Post by Sgt. McGee on Apr 5, 2011 18:13:33 GMT -8
21st Special Tactics Squadron, at Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on 6 April 2008.
Mission - a day rotary-wing infiltration with his Special Forces team to capture high-value insurgents in a village on the surrounding mountains.
Special Forces and Afghan soldiers each were carrying more than 60 pounds of equipment when they jumped from helicopters onto icy, jagged rocks and waist-deep running water in 30-degree temperatures to *ssault a terrorist stronghold in Afghanistan. Their objective was at the top of the mountains surrounding the valley.
The U.S. and Afghan troops expected to find about 70 insurgents. yet were caught of guard as 200 enemy fighters approached. The team came under fire from all directions from snipers, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Rhyner called in 4,570 rounds of cannon fire, nine Hellfire missiles, 162 rockets, 12 500-pound bombs and a 2,000-pound bomb, Air Force officials said.
About 40 U.S. Special Forces troops, including Rhyner and another Combat Controller, and 100 Afghan commandos were helicoptered onto the valley ridges, where they were attacked by an estimated 200 Taliban fighters. About half the U.S. troops soldiers were wounded, but all survived. Two of the Afghan commandos died.
Air Force officials estimate that 40 enemy were killed and 100 wounded in the engagement.
Of Special Interest:
On that date, while *ssigned as Special Tactics Combat Controller, Airman Rhyner executed a While climbing near vertical terrain to reach their objective, the team was attacked in a well-coordinated and deadly ambush. Devastating sniper, machine gun, and rocket-propelled grenade fire poured down on the team from elevated and protected positions on all sides, immediately pinning down the *ssault force. Without regard for his life, Airman Rhyner placed himself between the most immediate threats and provided suppressive fire with his M-4 rifle against enemy fire while fellow teammates were extracted from the line of fire. Airman Rhyner bravely withstood the hail of enemy fire to control eight United States Air Force fighters and four United States Army attack helicopters. Despite a gunshot wound to the left leg and being trapped on a 60-foot cliff under constant enemy fire, Airman Rhyner controlled more than 50 attack runs and repeatedly repelled the enemy with repeated danger close air strikes, several within 100 meters of his position. Twice, his actions prevented his element from being overrun during the intense 6 and a half hour battle. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Airman Rhyner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Mission - a day rotary-wing infiltration with his Special Forces team to capture high-value insurgents in a village on the surrounding mountains.
Special Forces and Afghan soldiers each were carrying more than 60 pounds of equipment when they jumped from helicopters onto icy, jagged rocks and waist-deep running water in 30-degree temperatures to *ssault a terrorist stronghold in Afghanistan. Their objective was at the top of the mountains surrounding the valley.
The U.S. and Afghan troops expected to find about 70 insurgents. yet were caught of guard as 200 enemy fighters approached. The team came under fire from all directions from snipers, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Rhyner called in 4,570 rounds of cannon fire, nine Hellfire missiles, 162 rockets, 12 500-pound bombs and a 2,000-pound bomb, Air Force officials said.
About 40 U.S. Special Forces troops, including Rhyner and another Combat Controller, and 100 Afghan commandos were helicoptered onto the valley ridges, where they were attacked by an estimated 200 Taliban fighters. About half the U.S. troops soldiers were wounded, but all survived. Two of the Afghan commandos died.
Air Force officials estimate that 40 enemy were killed and 100 wounded in the engagement.
Of Special Interest:
On that date, while *ssigned as Special Tactics Combat Controller, Airman Rhyner executed a While climbing near vertical terrain to reach their objective, the team was attacked in a well-coordinated and deadly ambush. Devastating sniper, machine gun, and rocket-propelled grenade fire poured down on the team from elevated and protected positions on all sides, immediately pinning down the *ssault force. Without regard for his life, Airman Rhyner placed himself between the most immediate threats and provided suppressive fire with his M-4 rifle against enemy fire while fellow teammates were extracted from the line of fire. Airman Rhyner bravely withstood the hail of enemy fire to control eight United States Air Force fighters and four United States Army attack helicopters. Despite a gunshot wound to the left leg and being trapped on a 60-foot cliff under constant enemy fire, Airman Rhyner controlled more than 50 attack runs and repeatedly repelled the enemy with repeated danger close air strikes, several within 100 meters of his position. Twice, his actions prevented his element from being overrun during the intense 6 and a half hour battle. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Airman Rhyner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
