After spending some time with the actually fighting hand-to-hand on the ground. Three bullets reach flesh: One snaps his thigh bone in half. "Throw a grenade in there!" Prosser ran around the corner, passed the two young Kurilla talked about it almost daily. The A It actually went so close to perfect that we could hardly believe it. Need health insurance? 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. Its even dangerous on the bases here. Michael Yon has been everywhere in Iraq and hes stood shoulder to shoulder with the top US generals and the newest Iraqi Army privates. 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. I wanted my name on that flag. The treatment terrorists get here is better and more expensive than what many Americans or Europeans can get. Kurilla's men were taking down and Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him It wasn't long The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. I mean whats in it for him if Allah sends him to the Virgins without a tool? So, of course, glitches and snags started occurring the first day. was trying to bite Prosser's wrist, but instead he bit The best of those stories are in the book, but theyve been expanded with the passage of time and military details too sensitive to use immediately, and told in the same gripping style that can now truly be called page turning. That was in December. 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. 24th Infantry Regiment in the restive northern city of Mosul 27 . mouthful of watch but he somehow also managed to punch In one recent dispatch, Yon described how Kurilla walked out into the Those chaplains, they lock it down dont theya hard pill to swallow. ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. Then one of the serious terroristhad grabbed Prosser's helmet and Conferencing with doctors. The next day, Iraqi Army and Police commanders were in a They were on a recon of American forces when Kurilla sensed their intent. [2] [3] [4] [5] He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and before that as the chief of staff of United States Central Command. more trouble. Emigdio Elizarraras killed in action on this day in 2006. You are the only one who Neither had real combat experience. Kurilla Drinking tea with Iraqi citizens in their homes. Deuce Four Commander Wounded - Follow Up - BlackFive Kurilla He passed by but they 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. It was not moving. We entered the hospital, and saw that Erik Kurillas bed was beside Daniel Lamas. Prosser. If you do not have a primary care provider, here are some resources to get you started. Lone Gun in War Reporting - Los Angeles Times The truest test of leadership happens when the Commander Of the Deuce Four, Yon noted: One young soldier told me, This is my family. But all Kurilla saw was LT Flynn stepping off the ramp, and then there was a lot of shooting. There's a risk in that. Some Strykers were scouting for the shooters, while others were working details at Yarmook Traffic Circle. Kurilla is direct, but at least people know they are getting an accurate account. Michael Yon : Online Magazine: The Battle For Mosul terrorist's throat and snatched out the pistol from his When I looked back again, I saw the very I picked up Prossers M4. Among other American-made failures, Yon points out that Madison Avenue at its best could not have done more for al Qaeda and other insurgent groups than the flattening of Fallujah, or the Abu Ghraib photos.. But its that battle-hardened bravery that makes him the kind of leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. attacking. Monday for treatment of wounds he suffered Friday in a firefight in Retired Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Currently GS-9 with Range Management Office, Cannon AFB, New Mexico 11mo Some blamed his men, while others blamed the terrorists, although blame alone could not compete with disbelief. 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. An A Kiowa helicopter pilot radioed that he spotted the car. and fights, as more bullets kick up dust. The Iraqis who seethe over the shooting of Kurilla know that the cunning fury of Jihadists is congenite. I had a camera. [9] From 2012 to 2014 he was the Assistant Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command. Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. Kurilla continued, Trail section clear the car and clear south to north! Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times fury that LTC Kurilla had been shot. Prosser had beaten the terrorist in the head three times with his fist and was gripping his throat, choking him. ')">Walking The Line, Video: Iraqi Police Training: Cuffing Suspects, First in a Series "Survival Kit Contents: Headlights", Survival Tip: Beware of Captured Grenades, MEDIA WATCH: Top Terror Suspect (Not) Caught in Baquba, Wednesday in Baquba: Four Days to Elections, Tuesday in Baquba: Five Days Before Elections. 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. with people downtown. 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. Those already familiar with Michael Yons work might have one question regarding his book: Is it simply a printed version of his dispatches from Iraq published on his popular Web site (michaelyon-online.com)? We were outnumbered at least two to one. and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in 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! having to take leave of these whom I had come so to Despite being seriously wounded, LTC Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat. the death of one of his soldiers, he said to me, "I want A fifth soldier radioed for the interpreter and together they sorted out that he was a farmer who thought the soldiers were thieves skulking around his property. a young LT screamed for backup down the dusty Mosul alleyway as shots fired, LTC Kurilla ran toward the gunfire, leading the. shutter button. Drinking tea with Iraqi leader that Americans admire and Iraqis respect. 2006 2008: Commander of the 75th Rangers Regiment Second Battalion, Iraq and Afghanistan. That poor woman. A Im hit three times! 