A Response to Second Lieutenant James Parker
by Joshua Foust
What Really Happened in the Tagab Valley? (Full PDF Article)
I read with great interest the September 22 post on PSYOP in the Tagab Valley of Kapisa Province. As both the author of several articles on the province, including a study of counterinsurgency operations there, and considering that province was where I spent the majority of my deployment earlier this year, I was excited to hear a bit about how the area was doing.
What I found, however, caused me to scratch my head. 2LT Parker made several assertions that clashed with my experience and understanding of the area, and after asking several ex-colleagues and other contacts in the area, there are a few points that should be disputed.
What Really Happened in the Tagab Valley? (Full PDF Article)
About the Author(s)
Comments
@ Genthe - Dont know where you are getting at with the Penn NG TOA with the French because of one ambush. That was a decision based on the need for more presence in the valley versus using borrowed units. The 158 and the Penn NG were barrowed from the PRT where they were officially SECFOR. I remember running CLPs down to you from BAF. You had a great bunch of guys.
I think what 158th is referring to is the construction of FOB Pathfinder during the summer of '07. I was on that initial operation to clear the valley IOT begin construction. I also know that this wasn't the first venture into Tagab Valley and its sub-valleys, and it obviously wasn't the last. But the FOB was constructed so that ISAF forces would have a greater presence in the sections of the valley that were visited sparingly. Morales-Frazier was on the northern end of the valley and quite far from the more troubled sections, which explains the need for a FOB further south.
Additionally, 82nd LRSD was on the operation and subsequently occupied FOB Pathfinder, not line-infantry 82nd. This may not be a significant fact, but I believe credit should be given where credit is due. It's also quite interesting how people seem to assume that these clearing operations were never meant to last. Our original intent was to "Clear & Hold", not clear & leave and that's how we executed the operation.
I have to agree with with Carl Thompson I was there in Nov 06 celebrating my birthday( as a mbr of the Okla.45th Inf 1/180 Cco)with him and and a Msgt. I will only call Father Time.When we showed there the only thing between us and them was the wire we strung out and some claymores in front of something that almost resembled a dirt berm.The Acm called the 391 Tigers and they called us regular grunts little boys because our command made sure we stayed clean shaven, thus making sure we stood out from our Special Friends in the 391.
To Whom the 158th guy is:
1) Al-Hasn was done in OCT 2006 with SF, ETTs and ANA. They built FB Nijrab. There was, literally, nothing there.
2) The ETT team built what is now "The ALAMO" and team 391 built what is now MORALES-FRAZIERs area (leveled, graveled, HESCO and put buildings on it, were digging the well when I left) Chris Johnson was mostly responsible for the Alamo contracting. It was a crappy building with walls and we had to use wood stoves, but we got stuff done there and stayed there during the winter of 2006-2007.
3) Marty M. from 391 was in Allasay when we killed the dumbest guy on the planet there during that winter. The individual Taliban guy decided to take on a patrol of 8 ANA trucks and 3 American HMMVs single handedly. Hence the dumbest guy on the planet at that time.
All of that was done in 2006-2007.
I was back in 2009 and it has grown to ridiculous proportions since.
Give credit where credit is due. None of us walk anywhere on the planet for the first time.
@ Brian Genthe:
It's obvious that you are proud of your accomplishments in the Tagab Valley, as well you should be. It was a very tough place to fight in, and very complex in terms of establishing and adhering to a comprehensive COIN focused campaign plan.
I can however assure you that an ambush was not the reason for a transfer of authority to the French Marine Regiment, or the withdrawal from Alisay. Both decisions were fought vigorously and to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately Ground Tactical Commanders do not get to make decisions regarding policy.
In addition to the shift in ISAF units in the valley, there was also a transfer of authority between two ANA Kandaks as well as the integration of the newly trained FDD ANP.
So you know, the French and ANSF have done a tremendous job and are holding Alisay once again.
I ask that you remain professional in SWJ forums and do not disrespect the memories of the brave Soldiers who fought and died in that valley.
Josh,
I read what you had to say. Agree with some, disagree with some. I was pretty active in Kapisa during the time you are referring to (mid-2008 til late-2009) and can place most of the LN's and others you listed, but not you. You said you were HTT? Weird I can't place you... might be missing something. Maybe you can jog my memory.
BTW, the sub-governor and the Tagab Chief DID want to get COL Z. fired because he was fighting the Taliban, i.e. THEM! Didn't you ever wonder why they dressed different from anyone else at the shuras? Hint: It was so they wouldn't get shot by their fellow Talibanese.
I was on the ground during Al Hasn in Nov-Dec 2006. What the author may be refering to about the operation in 2005 may be Op Triple Crown which was actually May 2006..
The article was great. I'd still like to see the orginal. Thanks for the update on happenings in "The 'Gab" .. I always hoped for long term success there. Especially in the West end.
RC
I would like to rebuttal a few of the statements made in the articles.
I am with 158th Infantry Arizona National Guard.
We we were the first real combat force in Tagab, We under the 82nd built both Morales Frazier and Pathfinder or Kuschbauch who was in 10th SF and I was on the mission the day he died.
Also I was camp Mayor for Morales Frazer and was the reason we got the 2 100k generators and the well dug.
Oct 1st 2007 our Infantry company with the 82nd where the first to ever do a combat operation in Tagab, and we actually were in charge of Alasay. Operation Naraz Jahad, where on the 8th day we were involved in a 8 hour firefight.
We held Alasay till we handed it over to the Pennsylvania national guard and 101st where after one ambush they quit and gave it to the french.
Our platoon also was the platoon the rescued Sen Kerry, Sen Hagal, and now VP Biden.
I just wanted to help get some of the facts straight.
BlackSheepIntel - I deleted your post. As right as you might be your comment was a scathing personal attack on the author of the original article - containing accusations I do not have the ability to verify. Please stick to the issues.
IntelTrooper - Deleted yours too - though your commentary wasn't quite as scathing...
Thanks,
Dave