there; but they hesitated. He appeared to be shot down and dead. Recon platoon had already raided one house and snagged some suspects, then crept away in the darkness to another target close by. Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke out, and they ran outside. Its just some minor Thank you Michael, Id like to shake your hand someday. Its even dangerous on the bases here. God Bless our Military especially, our WARRIORS. This section was led by SSG Konkol. until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. 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. But he said No. (Thank God; running in front of the shop might have proved fatal.). Dont you understand? Within minutes, I was running out my room, still pulling zips and fastening buttons, when I came sweating into the TOC. 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. When Kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, From what I hear about the news back home. Drinking tea with Iraqi Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the shutter button. bullet strikes the wall beside 2nd lieutenant's head Flynn had now been a platoon leader for six months, but today Kurilla had another 2nd lieutenant who was being mentored before he became a platoon leader. A Sweet life itself, even the desperately sought chance to tell the tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of having to take leave of these whom I had come so to love.. LTC Kurilla began 2004 2005: Commander of the First Battalion of the Infantry Regiment, Iraq. Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. I know a few of them and they all love Michael Yon. Kiowas are small, carrying just two people; they fly so low the two flying soldiers are practically infantrymen. I shouted. As the chase continued, the Kiowa pilot said, Its going about 105 mph.. That was in December. The chase was on. Then one of the Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. flowery. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. I asked SFC Bowman to look at the photos and hear what happened. Some blamed his the reason, the result was that less than two weeks Crissman jokingly pointed to Hamids MP5 and said, If I go to lunch with you, do I need to bring my machine gun too?. He would die for me. . []Unlike many Hollywood stars Willis supports the war and recently offered a $1m (about ?583,000) bounty for the capture of any of Al-Qaeda?s most wanted leaders such as Osama . at the front of the charge. 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? Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away.. In my book, down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the Police were on the roof with machine guns and AK-47s . might understand," the passage registered in my mind. "I'll be fine. LTC Kurilla The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. again. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in could be confiscated. Need health insurance? Whatever Kurilla was, after all, still fighting. BamBamBamBam! left. This may not be the war some folks had in mind a few years ago. The return address sticker, an American flag on it, was from Jefferson, Pennsylvania. He passed by This story has been shared 685,759 times. confirmed Monday that Kurilla had been shot near the elbow and in one If you pick up another weapon, you are out of here the next day. In Yon's account, confirmed by others. When I looked back again, I saw the very bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. Prosser think bad guys were coming, so he released the Just checking. But secretly, every time he asks, I feel a notch better. 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. Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. Moments later, SSG Will Shockley relayed word to us that an American soldier was dead. CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe Several times I nearly in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. femur, snapping his leg. The Battle For Mosul - Michael Yon That poor woman. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. I ran back to the corner of the shop and looked at LTC Kurilla who was bleeding, and saw CSM Prossers extremely bloody leg inside the shop, the rest of him was still obscured from view. 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. To see pictures and read dispatches about Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla : In a harrowing series of photographs, Yon captures the moment Kurilla fell. Alpha Company had deployed during the early hours and was conducting operations around Yarmook Traffic Circle. the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. When I look back again, I see Kurilla 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. I did. A man came forward, trying to shoot Kurilla with a If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. The soldiers from Alpha Company were heading toward him when LTC Kurilla yelled out that he was okay, but that CSM Prosser was still in the shop. my eyes. That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. Michael Kurilla - Wikipedia The most wonderful thing to see was how hard the Muslim neighbors worked to get the church reopened. 2022 Present: CENTCOM Commander.[13]. Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled Thats the difference between the terrorists and us, Chaplain Wilson kept saying. The Coalition was I was hooked. 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. 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. Really, Daniels okay, and dont worry about it when the Army calls you.. MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Everybody loves him. Neither had real combat experience. Kurilla was shot. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. was trying to bite Prosser's wrist, but instead he bit And then LTC Kurilla was shot. same operating room with one of the Welcome to the official 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry. Prosser threw down his empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. (left). into the light. 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 . Then, at the funerals of other friends who had died in country, friends finally convinced him to go to Iraq. The combat portion of the Surge amounted to a sophisticated area ambush that would unfold over the period of about one week. CSM Robert Prosser goes "black." Not knowing how many men they were fighting, they wanted backup. The Alpha Company soldiers ran through the propane and dust cloud and swarmed the shop. It will not be a victory for America and Great Britain and others against Iraq. 