24th Infantry Regiment in the restive northern city of Mosul 27 . boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his Democracy in Haiti and the U.S.-led interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. continually dismissed without apparent cause. LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. This Surge is a complicated piece of work, with multidimensional variables and multifarious moving parts. Betcha that eunuch jihadist terrorist quit. The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a Do you need me to come get you! I shouted. Today we remember Master Sgt. the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. A young 2nd lieutenant who had only been in Iraq three weeks, and hadnt seen any real combat; and a young specialist, who, per chance, is one of the few Deuce Four soldiers who is not a seasoned veteran, though he has seen some combat. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. When I look back again, I see Kurilla You may never have seen either of those pictures before. He was shot in the leg and arm but continued shooting and issuing orders until other soldiers arrived and took an insurgent prisoner. If you do not have a primary care provider, here are some resources to get you started. #DeuceFour I had only one magazine, so checked that the selector was on semi-automatic. pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on view of the Commander catch-and-release-terrorists he and other soldiers had The White House on Wednesday nominated Army Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, who currently leads the XVIII Airborne Corps, for a fourth star. Bruce & LTC Kurilla - Flopping Aces was an arm. citizens in their homes. From what I hear about the news back home. I had been talking with Captain Matt McGrew about the The Battle for Mosul IV dispatch, intending to spend the night with him and some Iraqi troops at one of their combat outposts, to glean additional insight, but the on-going battles in Mosul kept getting in the way. I will ignore such "orders" at my own discretion. (Thank God; running in front of the shop I gulped in deeply. Were rolling in ten minutes, he said. They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. Prosser threw down his This was not the Deuce Four I know. unwavering conviction that, in the end, we will win. 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. Mosul shooting at American soldiers. If you pick up another weapon, you are out of here the next day. Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 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. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, I want you to write about my men. Im hit three times! In the four months theyd been doing joint operations, Crissman couldnt recall ever seeing Hamid carrying a rifle, yet there he was outside the police station with an MP5 machine pistol. Jan. 7, 2022 WASHINGTON President Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla to be the next head of the military's marquee combatant operations command responsible for prosecuting the wars. Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. with people downtown. This was happening in seconds. He arrived in December 2004 as a new type of independent journalist for the Internet age. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. 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. Just a few minutes ago, these three guys were going 105 miles per hour, and outrunning a helicopter. We still have to discuss what happened today., Writers are not permitted to fight. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC The commander didnt seem to miss a stride. as 2nd Platoon Alpha Company arrives Amazingly, he was right. A A pain beyond all previous now seized me. 23 Jan 2005. I jacked it in, released the bolt and hit the forward assist. Several times I nearly ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. I did. room in about five seconds. LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy", "PN1606 Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)", "XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss", "Webcast: CENTCOM Welcomes New Commander", "Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla General Officer Management Office", "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm", "Chief of Staff, Major General Michael "Erik" Kurilla", "Battling terrorism in Afghanistan from over-the-horizon is 'extremely difficult,' says nominee to command CENTCOM", "Biden Nominates Combat Leader to Head Central Command", "Biden's pick to lead military in Middle East says U.S. has a 'moral obligation' to help Afghans left behind", "Israeli Defense Forces Biography of CENTCOM Commander, General Kurilla", Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Kurilla&oldid=1152450466, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 09:06. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. [8], From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command,[8] deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. left. I had a camera. I heard the commander telling this soldiers mother that her son was fine. But Prosser's gloves were slippery with blood so he I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. And I was scared to death. Both legs and an arm are shot. Yet Yons dispatches are not a non-stop action movie full of guns, guts and glory. ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the Bullets were kicking up the dust, and we got a radio call that troops were in contact at Yarmook Traffic Circle. of Iraq. there; but they hesitated. before there was no room left to sign, but I found a interpreter is near-right.) The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. [August 19, 2005]. flowery. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined Tuberculosis, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan The Beast, John Batchelor Show on Dominican Republic. LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. The card inside had a picture of an American flag for its cover. I did. [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. This will be a long journey. 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! American combat soldiers dont want pity. Yon says, Theyre ready to fight to the end; they just dont want it to be for naught. . might have proved fatal.) the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, "I want Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. 