambush site to help locate the missing teammates. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. When he ran out of ammunition for the M240, he fought on with an M2010 sniper rifle, the summary and video said. [41] However, the meeting would drag on with the local leaders delaying the soldiers' departure by stalling and keeping them waiting. . Combat Infantryman Badge, Rank: Sergeant (E-5), effective April 2017, MOS/Branch: Wheeled vehicle repairer (91B), Dates of Service: January 2014 October 2017, Deployments: Niger: August 2017 October 2017 Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would "bolster our regional partners" in fighting against militant groups. Certificate of Achievement (two awards) Niger: May to October 2016, Awards: The winding tale of how the lightly armed team wound up in the melee, and why the militarys investigation placed primary blame on the ground force rather than senior leaders, has been covered extensively, including in a recent ABC documentary, 3212 UN-REDACTED. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, were killed fighting in one location near the . Troops in Niger", "Niger Ambush Came After 'Massive Intelligence Failure,' Source Says", "Pentagon Sends Team to Niger to Find Out What Happened", "Death of U.S. Roughly two hours after the ambush began, the first sign of air support arrived. Jeremiah Johnson. This information can be obtained through a FOIA request. [10] On 8 November, the US Department of Defense said that the investigation would be completed in January 2018. Initial reports indicated that LaDavid Johnson may have been captured and executed, but he was found laying on his back with his arms by his sides and had wounds consistent with sporadic fire while he actively engaged the enemy. The Hall of Valor includes citations related to actions during the Global War on Terror. [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. Army Achievement Medal (five awards) On Oct. 4, 2017, a unit of the U.S. Army's 3rd Special Forces Group, known as Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 3212, was ambushed by affiliates of the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS) in Tongo Tongo, Niger, resulting in the deaths of four U.S. soldiers Staff Sgt. Niger: August 2017 October 2017 [57] His body was nearly 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) away from the scene of the ambush. 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. [96], Senator John McCain stated that the Trump administration was not being forthcoming about the details of the ambush. Joint Service Achievement Medal [139][140] He was killed by French forces in a mid-2021 raid and a 45 minute video of the 2017 incident was recovered.[141]. [98] On the same day, Senator Lindsey Graham said that the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee will be briefed next week. 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