18 years ago tonight
COB6 wrote a few weeks ago about the friendly fire incident that we were involved in 18 years ago tonight. It was a week before the ground portion of Desert Storm and we were a lone infantry battalion facing the Iraqi Army about ten miles inside Iraq on a counter-reconnaissance mission screening for the XVIIIth Airborne Corps sweep behind us to the western desert.
COB6’s platoon was on my south flank and there was a scout section and a GSR section on his south flank. That’s who was hit in this video;
COB6 was the first officer on the scene (and he went to the scene despite our idiot commander’s order for him to remain in place). COB6 and his crew rushed into the burning armored vehicles and recovered the crews trapped inside the Bradley and M113 and initiated their treatment.
I mention this mostly because several of my old platoon members have suddenly burst back into my life on Facebook after all of these years and as you can imagine, it’s been the topic of conversation today. They were a damn good platoon. A scant few months after we got back to Germany, a composite squad from the platoon went to a USAEUR squad competition and came out on top and were named the best infantry squad in Europe without any help from me. I’ve always been proud of them. Of course, now they’ll all come here and beclown themselves in public.
Snagged this photo from (my former gunner and therefore accustomed to me helping myself to his stuff without asking) Dassaro’s Facebook album;
Also, 18 years ago tonight, my granddaughter was born in Panama – I didn’t find out until a few months later
Category: Historical
Yea that was a sad day, the pilot took it hard. I wonder what ever became of him.
I remember the night the Apache took out the scout vehicle to our right. Having been gunner for my platoon sgt. I was able to hear all of the communications going on…I remember the impetus behind the apache being called were reports of tanks to our front at approx. 4,000 meters. I never quite understood that this being the impetus, why there was identification efforts being completed within our perimeter. I remember the moment the apache began to unload on the friendly scout vehicles (they were approx. 2 behciles 92K) to my right flank. The moment the hell fire’s hit, I remember feeling my Bradley Fighting Vehicle being shaken by the impact. There was panic on the net for fear of having enemy within our perimeter that night, and was a highly dangerous night.
I remember our company commander stating later on in Iraq that he felt bad that our comopany did not take any casualties like B did: I understand what he meant but at the same time he was highly lucky the war did not continue to a full ground conflict, because that statement brought his survivability percentage way down.
Months later, while folding laundry in my room back in Germany, I was watching dateline NBC and for the first time saw my OWN vhecile on the thermanl image taken by the apache prior to firing the 14.5 and hellfire round(s). I remember the shock of finding out I was like vehicle # 11 or so in the list of 13 vehicles counted. I know it was my vehicle because I remember that our Company commander gave us the order to get ready to throw smoke at the same time so the apache could better identify us, but he never gave the order, so on the video, there a few vehicles throwing the smoke, but not all…
Wow, that is just crazy.
RIP Scouts
Jeffrey Middleton
Robert Talley
Charlie Company 1-41 Infantry did a great job in response to the fratricidal attack. You did an awesome job!
We shouldn’t forget the men in the attached GSR from the 101st MI Battalion of the 1st ID.
One of those sad, cold facts of War. There is no way that this was malicious, or even careless. The night is a gruesome bitch when it comes to recognition. My sypathy to thise affected in any way, and kudos to the people who stopped it and those who did the rescue. All the more reason to thank a Vet every day.
nuf sed
Dassaro isn’t lying, one of my BFV’s Serial number was 2AA00168- the 168th Bradley ever made. I remember we used Cargo nets full of MRE’s and duffle bags and called it “Reactive Armor” and if that won’t stop an Anti-Tank round, our trusty sand bags placed around the driver, gunner and BC hatches would surely do the job. That night sucked, I remember LT. Strickland and the Company medic rolled up on the scene and did an awesome job. Anyone remember the Medics name? He was a SGT? unfortunately, it only got worse for our task force. If I recall correctly, all of the casualties that were KIA and most of the wounded from 1-41 were fratted. We did have 1 civilian contractor who I think blew him self up collecting CBU’s while driving in his Hummer. Anyway, that night just pisses me off and I try not to think much about it. Anyway, I’ve had a few beers and will just rant if I don’t stop now.
The Charlie Company Medic was SGT Bill Rost who’s currently the FORSCOM top Medic. It should be known that SGT Rost came to the Medic Platoon as a former infantryman with his EIB. So he got his EIB, then his EFMB and then, of course, his CMB. SGT Rost was wounded on the chin by shrapnel from one of the destroyed vehicles.
Doc Kevin Kennerly drove the M113 that SGT Rost commanded. And Doc Roger Castillo (1st Plt. Charlie, Medic) was probably on scene as well as I believe he rode with LT Strickland.
I recently came across a video of SPC Khiem Ta, He was one of the wounded Scouts.
The civilian who was killed was in the passenger seat of a humvee when a bomblet he had collected and stored under his seat exploded. The driver was fairly seriously wounded.
I salute all of you men in Charlie Company for an outstanding job in a very bad situation.
The Scouts should be meeting right about now.
Goosebumps. Every. time.
On a shit night, a job well done. RIP those who were lost.
I can’t tell you how proud and humbled I am to this day to have served with each man of 1st BN 41st INF…
Thank you for remembering our fallen comrades today.