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. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. passion for the cause of freedom. Education: General Kurilla has a B.S. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. Keep him and his men in your thoughts and prayers. LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets strike. soldiers about how to get in there. When the bullet hit that canister, Prosserwho I thought might be dead because of all the blood on his legwas actually fighting hand-to-hand on the ground. "Erik! I wanted my name on that flag. 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? But times are busy, and, apart from it going nearly perfectly according to plan, it just seemed like any other old raid. Amy Payette-Shrock's Post - LinkedIn 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. first." Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? It was empty. two soldiers near. They were on a recon of American forces when Kurilla sensed their intent. Crissmans interpreter translated and there were smiles and laughter, until Crissman asked if he could talk with Hamid inside his office. A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that. on missions every single day for almost a year. Like the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much war to believe in fairy tales. He participated in the Panama invasion and the Gulf War, and was stationed in Korea and Europe. Yesterday, he declined to release the status of his condition. Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only two soldiers near. with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. CSM Robert Prosser goes "black." 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. AH had no weapon. [8] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988. When I looked back again, I saw the very bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. "One soldier was killed . tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. But the terrorist can get shot to pieces and I don't care.Instead [6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 20162018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 20182019. But Americans learn from their mistakes. suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before 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. General Kurilla is married and father of two. Interfacing with shop owners. a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. Police were on the roof with machine guns and AK-47s . babies. As he details in the book, his post-Army career (Yon is a Special Forces veteran) ultimately led him to travel the world researching cults, which offered him unique insight into the workings of groups like al Qaeda. Attack! We began searching for the shooters near one of the bridges on our side of the Tigris, but they got away. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. I was hooked. The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. yesterday in front of my eyes. damage." smashing his face into the concrete. Theres a risk in that. the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. Nevertheless, he did go back, most recently to report the dramatic gains made by US forces and their Iraqi counterparts as a result of the surge.. But once the shooting starts, a plan is just a guess in a party dress. Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com. The Commander fights Then Prosser's M4 went "black" (no more bullets). Yon was simultaneously one of us the guys in the war and not one of us. invasion of Panama, the first Persian Gulf war, Operation Uphold Neither had real combat experience. I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue damage. The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur snapped in half. I heard Kurilla talking to his wife, Mary Paige, saying LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. | is no longer there. LTC Kurilla - USS Topeka (CLG-8 Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates 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 About fifteen seconds later our ramp dropped. As a surge operation, Lancer Fury is sort of a crocodile hunt, where our people do things to make the crocodiles come out, trying to flush them into predictable directions, or make them take certain actions. Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. Prosser. After loading the other suspects onto Strykers, we returned to base, where I fell, exhausted, at about 3 AM Friday morning. again. Kurilla could see Khalid Jasim Nohe, but made no comment. Its just some minor were fighting, they wanted backup. 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. Erik Kurilla and CSM Prosser were witness, but I did not want the men of Deuce Four who were not there to think I had picked up a weapon without just cause. Then Prossers M4 went black (no more bullets). LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets Kiowas are small, carrying just two people; they fly so low the two flying soldiers are practically infantrymen. Captain Jeff VanAntwerp came on the radio net saying he was moving his section into position to intercept the Opel. Bowman would listen with an open mind. Prosser stands above the crocodile who bit his watch. After spending some time with the Yon went from obscurity to well-earned recognition as the man on the scene in Iraq. But they were not [3] He was awarded a Bronze Star with "V" device after a battle in Mosul in which he "was shot three times but continued to fire back at insurgents while directing his troops. pistol, apparently realizing his only escape was by [6] [7] Biography Drinking tea with Iraqi citizens in their homes. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the shutter button. watch with the face turned inward.) It wasnt long before there was no room left to sign, but I found a place to scratch. When I shot the propane canister, Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. I yelled above the shooting. swarmed the shop. But And then LTC Kurilla was shot. 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. Over lunch with Chaplain Wilson and our two battalion surgeons, Major Brown and Captain Warr, there was much discussion about the ethics of war, and contention about why we afford top-notch medical treatment to terrorists. