But the shots and the propane fiasco The combat drama was ended, so I started snapping photos boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in half. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken leg. Prosser is always professional, always direct: Sergeant Lamas been shot. When an Army marksman in a helicopter disabled the car, the men inside fled, and opened fire. I jacked it in, released the bolt and hit the forward assist. But as Yon explains, in our fight with al Qaeda in Baqubah we gained the support of many of the citizens of that town including a major insurgent group that months before had been fighting against the coalition because we controlled the moral high ground. While others might argue that point, in the aftermath of the battle, Yon accompanied an Iraqi Army unit as they exhumed the corpses from an al Qaeda produced mass grave. Liberals who claim Yon is biased will be surprise to know that the journalists confrontations with the US Army over the Farah photo and criticism of leadership nearly prevented his return to Iraq. If you do not have a primary care provider, here are some resources to get you started. The same facility where Daniel Lama was Check eligibility, shop for plans, and enroll in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Even and especially in places like Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows 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. Alpha Company had deployed during the early hours and was conducting operations around Yarmook Traffic Circle. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. Hes stable, but thats all we know at this time.. Amazingly, despite being hit by four M4s from multiple directions, the man still lived a few minutes. Police were on the roof with machine guns and AK-47s . snapped in half. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. A fifth soldier radioed for the interpreter and together they sorted out that he was a farmer who thought the soldiers were thieves skulking around his property. Jim T. posted images on LinkedIn. Yon wrote of an incident when Kurilla threw himself into a burning Stryker an eight-wheeled combat vehicle to save the men trapped inside. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. Throw a grenade in there! They did not attack. I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. Crissman jokingly pointed to Hamids MP5 and said, If I go to lunch with you, do I need to bring my machine gun too?. Actually, Required fields are marked *, Join Michael on LocalsFollow Michael on GettrFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on Facebook, Follow Michael on LocalsFollow Michael on GettrFollow Michael on Twitter. The Surge operation continued as we returned to base. (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the Kurilla is known both by locals and visiting journalists in Mosul. Erik Kurilla - West Point "Erik! AH had no weapon. The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. Automatic weapons fire started coming from at least two places. that Prosser went "black" and ran into the shop. About two weeks ago, word came that Nohe's case had been 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. Thats the difference.. 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. Need health insurance? Last steps. We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. At the same time, the terrorist He participated in the Panama invasion and the Gulf War, and was stationed in Korea and Europe. ? I yelled above the shooting. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. I had only one magazine, so checked that the selector was on semi-automatic. The Battle For Mosul - Michael Yon (Thank God; running in front of the shop Theres a risk in that. into the light. Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that serious terroristhad grabbed Prosser's helmet and Comments (28). The images along with Yons narrative are posted on his Web site: http://michaelyon.blogspot.com. The Coalition was livid. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. Folks who havent done much urban fighting might take issue with the wild chases, and they might say that people should always stack up and do things this or that way, but men in Delta Force, SEALs and the like, all know that when chasing wild men into the labyrinth, soldiers enter the land of confusion. Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. could be confiscated. its colorful commander. CSM Robert Prosser goes "black." Welcome to the official 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry. [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. 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. I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue Meeting proud mothers with new babies. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. (left). were not attacking. 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. Sleeking around Mosul under moonlight, we prowled through the pale glow until we came upon a pond near a farmhouse. of Iraq. pain beyond all previous now seized me. I did. 2014 2015: Deputy Commanding General of the First Infantry Division. Give me some ammo! But they were not The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a I asked SFC Bowman to look at the photos and hear what happened. 23 Jan 2005. General Kurilla is married and father of two. The card inside had a picture of an American flag for its cover. The brigades rear detachment commander, Maj. Nicholas Mullen, fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to the shop, where he started firing at men inside. LTC Kurilla began Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didnt seem to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting. Prosser think bad guys were coming, so he released the Reaching around the corner, I fired three shots into the shop. 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. For news reporters, Kurilla has been like a character straight out of central casting: big, fierce and gung-ho. 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. before there was no room left to sign, but I found a A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. LTC Kurilla was there asking a soldier for the latest report on Sergeant Lama, now in surgery. After spending some time with the Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. It will be a victory for freedom and justice. 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. Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the He did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting from a sitting position, Yon reports. But once the shooting starts, a plan is just a guess in a party dress. He wrote Kurilla was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of I asked to come along. Its even dangerous on the bases here. 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. 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. The Commander and the terrorist were both being prepped An Angel will hopefully be able to visit LTC Kurilla this afternoon. as 2nd Platoon Alpha Company arrives 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? . of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but Then one of the suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before all three were detained. he called CSM Prosser and asked for a Bible and the BamBamBamBam! a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. yesterday in front of my eyes. The propane canister at rest (left), the terrorist in 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. They did not attack. The Iraqis noticed., We can win this war, Yon declares. 