There's a risk in that. The fact that officers trust Yon with access leads to dramatic scenes. We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. When I shot the propane canister, (2nd LT front-left; radioman near-left; "AH" the You left the prisoner!For a moment, I nearly ran back out to drag the terrorist behind the Stryker, but then I thought, Nope, he's a terrorist! Meeting proud mothers with new babies. Update II: Soldiers' Angels is on the job! I am asking you for your support. Neither had real combat experience. The combat portion of the Surge amounted to a sophisticated area ambush that would unfold over the period of about one week. Sleeking around Mosul under moonlight, we prowled through the pale glow until we came upon a pond near a farmhouse. How can the pilot know its going 105 mph? When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. 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. 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. But Americans learn from their mistakes. Ill be fine. Amazingly, he was right. Last updated: August 23rd, 2005 08:33 AM (PDT). Conferencing with doctors. Democracy in Haiti and the U.S.-led interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla talked about it almost daily. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. 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 Prossers gloves were slippery with blood so he couldnt hold on well. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. And I was afraid to run in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. in front of the shop, especially so unarmed. His other leg was hit and so was an arm. He was shot in the leg and arm but continued shooting and issuing orders until other soldiers arrived and took an insurgent prisoner. The sweet and heartfelt message inside ended with-. In my book, CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. bullet strikes the wall beside 2nd lieutenant's head Do you need me to come get you!" If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. running in the direction of the shooting. When Kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, also had brought the terrorist back to life, so Prosser Like the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much war to believe in fairy tales. [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. Kurilla yelled FLYNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. 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. (Thank God; running in front of the shop Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled Kurilla talked about it almost daily. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. same operating room with one of the . pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. He did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting from a sitting position, Yon reports. A true and abiding He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. for surgery, when LTC Kurilla said, "Tell Major Bieger Just a few minutes ago, these three guys were going 105 miles per hour, and outrunning a helicopter. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. It will be a victory for freedom and justice. slightly to the side of the shop. ordering people to put out security, and directing policy. That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots For news reporters, Kurilla has been like a character straight out of central casting: big, fierce and gung-ho. terrorist's throat and snatched out the pistol from his I mean whats in it for him if Allah sends him to the Virgins without a tool? 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. flowery. . We ran into combat. Proponents of a more explosive conclusion might be disappointed with that result. 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)? There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. "Give me a grenade!" confirmed Monday that Kurilla had been shot near the elbow and in one was, after all, still fighting. 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? 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. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. It was the other leg that was broken, he said. At the same time, the terrorist ". Today we remember Master Sgt. The most wonderful thing to see was how hard the Muslim neighbors worked to get the church reopened. 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. snapped in half. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment that Prosser went black and ran into the shop. 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. That freedom of movement afforded him opportunities that few would take, and that he initially took reluctantly. An Angel will hopefully be able to visit LTC Kurilla this afternoon. The struggle is just beginning. About two weeks ago, word came that Nohes case had been dismissed by a judge on 7 August. What are you doing? It will not be a victory for America and Great Britain and others against Iraq. 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. The Commander fights Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. A Attack! Theres a risk in that. rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the And then LTC Kurilla was shot. recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. 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. Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. For more than eight months, a blog written by independent journalist Michael Yon has chronicled the battles, strategies and sorrows of Kurillas unit, the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry (Deuce Four). of the Iraqi people, they must make direct contact. 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. 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. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. "Erik! . Moments later, SSG Will Shockley relayed word to us that an American soldier was dead. 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. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. Were rolling in ten minutes, he said. It actually went so close to perfect that we could hardly believe it. . The Coalition was livid. Prosser is always professional, always direct: Sergeant Lamas been shot. Tuberculosis, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan The Beast, John Batchelor Show on Dominican Republic. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting Combat Support Hospital The only mission Ive seen unfold close to what was planned was a B Company raid a few months back. 194 were here. Even and especially in places like (Prosser wears his AH had no weapon. into the light. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. In the violent, unpredictable world that Yon chronicles, Kurilla is cast as unafraid of the enemy and deeply committed to his men. middle of a street, under fire, and dragged a detainee into cover. Conferencing with doctors. something like, "Honey, there has been a little shooting As he collapsed into the Stryker, his body clenched in seizure, fingers frozen, arms and legs rigid. Meanwhile, The three men looked suspicious to Kurilla, whose legendary sense about people is so keen that his soldiers call it the Deuce Sixth-Sense. His read on people and situations is so uncanny it borders the bizarre. At the same time, the terrorist was trying to bite Prossers wrist, but instead he bit onto the face of Prossers watch. And when they do, we nail them. Check eligibility, shop for plans, and enroll in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). [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. I'm shot three times!" But Prosser's gloves were slippery with blood so he he called CSM Prosser and asked for a Bible and the According to American officers, solid cases are again. Strykers are fast, but Opels are faster. Early in 2005, when Id completed my first tour of duty in Iraq, I was searching the Internet for news when I found Yons page. So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. This biographical article related to the United States Army is a stub. I scrambled back, got up and ran a few yards, afraid that Kurilla was going to burn up if there was a fire. Suddenly encircled by the rifles, lights and lasers of four soldiers, the man was quickly disarmed. But Kurilla was Mark Bieger was overwatching from another Stryker and shot the man with the first two bullets, dropping him to his knees. But he said No. (Thank God; running in front of the shop might have proved fatal.). So SFC Bowman told Munoz to give 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 I looked back again, I saw the very bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. 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. 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. Whats wrong with you! This was not the Deuce Four I know. In retrospect, its hard to imagine why I didnt write about it. 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 Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets It will be a victory for Iraqis and for the world, and only then will it be a victory for us.. LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of - and I repeatedly Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that We were outnumbered at least two to one. 