A Battlefield Tourist

The Road to Want (Wanat) Part 1

Nov 6 at 1:01pm by David Tate

The Battle of Want on July 13, 2008 is looked at by the US military as a culmination of events over the previous twelve months that must be looked at in context with the action at Want.  This is the first of a multi-part series that will break apart the 40 page after action report and put into context using other credible, open source reporting, which includes my own research.

The Ranch House

The first event noted is the battle for COP Aranus, also known as “The Ranch House”.  On August 22nd, 2007 nearly 100 militants attacked the small outpost that lies less than a half dozen miles northeast of Want. 

The US military believes a disgruntled former Afghan security chief at the COP used his intimate knowledge of the base to allow insurgents to launch a coordinated three-pronged attack, seriously wounding eleven of 22 paratroopers. 

The report notes that “only the valorous actions of several brave paratroopers prevented the Ranch House from being completely overrun.”

The coordinated attack on the outpost was a hail of bullets and rocket propelled grenades that came so suddenly that at least one soldier was woken up from grenades slamming into his sleeping quarters.

The Taliban then quickly overpowered the Afghan end of the base, capturing their arsenal and turning the firepower on the Americans.  The barrage collapsed one the the security posts, trapping a man inside.

The Tactical Operation Center also came under intense, concentrated fire which knocked out the unit’s communication antennas.  SSgt. Erich Phillips would rally the soldiers to form a defense around the TOC while the commanding officer, 1st Lt. Matthew Ferrara reestablished communications and directed supporting fire, including danger close strafing runs within their perimeter, which eventually broke the assault.

Phillips would win the Distinguished Service Cross and Ferrara the Silver Star for their actions.

Weeks after the attack, the base was closed as planned, much of the decision due to its remoteness.

Ambush in Aranus

On November 9, 2007, 1st Platoon, Chosen Co. (2/503, 173rd ABCT), aside Afghan National Army soldiers, was ambushed as they returned to their base (Camp Bella) following a meeting with tribal elders regarding humanitarian issues.  The meeting was at a school house built earlier by the same unit.

Six Americans and two Afghans died, another eight Americans and three Afghans were wounded in a hail of RPG and rifle fire at their dismounted patrol.  The survivors included SSgt. Erich Phillips; the dead would include 1st. Lt. Ferrara, who was killed carrying a list of future projects for the community.

The Americans noticed a change in the local attitude following the attack which didn’t include any showing of condolences, as was custom.  The attack changed the 173rd’s view of the area and humanitarian projects were stopped.

Camp (COP) Bella

On January 26, 2008, Bella’s platoon sergeant, SFC Matthew Kahler, was checking out the silent radio of an Afghan security guard manning a forward position.   As he approached the spot where the guard was stationed, he was shot and killed.  The Afghan fled the scene and disappeared.  The context of this event seems to point to the fact that US forces understood the local police force was likely infiltrated by insurgents.

Bella was the northernmost position in the Waygal Valley following the closing of COP Aranus.  Bella’s days were limited as well, primarily due to the base’s location, which made it difficult to defend. 

The decision to close Bella and move to Want was made in June 2008.  On July 8 and 9, as Bella was being evacuated, multiple probing attacks were launched and a large scale attack (as many as 300 fighters) was averted.

What the report doesn’t mention (except in a small notation), andmust be noted, is that in July 2008, several prominent Afghans from the area around Bella were killed in a US air strike; including the two local doctors and the land owner who deeded the land for Bella’s existence.  Locals have repeatedly said that event allowed for an opening into the community that the Taliban exploited and gained confidants.

Tommorow I will continue this report.