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. Understood? Fox News Media . The same facility where Daniel Lama was Sweet life itself, even the desperately sought chance to tell the tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of having to take leave of these whom I had come so to love.. But these were not the right guys. [8] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988. Andrea Notter/U.S. We ran into combat. Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurillas hospital bed, paying respect. Conferencing with doctors. Even and especially in places like 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. Prosser stands above the crocodile who bit his watch. He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts. He was acquitted. had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only 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. 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. The Commander and the terrorist were both being prepped Storied Iraq soldier recuperating | The Seattle Times 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? ! Everybody laughed. That day, Kurilla sensed wrong and told his soldiers to check the three men. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled I wanted my name on that flag. 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. bleed. When the bullet hit that canister, Prosserwho I thought Sweet life swarmed the shop. The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. Interfacing with shop owners. FIREBALL! But he said No. (Thank God; running in front of the shop might have proved fatal.). But suddenly, I felt much better. Theres a risk in that. But Kurilla was ordering people to put out security, and directing action this way and that. The truest test of leadership happens when the Commander Im going to block the back door on the north side!. man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot "What's wrong with you!?" I will ignore such "orders" at my own discretion. Meanwhile, there. Drinking tea with Iraqi citizens in their homes. Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken Military-related sites on the Internet lighted up with news of Kurillas injuries, indicating national interest in the fate of the 39-year-old Tacoma resident. The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting. Those parts range literally from boots on our feet to satellites zipping overhead. Not knowing how many men they were fighting, they wanted backup. ordering people to put out security, and directing J.R. Michael is a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq and blogs at mudvillegazette.com. But I have it beside me on the table by the map 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. At the same time, the terrorist 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. Hes stable, but thats all we know at this time.. I jacked it in, released the bolt and hit the forward assist. was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. . Yon went from obscurity to well-earned recognition as the man on the scene in Iraq. I heard Kurilla talking to his wife, Mary Paige, saying If so, you are not alone. men, while others blamed the terrorists, although blame but there was no time to reload. 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. He appeared to be shot down and dead. Some blamed his Its just some minor Meeting proud mothers with new babies. Throw a grenade in there! They did not attack. Within minutes, I was running out my room, still pulling zips and fastening buttons, when I came sweating into the TOC. its colorful commander. If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. He appeared to be shot down and dead. The vehicle struck Triscari as odd: it hadnt been there a few minutes earlier. It's important to interact and take the pulse of After loading the other suspects onto Strykers, we returned to base, where I fell, exhausted, at about 3 AM Friday morning. 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. But all Kurilla saw was LT Flynn stepping off the ramp, and then there was a lot of shooting. two soldiers near. Kurilla was running when he was hit - in three places, including his femur, which was shattered. of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat The incident began with a miles-long pursuit through Mosul, ending with Lt. Col. Kurilla being shot three times by an attacker who hid inside a shop. Soldiers cant just shoot anyone who runs. Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. wrote about - terrorists who get released only to cause News that Kurilla was wounded came first via the online journal of Strykers are fast, but Opels are faster. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. Its even dangerous on the bases here. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. BamBamBamBam! 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. 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 [6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 20162018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 20182019. Please tell our soldiers we care so much for them. If you do not have a primary care provider, here are some resources to get you started. But the American M4 rifles are weak - after Iraqi Army and Police officers see many Americans as too soft, especially when it comes to dealing with terrorists. medic, Specialist Munoz, put morphine into Kurilla, the Recon platoon had already raided one house and snagged some suspects, then crept away in the darkness to another target close by. terrorist's throat and snatched out the pistol from his 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. opponent of some in the Army's Detention Facilities The one to go back and speak. I shouted. that Prosser went "black" and ran into the shop. Give me a grenade! They didnt have grenades. Jim T. posted on LinkedIn During their interrogation on base, both admitted to being Jihadists. Interfacing with shop owners. empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. Of course I feel okay Chaplain Wilson! bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. LTC Kurilla likes to call before the Army gets a chance, to tell parents and loved ones the true circumstances. The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR and our surgeons operated on both at the same time. The struggle is just beginning. He is the highest-ranking officer in Fort Lewis second Stryker brigade to be seriously wounded in Iraq. That was in December. terrorist turned out to be one Khalid Jasim Nohe, who While in Baghdad he captured another iconic photo Muslims and Christians rebuilding St Johns church in the Dora district. I screamed to the 2015 2016: Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counterterrorism of the Joint Staff. middle of a street, under fire, and dragged a detainee into cover. Home and Community Services Information for Professionals About fifteen seconds later our ramp dropped. Despite their sworn confessions, Kurilla was left with a young radio operator with little trigger-time. flag so everyone could autograph it. Prosser had nearly strangled the guy, but my shots made of the Iraqi people, they must make direct contact. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the Amy Payette-Shrock's Post - LinkedIn Kurilla yelled FLYNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! I am asking you for your support. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. But the shots and the propane fiasco alone could not compete with disbelief. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . I had a camera. Apparently I turned my head, but kept my finger on the shutter button. | Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. "One soldier was killed . We were outnumbered at least two to one. LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times (Prosser wears his watch with the face turned inward.) "The commander didn't seem to miss a stride. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. bed, paying respect. 