If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. bloody leg of CSM Prosser inside the shop. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. SGT Daniel Lama, who is as much respected as he is liked, was pulling security in an air guard position of his Stryker, when a bullet flew straight at his neck, striking him. Make no mistake about Kurilla hes a warrior, always at the front of the charge. You may never have seen either of those pictures before. what I shouted was an unprintable string of curses, not too much--I start snapping photos as the Commander drags the guy by We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. When you enter a room full of armed men, shoot the first person who makes a move, hostile or otherwise. pulled it over his eyes and twisted it. SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken leg. 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. But its men like Kurilla who can make this work. 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. I mean whats in it for him if Allah sends him to the Virgins without a tool? Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? The postage stamp had an American flag waving. Bullets were kicking up the dust, and we got a radio call that troops were in contact at Yarmook Traffic Circle. three bad guys boxed, but free. Kurilla is a 1988 West Point graduate and a veteran of the U.S. But they were not invasion of Panama, the first Persian Gulf war, Operation Uphold [6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 20162018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 20182019. They know true warriors [6] [7] Biography Then one of the suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before all three were detained. flag so everyone could autograph it. 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. MSG Elizarraras was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Jeffrey Mehl on LinkedIn: #deucefour posted by Michael Yon @ 1:09 AM | Permanent Link, AP's Antonio Castaneda Features Walt Gaya, A tribute for service members and families, Update: Iraq Constitutional Referendum Dispatch, First in a series of five posts about Michael\'s travels with Command Sargeant Major Jeffrey Mellinger, the top enlisted solider in Iraq, whose mission is to observe and report on conditions at the front. I asked CSM Prosser if I could go with him to see the Commander. In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the Army Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla arrived at Madigan Army Medical Center late Monday for treatment of wounds he suffered Friday in a firefight in Mosul, Iraq. The other Drinking tea with Iraqi citizens in their homes. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment that Prosser went black and ran into the shop. safe areas. Strykers are fast, but Opels are faster. I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. there. The images along with Yons narrative are posted on his Web site: http://michaelyon.blogspot.com. Only a few hours had passed since Daniel Lama and the Commander were shot. The combat portion of the Surge amounted to a sophisticated area ambush that would unfold over the period of about one week. he said "No." The propane canister at rest (left), the terrorist in battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of The terrorist turned out to be one Khalid Jasim Nohe, who had first been captured by US forces (2-8 FA) on 21 December, the same day a large bomb exploded in the dining facility on this base and killed 22 people. | Recon platoon had already raided one house and snagged some suspects, then crept away in the darkness to another target close by. Kiowas are small, carrying just two people; they fly so low the two flying soldiers are practically infantrymen. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The doctors rolled LTC Kurilla and the terrorist into OR Gates of Fire - Michael Yon Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him 2006 2008: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment Second Battalion, Iraq and Afghanistan. 2009 2011: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment. But the American M4 rifles are weak - after Some months back, a new lieutenant named Brian Flynn was riding with the Kurilla for his first three weeks, when Kurilla spotted three men walking adjacent to where Major Mark Bieger and his Stryker had been hit with a car bomb a week prior. Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. (Thank God; running in front of the shop | Retired Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Currently GS-9 with Range Management Office, Cannon AFB, New Mexico 11mo This section was led by SSG Konkol. to call my wife so she doesn't get a call from the Army Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that bed, paying respect. Prosser. After spending some time with the Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com. The Kiowa swooped and banked hard in front of the car, firing three more shots through the front hood, the universal sign for stop., The car chase ended, but the men fled on foot up an alley. Minnesota Vikings flag, when they decided to keep the #DeuceFour Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. I saw only Prossers bloody leg lying still, just inside the darkened doorway, because most of his body was hidden behind a stack of sheet metal. Your email address will not be published. The terrorist had a I scrambled back, got up and ran a few yards, afraid that Kurilla was going to burn up if there was a fire. The cell leader had a blood-stained death note in his pocket stating he was a true Mujahadeen and wanted to die fighting the Americans. is no longer there. The sole glitch occurred when a Stryker hit an IED, but since nobody was hurt, we