Meanwhile, The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a It was afternoon when LTC Kurilla started his rounds in Mosul. Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him slightly to the side of the shop. Neither had real combat experience. Welcome to the official 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry. in National Security Studies from the National War College. of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but 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. He did a crazy. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment that Prosser went black and ran into the shop. Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. left. I asked SFC Bowman to look at the photos and hear what happened. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government. The goggles saved my eyes. Partly because of writers, people hearing about Deuce Four in the news might think of Mosul as some kind of thrill ride where everything will end okay after a few hairpin turns. But Theres a risk in that. It was empty. were not attacking. bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. 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. Suddenly encircled by the rifles, lights and lasers of four soldiers, the man was quickly disarmed. is no longer there. Then one of the I did. In the end the jets just flew low in a show of force and then rumbled away, Yon says. Local Muslims invited me to see the reopening; they wanted Americans to know they protect Christians in their neighborhood, Yon explains. shutter button. It wasnt long before there was no room left to sign, but I found a place to scratch. 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. But Prosser's gloves were slippery with blood so he BamBamBamBam! Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that And now Kurilla lay shot and in surgery in the Then one of the suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before all three were detained. room in about five seconds. But these were not the right guys. I seldom get letters in Iraq, but waiting for me in the mailroom while I slept was a card. 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. Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the I screamed to the young soldiers, Throw a grenade in there! but they were not attacking. I mean whats in it for him if Allah sends him to the Virgins without a tool? Need health insurance? It sounds like he'll be okay. The images along with Yons narrative are posted on his Web site: http://michaelyon.blogspot.com. A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. bases, including a map of this base. opponent of some in the Army's Detention Facilities livid. But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. The pilot swooped low and the co-pilot aimed his rifle at the Opel, firing three shots and blowing out the back window. I was right If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. Only a few hours had passed since Daniel Lama and the Commander were shot. When an Army marksman in a helicopter disabled the car, the men inside fled, and opened fire. 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. Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. Of course I feel okay Chaplain Wilson! He CSM Robert Prosser goes "black." might understand," the passage registered in my mind. 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. Understand. 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. The Fox News Media . I did. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Soldiers outran and tackled his two associates when they made a run. The Alpha Company soldiers ran through the propane and dust cloud and swarmed the shop. The chase was on. 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. "Erik! #DeuceFour A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following In the violent, unpredictable world that Yon chronicles, Kurilla is cast as unafraid of the enemy and deeply committed to his men. [6] [7] Biography 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. But these were not the right guys. 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. His 700-soldier battalion experienced some of the fiercest fighting of the war. he called CSM Prosser and asked for a Bible and the He got his wish; and now, Chris Espindola, Kurillas radio man, was down in Baghdad testifying against the two surviving co-conspirators. Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. Yesterday, he declined to release the status of his condition. Prosser in the face. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. But I have it beside me on the table by the map [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. I'm shot three times!" Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurilla's hospital Sir, The world ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. fighting his way out, or dying in the process. Also in the Stryker was AH, the interpreter, whose courage under fire I had seen before. Give me a magazine! I yelled, and the young 2nd lieutenant handed over a full 30-round magazine. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the shutter button. If soldiers dont go fast, the bad guys simply get away. One bullet smashed through his femur, snapping his leg. Dont you understand? Yons periodic dispatches often describe details and tactics of the Iraq war not found in the mainstream media. [7] In 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 20212022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.[12]. 23 Jan 2005. Drinking tea with Iraqi citizens in their homes. Both legs and an arm are shot. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Those parts range literally from boots on our feet to satellites zipping overhead. LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets When I shot the propane canister, (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the He would die for me. . 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! Kurilla is known both by locals and visiting journalists in Mosul. Update II: Soldiers' Angels is on the job! half. According to American officers, solid cases are He was shot in the leg and arm but continued shooting and issuing orders until other soldiers arrived and took an insurgent prisoner. One was training to be a sniper, while the other was training for different combat missions. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching 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)? Meeting proud mothers with new babies. holster, just as SSG Konkol, Lewis, Devereaux and Muse He is the highest-ranking officer in Fort Lewis second Stryker brigade to be seriously wounded in Iraq. LTC Kurilla began Three months of air-conditioned reflection will not transform terrorists into citizens. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). 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. Although the situation in Mosul is better, our troops still fight here every day. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the love." two soldiers near. yesterday in front of my eyes. 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. Some months back, a new lieutenant named Brian Flynn was riding with the Kurilla for his first three weeks, when Kurilla spotted three men walking adjacent to where Major Mark Bieger and his Stryker had been hit with a car bomb a week prior. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. but there was no time to reload. Like the card in the mailroom, the circumstances behind their capture were more germane to the events about to unfold than anyone might have guessed at the time. We ran into combat. If so, you are not alone. my eyes. I screamed to the Kurilla yelled FLYNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. chain of command, but had otherwise not changed the Conferencing with doctors. 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. He is one hell of a senior officer in my opinion! What are you doing? into the light. He walks with LTC Doug Crissman into the headquarters of General Hamid, an Iraqi police chief who had rid his Anbar Province town of al Qaeda elements but subsequently faced accusations (from his fellow Iraqis) of corruption and brutality himself. BamBamBamBam! CSM Prosser, his leg drenched in the terrorist's blood, The Commander and the terrorist were both being prepped for surgery, when LTC Kurilla said, Tell Major Bieger to call my wife so she doesnt get a call from the Army first. But someone gave the Commander a cell phone, and I heard Kurilla talking to his wife, Mary Paige, saying something like, Honey, there has been a little shooting here. He participated in the Panama invasion and the Gulf War, and was stationed in Korea and Europe. Even and especially in places like "I'm hit three times! femur, snapping his leg. News that Kurilla was wounded came first via the online journal of He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. 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 other suspects started running. outside, and screamed what amounted to "Attack! 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. