Reins in Special Operations Forces in Africa After Niger Deaths and Daily Beast Investigations", "Frederica Wilson getting threats over blasting Trump's call to soldier's widow, office says", "Mother of fallen soldier: 'Trump did disrespect' my family", "Father of Soldier Killed in Niger: Trump Was Respectful When He Called Me", "Gold Star Widow: Trump Call 'Made Me Cry Even Worse', "Gold Star widow recounts taking grim phone call from 'very gracious' President Trump", "Mother of soldier killed in Niger: Pentagon told multiple stories about son's death", "Sister of soldier killed in Niger: Pentagon still hasn't answered questions about death", "How did Trump's response to four soldiers' deaths go so wrong? [12], When the soldiers were found, one US soldier was found lying next to an enemy pickup truck while two other US soldiers were found in the bed of the pickup. Gen. Raymond Thomas III, who helmed SOCOM at the time, then downgraded the award again to a Silver Star in December 2018, the records showed. He served as a Special Forces engineer sergeant, or an 18C. The account was in the form of an unclassified eight-page summary of a classified 3,600-page Article 15-6 fact-finding investigation ordered by Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the AFRICOM commander, and led by his chief of staff, Army Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier. [82], In an interview with Voice of America, Almou Hassane, the mayor of Tondikiwindi, alleged that residents of Tongo Tongo were complicit in the ambush: "The attackers, the bandits, the terrorists have never lacked accomplices among local populations". "The enemy did not capture Sgt. Army Commendation Medal w/ C Device About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant Wright and Sergeant Black were in the black S.U.V. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, and La David Johnson, 25, died in the rare firefight in Africa involving U.S. troops alongside two Green Berets, Staff Sgt. La David Johnson was separated from his comrades when he and two Nigerien partners were unable to reenter their vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire. Army Commendation Medal [70] In January 2014, Johnson enlisted in the US Army as a wheeled vehicle mechanic (91B). The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and US soldiers outside the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger while they were returning to base after a stop in the village. One of the captains led the patrol and worked with the second captain to develop a concept of operations (CONOP) for a mission to go after a militant in northwestern Niger suspected in the kidnapping of an American aid worker. Jeremiah Johnson regained his footing and ran to Black, checking for wounds. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright . Dustin Wright, Staff Sgt. Find 16087 people named Jeremiah Johnson along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok profiles on PeekYou - true people search. Following this intelligence, the team submitted a mission plan for the vicinity of Tiloa the next day. Dustin Wright's funeral", "Leve des corps suivie de l'inhumation des lments de FDS dcds suite l'attaque du 4 Octobre Tongo-Tongo (Ouallam): Hommage aux soldats tombs sur le champ d'honneur", "Dernier hommage aux soldats tus dans l'embuscade Tongo Tongo", "Many casualties in Niger 'terrorist' attack: president", "Niger buries soldiers killed in 'terrorist' attack", "New Details Emerge About Attack That Killed US Soldiers in Niger", "Village chief arrested for "complicity" in deadly ambush in Niger", "Villagers Suspected of Luring US Soldiers into Niger Ambush", "Niger Open to Allowing U.S. Drone Strikes From the Country, Prime Minister Says", "Niger Approves Armed U.S. Drone Flights, Expanding Pentagon's Role in Africa", "A swarm of motorbikes, then heavy fire: witnesses shed new light on Niger attack", "Nation's top general says U.S. troops in Niger were ambushed on way back to base", "Three US special forces among eight dead in Niger ambush", "Twelve days of silence, then a swipe at Obama: How Trump handled four dead soldiers", "Kelly emotionally defends Trump's call to military widow", "Trump's Condolence Call to Soldier's Widow Ignites an Imbroglio", "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation! Parachutist Tab The . The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. Members of team Quallem killed several enemies during this movement out of the ambush site. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Staff Sgt. On the anniversary of the Oct. 4, 2017, ambush that killed four American soldiers near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, . He was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. [26] In October 2017, there were about 800 US military personnel in Niger, most of whom were working to build a second drone base for US and French aircraft in Agadez. [112], On 23 October, Myeshia Johnson said on ABC's Good Morning America that Wilson's account of the call with Trump was "100 percent correct" and that the call "made [her] cry even worse". . Niger - 4 October 2017- Bryan Black- Jeremiah Johnson- La David Johnson [75], A small section of Georgia Highway 1 was named in memorial of Wright in April 2019. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnsons mother, Debra Gannon, said helmet camera footage that militants took from the Americans kit helped trigger an upgrade for her sons award, which was previously a Bronze Star with Valor. [24][26] In October 2015, Niger and the US signed a military agreement committing the two countries "to work together in the fight against terrorism". They sent final messages to loved ones on personal devices and prepared for the worst, team members would observe Nigerien soldiers on the ground praying. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would "bolster our regional partners" in fighting against militant groups. More than halfway back to base, the team received time sensitive intelligence that placed the commander northwest of Tiloa at the Mali border. Army Good Conduct Medal [116], On 18 October, Mark Landler and Yamiche Alcindor, reporters from The New York Times, drew comparisons between the incident with the phone call to La David Johnson's widow and Trump's feud with the parents of another American soldier killed in action, Humayun Khan, during the 2016 US presidential election. Jordan: May 2012, Awards: When found, SGT L. Johnson's hands were not bound and he was laying on his back with his arms to his sides. Under heavy fire, seven American and four Nigerian soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy. Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. During this manoeuvre, Sergeant LaDavid Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers became separated from the rest of his team. But I am honored that they finally decided to upgrade him.. Jeremiah Johnson, Black and Wright were outside the same vehicle when . Ranger Tab He was in a prone position in the rear of the vehicle with two Nigerien soldiers when the order to withdraw came. The families of four soldiers killed in an October 2017 ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger, have started receiving posthumous medals on the soldiers' behalves. [4][29][30] In August 2013, MUJAO merged with al-Mourabitoun, which swore allegiance to al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri. Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide a lethal Joint Force to defend the security of our country and sustain American influence abroad. Joint Service Achievement Medal Sgt. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal [95], On 13 December, Wilson told Jonathan Capehart on his podcast that there was a cover-up. [90] Representative Frederica Wilson, who was present during the call, alleged that Trump told the widow that La David Johnson "knew what he signed up for" and only referred to him as "your guy". Bryan Black and Sgt. Sgt. Dustin Wright, Staff Sgt. [62] Black graduated from Puyallup High School in 2000. [18] Among the US soldiers, four were killed: Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant La David Johnson, and Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright. [4], According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 46 attacks occurred since early 2016 in the Tahoua and Tillabri regions of Niger. [47] The team leader observed a larger enemy force moving from his east consisting of armed men on motorcycles and vehicles with mounted machine guns. Bryan Black as dozens of enemy fighters bound toward them, the mothers of Wright and Johnson told Army Times in November. Forces in Niger Were Denied Armed Drone", "Pentagon suspects Green Berets in Niger killed by self-radicalized group", "Top US general reveals new info on Niger ambush", "Attaques jihadistes: le Niger sous le feu", "Video showing deadly ambush of US soldiers in Niger raises new questions", "U.S. soldier in Niger ambush was bound and apparently executed, villagers say", "Missing soldier found nearly a mile from Niger ambush, officials say", "Additional remains of Sergeant La David Johnson found in Niger", "Puyallup Green Beret killed in Niger once was a chess whiz and stock", "Trump's call to one widow has dominated the news. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson have both received the Bronze Star with "V" device. Liver-Eating . Overseas Service Ribbon A spokesperson from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces said on 5 October that French soldiers who were participating in Operation Barkhane and based in Chad were involved in an operation in Niger. [29][4] The ISGS had since been targeting pro-government militias that support the French and United Nations forces in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed IS affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niger's capital, Niamey. Army Service Ribbon Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. Army Commendation Medal (two awards) Little information has been made public about the incident, and the attack is still under investigation. [103], On 9 May 2019, US Representative Ruben Gallego urged senators to oppose Patrick M. Shanahan's nomination as Secretary of Defense, alleging that he "mishandled" the investigation into the Tongo Tongo ambush. WASHINGTON The Pentagon on Friday released the names of the three soldiers killed this week in Niger while conducting a joint patrol with Nigerien forces. Soon after, a vehicle with a mounted machine gun stopped within 100 meters (110yd) of LaDavid Johnson's position and pinned him down. Book excerpt: Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widows Fight for the Truth, Rare awards show Nigerien valor in 2017 ambush of Army Green Berets, Army officer awarded less than $4,000 in traffic stop lawsuit, As 2 of the MARSOC 3 go on trial for homicide, the 3rd gets immunity, How a comedian and Air Force spouse are helping feed military families, Fake general scammed seniors in online romance scheme, Ruben Gallego on defense priorities, concerns in the new Congress, New parental leave policy and Ukraine aid update | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 1.14.23, Important financial steps to take before deployment Money Minute, Canada expands joint strike fighter fleet | Defense Dollars, Star of new movie talks bond between athletes, troops, Army Special Forces are testing this rapid-fire mortar system, Nov. 11, 1918: Wasted Lives on Armistice Day. Bryan C. Black and Sgt. Meritorious Service Medal Trump responded by saying that he wrote letters to the families of the victims, and accused his predecessors, specifically President Obama, of not or rarely calling the families of deceased soldiers. A team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team's movement south to regroup with the Nigeriens. Bryan . The footage shows Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright died Wednesday. [69], Dustin Michael Wright (19882017) of Lyons, Georgia, was born in Toombs County, Georgia, to Arnold Wright and Terri Criscio. [130], On 2 November, four senior Nigerien officials told ABC News that the operation was always a kill or capture mission, contradicting the statement made by Dunford on 23 October. Wright and Jeremiah Johnson were shot multiple times at close range by the militants, killing them.[50]. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and US soldiers outside the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base after a stop in the village. (U.S. Army via AP). [117], On 20 October, National Review senior writer David French criticized the comparison between the ambush and the 2012 Benghazi attack and said, "All available evidence suggests that this is a tragedy rather than a scandal". Special Forces Tab I still would like to have somebody get up and apologize and tell everybody that [the team] didnt go rogue and they damn well performed above and beyond what they had to do, Gannon told Army Times. Eventually, as enemy combatants pushed forward, they hastily abandoned their position. Haley also expected the G5 Sahel to "take on full regional ownership of the force within a period of three to six years, with continued US engagement". [22] The ambush also prompted congressional inquiries, and an investigation by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The nine-minute video is shot from the helmet cams of the tragic Americans who died on October 4 in Tongo Tongo after being attacked by 50 brainwashed jihadis. Tongo Tongo ambush. Army Commendation Medal w/C Device Silver Star medal Niger ambush Tongo Tongo ambush Army medals to Niger ambush soldiers killed in Niger U.S. Africa Command October 2017 Niger Sgt. [94], In a United Nations Security Council meeting on 30 October, US ambassador Nikki Haley pledged $60 million towards a new counterterrorism force in West Africa. The four fallen troops "gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and died with honor while actively engaging the enemy," the summary said. A team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team received sensitive. Team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team submitted a plan. 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