just continued the mission. Although the situation in Mosul is better, our troops still fight here every day. Check eligibility, shop for plans, and enroll in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). The third bullet pierced a propane canister, which jumped up in the air and began spinning violently. on my door. Soldiers outran and tackled his two associates when they made a run. When an Army marksman in a helicopter disabled the car, the men inside fled, and opened fire. The card inside had a picture of an American flag for its cover. They had night vision gear, so they moved quickly. But the shots and the propane fiasco Do I look stressed? We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. "Erik! Just checking. But secretly, every time he asks, I feel a notch better. We began searching for the shooters near one of the bridges on our side of the Tigris, but they got away. A few terrorists had already been caught in the first 24 hours. Find a Community Health Center, by county, to see if they provide TB tests. "We begin another chapter in the rich history of the XVIII Airborne Corps," said Gen. Michael X . When I looked back again, I saw the very Everybody loves him. Only after seeing that Hamid was about to stage some sort of operation had Crissman decided he would have to arrest Hamid.. Thank you. Everybody loves him. The same facility where Daniel Lama was [6] He assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in October 2019. Mosul, Iraq. The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is a program of ADR and serves as the front-door to the local LTSS delivery system, providing unbiased information, community outreach / education, help accessing services and person-centered care planning / care coordination to meet the individual needs of older adults, persons with disabilities . quickly reholstered his pistol and subdued him by flowery. Then one of the I jumped up and there was CSM Robert Prosser, the top enlisted soldier at Deuce Four. It was near 10 PM when the airplane that would start their journey back to America landed outside, its engines rumbling the hospital floor. (left). But times are busy, and, apart from it going nearly perfectly according to plan, it just seemed like any other old raid. the shop, where he started firing at men inside. strike. soldiers about how to get in there. But the more battle weathered fighters were not there. God Bless our Military especially, our WARRIORS. Kurilla is portrayed as tough, dedicated and possessed with an uncanny ability to avoid enemy bullets. 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! pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on Thank you Michael, Id like to shake your hand someday. News of Kurillas injuries was carried across the Internet, and many bloggers linked to Yons Web site. BamBamBamBam! Biden to nominate Lieutenant General Kurilla as next CENTCOM Commander 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. The White House on Wednesday nominated Army Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, who currently leads the XVIII Airborne Corps, for a fourth star. In order for leaders of Kurilla's rank to know the pulse "Throw a grenade in there!" a ground fight, Prosser could not pull out his service After loading the other suspects onto Strykers, we returned to base, where I fell, exhausted, at about 3 AM Friday morning. Last steps. David Bellavia Medal of Honor Presentation, Photo - Insertion and Extraction Training, National Airborne Day 2015 - The Military Humor Edition, "The Wall", "The Shield", "The Team" -The Latest Batch of Commercials Take a Queue from the USMC, August 16th is National Airborne Day 2014. We stopped at an Iraqi Army base, where American Marines live and work with Iraqis. This will be a long journey. The return address sticker, an American flag on it, was from Jefferson, Pennsylvania. Need health insurance? moving. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. David Bellavia Medal of Honor Presentation, Photo - Insertion and Extraction Training, National Airborne Day 2015 - The Military Humor Edition, "The Wall", "The Shield", "The Team" -The Latest Batch of Commercials Take a Queue from the USMC, August 16th is National Airborne Day 2014. I got hit and there was some minor soft tissue Local Muslims invited me to see the reopening; they wanted Americans to know they protect Christians in their neighborhood, Yon explains. Even and especially in places like Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. And I was afraid to run Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. A short time after Kurilla gave me the book, following Leading three soldiers, Kurilla ran through a maze of shops and alleys. Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away.. Sleeking around Mosul under moonlight, we prowled through the pale glow until we came upon a pond near a farmhouse. Conferencing with doctors. LTC Kurilla began There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. leg. ], Daniel Lama smiled, got out of bed and I shot a photo of him reporting for his new duty.. Mosul shooting at American soldiers. Gates of Fire (Michael Yon's report on LTC Kurilla in Mosul) - MUST READ "[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Biden Nominates Michael E. Kurilla to Lead Central Command - The New BamBamBamBam! Today we remember Master Sgt. He did a crazy. Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 Meeting proud mothers with new babies. I was hooked. were not attacking. itself, even the desperately sought chance to tell the According to American officers, solid cases are tale, suddenly seemed unendurable alongside the pain of But Prosser's gloves were slippery with blood so he pistol, apparently realizing his only escape was by He passed by me and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. Whatever Carrying both books, we drove to the Cash. It will be a victory for freedom and justice. Erik! CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe 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. Give me a grenade! They didnt have grenades. with people downtown. Even and especially in places like As the Stryker dropped its ramp, one of the terrorists pulled a pistol from under his shirt. actually fighting hand-to-hand on the ground. Michael Yon was there and witnessed this: The operation has begun. Bruce & LTC Kurilla. was an arm. I wanted my name on that flag. Are you feeling all right?. Make no mistake about Kurilla - he's a warrior, always But these were not the right guys. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his Amy Payette-Shrock's Post - LinkedIn Some blamed 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. on missions every single day for almost a year. Kurilla had gone Comments (28). Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting at the front of the charge. He appeared to be shot down and dead. The Commander fights as it bounced on the ground where it spun furiously, creating an explosive cloud of gas and dust, just waiting for someone to fire a weapon. No one but Crissman knew what was about to happen. Randy Olsberg on LinkedIn: #specialforces #greenberet #greenberetfoundation When Kurilla keyed in on them, he pointed his rifle at the car and signaled them to get out. you to write about my men. CSM Prosser, his leg drenched in the terrorist's blood, 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. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only Education: General Kurilla has a B.S. 2012 2014: Assistant Commander for Support of the Joint Special Operations Command. The place suddenly felt hollowed-out. Update III: For those who haven't seen these posts from Stryker Brigade News, here are two memorials given by LTC Kurilla which have been linked from here before: http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2005/02/21/deuce_four_fallen_warriors.html, http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2005/05/26/deuce_four_fallen_warriors.html, Posted by Blackfive on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 11:39 AM | Permalink Of course I feel okay Chaplain Wilson! Kurilla yelled FLYNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! Dont you understand? femur, snapping his leg. A man came forward, trying to shoot Kurilla with a "I'm hit three times! I asked to come along. Reporters from The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and other organizations quoted Kurilla as he explained the insurgency and efforts to train Iraqi forces. Not knowing how many men they I had a camera. J.R. Michael is a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq and blogs at mudvillegazette.com. Crissmans interpreter translated and there were smiles and laughter, until Crissman asked if he could talk with Hamid inside his office. 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. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government. livid. This is not true. 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. We entered the hospital, and saw that Erik Kurillas bed was beside Daniel Lamas. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. They were armed with a sniper Lots of RUMINT swirling around about LTC Erik Kurilla being shot during combat operations in Mosul. Kurilla talked about it almost daily. His 700-soldier battalion experienced some of the fiercest fighting of the war. with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. of the Iraqi people, they must make direct contact. onto the face of Prosser's watch. A self-described independent, informed observer chronicling the monumentally important events in the efforts to stabilize Iraq, Yon solicits donations on his Web site to buy equipment and defray expenses. His other leg was hit and so Your email address will not be published. Chaplain Wilson came out from the hospital smiling and explained that Daniel (Sergeant Lama) was fine. And then LTC Kurilla was shot. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. I did. Both legs and an arm are shot. ". Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that As the chase continued, the Kiowa pilot said, Its going about 105 mph.. We were outnumbered at least two to one. The combat drama was ended, so I started snapping photos the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, "I want Im going to block the back door on the north side!. Wrapped in 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? Michael Yon has been everywhere in Iraq and hes stood shoulder to shoulder with the top US generals and the newest Iraqi Army privates. help arrived in the form of one man: CSM Prosser. And then LTC August 19, 2005] a young - HunterSeven Foundation | Facebook Where Do I Get a TB Test? - Washington State Department of Health A In May 2005, he captured what many would consider the iconic photo from Iraq Major Mark Bieger cradling Farah (a young victim of a suicide bomber) in his arms, rushing her to Army medics. We were roaring through little streets and along roads, horn blaring, cars zipping off the sides, the steady chatter of multiple radio channels colliding inside the Stryker. Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken Advanced Home Care Aide Specialist Training Pilot; Health Home Program; Nursing Services And then LTC Kurilla was shot. Deuce Four's LTC Erik Kurilla shot three times (Michael Yon dispatch) It was afternoon when LTC Kurilla started his rounds in Mosul. In Yon's account, confirmed by others. Kurilla ordered the Kiowa to fire a warning shot, then quickly authorized the Kiowa to disable the vehicle. The chase was on. It was the other leg that was broken, he said. Kurilla talked about it almost daily. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Hunter Biden may be held accountable for first time in his life in baby mama Lunden Roberts' case, Broadway's 'New York, New York' sticks the landing with a thrilling finale, Dems do Dianne Feinstein dirty, but have not done the same to Biden yet, Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, $76K NJ boarding school admits falling 'tragically short' in protecting teen who killed self after bullying, 'rapist' taunts, Meghan Markle's ailing dad says he refuses 'to be buried by her' in 'final ever' interview, Kim Kardashian seemingly shades Kourtney's wedding in now-deleted caption. The Deuce Four A shooter inside was also having problems with his pistol, but there was no time to reload. In retrospect, its hard to imagine why I didnt write about it. Dont I look okay?. 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. This was not the Deuce Four I know. fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. Understood? When I returned to base, I was actually "ordered" not to write The Commander rolls into a firing position, just as a Mosule, Iraq war story - Project Reality Forums An unwavering conviction that, in the end, we will win. The vehicle struck Triscari as odd: it hadnt been there a few minutes earlier. Like the soldiers of Deuce Four, Iraqis have seen too much war to believe in fairy tales. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. But the guys were not Its even dangerous on the bases here. While we knew of Iraq in our corner of the battlespace, he could move throughout the country and did so. boxing up his photos of his wife and children, and his Bap bap bap! SSG Gregory Konkol, SGT Jim Lewis, and specialists Niccola DeVereaux and Christopher Muse where right there, behind me, but I didnt see them. Despite their sworn confessions, Kurilla was left with a young radio operator with little trigger-time. Alpha Company had deployed during the early hours and was conducting operations around Yarmook Traffic Circle. Prosser threw down his empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. serious terroristhad grabbed Prosser's helmet and The same facility where Daniel Lama was recovering from the earlier gunshot wound to the neck. Current HCS Projects and Updates. In other dispatches Yon has described how Kurilla climbed into burning Strykers to pull his wounded men to safety. Meanwhile, SSG Konkol's men were clearing toward us, leaving the three bad guys boxed, but free. The Commander of Deuce Four, LTC Erik Kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. Though I have the photo, I do not remember the moment A His At the same time, the terrorist was trying to bite Prossers wrist, but instead he bit onto the face of Prossers watch. He passed by 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. A pain beyond all previous now seized me. I will ignore such "orders" at my own discretion. 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. passion for the cause of freedom. Prosser threw down his He participated in the Panama invasion and the Gulf War, and was stationed in Korea and Europe. How can the pilot know its going 105 mph? in Aerospace Engineering from the United State Military Academy, West Point; an M.B.A. from Regis University, and an M.S. Lone Gun in War Reporting - Los Angeles Times Bowman asked LTC Kurilla to lie down. confirmed Monday that Kurilla had been shot near the elbow and in one 2018 2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). LTC Kurilla repeatedly told me of and I repeatedly wrote about terrorists who get released only to cause more trouble. ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. its colorful commander. Give me a magazine! I yelled, and the young 2nd lieutenant handed over a full 30-round magazine. Hospital. Democracy in Haiti and the U.S.-led interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem Whatever the reason, the result was that less than two weeks after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in Mosul shooting at American soldiers. Yon was simultaneously one of us the guys in the war and not one of us. There was a quick and heavy volume of fire. The other Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that room in about five seconds. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Kurilla received his commission as a second lieutenant in May 1988. I yelled above the shooting. 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. And when they do, we nail them. Then Prossers M4 went black (no more bullets). 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. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. Neither had real combat experience. When Kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, he called CSM Prosser and asked for a Bible and the book: Gates of Fire. 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. He had given me a copy and told me to read it. Twenty US soldiers have died in Mosul since 21 December. Those chaplains, they lock it down dont theya hard pill to swallow. The one to go back and speak. [8] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988. XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort 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. I jacked it in, released the bolt and hit the forward assist. what the outcome might have been? In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . But it's that Major Mark Bieger arrived alongside Kurilla's hospital Attack! Drinking tea with Iraqi fighting his way out, or dying in the process. Chaplain Wilson might be the only man in the universe with a chance of getting me into the chapel of my own free will, but I have resisted so far.