A much shorter, edited version was disseminated by the Islamic State group a year after the ambush outside the village of Tongo Tongo, near the Niger-Mali border. La David Johnson of Miami Gardens, Fla.; and Staff Sgt. 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. Families of those slain soldiers have argued for years that blame for the botched Oct. 4, 2017, mission was unfairly placed on the 11-man Army Special Forces team that fought through the unexpected attack, rather than the senior officers who greenlit the operation. Sgt. Air Assault Badge . [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". [27] A senior US intelligence official told ABC News that at least 21 militants were killed, all of which were buried on the Malian side of the border. 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? (U.S. Army via AP). [16] On 20 October, McCain and Mattis met in McCain's office in the United States Capitol. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. Jeremiah Johnson. Who Is the Army Punishing? La David Johnson and 3 fellow soldiers killed in Niger", "Miami stunt rider known as the 'Wheelie King', "For soldier killed in Niger, making life better every day in the world was his mission", "U.S. Army Sgt. [95], On 13 December, Wilson told Jonathan Capehart on his podcast that there was a cover-up. [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". Jeremiah Johnson, Staff . Username. [68], In school, Johnson met Myeshia Manual, whom he married on 22 August 2014. A team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team's movement south to regroup with the Nigeriens. [48][49] The team leader returned to the halted convoy at 11:57a.m. and ordered the convoy to head south to prevent getting outflanked. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class and received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. Soon after leaving Tongo Tongo, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niamey, Niger's capital, they were ambushed by Islamic State-linked militants carrying small arms and machine guns. Myeshia Johnson wanted to see her husband's body, but was reportedly not allowed to do so by the military. Search by Name . You have reached a collection of archived material. [96], Senator John McCain stated that the Trump administration was not being forthcoming about the details of the ambush. The deaths of four U.S. soldiers, Staff Sgt. Niger: June 2016 November 2016 [24][25] In that month, US President Barack Obama sent 150 military personnel to Niger to set up a surveillance drone operation that would aid France in its counterterrorism efforts in the Northern Mali conflict. [20], On 17 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released a 23 minute video[108] showing a digital recreation of the ambush. Members of team Quallem killed several enemies during this movement out of the ambush site. After what I saw him do, yeah, Im glad theyre recognizing him for that., Jeremiah composed himself after being shot three times and he was still helping Dustin, telling him where the [enemy] shots were coming from, and he was still shooting.. [20] Some within the US military were critical of the report because they viewed it as underplaying blame for senior officers who had approved of the mission. [87] On the day of the ambush, Trump was briefed by telephone by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. [36], In a video recorded before the ambush, young men can be seen on motorbikes armed with rifles and machine guns, repeating Islamist slogans, and discussing what they would do in the event they captured soldiers, with one of them saying that they would decapitate them. Staff Sgt. From the truck bed of his vehicle, Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, and Sgt. She said she didn't like Trump's tone and that she broke down when Trump fumbled her husband's name. Approximately 85 meters (93yd) southwest of the SUV, Jeremiah Johnson was hit by enemy fire and collapsed; Wright stopped running and returned to Jeremiah Johnson's position. Niger Cross of Valor with Star Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. La David Johnson of the 3rd Special Forces Group were killed Oct. 4 when their 12-man team and roughly 30 Nigerien soldiers were ambushed near the village of Tongo Tongo. During this sustained attack the ODA leader was thrown from the bed of the team's pickup. Little information has been made public about the incident, and the attack is still under investigation. [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. [57] His body was nearly 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) away from the scene of the ambush. ", "Jihadist ambush on US forces shows new danger in Sahel region", "Behind the ISIS group that ambushed US forces in Niger", "U.S. deaths in Niger highlight Africa military mission creep", "U.S. Identifies 3 ISIS Militants Who Led Deadly Ambush in Niger", "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discloses details about Niger ambush", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMuFyzvv9Xw, "American