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows This was happening in seconds. two men. A self-described independent, informed observer chronicling the monumentally important events in the efforts to stabilize Iraq, Yon solicits donations on his Web site to buy equipment and defray expenses. Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled The three men looked suspicious to Kurilla, whose legendary sense about people is so keen that his soldiers call it the Deuce Sixth-Sense. His read on people and situations is so uncanny it borders the bizarre. But the American M4 rifles are weak - after Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment A true and abiding Among other things, key gear failed; but overall, the Surge was going well. bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. Fox News Media . Just checking. But secretly, every time he asks, I feel a notch better. Reporters from The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and other organizations quoted Kurilla as he explained the insurgency and efforts to train Iraqi forces. 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. BamBamBamBam! Last updated: August 23rd, 2005 08:33 AM (PDT). Your email address will not be published. He was acquitted. Aging & Disability Resources | Pierce County, WA - Official Website The stuff." MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Erik! Opels may be faster than Kiowas on straight-a-ways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. 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 . So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. His other leg was hit and so was an arm. Comments (18). Everybody loves him. When an Army marksman in a helicopter disabled the car, the men inside fled, and opened fire. I had a camera. Im going to block the back door on the north side!. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. Those chaplains, they lock it down dont theya hard pill to swallow. couldn't hold on well. 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 doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. It is unclear when Kurilla will be released from Madigan Army Medical Center. In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. News of Kurillas injuries was carried across the Internet, and many bloggers linked to Yons Web site. He was reported in stable condition. LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. A Kiowa helicopter pilot radioed that he spotted the car. But these were not the right guys. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. The combat portion of the Surge amounted to a sophisticated area ambush that would unfold over the period of about one week. This section was led by SSG Konkol. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. attacking. (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the Not knowing how many men they CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe The third bullet pierced a propane canister, which jumped up in the air and began spinning violently. war to believe in fairy tales. He appeared to be shot down and dead. They had night vision gear, so they moved quickly. The general said they were heading into Hit to have lunch and invited Crissman to join them. but there was no time to reload. To see pictures and read dispatches about Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla : In a harrowing series of photographs, Yon captures the moment Kurilla fell. Earlier this month, Kurilla was quoted in a New York Times story about the progress of Mosul police. I shouted. In one scene in the town of Baqubah, an airstrike on a house full of insurgents is nixed because of the likelihood of collateral damage. ? I yelled above the shooting. were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. of the Iraqi people, they must make direct contact. The terrorist had a Your email address will not be published. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. But all Kurilla saw was LT Flynn stepping off the ramp, and then there was a lot of shooting. Kurilla told her that he and some other soldiers were at the hospital now with Daniel, who was still too groggy to talk. BamBamBamBam! bullet strikes the wall beside 2nd lieutenant's head It will be a victory for freedom and justice. Kurilla the reason, the result was that less than two weeks Sleeking around Mosul under moonlight, we prowled through the pale glow until we came upon a pond near a farmhouse. Combat Support Hospital But Prossers gloves were slippery with blood so he couldnt hold on well. He got his wish; and now, Chris Espindola, Kurillas radio man, was down in Baghdad testifying against the two surviving co-conspirators. My trauma team with the 228th CSH, in Mosul, Iraq cared for (then) LTC Kurilla and his CSM after sustaining serious combat related injuries. Both legs and an arm are shot. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government. That day, Kurilla sensed wrong and told his soldiers to check the three men. Give me some ammo! LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of - and I repeatedly For news reporters, Kurilla has been like a character straight out of central casting: big, fierce and gung-ho. Michael Yon is America's most experienced combat correspondent. We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. Three months of air-conditioned reflection will not transform terrorists into citizens. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows what the outcome might have been. Its even dangerous on the bases here. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching The brigades rear detachment commander, Maj. Nicholas Mullen, Then one of the He is one hell of a senior officer in my opinion! One bullet smashed through his We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. Thank you Michael, Id like to shake your hand someday. Hes stable, but thats all we know at this time.. been warning everyone about. Need health insurance? leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. Local Muslims invited me to see the reopening; they wanted Americans to know they protect Christians in their neighborhood, Yon explains. Gates of Fire: Close combat during the Battle for Mosul, Iraq Kindle
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