Army Commendation Medal w/C Device La David Johnson's body was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight. [132], After a Twitter user published a series of posts claiming to have footage from the ambush, AFRICOM said on 24 January 2018, "We are reviewing the post and determining the veracity of the tweet and the assertions that there is an associated video". He was awarded three medals during his service: the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. [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". They were buried in the Muslim Cemetery of Niamey on 7 October. Gen. Raymond Thomas III, who helmed SOCOM at the time, then downgraded the award again to a Silver Star in December 2018, the records showed. 5 min read. Bryan . [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". Special Forces Tab "Approximately 85 meters from the vehicle, enemy small-arms fire hit [Jeremiah Johnson], severely wounding him," the summary said. Certificate of Achievement (two awards) [61] At the age of 20, Black earned a business degree at Central Washington University. 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. [62], Black's funeral was held in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on 18 October 2017. 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. Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon WASHINGTON American special operations forces fought valiantly against overwhelming odds in the battle against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists outside Tongo Tongo, Niger, and while a number of factors contributed to the clash, no single factor within the control of U.S. forces caused the deaths of four U.S. Army soldiers and four Nigeriens, a military investigation has concluded. [66] His funeral was held in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on 19 October 2017.[66]. On the anniversary of the Oct. 4, 2017, ambush that killed four American soldiers near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, . [68], In school, Johnson met Myeshia Manual, whom he married on 22 August 2014. They sent final messages to loved ones on personal devices and prepared for the worst, team members would observe Nigerien soldiers on the ground praying. Username. La David Johnson (left) and Sgt. Debra Gannon's son, Sgt. Jeremiah Wayne Johnson. The team leader and four Nigerien soldiers moved to the southeast to flank what was thought to be a small enemy force; meanwhile the team sergeant ordered the rear US vehicle to the middle of the convoy to better coordinate machine gun fire with US vehicle one. 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet cameras on the US soldiers who died on October 4 in Tongo Tongo, Niger in an ambush by 50 ISIS militants. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed by small-arms fire. Jeremiah Johnson, Black and Wright were outside the same vehicle when . Rank: Staff sergeant (E-6), effective June 2015posthumously promoted to sergeant first class (E-7), effective Oct. 4, 2017. Niger: August 2017 October 2017 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. Two other U.S. service members were wounded in the attack in southwest Niger. Members of the 3rd Special Forces Group, 2nd battalion cry at the tomb of US Army Sgt. "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. He enlisted in the Army October 2007. and Debra Johnson,[64][66] and graduated from North Stafford High School in 1996. They made several attempts to break out of the kill zone but had to retreat to a final defensive position. Army Sgt. [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. [82], In an interview with Voice of America, Almou Hassane, the mayor of Tondikiwindi, alleged that residents of Tongo Tongo were complicit in the ambush: "The attackers, the bandits, the terrorists have never lacked accomplices among local populations". [75], A small section of Georgia Highway 1 was named in memorial of Wright in April 2019. [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. The 2017 ambush pitted the outmanned and outgunned 11 U.S. troops and their 30 Nigerien partners against scores of enemy fighters armed with mortars, truck-mounted heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Last Assignment: Deceased. [80] On 21 October, a Niger security source told AFP that the village chief, Mounkaila Alassane,[81] was arrested for "complicity" with the militants. Black earned the Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab while in the Army. [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. Believing he had successfully reentered his vehicle, the other vehicles had left the area. Waldhauser also said there will be "accountability" for command failures that were factors in the ambush. [118] Laura Seay, an assistant professor of government at Colby College, shared French's view in an article on Slate. Questions persist concerning an ambush in which four U.S. Army special forces were killed Oct. 4 in the West African country of Niger. Staff Sgt. Johnson alive," the summary said in disputing several reports that circulated immediately after the ambush. Jordan: May 2012, Awards: Dustin Wright, Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Ga. All four were killed in Niger, when a joint patrol of American and Niger forces was ambushed on Oct. 4, 2017, by militants believed linked to the Islamic State group. The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. The plan the team submitted did not accurately describe the mission's intention, describing it as civil/military reconnaissance instead of the actual purpose which was to locate and capture or if necessary kill the ISGS sub-commander. [20], The ambush remains the largest loss of American lives in combat in Africa since the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. Army Commendation Medal w/ C Device LaDavid Johnson was unable to enter his vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire and was forced to escape and evade on foot with the two Nigeriens. La David Terrence Johnson (19922017) was born in Miami Gardens, Florida, to Samara Johnson and Terrance McGriff. [127] According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has since joined the investigation. [133], In November 2018, the US military sent letters of reprimand to four officers and two soldiers, most notably to Air Force Major General Marcus Hicks, who was in charge of special operations forces in Africa, and Captain Michael Perozeni. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Jeremiah Johnson regained his footing and ran to Black, checking for wounds. [131] On 5 December, people with knowledge of the operation told BuzzFeed that what happened in Niger "was the result of reckless behavior by US Special Forces". La David Johnson was also killed during the 2017 ambush. The Tongo Tongo village elder first notified and then led Nigerien forces to the location of SGT L. Johnson's remains. The families of four soldiers killed in an October 2017 ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger, have started receiving posthumous medals on the soldiers' behalves. [62] Black graduated from Puyallup High School in 2000. But I am honored that they finally decided to upgrade him.. [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! Two US soldiers who were wounded in the ambush were transferred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. LaDavid Johnson was killed by small arms between 12:30 and 12:45pm. Army Service Ribbon [29] According to the United States Department of Defense, ISIL leaders in Syria had acknowledged Sahrawi's allegiance through their Amaq News Agency