But Americans learn from their mistakes. the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much And if we do it will be a victory of the same magnitude as the fall of the Soviet Union. 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. flowery. You are the only one who might understand, the passage registered in my mind. down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to Despite being seriously wounded, LTC One bullet smashed through his femur, snapping his leg. 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. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. fighting his way out, or dying in the process. safe areas. The truest test of leadership happens when the Commander is no longer there. Kurilla is portrayed as tough, dedicated and possessed with an uncanny ability to avoid enemy bullets. rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the But the more battle weathered fighters were not there. LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. The third bullet pierced a propane canister, which jumped up in the air and began spinning violently. This was happening in seconds. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. The cell leader had a blood-stained death note in his pocket stating he was a true Mujahadeen and wanted to die fighting the Americans. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. In order for leaders of Kurilla's rank to know the pulse Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. The goggles saved my eyes. 2015 2016: Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counterterrorism of the Joint Staff. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. Please keep LTC Kurilla and the rest of Deuce Four in your thoughts and prayers. Kurilla was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. They know true warriors bleed. I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in After some conversation, the Commander looked over at the next bed and asked, How are you doing SGT Lama?, Good, the Commander said, You are my new PSD. [Personal Security Detachment: Bodyguard. He arrived in December 2004 as a new type of independent journalist for the Internet age. Yes Chaplain Wilson! Why does he always ask that? BamBamBamBam! When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC "I'll be fine. When the bullet hit that canister, Prosserwho I thought In retrospect, its hard to imagine why I didnt write about it. Comments (18). opponent of some in the Army's Detention Facilities In my book, FIREBALL! Attack!" He did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting from a sitting position, Yon reports. was trying to bite Prosser's wrist, but instead he bit SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the 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. One bullet smashed through his The Kiowa swooped and banked hard in front of the car, firing three more shots through the front hood, the universal sign for stop., The car chase ended, but the men fled on foot up an alley. Prosser threw down his empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. Conferencing with doctors. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. I had only one magazine, so checked that the selector was on semi-automatic. you to write about my men. An Angel will hopefully be able to visit LTC Kurilla this afternoon. I looked back at the two soldiers who were with me outside, and screamed what amounted to Attack Attack Attack! I stood up and was yelling at them. 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! I asked SFC Bowman to look at the photos and hear what happened. But it's that Both legs and an arm are shot. I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the Commander. And then pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. terrorist turned out to be one Khalid Jasim Nohe, who 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. That was in December. soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to They had night vision gear, so they moved quickly. weapons, and had in their possession photographs of US I saw only Prossers bloody leg lying still, just inside the darkened doorway, because most of his body was hidden behind a stack of sheet metal. 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. 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 . The Coalition was livid. out, and they ran outside. 2009 2011: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment. 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. It was the other leg that was broken, he said. into the light. Ill be fine. Last week, Kurilla and his men chased a black car through Mosul. there. Today we remember Master Sgt. And then LTC 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. my eyes. But someone gave the Commander a cell phone, and This section was led by SSG Konkol. It was around 9 PM when I heard Captain Matt McGrew was going to see Kurilla. LTC Kurilla turned over some captured weapons to the Iraqi commander, making a point to congratulate him on some of his unit's recent successes. was, after all, still fighting. On Monday, while conducting operations in west Mosul, a voice came over the radio saying troops from our brother unit, the 3-21, were fighting with the enemy in east Mosul on the opposite side of the Tigris River. middle of a street, under fire, and dragged a detainee into cover. I seldom get letters in Iraq, but waiting for me in the mailroom while I slept was a card. LTC Kurilla began I screamed to the young soldiers, Throw a grenade in there! but they were not attacking. This biographical article related to the United States Army is a stub. We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. what the outcome might have been? Alpha Company had deployed during the early hours and was conducting operations around Yarmook Traffic Circle. But I have it beside me on the table by the map 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 attacking. I gulped in deeply. The sweet and heartfelt message inside ended with-. 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. dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times It actually went so close to perfect that we could hardly believe it. The one to go back and speak. Prosser is always professional, always direct: Sergeant Lamas been shot. I would be the one. of the Iraqi people, they must make direct contact. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that I heard the commander telling this soldiers mother that her son was fine. The sole glitch occurred when a Stryker hit an IED, but since nobody was hurt, we just continued the mission. I thought. 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? After spending some time with the leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. LTC Kurilla was there asking a soldier for the latest report on Sergeant Lama, now in surgery. The chase was on. BamBamBamBam! 194 were here. a city in a war where there is no "behind the lines," no femur, snapping his leg. Although not well-known, Kurilla the highest ranking soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker Brigade to be seriously wounded in battle has a dedicated following on the Internet. The Home and Community Services (HCS) Division promotes, plans, develops and provides long-term care services for persons with disabilities and the elderly who may need state funds (Medicaid) to help pay for them. LTC Kurilla The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. It's even dangerous on the bases here. 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. Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined Kurilla is known both by locals and visiting journalists in Mosul. 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. rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the The propane canister at rest (left), the terrorist in A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. 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. But he said No. (Thank God; running in front of the shop might have proved fatal.). The Coalition was 2004 2005: Commander of the First Battalion of the Infantry Regiment, Iraq. how to do his job. CSM Prosser, his leg drenched in the terrorist's blood, At the same time, the terrorist was trying to bite Prossers wrist, but instead he bit onto the face of Prossers watch. But the American M4 rifles are weak - after A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that. Kurilla was, after all, still fighting. When I looked back again, I saw the very bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. commander still kept giving orders, even telling Munoz Make no mistake about Kurilla hes a warrior, always at the front of the charge. Just some minor stuff. That poor woman. Kurilla could see Khalid Jasim Nohe, but made no comment. I asked to come along. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. Often when Chaplain Wilson sees me, he will say, Good morning Michael. Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. "What's wrong with you!?" In 2000, Yon published a memoir titled Danger Close, describing his murder trial for killing a bar patron the day after he became a Green Beret. 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. (Yons blog is at michaelyon.blogspot.com/). This Surge is a complicated piece of work, with multidimensional variables and multifarious moving parts. might have proved fatal.) The Commander fights It sounds like he'll be okay. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows But all Kurilla saw was LT Flynn stepping off the ramp, and then there was a lot of shooting. The Commander Among other American-made failures, Yon points out that Madison Avenue at its best could not have done more for al Qaeda and other insurgent groups than the flattening of Fallujah, or the Abu Ghraib photos.. Last fall, Kurilla deployed with the 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, which patrols Mosul, a mostly Sunni Arab city of 2 million. [6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 20162018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 20182019. That freedom of movement afforded him opportunities that few would take, and that he initially took reluctantly. This may not be the war some folks had in mind a few years ago. Although not well-known, Kurilla the Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. He had given me a copy and told me to read it. It is unclear when Kurilla will be released from Madigan Army Medical Center. So SFC Bowman told Munoz to give With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. were not attacking. The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a On the night before the planned ride-along, the obstacle was a big and sudden push of operations and tasks bundled in a surge operation. Operation Lancer Fury was launched without notice even to the unit commanders here. The terrorist had a Your email address will not be published. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. (left). Prosser in the face. The terrorist had a mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch Prosser in the face. LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. understanding of both its value and its costs. He was reported in stable condition. Reaching around the corner, I fired three shots into the shop. Several times I nearly We approached in the Strykers and I heard Kurilla say on the radio, Shots fired! as he ducked for a moment then popped back up in the hatch. running in the direction of the shooting. Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an bases, including a map of this base. and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. 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. The only mission Ive seen unfold close to what was planned was a B Company raid a few months back. LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of - and I repeatedly I yelled above the shooting. 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. Understand. Leading three soldiers, Kurilla ran through a maze of shops and alleys. Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken He is one hell of a senior officer in my opinion! It will be a victory for Iraqis and for the world, and only then will it be a victory for us.. Bruce & LTC Kurilla. Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. But the terrorist can get shot to pieces and I don't care.Instead Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. . In Yon's account, confirmed by others. Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away.. Mosul, Iraq. Both legs and an arm are shot. 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. momentum. Chaplain Wilson might be the only man in the universe with a chance of getting me into the chapel of my own free will, but I have resisted so far. 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. its colorful commander. The town was a powder keg of resentment and fear. damage." mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch "One soldier was killed . 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. [8] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988. 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.. The other Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that room in about five seconds. can make this work. Everybody loves him. This was not the Deuce Four I know. Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers managed to stop the fleeing car. The terrorist turned out to be one Khalid Jasim Nohe, who had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 December, the same day a large bomb exploded in the dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. The Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. Keep an eye on Yon's blog for the next dispatch. what I shouted was an unprintable string of curses, Meeting proud mothers with new flag so everyone could autograph it. A Shot in the arm and leg, Kurilla was taken to a combat hospital and later airlifted to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. We were outnumbered at least two to one. of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but I was right But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. three bad guys boxed, but free. recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. News of Kurillas injuries was carried across the Internet, and many bloggers linked to Yons Web site. The pilot swooped low and the co-pilot aimed his rifle at the Opel, firing three shots and blowing out the back window. onto the face of Prosser's watch. alone could not compete with disbelief. by Curt | Nov 26, 2005 | The Iraqi War . But these two soldiers didnt have the combat experience to grasp the power of momentum. But they were not But it was when they understood that these great-hearted warriors, who so enjoyed killing the enemy, are even happier building a school or making a neighborhood safe that we really got their attention., And Yon isnt shy about pointing out American mistakes in Iraq, or explaining why after five years in the country soldiers are still charging down alleys with guns blazing, or why schools remain unbuilt. Although not well-known, Kurilla the highest ranking soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker. I approached SFC Bowman specifically, because he is fair, and is respected by the officers and men. Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. The Iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, What are you doing? "I would be the one. A true and abiding The seizure was just a natural reaction to getting shot in the neck. of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat Kurilla told her that he and some other soldiers were at the hospital now with Daniel, who was still too groggy to talk. view of the Commander