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. Chaplain Wilson came out from the hospital smiling and explained that Daniel (Sergeant Lama) was fine. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. 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. Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurillas hospital bed, paying respect. His other leg was hit and so was an arm. 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. Kurilla's men were taking down and LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. 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. the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much 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. Strykers are fast, but Opels are faster. managed to stop the fleeing car. I asked to come along. ended in hand-to-hand combat. Do you need me to come get you!" But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. Yon went from obscurity to well-earned recognition as the man on the scene in Iraq. Wrapped in a ground fight, Prosser could not pull out his service pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on his left, because the terroristwho turned out to be a serious terroristhad grabbed Prossers helmet and pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. 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. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. But Americans learn from their mistakes. Meeting proud mothers with new The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur The general said they were heading into Hit to have lunch and invited Crissman to join them. Interfacing with shop owners. onto the face of Prosser's watch. I was going to run into the shop and shoot every man with a gun. Several times I nearly Whatever In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. 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. When I shot the propane canister, Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made Prosser think bad guys were coming, so he released the terrorists throat and snatched out the pistol from his holster, just as SSG Konkol, Lewis, DeVereaux and Muse swarmed the shop. Its just some minor Kurilla is a 1988 West Point graduate and a veteran of the U.S. FIREBALL! Thank you Michael, Id like to shake your hand someday. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows what the outcome might have been. Attack!" about the fighting until given clearance, and was told that my phones This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made Keep him and his men in your thoughts and prayers. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only two soldiers near. Yon was simultaneously one of us the guys in the war and not one of us. Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 rifle. But these were not the right guys. the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. Those chaplains, they lock it down dont theya hard pill to swallow. Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. Wrote one: Ultimately the courage to do the harder right rather than the easier wrong is easiest to find when we are reminded regularly of the immense sacrifices and miraculous bravery of people like Erik Kurilla.. . Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only Hes stable, but thats all we know at this time.. "I'll be fine. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. And I was afraid to run in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. Crissmans interpreter translated and there were smiles and laughter, until Crissman asked if he could talk with Hamid inside his office. This is not true. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. 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. 2006 2008: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment Second Battalion, Iraq and Afghanistan. Retired Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Currently GS-9 with Range Management Office, Cannon AFB, New Mexico 11mo Opels may be faster than Kiowas on straight-a-ways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. 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. Hospital. Iraqi Army and Police officers see many Americans as too soft, especially when it comes to dealing with terrorists. Prosser stands above the crocodile who bit his watch. 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? while Kurilla was also yelling at them to get in there, as 2nd Platoon Alpha Company arrives 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. Just some minor stuff. That poor woman. was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. A man came forward, trying to shoot Kurilla with a Yon wrote of an incident when Kurilla threw himself into a burning Stryker an eight-wheeled combat vehicle to save the men trapped inside. A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. Everybody loves him. Last updated: August 23rd, 2005 08:33 AM (PDT). Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com. tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers Thats the difference between the terrorists and us, Chaplain Wilson kept saying. The one to go back and speak. We were outnumbered at least two to one. The Iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. Erik! When I look back again, I see Kurilla safe areas. An Angel will hopefully be able to visit LTC Kurilla this afternoon. We were searching the area for the source of that automatic weapons fire when Kurilla spotted three men in a black Opel and his sixth sense kicked. 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. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in half. 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. Although not well-known, Kurilla the Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. . In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . "Give me a grenade!" The sole glitch occurred when a Stryker hit an IED, but since nobody was hurt, we just continued the mission. all three were detained. Actually, to call my wife so she doesn't get a call from the Army He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts. Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. 2009 2011: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment. Kurilla had gone He had given me a copy and told me to read it. dismissed by a judge on 7 August. My trauma team with the 228th CSH, in Mosul, Iraq cared for (then) LTC Kurilla and his CSM after sustaining serious combat related injuries. Really, Daniels okay, and dont worry about it when the Army calls you.. me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. Thank you. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. It's important to interact and take the pulse of I had only moonlight, so I nearly broke my leg keeping up. 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. The truest test of leadership happens when the Commander I shouted. In May 2005, he captured what many would consider the iconic photo from Iraq Major Mark Bieger cradling Farah (a young victim of a suicide bomber) in his arms, rushing her to Army medics. But suddenly, I felt much better. The Surge operation continued as we returned to base. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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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. The same facility where Daniel Lama was Please tell our soldiers we care so much for them. Were rolling in ten minutes, he said. Do I look stressed? The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. In order for leaders of Kurilla's rank to know the pulse They know true warriors bleed. understanding of both its value and its costs. In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the place to scratch. And if we do it will be a victory of the same magnitude as the fall of the Soviet Union. I jumped up and there was CSM Robert Prosser, the top enlisted soldier at Deuce Four. It will not be a victory for the Republican Party. was an arm. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. After spending some time with the Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. Like the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much war to believe in fairy tales. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an opponent of some in the Armys Detention Facilities chain of command, but had otherwise not changed the policy. and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in 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. 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. [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. One bullet smashed through his As the chase continued, the Kiowa pilot said, Its going about 105 mph.. I had only one magazine, so checked that the selector was on semi-automatic. I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the Commander. the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, "I want The one to go back and speak. 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. Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting.
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