[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. [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. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson (right) became honorary Green Berets. Sergeant First Class Jeremiah W. Johnson of Springboro, Ohio, was killed while conducting a reconnaissance patrol near Tongo Tongo, Niger, on 4 October 2017. Jeremiah Johnsons own Silver Star medal will be presented to his parents in the coming weeks. The four team members who split from the second position would regroup with the remainder of the team and partner force. As of October 2022, Jeremiah John was awarded the Silver Star. The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . [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. ", The attackers brought up a truck-mounted heavy machine gun and raked the tree, the summary said. A re-enactment of the events in Tongo Tongo, Niger, Oct. 4, 2017. Sgt. Stumps Up $60 Million for Africa Counterterrorism Force", "McCain: Niger attack information 'may require a subpoena', "Mattis, McCain meet a day after subpoena threat", "The Latest: Graham Says Senators to Be Briefed on Niger", "US Defense Officials Brief Lawmakers on Niger Attack", "Senators diverge on Niger ambush after classified briefing", "John McCain blames Niger killings on budget cuts: 'We should be embarrassed', "Rep. Gallego: Shanahan's involvement in a 'cover-up' of the Niger attack is disqualifying", "Mattis says Niger ambush was 'considered unlikely,' pledges probe", "Everything we know about the Niger attack that left 4 U.S. soldiers dead", "U.S. Gen. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Yacouba Issoufou was a soldat de 2nde classe (private) of the BSR. 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. About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. The two remained with Black's body and further assessed his wounds. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson, was one of four U.S. special operations soldiers killed in Niger on October 4, 2017, when Islamist fighters ambushed their team. WASHINGTON American special operations forces fought valiantly against overwhelming odds in the battle against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists outside Tongo Tongo, Niger, and while a number of factors contributed to the clash, no single factor within the control of U.S. forces caused the deaths of four U.S. Army soldiers and four Nigeriens, a military investigation has concluded. Combat Infantryman Badge (posthumous), MOS/Branch: Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C), Dates of Service: July 2012 October 2017, Deployments: Debra Gannon's son, Sgt. 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The battle of Tongo Tongo was over, and the search for four fallen members of Team Ouallam would begin. 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. They killed at least four of the attackers before they were forced back by the larger enemy unit. All soldiers showed wounds consistent with small arms fire and had received additional bursts of fire at close range. [107], On 10 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released an unclassified executive summary of the DoD's investigation and gave a briefing on the outcome of the department's investigation. La David Johnson, made the fight the deadliest on the African continent for . Purple Heart [66] His funeral was held in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on 19 October 2017.[66]. "As enemy fighters advanced through the ambush site, they fired several additional bursts into the bodies of the three soldiers.". An account of what happened in Niger last Oct. 4 was released Thursday by the Pentagon and U.S. Africa Command. Air Assault Badge Receive small business resources and advice about entrepreneurial info, home based business, business franchises and startup opportunities for entrepreneurs. 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. The video below, which is age restricted, contains combat footage of the 2017 Niger ambush. Jeremiah Johnson, Black and Wright were outside the same vehicle when . Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, 35, and an Army support enabler, Staff Sgt. He was from Springboro, Ohio. [96], Senator John McCain stated that the Trump administration was not being forthcoming about the details of the ambush. For a . [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". In addition to the summary, the Pentagon released an abbreviated version of an animated video prepared by AFRICOM depicting the firefight. However, they submitted a CONOP that was copied from a previous routine reconnaissance patrol. Meritorious Service Medal 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. America's shadow wars in Africa, explained", "US military completes initial Niger ambush investigation", "Mali conflict: US deploys 100 troops to neighbour Niger", "U.S. to base surveillance drones in Niger, ambassador says", "Niger: The death of US soldiers reveals their presence in the Sahel", "Is Niger Trump's Benghazi? [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. As the team searched they discovered enemy rations, uniforms and a motorcycle all of which were destroyed by partner Nigerien soldiers. Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Staff Sgt. Bagu Soumana was an adjudant-chef (Chief warrant officer) of the BSR. His hands "were not bound and he was not executed but was killed in action while actively engaging the enemy," the summary said. [4][32] However, the declaration was not recognized by the group's leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, and the al-Qaeda loyalists, creating a split in the group. [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". [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". La David Johnson was born on January 2, 1992, in Miami, Florida. Meritorious Service Medal Bryan . Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. He was awarded a Bronze Star . The families of four soldiers killed in an October 2017 ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger, have started receiving posthumous medals on the soldiers' behalves. ", "A Deadly Ambush's Great Mystery: What Are We Doing in Niger? [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". Little information has been made public about the incident, and the attack is still under investigation. 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. "Dismounted enemy then maneuvered on [Sgt. Roughly two hours after the ambush began, the first sign of air support arrived. La David Johnson, 25, of Miami Gardens, Florida; Staff Sgt. [51][52] French Mirage jets were ordered to respond to the ambush, and they arrived roughly thirty minutes after notification. Purple Heart Army Sgt. An official website of the United States government, Army Sgt. [102] McCain said the ambush was "a direct result" of budget sequestration. Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Clockwise from upper left (ascending order for mobile users): Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright, Sergeant La David Johnson. Niger: August 2017 October 2017 The team leader and the four Nigerien soldiers continued their flanking movement until they were stopped by a body of water, at which point they identified and engaged the enemy across the water, killing approximately four combatants. Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. [100], On 26 October, Robert Karem, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and Air Force Major General Albert Elton briefed the Senate Armed Services Committee in a closed session. Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant Wright and Sergeant Black were in the black S.U.V. Under heavy fire, seven American and four Nigerian soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy. [56], On 6 October, the body of LaDavid Johnson was found by children tending cattle. All deaths were considered either instantly fatal or rapidly fatal. Niger Cross of Valor with Star Jordan: May 2012, Awards: Simultaneously, Black was slightly ahead of the SUV and was hit by small arms fire, killing him instantly. [84] On 30 November, the government of Niger gave the US permission to fly armed drones out of Niamey. [63] US Representative Dennis Heck and Washington State Senator Hans Zeiger spoke at his memorial service. [91] On CNN, Wilson said, "This might wind up to be Mr. Trump's Benghazi". [20], The ambush remains the largest loss of American lives in combat in Africa since the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. As the enemy force mounted and advanced through the tree line, the convoy halted. After completion of the second mission the team was ordered to return to base, before returning the team commander ordered an overhead ISR asset to continue monitoring the area in order to gather intelligence on possibly enemy routes leading into Mali, in turn leaving the team unwatched as they departed toward Tongo Tongo at 8:30 am (local time). ", "APNewsBreak: US soldier fought to end after ambush in Niger", "ISIS Affiliate Claims October Attack on U.S. The investigators learned that Wright jumped back into the vehicle and slowly began driving south while Staff Sgts. Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. "[93], On 25 October, Trump told reporters that he did not "specifically" authorize the mission in Niger. Certificate of Achievement (two awards) [65] A memorial service was also held for Black on 19 November in Puyallup. Username. Questions persist concerning an ambush in which four U.S. Army special forces were killed Oct. 4 in the West African country of Niger. A team member threw a smoke grenade to conceal the team's movement south to regroup with the Nigeriens. [36], The eight vehicle convoy left the village at 11:35a.m. on their planned route back to base. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would "bolster our regional partners" in fighting against militant groups. 39, of Springboro, Ohio, died Oct. 4 in southwest Niger, as a result of hostile fire while on a reconnaissance patrol. . Global War on Terrorism Service Medal "Realizing that the team was significantly outnumbered by a well-trained force, the Team Ouallam commander returned to the vehicles and ordered everyone to break contact and withdraw to the south," the summary said. 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. [120] On 26 October, Phillip Carter and Andrew Swick wrote on Vox, sharing a similar view that missions similar to the one in Niger "have never been specifically authorized by Congress, let alone discussed and debated by the American public". Username. That was downgraded to an Army Commendation Medal by Thomas in early 2019. Deployments: [73], In July 2012, Wright enlisted in the US Army as an engineer and ultimately became a Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C) assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group. 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