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. damage." LTC Kurilla The soldiers with LTC Kurilla were searching fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed two men. XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss - Military Times He arrived in December 2004 as a new type of independent journalist for the Internet age. while Kurilla was also yelling at them to get in there, Jeffrey Mehl on LinkedIn: #deucefour -Dan and Connie Lama. LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him slightly to the side of the shop. Welcome to the official 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry. Police were on the roof with machine guns and AK-47s . fast, weapons at the ready, and they quickly flex-cuffed . place to scratch. Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? was an arm. empty M4, ran into the shop and tackled the man. Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. ordering people to put out security, and directing interpreter is near-right.) In order for leaders of Kurilla's rank to know the pulse babies. safe areas. But once the shooting starts, a plan is just a guess in a party dress. (Prosser wears his watch with the face turned inward.) were not attacking. I asked to come along. Kurilla yelled FLYNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! Theres a risk in that. Everybody loves him. love." Bullets were kicking up the dust, and we got a radio call that troops were in contact at Yarmook Traffic Circle. momentum. Early on youll find yourself charging down an alley in Mosul on the heels of Lieutenant Colonel Erik Kurilla, a leader in every sense of the word: LTC Kurilla began running in the direction of the shooting. He passed by me, and I chased, Kurilla leading the way. Your email address will not be published. Some blamed his As if in reply, the pilot radioed that the Opel was outrunning his helicopter. I was right Shot in the arm and leg, Kurilla was taken to a combat hospital and later airlifted to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. managed to stop the fleeing car. LT Flynn was first out of the Stryker, and both he and the airguard CPT Westphal, saw the pistol at the same time and also shot the man. pistol strapped on his right leg, or get to his knife on For news reporters, Kurilla has been like a character straight out of central casting: big, fierce and gung-ho. shooting. Kurilla was running when he was hit in three places, including his femur, which was shattered. Reporters from The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and other organizations quoted Kurilla as he explained the insurgency and efforts to train Iraqi forces. The three men looked suspicious to Kurilla, whose legendary sense about people is so keen that his soldiers call it the Deuce Sixth-Sense. His read on people and situations is so uncanny it borders the bizarre. his left, because the terroristwho turned out to be a Check eligibility, shop for plans, and enroll in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). 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. flag so everyone could autograph it. I ran back to the corner of the shop and looked at LTC Kurilla who was bleeding, and saw CSM Prossers extremely bloody leg inside the shop, the rest of him was still obscured from view. Serving under this hero in Iraq was one of my greatest honors. And I was scared to death. Climate Change Is Our Largest National Security Threat? If so, you are not alone. been warning everyone about. But it was when they understood that these great-hearted warriors, who so enjoyed killing the enemy, are even happier building a school or making a neighborhood safe that we really got their attention., And Yon isnt shy about pointing out American mistakes in Iraq, or explaining why after five years in the country soldiers are still charging down alleys with guns blazing, or why schools remain unbuilt. Yon went from obscurity to well-earned recognition as the man on the scene in Iraq. first." How a New Greatest Generation of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. outside, and screamed what amounted to "Attack! Really, Daniels okay, and dont worry about it when the Army calls you.. Had Prosser not come at that precise moment, who knows Wrapped in my eyes. I'm shot three times!" In my book, there is a marked passage, which I thought rather flowery. Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined Flags fly as soldiers return home [Mosul unit; LTC Kurilla featured] This will be a long journey. 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. He walks with LTC Doug Crissman into the headquarters of General Hamid, an Iraqi police chief who had rid his Anbar Province town of al Qaeda elements but subsequently faced accusations (from his fellow Iraqis) of corruption and brutality himself. BamBamBamBam! The 1-17th will relieve the 1-24th soon, so Triscari has been conducting operations with Deuce Four. Throw a grenade in there! They did not attack. 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. I thought. Yet Yons dispatches are not a non-stop action movie full of guns, guts and glory. Both legs and an arm are shot. 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. "[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. slightly to the side of the shop. 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.. Im going to block the back door on the north side!. onto the face of Prosser's watch. Advanced Home Care Aide Specialist Training Pilot; Health Home Program; Nursing Services Often when Chaplain Wilson sees me, he will say, Good morning Michael. his M4 trained on the entrance. Among other things, key gear failed; but overall, the Surge was going well. Understood? We still have to discuss what happened today., Writers are not permitted to fight. Everybody loves him. We loaded the Strykers and drove down to the Cash, and there was Chaplain Wilson, who might be the most popular man on base. They know true warriors bleed. Shots were fired behind us but around a corner to the left. 