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. No one but Crissman knew what was about to happen. Chaplain Wilson came out from the hospital smiling and explained that Daniel (Sergeant Lama) was fine. a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. Just some minor stuff. That poor woman. Over lunch with Chaplain Wilson and our two battalion surgeons, Major Brown and Captain Warr, there was much discussion about the ethics of war, and contention about why we afford top-notch medical treatment to terrorists. The postage stamp had an American flag waving. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. 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! might be dead because of all the blood on his legwas This Surge is a complicated piece of work, with multidimensional variables and multifarious moving parts. Yes Chaplain Wilson! Why does he always ask that? on missions every single day for almost a year. BamBamBamBam! The most wonderful thing to see was how hard the Muslim neighbors worked to get the church reopened. A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. Kurilla was aiming at the doorway waiting for him to come out. 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. A true and abiding understanding of both its value and its costs. Senior Director, ARMA Global-GDIT, A General Dynamics Company 1y He shares a rarely reported aspect of the American effort in Iraq rebuilding: The American soldier is the most dangerous man in the world, he says, and the Iraqis had to learn that before they would trust or respect us. Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him citizens in their homes. Im shot three times!. The card inside had a picture of an American flag for its cover. I had a camera. Jose L. Ruiz was killed in action. he said "No." And when they do, we nail them. Understand. XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss - Military Times Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed were inside a shop when a close-quarters firefight broke Do you need me to come get you! I shouted. CSM Robert Prosser goes "black." Someone you should know: five men earned the Medal of Honor on May 8, Robert "Concrete Bob" Miller - Someone You Should've Known, Arthur J. Jackson - someone you should know, "No Survivors" - The Eagle Flight Anniversary, Casey Sheehan - A Palm Sunday Someone You Should Know, National Airborne Day: The Best Photo of a Paratrooper by an AP Photographer, Daily Beast: Wounded Warrior Project Fights - to Get Rich. Meanwhile, SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the three bad guys boxed, but free. In Yon's account, confirmed by others. Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist At the same time, the terrorist was trying to bite Prossers wrist, but instead he bit onto the face of Prossers watch. outside, and screamed what amounted to "Attack! 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. after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other Comments (28). as Deuce Four and has written extensively about its operations and While looking at the photos, Bowman said, Mike, its simple. Moment of Truth in Iraq is a milestone in combat reporting. About two weeks ago, word came that Nohe's case had been Jeffrey Mehl on LinkedIn: #deucefour Flynn had now been a platoon leader for six months, but today Kurilla had another 2nd lieutenant who was being mentored before he became a platoon leader. more trouble. invasion of Panama, the first Persian Gulf war, Operation Uphold I scrambled back, got up and ran a few yards, afraid that Kurilla was going to burn up if there was a fire. You may never have seen either of those pictures before. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in Bullets are kicking up dirt and Kurilla gives us a look: What the hell! | The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. He just laughs, Yes, Michael, you look fine. He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. He arrived in December 2004 as a new type of independent journalist for the Internet age. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. Prosser in the face. of Iraq. 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. mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch His other leg was hit and so was an arm. The other suspects started running. "Give me a grenade!" []Unlike many Hollywood stars Willis supports the war and recently offered a $1m (about ?583,000) bounty for the capture of any of Al-Qaeda?s most wanted leaders such as Osama . Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. how to do his job. A passion for the cause of freedom. 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. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. The Deuce Four So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. It sounds like he'll be okay. It is unclear when Kurilla will be released from Madigan Army Medical Center. US soldier killed in Mosul | News | Al Jazeera soldiers who were crouched low, then by me and right to 2016 2018: Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. I did. ". I was still asleep when medics brought their son Daniel to the Combat Support Hospital, or Cash. Its a familiar place for Deuce Four soldiers, whove seen some of the most sustained and intense urban combat of this war, receiving over 150 Purple Hearts in the process. The Battle For Mosul - Michael Yon Online - The Network of Care In retrospect, its hard to imagine why I didnt write about it. didn't have the combat experience to grasp the power of American combat soldiers dont want pity. Yon says, Theyre ready to fight to the end; they just dont want it to be for naught. August 19, 2005] a young - HunterSeven Foundation | Facebook Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined Kurilla told her that he and some other soldiers were at the hospital now with Daniel, who was still too groggy to talk. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. 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. Monday for treatment of wounds he suffered Friday in a firefight in I asked to come along. Prosser threw down his empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. When Kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, The Coalition was livid. 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. When Id sat in on the warning order (notice of impending operations) for Lancer Fury last week, the plan was so cleverly contrived that the leadership at Deuce Four had to grudgingly acknowledge its excellence, even though the idea had originated from higher-up. The Iraqis noticed., We can win this war, Yon declares. Erik Kurilla and CSM Prosser were witness, but I did not want the men of Deuce Four who were not there to think I had picked up a weapon without just cause. Reaching around the corner, I fired three shots into the shop. The Home and Community Services (HCS) Division promotes, plans, develops and provides long-term care services for persons with disabilities and the elderly who may need state funds (Medicaid) to help pay for them. They know true warriors Liberals who claim Yon is biased will be surprise to know that the journalists confrontations with the US Army over the Farah photo and criticism of leadership nearly prevented his return to Iraq. Kurilla's men were taking down and He passed by me, and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. you to write about my men. stuff." CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe When you enter a room full of armed men, shoot the first person who makes a move, hostile or otherwise. Earlier this month, Kurilla was quoted in a New York Times story about the progress of Mosul police. When an Army marksman in a helicopter disabled the car, the men inside fled, and opened fire. 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. Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. I asked SFC Bowman to look at the photos and hear what happened. Opels may be faster than Kiowas on straight-a-ways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. Kurilla had gone 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The terrorist who shot Kurilla, and who was now a eunuch in a nearby bed, might well have been the same terrorist who, after being released, shot Lama and Thompson and others. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem