Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant Wright and Sergeant Black were in the black S.U.V. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq. Upon realizing Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Wright were missing, Two team members volunteered to head back to the ambush site in an attempt to locate vehicle three. Find 16087 people named Jeremiah Johnson along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok profiles on PeekYou - true people search. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, . After viewing new helmet camera footage recovered last year, Army officials have decided to award the Silver Star medal to one of four U.S. troops killed in an ambush by Islamic State-aligned militants in Niger nearly five years ago, Army Times has learned. 5 min read. Eventually, as enemy combatants pushed forward, they hastily abandoned their position. They saved the lives of many soldiers. Overseas Service Ribbon "Wright stopped, returned to Staff. All three were assigned to the Armys 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. [59], Among the Nigeriens, five were killed and eight were wounded. [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". Johnson enlisted in the Army in October 2007 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist. Dustin Wright were killed as they returned from a low-risk patrol in Tongo Tongo with 30 Nigerian and up . 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. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Wright exited the halted vehicle . An official website of the United States government, Army 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. After completion of the second mission the team was ordered to return to base, before returning the team commander ordered an overhead ISR asset to continue monitoring the area in order to gather intelligence on possibly enemy routes leading into Mali, in turn leaving the team unwatched as they departed toward Tongo Tongo at 8:30 am (local time). Through the night of the 4th, the team made their movement north and reached the objective officials referred to as "objective north" at sunrise. Last Assignment: Deceased. Parachutist Tab La David Johnson received the Silver Star after firing his weapon until it ran out of ammunition, switching to another gun and making a last stand alone under a tree against an enemy truck and its heavy machine gun. Debra Gannon's son, Sgt. The top U.S. military officer, Army Gen. Mark Milley, has delivered a message to Ukrainian soldiers at a new training program Two of three NATO surveillance planes deployed temporarily to Romania have arrived at an air base near Bucharest. [4][32] However, the declaration was not recognized by the group's leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, and the al-Qaeda loyalists, creating a split in the group. Sgt. "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. "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. Bryan Black, Sgt. They would establish a perimeter and began treating the wounded. [103], On 9 May 2019, US Representative Ruben Gallego urged senators to oppose Patrick M. Shanahan's nomination as Secretary of Defense, alleging that he "mishandled" the investigation into the Tongo Tongo ambush. To avoid confusion, throughout this report SFC Johnson is referred to as Staff Sergeant (SSG) Johnson, as that was his rank at the time . [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. More than halfway back to base, the team received time sensitive intelligence that placed the commander northwest of Tiloa at the Mali border. Simultaneously, Black was slightly ahead of the SUV and was hit by small arms fire, killing him instantly. Footage taken from Jeremiah Johnson's helmet camera was later posted online which showed the engagement and subsequent deaths of the soldiers. 47 relations. He was from Springboro, Ohio. 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. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, . Army Service Ribbon They quickly put it on as the firefight began. [84] On 30 November, the government of Niger gave the US permission to fly armed drones out of Niamey. Bryan Black, 35, and an Army support enabler, Staff Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson ODA 3212 In Other News Sgt. The T-6B Texan II is a two-seat turboprop used to train Navy and Marine Corps pilots in flight school. He was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Jeremiah Johnson, 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. 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. Under heavy fire, seven American and four Nigerian soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy. [20] During the ambush, four Nigeriens, four US soldiers, and at least 100+ISGS militants were killed, and eight Nigeriens and two US soldiers including the team commander were wounded. She said she didn't like Trump's tone and that she broke down when Trump fumbled her husband's name. Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards) In addition to the summary, the Pentagon released an abbreviated version of an animated video prepared by AFRICOM depicting the firefight. But the militarys accusation that the team went off-script on the mission still bothers her. The patrol's leader, an Army captain who was not identified in the summary; the Nigerien commander; and several Nigerien soldiers worked their way around from the south in an effort to outflank the attackers. 1st Class Jeremiah . 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. The attack built in intensity as enemy fighters on motorcycles threatened to overrun them. [76], Goub Mahamadou Issaka was a NCO-cadet of the Gendarmerie.[77]. Team members last saw Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dustin Wright taking cover behind the team's unarmored SUV. The French jets did not drop any bombs for fear of hitting friendly forces, but the low passes were effective in scattering the enemy. Soon after, a vehicle with a mounted machine gun stopped within 100 meters (110yd) of LaDavid Johnson's position and pinned him down. History of the United States Army Special Forces, Jeremiah Johnson, La . However, they submitted a CONOP that was copied from a previous routine reconnaissance patrol. 