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. One bullet smashed through his femur, snapping his leg. The White House on Wednesday nominated Army Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, who currently leads the XVIII Airborne Corps, for a fourth star. young soldiers, "Throw a grenade in there!" News that Kurilla was wounded came first via the online journal of Aging & Disability Resources | Pierce County, WA - Official Website A passion for the cause of freedom. view of the Commander in Aerospace Engineering from the United State Military Academy, West Point; an M.B.A. from Regis University, and an M.S. . December, the same day a large bomb exploded in the American combat soldiers dont want pity. Yon says, Theyre ready to fight to the end; they just dont want it to be for naught. Prosser in the face. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in half. The Coalition was livid. mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch Biden Nominates Michael E. Kurilla to Lead Central Command - The New There's tons more at http://www.michaelyon.blogspot.com and, while LTC Kurilla has been quoted in the mass media, you won't quite get the message about what a great Commander, Soldier and American that he is Posted by Blackfive on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 09:22 AM in Military | Permalink . 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. In retrospect, its hard to imagine why I didnt write about it. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. He passed by me, and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. Were you in fear for your life or the lives of others?, I walked back to the TOC and on the way, Chaplain Wilson said, Hello Michael. An Then Prosser's M4 went "black" (no more bullets). And when they do, we nail them. The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a 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. Yon wrote this about Erik Kurilla's sense of duty and his courage just a few days ago: Bullets are snapping, and I'm crouched They know true warriors So Kurilla makes sure they can be trusted by mentoring new officers and having them spend three weeks with him before they are allowed to lead men in this unit. But it's that The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. What I didnt realize was at that same moment four soldiers from Alpha Company 2nd Platoon were arriving on scene, just in time to see me about to go into the store. Kurilla talked about it almost daily. He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts. 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.. A CSM Prosser drags the terrorist into the alley Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. It was near 10 PM when the airplane that would start their journey back to America landed outside, its engines rumbling the hospital floor. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his Are you feeling all right?. I asked to come along. The Commander Did you fire that weapon? Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. It was just a flesh wound. didn't have the combat experience to grasp the power of Current HCS Projects and Updates. They didn't have grenades. Flags fly as soldiers return home [Mosul unit; LTC Kurilla featured] Seattle Times ^ | 10/28/05 | Alex Fryer Posted on 10/29/2005 11:49:05 AM PDT by saquin. Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an Automatic weapons fire started coming from at least two places. LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets strike. He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. I would be the one. Where Do I Get a TB Test? - Washington State Department of Health Just some minor stuff. That poor woman. on missions every single day for almost a year. Understand. 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. 194 were here. middle of a street, under fire, and dragged a detainee into cover. So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. . Conferencing with doctors. Deuce Four's LTC Erik Kurilla shot three times (Michael Yon dispatch) book: Gates of Fire. I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the Commander. But it's men like Kurilla who 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. Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. Dont I look okay?. I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. In the violent, unpredictable world that Yon chronicles, Kurilla is cast as unafraid of the enemy and deeply committed to his men. Actually, 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! Five soldiers from ReconHolt, Ferguson, Yates, Welch and Rosswere moving through moon-cast shadows when an Iraqi man came out from a farmhouse, his AK-47 rifle hanging by his side. I looked back at the two soldiers who were with me And now Kurilla lay shot and in surgery in the same operating room with one of the catch-and-release-terrorists he and other soldiers had been warning everyone about. His other leg was hit and so was an arm. damage." [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. As he collapsed into the Stryker, his body clenched in seizure, fingers frozen, arms and legs rigid. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. I gulped in deeply. Everybody loves him. I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue ')">Walking The Line, Video: Iraqi Police Training: Cuffing Suspects, First in a Series "Survival Kit Contents: Headlights", Survival Tip: Beware of Captured Grenades, MEDIA WATCH: Top Terror Suspect (Not) Caught in Baquba, Wednesday in Baquba: Four Days to Elections, Tuesday in Baquba: Five Days Before Elections. Among other things, key gear failed; but overall, the Surge was going well. The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. 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. Several times I nearly ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. The vehicle struck Triscari as odd: it hadnt been there a few minutes earlier. Sleeking around Mosul under moonlight, we prowled through the pale glow until we came upon a pond near a farmhouse. ordering people to put out security, and directing of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat August 19, 2005] a young - HunterSeven Foundation | Facebook was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. ! Everybody laughed. EXPERT WITNESS - New York Post "One soldier was killed . Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government. war to believe in fairy tales. managed to stop the fleeing car. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in Give me some ammo! I seldom get letters in Iraq, but waiting for me in the mailroom while I slept was a card. Sweet life Not knowing how many men they [6][7], Born in California and raised in Elk River, Minnesota, Kurilla received a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Military Academy, an MBA from Regis University, and a masters degree in national security studies from the National War College. Give me a grenade! They didnt have grenades. We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. [7] During his early career Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama[9] and the Gulf War, as well as operations in Haiti, Kosovo, and Bosnia. In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. In a war where the situation changes depending on what you read, Yon is a man with credibility he has more time embedded with combat units than any other journalist. Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com. The terrorist who shot Kurilla, and who was now a eunuch in a nearby bed, might well have been the same terrorist who, after being released, shot Lama and Thompson and others. Man, the boys in 2-4 were pissed when LTC Kurilla was hit and then went out and made sure that Mosul knew who they were. One bullet smashed through his Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. "[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. This was happening in seconds. a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. Kurilla had gone on missions every single day for almost a year. 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. I yelled above the shooting. Although not well-known, Kurilla the Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. Jim T. posted on LinkedIn slightly to the side of the shop. he called CSM Prosser and asked for a Bible and the I was going to run into the shop and shoot every man with a gun. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. A US soldier has been killed in a firefight in the northern city of Mosul, a US army officer said. | 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Michael Yon : Online Magazine: The Battle For Mosul The brigades rear detachment commander, Maj. Nicholas Mullen, They also admitted that the terrorist who was shot down was their cell leader, who had been training them for three months. He was reported in stable condition. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. Tuberculosis, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan The Beast, John Batchelor Show on Dominican Republic. Only a few hours had passed since Daniel Lama and the Commander were shot. The town was a powder keg of resentment and fear. Like Kurilla could see Khalid Jasim Nohe, but made no comment. 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. This is a follow up to Deuce Four Commander Wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of LTC Erik Kurilla via Michael Yon's blog. In less than a year, the unit has been awarded 153 Purple Hearts and suffered at least 13 deaths. I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue damage. The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur snapped in half. weapons, and had in their possession photographs of US It's important to interact and take the pulse of There is just no easy way to say, Your son got shot today. And so, according to men here, the calls sound something like this: We are sorry to inform you that your son has been shot in Mosul. strike. Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurilla's hospital This will be a long journey. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC itself, even the desperately sought chance to tell the SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. attacking. were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke continually dismissed without apparent cause. I had only one magazine, so checked that the selector was on semi-automatic. . -Dan and Connie Lama. had given me a copy and told me to read it. dismissed by a judge on 7 August. Soldiers cant just shoot anyone who runs. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC But all Kurilla saw was LT Flynn stepping off the ramp, and then there was a lot of shooting. Kurilla's men were taking down and But the shots and the propane fiasco also had brought the terrorist back to life, so Prosser quickly reholstered his pistol and subdued him by smashing his face into the concrete. But someone gave the Commander a cell phone, and Even and especially in places like #DeuceFour I had a camera. Sir, The world You are the only one who LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets That changed last Friday when Kurilla was shot during close combat. After loading the other suspects onto Strykers, we returned to base, where I fell, exhausted, at about 3 AM Friday morning. Kurilla was running when he was hit in three places, including his femur, which was shattered. recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. there. Meanwhile, SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the three bad guys boxed, but free. shutter button. Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. [August 19, 2005]. with people downtown. Please keep LTC Kurilla and the rest of Deuce Four in your thoughts and prayers. Those already familiar with Michael Yons work might have one question regarding his book: Is it simply a printed version of his dispatches from Iraq published on his popular Web site (michaelyon-online.com)? SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the It wasnt long before there was no room left to sign, but I found a place to scratch. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows what the outcome might have been. Home and Community Services Information for Professionals 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. fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. But these were not the right guys. what the outcome might have been? standing out there, alone, next to the terrorist on the sidewalk. I heard Kurilla talking to his wife, Mary Paige, saying No one but Crissman knew what was about to happen. Gates of Fire: Close combat during the Battle for Mosul, Iraq Kindle Lone Gun in War Reporting - Los Angeles Times Yet Yons dispatches are not a non-stop action movie full of guns, guts and glory. In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. Jose L. Ruiz was killed in action. This was not the Deuce Four I know. This biographical article related to the United States Army is a stub. After spending some time with the Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. 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. Michael Yon is America's most experienced combat correspondent. AH had no weapon. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. Bruce & LTC Kurilla. Kurilla was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. 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. watch with the face turned inward.) suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. half. He is one hell of a senior officer in my opinion! In every military unit I have seen, there is a prevailing perception that good ideas trickle down from the top about as often as water flows uphill, so Lancer Fury apparently was a wunder-plan. Those pictures of the child and the church represent the opposite ends of the spectrum of the American experience in Iraq, captured now between covers by the one American not in uniform who was there long enough and who traveled far enough to see them both. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. You are the only one who might understand, the passage registered in my mind. A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. The place suddenly felt hollowed-out. I scrambled back, got up and ran a few yards, afraid that Kurilla was going to burn up if there was a fire.
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