Straight and Stalwart!
i was a scout in the platoon and we did get together and have been for the past 4 years. we have laughed and cried together again even 18 yrs later.it still hurts and i salute each and every one of my comrades as well. thank you all now and the vets who came before us.
btw ,my wife & i found this site while looking for talley’s grave site. i know he was buried in newark, nj. my plan is to find it and spend the 20th anniversary in newark in 2011. all are welcome to attend. a few of us scouts were in oxford, ks. on the 15th anniversary and visited middleton’s grave and his whole family. middleton’s parents have traveled with us to merced, ca. and las vegas. they are some special people to say the least. get on board and help us honor our fallen. 2010 will likely be a summer reunion. we have been in contact with col. hillman and hope he can attend soon. if anyone knows where or finds talley’s grave site first please let me know. thank you.
It’s funny that I found this tonight. My 7 year old son asked me yesterday what happened when I was in the war. I have often thought about that night and the night of 2/27 when we lost more from Bravo company. I have never spoken of it with anyone not there. The emotions of those times came flooding back. I could not tell him then and maybe won’t ever be able to. All I think about are the lives not lived. It was all so needless, but that’s the way it is. I miss you all. I found comments from Talleys brother (backshot74) to a History Channel video on youtube.com It took him 18 years to find out how his brother was killed.
Dassaro or anyone else who wants to contact me at vtrujillo(at)3pd(dot)com or 513-233-1009. It’s been too long. I knew some of you better than others but your all my brothers.
I hope to hear from some of you.
SPC. Vinnie Trujillo
2nd PLT. (Dominators)
C Co. 1/41 Inf. JYD
i remember this
We had guys in our plt. that had attended AIT with some in the 101MI GSR team.
Words can’t describe what went through our minds when this took place…
Its good to see that many of you have re-connected.
Godspeed men. Honor the fallen.
SPC Gabriel Lara
CO B (GSR)
105th MI BN
5th ID
Oddly enough Lara….I think I have met you after I rotated back to the States after Desert Storm. I wound up in:
D Co. 105th MI Bn Long Range Surveillance Detachment at Polk.
The Army truly is a small place.
I am Kevin McMillan, then I was Spc. Kevin McMillan. I was assigned to HHC Co. 2nd AD, (though probobaly not remembered) because I was in the Military Police Platoon. Never really thought as myself as a MP, but I was, anyway I had a lot of friends in the tank Units,,, I talk alot about that terrible night because If my memory serves me my unit was right behind you guys and as fast as you guys were taking ground we were sitting up holding areas for the prisoners. I rememnber at one point we were so close to the front it seemed unreal and then the very next day it seems like we were miles away.. Any way I think that I really remember most was that after the incident occured, my self and a few others, had to stay and protect the dis-abled vehicles and the site of that and the knowledge of what happened to people I somewhat knew and probably seen walking down the sidewalk, never left my mind and I can say it truly changed my life , for a long time not for the good,, but now I can say that I speak daily of that night and am proud to say that I served and fought with, you all and of course The 2 men Tally and Middleton who never came home, except in our minds and hearts Forever!!
If anyone from garlestedt ever wants to look me up , well I am on facebook, you cant miss my pic it is our Unit patch HELL ON WHEELS ,,, can say that I am so proud to serve in the same unit as you all !!!! GOD Bless and be safe,,, Kevin
Also James Murray, Jr, of D Co. 1/41 and a native of Conroe, Texas was killed and several D Co soldiers were wounded in a friendly fire incident with an M-1 from 1/34 Armor.
Dave Nichter has a very detailed D Co 1/41 Rally Point page with contacts, photos, stories, maps and links to other sites. http://delta_1_41_inf.tripod.com/index.html
Guys…It was my pleasure to serve with all of you, a chosen few who know the meaning behind terms like: “Garlcatraz” “Straight and Stalwart” or “Take a Deep Breath, Let it out.”
Joe Weddington
Someone asked what happened to the pilot of the AH-64. As it says in the video, LTC Ralph Hayles then 42 was relieved of command there was a 1992 article about him and the incident in People Magazine. Stripped of Command and ending his career at 19 years, he wanted to bring some good out of his bad experience. In January 2007 he was awarded a US Patent on the Flashlight Combat Identification technology that identifies friendly soldiers and vehicles located inside the impact zones of US weapons, and he has two additional patents pending.
The people article is at:
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112367,00.html
and his current bio is available at: http://www.keyspeakers.com/bio.php?Ralph_Hayles
Wow, I honestly cannot believe I found this site. It has been 20 years and I have ask myself many times, where everyone was and how you guys were doing. I will never forget that night and I think of our lost brothers often. I read the letter that Lt. Strickland sent my parents all the time and he mentioned how brave we all were. That night was not only about being brave but also extremely strong minded and doing the right thing. I remember talking to Rost a couple days later and letting him know how glad I was he was there with us and able to help. I also have a son who ask me about the war and I finally set him down and told him what happen and how bad that night was as well as how thankful it wasn’t worse. I miss all my brothers from C Company as well as our brothers from B Company.
If anyone cares to connect I can be reached at kevinlj0825@gmail.com. I currently live in FL with my beautiful wife and 2 children. God Bless all my brothers as well as all our Military across the world.