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. "Approximately 85 meters from the vehicle, enemy small-arms fire hit [Jeremiah Johnson], severely wounding him," the summary said. Staff Sgt. Army Sgt. A much shorter, edited version was disseminated by the Islamic State group a year after the ambush outside the village of Tongo Tongo, near the Niger-Mali border. [129], On 26 October, Dunford announced that Army Major General Roger Cloutier would lead the investigation into the ambush. During this manoeuvre, Sergeant LaDavid Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers became separated from the rest of his team. 3.2k. [67] In 2010, Johnson graduated from Miami Carol City Senior High School. [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]. Somehow, it was left behind. [86], The ambush was the deadliest combat incident involving US soldiers since Donald Trump took office as president on 20 January 2017. Four U.S. soldiers died and it took him 12 days to respond", "Islamic State's Sahara branch claims first attack in Burkina Faso", "Sub-Saharan Africa's Tree "New" Islamic State Affiliates", "Belmokhtar's militants 'merge' with Mali's Mujao", "Confusion surrounds West African jihadists' loyalty to Islamic State", "At least 46 attacks in area of Niger where U.S. troops killed: U.N.", "Niger: Nigerien and US soldiers killed on the Mali border", "US intelligence officials examining video of Nigerien militant group", "Tongo-Tongo and the death of American soldiers", "US soldiers killed in Niger were outgunned, 'left behind' in hunt for ISIS leader", "New details on deadly ambush in Niger that left 4 soldiers dead", "American troops caught in deadly Niger ambush told to proceed despite mission concern", "Senator McCain says subpoena may be required to get answers on", "Oct 2017 Niger Ambush Summary of Investigation", "US special forces 'fought Niger ambush alone after local troops fled', "Hours before death in Niger, U.S. soldiers were targeting militants in Mali", "Troops Ambushed in Niger Waited an Hour to Call for Help, Pentagon Official Says", "Caught in a deadly ambush, US troops in Niger waited an hour for French air power to arrive", "U.S. Army Commendation Medal w/ C Device 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. "During the movement, enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal [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. All soldiers had their serviceable equipment including their body armour and boots taken from them. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed by small-arms fire. [61] While in school, Black learned to play chess and, by the sixth grade, had earned a national ranking. [83], On 1 November, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said that Niger was open to allowing US drone strikes against terror groups. 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. First Class Jeremiah W. Johnson, Staff Sgt. They worked around to the south, intending to outflank the enemy and sweep the treeline, but were forced to retreat. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Ranger Tab Army Good Conduct Medal (three awards) The four are, from left, Staff Sgt. Niger: August 2017 October 2017 Staff Sgt. 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. I still would like to have somebody get up and apologize and tell everybody that [the team] didnt go rogue and they damn well performed above and beyond what they had to do, Gannon told Army Times. Haley also expected the G5 Sahel to "take on full regional ownership of the force within a period of three to six years, with continued US engagement". [69] When Johnson was a Walmart employee in Miami, people in his community knew him as a local stunt rider and was called the "Wheelie King". [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. The Tongo Tongo village elder first notified and then led Nigerien forces to the location of SGT L. Johnson's remains. La David Johnson was separated from his comrades when he and two Nigerien partners were unable to reenter their vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire. [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. They killed at least four of the attackers before they were forced back by the larger enemy unit. 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. 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 . 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. The parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Search by Name . Approximately 100 meters (110yd) outside of the village, armed ISGS militants believed to be led by Doundou Chefou, a lieutenant in the terrorist group given the code name "Naylor Road" by US forces,[42] began their assault against the rear of the convoy. First Class Jeremiah Johnson posthumously received the Bronze Star with Valor. 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. Chilling helmet-cam video, stolen from dead US soldier, shows ambush by Islamic State in Niger Wright and Jeremiah Johnson were shot multiple times at close range by the militants, killing them.[50]. Dustin M. Wright", "Lyons community gathers together for SSgt. Deployments: However, Senator Richard Blumenthal said, "I could not look those families in the eye and say we're doing everything we need to do to provide sufficient intelligence that will enable them to be successful in their missions and avoid the kind of catastrophe that we saw here". [16] On 20 October, McCain and Mattis met in McCain's office in the United States Capitol. [114], On 18 December, Jones-Johnson accused the Department of Defense of lying to her family about how her son was killed. 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. [67], His funeral was held at a church in Cooper City, Florida, on 21 October 2017. After initially escaping the ambush site, the American and Nigerien forces established a secondary position. 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. Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Name. Niger: June 2016 November 2016 Kyle Rempfer is an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. He was incapacitated but still breathing, as the helmet cam stopped moving and was only heaving up and down . Johnson, 39, served as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist, also known as a 74D. Get the latest DOD News products delivered to your inbox. As of October 2022, Jeremiah John was awarded the Silver Star. 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 . Army Service Ribbon Bryan . [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. Approximately 85 meters (93yd) southwest of the SUV, Jeremiah Johnson was hit by enemy fire and collapsed; Wright stopped running and returned to Jeremiah Johnson's position. 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. [91], On 18 October, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared that Wilson had willfully mischaracterized the spirit of the conversation. Army Achievement Medal [126], On 19 October, NBC News reported that AFRICOM sent a team to Niger to conduct a "review of the facts". Meritorious Service Medal ", "Trump says he did not 'specifically' authorize Niger mission that killed four U.S. soldiers", "After Niger Attack, U.S. From the truck bed of his vehicle, Sgt. [17], In 2015, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara was established by Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, who was a spokesperson and senior leader of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), a splinter group of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Wright and Jeremiah Johnson went to Black's side, firing back at the enemy, but began to pull back as the enemy closed in. La David Johnson sprayed the treeline with fire from an M240 machine gun. The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . 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