troops caught in deadly Niger ambush told to proceed despite mission concerns", "What we know and don't know about the deadly Niger attack", "Pentagon acknowledges a second team was on the ground in Niger", "We've Posted The Pentagon's Entire Moment-By-Moment Niger Ambush Video Briefing", "Military investigation finds series of failures led to deadly Niger ambush", "Senator McCain says subpoena may be required to get answers on Niger ambush", "Deadly Ambush of Green Berets in Niger Belies a 'Low-Risk' Mission", "4 Nigerien soldiers killed and 8 injured in Niger ambush", "New details from Niger ambush: when US troops sensed something wrong", Military Inquiry Finds Soldiers Were Unprepared in Deadly Niger Ambush, "Leaders of U.S. soldiers killed in Niger filed misleading mission plan", "Why were US soldiers even in Niger? Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Niger Cross of Valor with Star Army Commendation Medal Dustin Wright were killed as they returned from a low-risk patrol in Tongo Tongo with 30 Nigerian and up . Staff Sgt. [113], On 25 October, Michelle Black said she was grateful that Trump called her and spoke to her children: "So, yeah he was very gracious and I appreciate anyone who calls cause, like I said, that takes quite a bit of bravery to call into that kind of situation". Johnsons mother said a new building at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is also being built for 3rd Special Forces Group the unit her son was assigned and that will be dedicated to him as Johnson Hall. The plan the team submitted did not accurately describe the mission's intention, describing it as civil/military reconnaissance instead of the actual purpose which was to locate and capture or if necessary kill the ISGS sub-commander. A n ISIS propaganda video released over the weekend that appears to include combat footage from the helmet cameras of an ambushed U.S. Special Forces team has prompted . Army Commendation Medal w/C Device Niger is a hotbed of Islamist insurgent groups to include al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, and Boko Haram. In summing up the findings of the investigation, Cloutier said, "I think the first point is that all of our soldiers fought valiantly that day. For Wright, Niger was his first overseas deployment. He was in a prone position in the rear of the vehicle with two Nigerien soldiers when the order to withdraw came. LaDavid Johnson was killed by small arms between 12:30 and 12:45pm. Tongo Tongo ambush. so the convoy stopped near the village of Tongo Tongo to resupply. How They Fell: Army Team 'Fought to the End' in Niger Ambush, Russia's Top Diplomat: West's 'Hybrid War' Won't Stop Moscow, Netherlands Says It Will Send Patriot Assistance to Ukraine, Top US General Visits Training Site for Ukrainian Soldiers, NATO Surveillance Planes Temporarily Deployed to Romania, A New Medal and Revised Marketing Tactics Part of Army's Fight Against Recruiting Slump, Feds Try to Seize Money, Property from Church Accused of Multimillion-Dollar Scheme Targeting Vets, 34 Years: Coast Guard Raises the Limit on How Long Senior Enlisted Can Serve, More Than a Dozen Special Operations Soldiers at Center of Drug Trafficking Probe, Air Force Academy Cadet Dies Suddenly While Walking to Class, Air Force Moves F-16s from Europe to Japan as Ukraine War Lingers and Pacific Tensions Simmer, Navy Training Plane Crashes in Alabama; Pilots Eject, The Army's Long-Awaited New Pay and HR System Is Here, Tricare Dental Program to Expand Choice of Carriers Under New Law, 5 Myths About the PACT Act and VA Benefits, Preventive Dental Care Can Impact Your Health Dramatically, The Top 3 VA Loan Myths that Keep Service Members from Using Their Benefit, Expanded US Training for Ukraine Forces Begins in Germany, Military Families Stressed by Delay in Parental Leave Rules from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force Returns Land Used for Apollo Program to State of Hawaii, Air Force Base Digs Giant Trench to Reduce Impact of Forever Chemicals on Groundwater, These Speedy New Navy Medical Ships Are Designed with the Pacific in Mind, The Navy Confiscated a Camera During 'Top Gun: Maverick' Filming, Express Scripts Invites Independent Pharmacies to Rejoin Tricare in What Critics Call 'Empty Gesture', Practicing Mindfulness the Marine Corps Way Leads to Mental Resilience, This Week's Top Military Photos: The Warwax Makes an Icy Rescue, After 89 Years, Coast Guard Academy Using Racist Episode to Teach a Better Future, Mary Stewart, World War II SPAR Beloved by Coasties, Dead at 101, Gerard Butler and Mike Colter Take on a Rebel Militia in 'Plane', Navy Vet and Rising Country Star Zach Bryan Takes a Stand Against Ticketmaster. Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. The mothers of two of the four soldiers killed in a 2017 ambush in Niger say recently discovered video from the battle is more proof that their sons' valor awards should be reevaluated. Army Good Conduct Medal As the enemy pressed in, La David Johnson and the two Nigerien soldiers began pulling back on foot to the west. On October 4, 2017, four U.S. soldiers from the Africa Command were ambushed and killed during a mission near Tongo Tongo, Niger. [99] After a meeting with Mattis, Graham told reporters that the rules of engagement would be changing and warned that the US should anticipate more military operations in Africa as the war on terrorism continues to morph. 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. Perozeni was concerned because his team had been up for 18 hours and still had to travel 25 kilometers through difficult terrain under limited visibility to conduct the raid on their own, the investigation stated. [110] Jones-Johnson said, "President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband". Jeremiah Johnson (mayor) (1766-1852), mayor of Brooklyn, New York. March 8, 2018 1:43 PM EST. That was downgraded to an Army Commendation Medal by Thomas in early 2019. The country is also host to a small U.S. drone base that operates surveillance and intelligence drones. 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. [41] The meeting lasted 30 minutes longer than the team leader expected. . He previously deployed to Jordan in 2012. [131] On 5 December, people with knowledge of the operation told BuzzFeed that what happened in Niger "was the result of reckless behavior by US Special Forces". Im glad that theyre recognizing him for what he did, Gannon said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage. The team radioed in that they were being overrun, then destroyed their radios to avoid them getting in the hands of the enemy. [70] In January 2014, Johnson enlisted in the US Army as a wheeled vehicle mechanic (91B). At 11:40 a.m., as the patrol was about the length of a football field outside Tongo Tongo, they began taking small-arms fire from a treeline to their east. Tongo Tongo ambush footage, October 2017.webm. Michael Perozeni, shouldered much of the blame for the ambush until it was revealed that he asked not to continue the mission after the helicopter assault force they were supporting unexpectedly pulled out due to weather issues, according to the redacted investigation. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed by small-arms fire. Wright exited the halted vehicle . Jeremiah Johnson, 39, were killed fighting in one location near the . Combat Action Badge. 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. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. They tried a textbook maneuver to end the threat. The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. History of the United States Army Special Forces, Jeremiah Johnson, La . Bryan . It was shot near Tongo Tongo in Niger last October and shows Isis militants in pickups en route to the attack. It was during this time that the rear Nigerien vehicle departed the area by an unknown route. Receive small business resources and advice about entrepreneurial info, home based business, business franchises and startup opportunities for entrepreneurs. He was incapacitated but still breathing, as the helmet cam stopped moving and was only heaving up and down . Believing he had successfully reentered his vehicle, the other vehicles had left the area. and Debra Johnson,[64][66] and graduated from North Stafford High School in 1996. 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. [129], On 26 October, Dunford announced that Army Major General Roger Cloutier would lead the investigation into the ambush. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. [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. Wright exited the halted vehicle, looked toward the enemy and then dragged Black into cover. When you go through training at Fort Benning as an infantryman you think you'll never be left alone we always say, "leave no man behind," and that video is American troops left behind, left to die. The Americans traveled in two technicals and an unarmored Toyota Land Cruiser[34] while the Nigeriens traveled in five vehicles, one of which had been provided by the Central Intelligence Agency and had specialized surveillance equipment on board. [1], Nine valor medals, including four Silver Stars, were awarded to members of ODA 3212 for their actions during the ambush. [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. Army Good Conduct Medal (three awards) The mission plan was assessed and approved by the AOB Niger and SOCCE commanders and on 3 October at 5:59 am (local time), the team of 11 personnel consisting of eight US Special Forces operators, two support, and an intelligence contractor accompanying 35 Nigerien personnel from the Security and Intelligence Battalion (Bataillon Scurit et de Renseignement or BSR) and the 433rd Special Interdiction unit, departed toward the vicinity of Tiloa in an eight vehicle convoy. Black, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson were fighting could not disengage. [60] They would later move to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where they raised two sons, Ezekiel and Isaac. Dustin Wright, who were all killed