but ISGS "has not been formally recognized as an official branch of ISIL". This account was disputed by Trump, who said that he "had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife" and accused Wilson of "fabricating" her account. Johnson "continued to evade, running west for an additional 450 meters before eventually seeking cover under a thorny tree," the summary said. [34][8][35][36][37], In Tiloa, the team failed to locate the ISGS commander and began their return to base. [91], On 18 October, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared that Wilson had willfully mischaracterized the spirit of the conversation. La David Johnson were posthumously awarded the Silver Star while Staff Sgt. Army Good Conduct Medal (three awards) ISIS has released a sickening video appearing to show their fighters ambushing and killing four US soldiers in Niger. "[93], On 25 October, Trump told reporters that he did not "specifically" authorize the mission in Niger. [67], Johnson's family enrolled him in 5000 Role Models, a mentorship program of US Representative Frederica Wilson that prepared African American children for college, vocational school, or the military. As of October 2022, Jeremiah John was awarded the Silver Star. "During the movement, enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt. "That's not what the evidence indicates," he said, but Cloutier and Waldhauser said there were "processes" throughout the chain of command that need addressing. Wright got in the SUV and began to slowly drive south while Black and Jeremiah Johnson ran alongside, continuing suppressive fire at the enemy while under heavy fire. As the main Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) element attempted to evade enemy forces, they came under heavy fire which resulted in one Nigerien soldier killed while the team leader and team sergeant would suffer multiple gunshot wounds. Johnson acknowledged the order and attempted to get behind the wheel, but heavy fire drove him back. Liver-Eating . At Dachau's cold-water immersion baths, Nazi doctors calculated death to arrive at around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. [60][63][64] He spoke English, French, Arabic, and Hausa, the last of which is spoken in Niger. The . Staff Sgt. [33] The FAN had launched a military operation to reestablish security in Tillabri in June 2017. Niger: August 2017 October 2017 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? Air Assault Badge [112], On 23 October, Myeshia Johnson said on ABC's Good Morning America that Wilson's account of the call with Trump was "100 percent correct" and that the call "made [her] cry even worse". Dustin Wright . The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed IS affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niger's capital, Niamey. He was from Springboro, Ohio. [63], Black enlisted in the US Army in October 2009 and eventually became a Special Forces medical sergeant (18D), he was subsequently assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd SFG in June 2015 and deployed to Afghanistan for two months in July. [22] The ambush also prompted congressional inquiries, and an investigation by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The 45-minute video, filmed by one of those 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers, sheds new light on the final actions . [134], Six medals were awarded to Nigerien soldiers. [57] His body was nearly 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) away from the scene of the ambush. 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. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. By Jack Moore On 1/25/18 at 7:00 AM EST. [20] Some within the US military were critical of the report because they viewed it as underplaying blame for senior officers who had approved of the mission. Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. They were on a dirt track headed south about 120 miles to Camp Ouallam at the end of a joint patrol that began on Oct. 3. When found, SGT L. Johnson's hands were not bound and he was laying on his back with his arms to his sides. Two Army Green Berets, Staff Sgt. Niger: June 2016 November 2016 Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson (right) became honorary Green Berets. Johnson enlisted in the Army in October 2007 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist. La David Johnson at his burial service in the Memorial Gardens East . [129], On 26 October, Dunford announced that Army Major General Roger Cloutier would lead the investigation into the ambush. 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. La David Terrence Johnson was an African American Army Sergeant, vehicle mechanic, and father who was killed in the Tongo Tongo Ambush on October 4, 2017 in the West African nation of Niger, alongside three other American soldiers, Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dustin Wright. However, they submitted a CONOP that was copied from a previous routine reconnaissance patrol. Username. There was originally a rotary wing element which was supposed to join them during their visit to Tongo Tongo, however the rotary wing element had to stand down due to bad weather. Niger Cross of Valor with Star During this sustained attack the ODA leader was thrown from the bed of the team's pickup. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . [73], In July 2012, Wright enlisted in the US Army as an engineer and ultimately became a Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C) assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group. The report found that "personnel turnover" had caused the 11-member US Special Forces team to forgo important training before being deployed, and that the team did not rehearse the mission. Helene Cooper, Thomas Gibbons-Neff & Eric Schmitt, Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Defense Department briefing with Pentagon spokesperson Dana White and Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, 12 October 2017, Statements by US Secretary of Defense James Mattis regarding the 4 Oct. incident in Niger, 19 October 2017, Defense Department briefing with Dana White and Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, 19 October 2017, Operation Enduring Freedom Trans Sahara, "An Operation in Niger Went Fatally Awry. Trump responded by saying that he wrote letters to the families of the victims, and accused his predecessors, specifically President Obama, of not or rarely calling the families of deceased soldiers. Jeremiah Johnson, Staff . Footage taken from Jeremiah Johnson's helmet camera was later posted online which showed the engagement and subsequent deaths of the soldiers. The four are, from left, Staff Sgt. [58] On 12November, additional remains of LaDavid Johnson were found at the site where his body was recovered. [20] The report did not make specific recommendations on the handling of future missions. National Defense Service Medal 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. [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. Sgt. Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, 39; Sergeant La David Johnson, 25; and Staff . [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. Amid the fallout from the ambush, scrutiny placed on U.S. Africa Command highlighted more problems across missions in the region, including poor medical evacuation capabilities and a lack of air support. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. Jeremiah Johnsons own Silver Star medal will be presented to his parents in the coming weeks. 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