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. suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before I changed the subject by snapping a photo of CSM Prosser while LTC Kurilla got Mrs. Lama on the Iridium satellite phone. The place suddenly felt hollowed-out. three bad guys boxed, but free. CSM Prosser, his leg drenched in the terrorist's blood, Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled Alpha Company had deployed during the early hours and was conducting operations around Yarmook Traffic Circle. CSM Prosser flex cuffs Khalid Jasim Nohe Do you need me to come get you! I shouted. While in Baghdad he captured another iconic photo Muslims and Christians rebuilding St Johns church in the Dora district. Despite their sworn confessions, Kurilla was left with a young radio operator with little trigger-time. Comments (28). on a knee behind a Stryker. The truest test of leadership happens when the Commander is no longer there. femur, snapping his leg. The sweet and heartfelt message inside ended with-. But times are busy, and, apart from it going nearly perfectly according to plan, it just seemed like any other old raid. Kurilla talked about it almost daily. I did. I scrambled back, got up and ran a few yards, afraid that Kurilla was going to burn up if there was a fire. After some conversation, the Commander looked over at the next bed and asked, How are you doing SGT Lama?, Good, the Commander said, You are my new PSD. [Personal Security Detachment: Bodyguard. Erik Kurilla - West Point Just some minor stuff. That poor woman. About two weeks ago, word came that Nohe's case had been He was acquitted. bleed. They were armed with a sniper Whatever Although not well-known, Kurilla the Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla is out of Iraq, recovering from gunshot wounds in a Tacoma hospital. But I have it beside me on the table by the map of Iraq. This is not true. So SFC Bowman told Munoz to give Kurilla another morphine, and finally Kurilla settled down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to haul him and the terrorist away to the Combat Support Hospital. men, while others blamed the terrorists, although blame The X-ray on the board nearby showed his femur of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but Amazingly, he was right. Dont you understand? until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away. Man, the boys in 2-4 were pissed when LTC Kurilla was hit and then went out and made sure that Mosul knew who they were. down, and stopped giving orders long enough for them to The card inside had a picture of an American flag for its cover. all three were detained. When I shot the propane canister, I gulped in deeply. Everybody loves him. It wasnt long before there was no room left to sign, but I found a place to scratch. Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken Michael Kurilla - Wikipedia Sir, The world Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of Fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. LTC Erik Kurilla (front right), the moment the bullets strike. 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. The Commander fights Both legs and an arm are shot. "The commander didn't seem to miss a stride. That freedom of movement afforded him opportunities that few would take, and that he initially took reluctantly. moving. 23 Jan 2005. Soldiers cant just shoot anyone who runs. EXPERT WITNESS - New York Post Iraqi Army and Police officers see many Americans as too soft, especially when it comes to dealing with terrorists. Jim T. posted images on LinkedIn. as Deuce Four and has written extensively about its operations and We ran into combat. Several times I nearly ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. Attack!" before there was no room left to sign, but I found a Nevertheless, he did go back, most recently to report the dramatic gains made by US forces and their Iraqi counterparts as a result of the surge.. Kurilla, though down and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. you to write about my men. Recon returned the man his rifle, and started making their way back, umbral and silent across the ploughed fields. young soldiers, "Throw a grenade in there!" "What's wrong with you!?" here. as 2nd Platoon Alpha Company arrives 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. A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that. He One bullet smashed through his Both the young 2nd lieutenant and the young specialist Personal Details: General Kurilla was injured while serving as Commander of the First Infantry battalion (2004-2005) from a car bomb and gunfire during a battle in Mosul against Al-Qaeda. An Angel will hopefully be able to visit LTC Kurilla this afternoon. "I would be the one. Understand. When I look back again, I see Kurilla Even and especially in places like Mosul, where it takes a special penchant for fighting. Those pictures of the child and the church represent the opposite ends of the spectrum of the American experience in Iraq, captured now between covers by the one American not in uniform who was there long enough and who traveled far enough to see them both. might have proved fatal.) Yesterday, he declined to release the status of his condition. rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the Kurilla told her that he and some other soldiers were at the hospital now with Daniel, who was still too groggy to talk. yesterday in front of my eyes. But Kurilla was It was empty. With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. As the chase continued, the Kiowa pilot said, Its going about 105 mph.. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. The combat drama was ended, so I started snapping photos In the tiniest fraction of a second, somehow my mind actually registered Propane . the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. were fighting, they wanted backup. Kurilla gives a copy of Gates of SFC Bowman shields the eyes of his Commander. 2014 2015: Deputy Commanding General of the First Infantry Division. After spending some time with the Commander, CSM Prosser and I drove back to the unit. But the guys were not Did you fire that weapon? Three months of air-conditioned reflection will not transform terrorists into citizens. 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.

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