in the fight . [92] On 23 October, Trump wrote on Twitter, "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation! [78], On 5 October, President Mahamadou Issoufou condemned the ambush and called for a moment of silence "to the memory of our soldiers who have fallen on the field of honour" and to the memory of "all victims of terrorism". The investigation also found that "two junior officers had 'mischaracterized' the mission" in planning documents. [38], At 10:30 am (local time), 4 October, the convoy stopped at the village of Tongo Tongo so that partner Nigeriens could eat breakfast and get water. [58] On 12November, additional remains of LaDavid Johnson were found at the site where his body was recovered. Liver-Eating . About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. The team circled the area and recovered the injured team leader. Simultaneously, Black was slightly ahead of the SUV and was hit by small arms fire, killing him instantly. [69] When Johnson was a Walmart employee in Miami, people in his community knew him as a local stunt rider and was called the "Wheelie King". The team leader, Perozeni, was also initially recommended for a Bronze Star with Valor. ", Staff Sgts. Find 91 people named Jeremiah Johnson along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok search on PeekYou - true people search. The graphic footage was recorded on the helmet cameras of Staff Sgt. Meritorious Service Medal La David Johnson (left) and Sgt. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal [91], On 18 October, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared that Wilson had willfully mischaracterized the spirit of the conversation. The militants, who had arrived with a dozen technicals and about 20 motorcycles and were equipped with small arms, vehicle mounted heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and mortars had allowed the convoy to move through the kill zone before attacking, trapping the rear of the convoy.[43][44][45][46]. Twelve members of the Army's Third Special Forces Group were in three of the vehicles and about 30 Nigerien troops were in the other four. More than halfway back to base, the team received time sensitive intelligence that placed the commander northwest of Tiloa at the Mali border. and Operation New Dawn. All deaths were considered either instantly fatal or rapidly fatal. Bryan Black and Sgt. They were killed on Oct. 4, 2017 near the village of Tongo Tongo. Army Good Conduct Medal The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the . La David Johnson were posthumously awarded the Silver Star while Staff Sgt. [52][50][53][13] Even though there was now air support, the French pilots could not engage because they could not readily identify enemy forces in the firefight. [125], Multiple US officials told CNN that the French military was leading an investigation to gather intelligence about the perpetrators of the ambush. The new footage provided a more comprehensive understanding of Johnsons actions during the ambush, and directly led to the decision for the upgraded award, Army spokesman Matt Leonard confirmed. The 2017 ambush pitted the outmanned and outgunned 11 U.S. troops and their 30 Nigerien partners against scores of enemy fighters armed with mortars, truck-mounted heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. "They were last seen by team members actively engaging the enemy from defensive positions near their vehicle and preparing to withdraw with the rest of the team," the summary said. [20] During the ambush, four Nigeriens, four US soldiers, and at least 100+ISGS militants were killed, and eight Nigeriens and two US soldiers including the team commander were wounded. On 10 October, CNN reported that a US defense official had shared details of an after action report that consisted of interviews with the survivors of the ambush. Niger: August 2017 October 2017 Parachutist Badge Purple Heart Copyright 2023 Military.com. The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. q. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Staff Sgt. [63], Jeremiah Wayne "JW" Johnson (19772017) of Springboro, Ohio, was born in New Bern, North Carolina, to J.W. Yacouba Issoufou was a soldat de 2nde classe (private) of the BSR. LaDavid Johnson was unable to enter his vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire and was forced to escape and evade on foot with the two Nigeriens. ", "A Deadly Ambush's Great Mystery: What Are We Doing in Niger? Johnson was married to Crystal and had two daughters, Addie and Elisa. [63] US Representative Dennis Heck and Washington State Senator Hans Zeiger spoke at his memorial service. Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. [27] US Army Special Forces personnel (commonly referred to as Green Berets) have deployed on numerous occasions to train personnel of the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) to assist in the fight against terrorists from neighboring countries. Soldiers in Niger Sparks FBI Probe, Criticism", "Military records reveal U.S. soldiers killed in Niger had limited combat experience", "AfriCom Two-Star Named to Lead Niger Ambush Investigation", "Niger ambush investigation expected to be complete in January, Pentagon says", "Inside The Botched Raid That Left Four US Soldiers Dead In Niger", "AFRICOM is investigating ISIS claims that it has video of the 4 US soldiers killed in Niger", "Survivors and fallen soldiers of Niger ambush awarded valor medals, but questions linger", "Army general awards medals to Nigeriens who fought, died alongside US soldiers", "Rare awards show Nigerien valor in 2017 ambush of Army Green Berets", "Militia 'has US vehicle from Niger raid', "Pistol belonging to soldier in Niger recovered in French operation", "US offers reward for Islamic State leader linked to Niger ambush", "New camera footage from Niger ambush bolsters case for medal upgrades, moms of fallen soldiers say", General Dunford Briefs the Press on the Niger Ambush and Investigation, Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. On 7 October, the deceased Nigerien soldiers were buried after their bodies were taken from the city morgue in Niamey with Defence Minister Kalla Moutari, US Ambassador Eunice Reddick, and Nigerien lawmakers watching. As they continued their movement towards the south under fire, Jeremiah Johnson fell to the ground, leaving him exposed to enemy fire. They saved the lives of many soldiers. Approximately 100 meters (110yd) outside of the village, armed ISGS militants believed to be led by Doundou Chefou, a lieutenant in the terrorist group given the code name "Naylor Road" by US forces,[42] began their assault against the rear of the convoy. During this manoeuvre, Sergeant LaDavid Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers became separated from the rest of his team. After the meeting, Mattis told reporters, "We can do better at communication". The approved mission plan originally called for a helicopter team as the primary force with the Quallam team serving as a quick reaction force, however bad weather forced the helicopter team to cancel forcing team Quallam to continue on their own. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson have both received the Bronze Star with "V" device. [85], Karimou Yacouba, the local member of the National Assembly, told The Guardian, "Everything that happened could have been prevented if help had arrived sooner". Username. Abdoul Rachid Yerimah was a soldat de 2nde classe (private) of the BSR. [62] Black graduated from Puyallup High School in 2000. [126], On 19 October, NBC News reported that AFRICOM sent a team to Niger to conduct a "review of the facts". La David Terrence Johnson (19922017) was born in Miami Gardens, Florida, to Samara Johnson and Terrance McGriff. Johnson was awarded the Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon during his service. All three were assigned to the Armys 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Meritorious Service Medal He enlisted in the Army July 2012. 47 relations. . . First Class Jeremiah W. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Army Service Ribbon The clash . [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. [119], On 20 October, Jason Ditz wrote an article for The American Conservative saying, "Niger provides a terrifying reminder of how far we are from being an informed American public that serves as a check and balance on what our military is doing in our name. "Dismounted enemy then maneuvered on [Sgt. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. ", "There were a series of contributing factors to what occurred in Tongo Tongo," he said in reference to the command failures, "but not one of those contributing factors are the direct cause of the enemy attack in Tongo Tongo.The direct cause of the enemy attack in Tongo Tongo is that the enemy achieved tactical surprise there and our forces were outnumbered approximately three to one.". The Tongo Tongo ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and U.S. soldiers near the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base from a mission. McCain also said that the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which he was the chairman, would like to get the information "it deserves and needs", before deciding whether a formal investigation is necessary. Waldhauser also said there will be "accountability" for command failures that were factors in the ambush. Upon realizing Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Wright were missing, Two team members volunteered to head back to the ambush site in an attempt to locate vehicle three. The 45-minute video, filmed by one of those 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers, sheds new light on the final actions . "During the movement, enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt. Approximately 960 meters (1,050yd) from the initial ambush site, LaDavid took cover under a dense thorny tree and engaged the encroaching enemy. At this point two additional team members would head back toward the initial ambush site to help locate the missing teammates.
