Fifteen Years Ago Today, Operation Red Wings (17 years in 2022)
This is the fifteenth anniversary of Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan. The mission led to the deaths of 11 Navy SEALS and 8 US Army Night Stalkers (the Army’s special ops aviation unit).
God Bless 'Em
This message has been edited. Last edited by: TMats, June 28, 2022 09:48 AM
_______________________________________________________ despite them
June 28, 2020, 01:54 PM
RHINOWSO
An awful day and a prime example of the importance of good communications in combat operations. How one clear communication frequency would have changed that whole event.
RIP Warriors.
June 28, 2020, 03:06 PM
thomjb
God Bless All
Thom
"Tulta munille!" NRA Benefactor Life Member NRA Certified Instructor NRA Range Safety Officer SAF Life Member
June 28, 2020, 03:39 PM
c1steve
That was a sad time indeed. As difficult as it was, hopefully important lessons will be learned and NEVER forgotten.
-c1steve
June 28, 2020, 03:52 PM
corsair
That was an op that shouldn't have even gotten off the ground. Lotta lessons learned, and a handful that needed reinforcing.
June 28, 2020, 04:18 PM
PCWyoming
Thanks, Tom for the reminder of that sad day.
PC
June 28, 2020, 04:33 PM
SSgt USMC/Vet
God bless them all and hope they are watching over the new guys.
June 28, 2020, 08:28 PM
280nosler
Thanks for the reminder - Mike McGreevy was a friend of mine growing up. I visited his grave in Arlington back in 2016 - he left behind a wife and daughter that I believe just graduated high school.
June 29, 2020, 06:43 AM
sourdough44
I remember, tragic no doubt. As I recall, lucky shot with a rocket??
June 29, 2020, 07:16 AM
TMats
quote:
Originally posted by 280nosler: Thanks for the reminder - Mike McGreevy was a friend of mine growing up. I visited his grave in Arlington back in 2016 - he left behind a wife and daughter that I believe just graduated high school.
If you look in the lower right corner of the picture I posted, you’ll find the seal of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a charitable organization that I’ve supported for many years. They have an excellent rating and a very low ratio of administrative costs to dollars reaching the those the organization is helping. Graduation season just ended and they’ve been posting pictures of the sons and daughters of SpecOps soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who graduated college in 2020 with the assistance of SOWF; I imagine your friend’s wife and daughter have already heard from them. God Bless the two of them and the best for mom and daughter.
_______________________________________________________ despite them
June 29, 2020, 08:51 AM
RHINOWSO
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44: I remember, tragic no doubt. As I recall, lucky shot with a rocket??
Yes, RPG-7 up the tail of MH-47 #1 while they were getting ready to rope in to the initial infiltration site of the recce team (several miles away from the running gun battle and after it was almost over - unlike the movie Luttrell didn't see it's shoot down).
Unfortunately the MH-47s had left the AH-64s behind (they were flying escort but were slower, also unlike the dramatization), so there was no one to clear the HLZ.
June 29, 2020, 05:59 PM
Leemur
I’ve been unable to watch the movie a second time and I’m having trouble getting through the book.
June 29, 2020, 07:27 PM
ontmark
R I P
You are never forgotten
Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably knows how to use it! - John Steinbeck
June 29, 2020, 09:03 PM
Mutiny
RIP to a bunch of true heroes. I grew up with Erik Kristensen. We went to school together, we played on the lacrosse team, in the school band, and many other activities together. I knew his family well. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him as a great childhood friend. I did not follow his footsteps in my career, but I would follow him into battle anywhere.
June 30, 2020, 12:46 PM
dave7378
Can't believe its been 15 years already. Mike Murphy is buried directly across the road from my father at Calverton National Cemetary. He still gets many visitors.