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, I want you to write about my men. Watch out for that kid! yelled Kurilla over the intercom to our driver as we made a hard turn, managing to avoid hitting the child. 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. I had a camera. When the bullet hit that canister, Prosserwho I thought Michael Yon is America's most experienced combat correspondent. I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue Prosser. Understand. stuff." been warning everyone about. The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur Opels may be faster than Kiowas on straight-a-ways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. As the Stryker dropped its ramp, one of the terrorists pulled a pistol from under his shirt. Give me some ammo! babies. 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. In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. 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. His other leg was hit and so Yes Chaplain Wilson! Why does he always ask that? He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts. The place suddenly felt hollowed-out. But the guys were not I looked back at the two soldiers who were with me outside, and screamed what amounted to Attack Attack Attack! I stood up and was yelling at them. [9] From 2012 to 2014 he was the Assistant Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command. Please tell our soldiers we care so much for them. Dont I look okay?. The same facility where Daniel Lama was recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. moving. BamBamBamBam! This story has been shared 685,759 times. Everybody loves him. 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. Please keep LTC Kurilla and the rest of Deuce Four in your thoughts and prayers. How a New Greatest Generation of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. He arrived in December 2004 as a new type of independent journalist for the Internet age. 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 . Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. Your email address will not be published. I thought. The 1-17th will relieve the 1-24th soon, so Triscari has been conducting operations with Deuce Four. Kurilla was running when he was hit in three places, including his femur, which was shattered. Interfacing with shop owners. Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. LTC Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. Those chaplains, they lock it down dont theya hard pill to swallow. LTC Kurilla began 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. A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. "I'll be fine. on missions every single day for almost a year. Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the 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. A passion for the cause of freedom. Kurilla is a 1988 West Point graduate and a veteran of the U.S. BamBamBamBam! The Surge operation continued as we returned to base. tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. The return address sticker, an American flag on it, was from Jefferson, Pennsylvania. About fifteen seconds later our ramp dropped. love." LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. When Recon platoon showed up about a minute later, SFC Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the dismissed by a judge on 7 August. attacking. 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. You are the only one who might understand, the passage registered in my mind. soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to managed to stop the fleeing car. From what I hear about the news back home. 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. Those parts range literally from boots on our feet to satellites zipping overhead. all three were detained. Erik! Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. In order for leaders of Kurilla's rank to know the pulse The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR The Surge operation continued as we returned to base. Drinking tea with Iraqi 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. Emigdio Elizarraras killed in action on this day in 2006. It wasn't long was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. How are you today? But sometimes he asks me, Are you okay? and I think, Do I look stressed? 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. About two weeks ago, word came that Nohe's case had been Yon was simultaneously one of us the guys in the war and not one of us. half. were not attacking. Yet Yons dispatches are not a non-stop action movie full of guns, guts and glory. Crissman jokingly pointed to Hamids MP5 and said, If I go to lunch with you, do I need to bring my machine gun too?. 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. That poor woman. Although not well-known, Kurilla the Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. 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 the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. 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. onto the face of Prosser's watch. Apparently, the vigor of his protests had made him an soldiers about how to get in there. They were armed with a sniper 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. Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? alone could not compete with disbelief. "[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Then one of the might have proved fatal.) But the terrorist can get shot to pieces and I don't care.Instead Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. 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. LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. Michael Erik Kurilla (born May 16, 1966) [1] is a United States Army general who serves as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since April 1, 2022. As if in reply, the pilot radioed that the Opel was outrunning his helicopter. The combat drama was ended, so I started snapping photos 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? LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. Reporters from The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and other organizations quoted Kurilla as he explained the insurgency and efforts to train Iraqi forces. left. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of If so, you are not alone. We began searching for the shooters near one of the bridges on our side of the Tigris, but they got away. a ground fight, Prosser could not pull out his service a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. 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. He had given me a copy and told me to read it. Wrapped in 2015 2016: Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counterterrorism of the Joint Staff. They have been fighting for two nations, one of which didnt seem to notice. 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. down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to He passed by Only after seeing that Hamid was about to stage some sort of operation had Crissman decided he would have to arrest Hamid.. Thank you Michael, Id like to shake your hand someday. This was not the Deuce Four I know. We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. God Bless our Military especially, our WARRIORS. After spending some time with the His 700-soldier battalion experienced some of the fiercest fighting of the war. It was empty. Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken leg. I seldom get letters in Iraq, but waiting for me in the mailroom while I slept was a card. were fighting, they wanted backup. The Deuce Four 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. his M4 trained on the entrance. Crissmans interpreter translated and there were smiles and laughter, until Crissman asked if he could talk with Hamid inside his office. I picked up Prossers M4. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. Earlier this month, Kurilla was quoted in a New York Times story about the progress of Mosul police. I wanted my name on that flag. tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of News of Kurillas injuries was carried across the Internet, and many bloggers linked to Yons Web site. When the very experienced medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the commander still kept giving orders, even telling Munoz how to do his job. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. They were armed with a sniper rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other weapons, and had in their possession photographs of US bases, including a map of this base. Serving under this hero in Iraq was one of my greatest honors. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. bed, paying respect. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. We entered the hospital, and saw that Erik Kurillas bed was beside Daniel Lamas. Bowman would listen with an open mind. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. Your email address will not be published. there; but they hesitated. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem The same facility where Daniel Lama was 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. He just laughs, Yes, Michael, you look fine.
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