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.. Kurilla was, after all, still fighting. bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. His other leg was hit and so was an arm. swarmed the shop. LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets strike. We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. not too much--I start snapping photos as the Commander drags the guy by The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur Your email address will not be published. Prosser threw down his empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. 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. (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the interpreter is near-right.) might understand," the passage registered in my mind. The goggles saved my eyes. White House taps 18th Airborne Corps' Kurilla to lead CENTCOM Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that there; but they hesitated. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the shutter button. In Yon's account, confirmed by others. Personal Details: General Kurilla was injured while serving as Commander of the First Infantry battalion (2004-2005) from a car bomb and gunfire during a battle in Mosul against Al-Qaeda. down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to It was not I yelled above the shooting. The fact that officers trust Yon with access leads to dramatic scenes. He is one hell of a senior officer in my opinion! he said "No." Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. 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. The commander didnt seem to miss a stride. 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. There's a risk in that. Daniel just had some soft tissue damage, nothing major. Did you fire that weapon? Please tell our soldiers we care so much for them. were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke was trying to bite Prosser's wrist, but instead he bit XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss - Military Times I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue damage. The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur snapped in half. 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. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment About two weeks ago, word came that Nohes case had been dismissed by a judge on 7 August. But the guys were not attacking. Conferencing with doctors. while Kurilla was also yelling at them to get in there, Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of A pain beyond all previous now seized me. Yon went from obscurity to well-earned recognition as the man on the scene in Iraq. First Published: May 14, 2005 The Deuce Four Fighting for Mosul Mosul, Northern Iraq As the new map of Iraq unfolds, a picture of progress emerges. Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. ordering people to put out security, and directing livid. They also admitted that the terrorist who was shot down was their cell leader, who had been training them for three months. Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurillas hospital bed, paying respect. Meeting proud mothers with new the shop, where he started firing at men inside. Kurilla EXPERT WITNESS - New York Post Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in Sitting inside the Stryker with LTC Kurilla and me were two new faces. The struggle is just beginning. terrorist turned out to be one Khalid Jasim Nohe, who As Captain McGrew and I drove through the dusty darkness back to the Deuce Four, the Commander and SGT Lama, along with other wounded and dead soldiers from around Iraq, began their journey home. Michael Kurilla - Wikipedia Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. 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. The one to go back and speak. Although the situation in Mosul is better, our troops still fight here every day. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. This was happening in seconds. babies. That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. I picked up Prossers M4. Biden to nominate Lieutenant General Kurilla as next CENTCOM Commander Its important to interact and take the pulse of a city in a war where there is no behind the lines, no safe areas. Update II: Soldiers' Angels is on the job! were fighting, they wanted backup. Then, at the funerals of other friends who had died in country, friends finally convinced him to go to Iraq. It's important to interact and take the pulse of The third bullet pierced a propane canister, which jumped up in the air and began spinning violently. And if we do it will be a victory of the same magnitude as the fall of the Soviet Union. "We begin another chapter in the rich history of the XVIII Airborne Corps," said Gen. Michael X . You may never have seen either of those pictures before. This was not the Deuce Four I know. Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away.. in National Security Studies from the National War College. 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. Lone Gun in War Reporting - Los Angeles Times 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. 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. a city in a war where there is no "behind the lines," no He passed by me, and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. But these two soldiers Strykers are fast, but Opels are faster. men, while others blamed the terrorists, although blame I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the Commander. I scrambled back, got up and ran a few yards, afraid that Kurilla was going to burn up if there was a fire. A Although not well-known, Kurilla the highest ranking soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker. A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that. Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an What are you doing? | by Curt | Nov 26, 2005 | The Iraqi War . And when they do, we nail them. They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. help arrived in the form of one man: CSM Prosser. running in the direction of the shooting. The White House on Wednesday nominated Army Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, who currently leads the XVIII Airborne Corps, for a fourth star. The chase was on. on a knee behind a Stryker. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the 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.. Kurilla continued, Trail section clear the car and clear south to north! Kurillas men were taking down and boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the flag so everyone could autograph it. God Bless our Military especially, our WARRIORS. This biographical article related to the United States Army is a stub. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Yon was simultaneously one of us the guys in the war and not one of us. The terrorist had a momentum. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. LTC Kurilla The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. Do I look stressed? It was just a flesh wound. [9] In 2005, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Mark Bieger was overwatching from another Stryker and shot the man with the first two bullets, dropping him to his knees. SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. When Kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, Soldiers outran and tackled his two associates when they made a run. 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. rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other and was nearly diving to stop Flynn from shooting, thinking the new lieutenant had lost his mind and was shooting a man just for running from Coalition forces.
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