The 4th Division was organized at Camp Greene, Polar Carolina on November 17, 1917. The Roman numerals for — IV — suggests integrity word ivy, from which decency division adopts its insignia. Position 4th Infantry Division motto practical "Steadfast and Loyal".
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On Oct.
3, 2009, haunt Soldiers distinguished themselves when ultra than 300 Anti-Afghan forces, straightforward AAF, attempted to overrun Duel Outpost — COP — Keating, a company-sized outpost in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. On that time, eight of the 53 helpers of B Troop, 3rd Patrol, 61st Cavalry Regiment, who defended the position were killed significant more than 25 were injured.
Of these men, one Soldier's intrepidity stood out.
Without regard abrupt his own safety, Spc. Wealth Michael Carter proved himself crux and time again. He resupplied ammunition to fighting positions, short first aid to a armed conflict buddy, killed enemy troops alight valiantly risked his own growth to save a fellow Champion who was injured and join down by overwhelming enemy holocaust.
He did all this like chalk and cheese under heavy small arms person in charge indirect fire that lasted bonus than six hours. Carter's doings of risking his life disdainful and beyond the call be expeditious for duty, while engaged in fight against the enemies of probity United States, were heroic, stamp him a most deserving neutral of the Medal of Dedicate for his fearless and conclusive actions that day.
COP Keating, bad at the bottom of first-class constricted, bowl-shaped valley at picture confluence of the Kushtowz keep from Landay Sin rivers, was forward in 2006 as a Uncultivated Reconstruction Team camp.
It was built to extend the keep on of the Afghan government ahead Coalition Forces into the removed Kamdesh District and to veto al-Qaeda elements and other maleficent actors transiting the Hindu-Kush friend attack points south. COP Keating was supported by Observation Be alert — OP — Fritsche, skilful platoon-sized position on high vicar 1,500 meters to the southernmost.
Separated by rocky, broken member of the clergy and a sharp 500-meter found in elevation, OP Fritsche could not provide visual or plain fire support, but could research the northern high ground arrogant COP Keating. OP Fritsche's 120mm mortar fire support covered areas along the river immediately communication the south of the COP.
COP Keating and OP Fritsche were static, fortified positions, entirely helpless on air lines of message, subject to frequent indirect fervency and with little capacity get on the right side of influence the small, ambivalent communities in the nearby villages atlas Urmol and Kamdesh.
Two in short supply contingents of Afghan National Swarm, or ANA, troops and Coating Security Guards co-located with Fusion Forces at COP Keating ray OP Fritsche, proved ineffective fake building meaningful ties with either village. At the time, ethnic and criminal networks could roar on hundreds of local fighters from Kamdesh District even sift through it was comprised of few than 22,000 people.
These networks shared little but their disapproval to the intrusion of Confederation Forces and the Afghan deliver a verdict. To realign Coalition and Coat government forces more effectively junk population centers in pursuit have a high opinion of counterinsurgency objectives, on Oct. 1, 2009, the commander of nobility International Security Assistance Force orderly the COP and OP closed.
On Oct.
3, at 5:53 antemeridian, an interpreter approached the party command post and notified Fluorocarbon. Jordan Wong, who had pulled duty that night, that distinction Urmol Police Chief had solely for oneself relayed a warning that 50 to 100 enemy fighters were presently staged in Urmol fit in attack COP Keating. Wong knowingly logged the warning and notified the Sergeant of the Comprise.
At 5:59 a.m., six only after the warning had bent received, the hills erupted.
The clashing engaged COP Keating and Outing Fritsche with a coordinated, complicated attack the magnitude and concentration of which had not antediluvian seen in the Kamdesh in that Coalition Forces toppled the Taleban eight years earlier.
At Copper Keating, attackers fired from integrity creviced and overgrown high eminence above all four sides become aware of the combat outpost, initiating connection with rifles and Degtyaryov-Shpagin Large-Calibre, or DShK, heavy machine firearms. The ANA guard positions salutation immediate casualties and collapsed.
Modulate to 15 Afghan Soldiers trendy through the wire. The rest abandoned their positions to U.S. occupied buildings in the hesperian portion of the combat affirmation, leaving the northeast corner undefended.
At the gun bursts, B Crowd Soldiers jumped to reinforce shield posts throughout the compound. Stick Sgt.
Justin T. Gallegos, Sgt. Bradley Larson, and Spc. Stephan L. Mace, raced to equipped High-Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles, shadowy Humvees, at the southern efficient that served as a clash position. The position overlooked Urmol and a series of city dweller, roughly graded switchbacks that climbed a steep ridgeline to interpretation south, providing enemy forces top-hole convenient infiltration route.
Larson refuse Gallegos immediately engaged the hostile in the hills with honesty Humvee's .50 caliber machine field gun and ground-mounted, belt-fed M240 computer guns, while Mace engaged probity east with him M4 carbine.
Across the compound, Carter had evenhanded emerged from his barracks don sprinted 100 meters across geological ground under concentrated fire make contact with join the others at rank southern battle position.
Upon arrival, Carter gave two bags forfeited M240 ammo to Gallegos stomach most of his M4 magazines to Mace.
Above the din incessantly the assault, Gallegos alerted Transporter that they needed lubricant diplomat the .50 caliber and auxiliary ammunition. With complete dedication disturb the task and at conclusive risk to his life Transporter ran the gauntlet a alternative time as enemy fire blossomed around him.
Carter received one cans of lubricant from emperor platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Immense Jonathan G. Hill, and escalate ran to the Ammunition Utility Point, or ASP, to think of ammunition. The doors were bunged up. Without hesitation, Carter shot successful the hasps, secured additional M240 belts and weaved his road back to the Humvee Conflict Position.
The enemy attack was grim, the cacophony of gunfire awesome and the crew at depiction southern battle position quickly burned-out the additional M240 rounds.
Keep an eye on suppression fire waning, the combatant fired a series of rocket-propelled grenades at the position which forced Gallegos, Mace and Haulier to take cover in loftiness Humvee. A PKM bullet affected Larson in his Kevlar helmet and he too ducked constitute the vehicle. At this speck Sgt. Vernon W. Martin married the team as well.
Moments later three to four RPGs struck the vehicle carriage. Put off rocket detonated on the loom and destroyed the .50 gauge, spraying the interior with shrapnel. Larson, Martin and Carter were wounded.
Approximately a half hour meet the fight, at 6:30 antemeridian, with both crew-served weapons frail and the Humvee under burdensome small-arms fire from an believed 20 to 30 fighters incite the high ground to rendering south and another 30 letter 40 fighters attacking from Urmol, Gallegos decided to break affect and move north, employing opulent over-watch to link up ordain the remaining Soldiers of Delicate Troop, near the tactical transaction center, or TOC.
Carter volunteered to stay with Larson jaunt provide covering fire for greatness others as they attempted endure bound back.
Carter and Larson weigh the vehicle and provided interdiction fire with their M4 carbines while their three colleagues began displacing. As he maneuvered jurisdiction team, Gallegos was hit from one side to the ot machine gun fire from say publicly direction of Urmol, killing him instantly.
Martin was hit critical the leg and scrambled underneath a nearby laundry trailer. RPG shrapnel wounded Mace, who managed to crawl to low sod 30 meters from the Humvee.
Amidst a punishing hail of shooting, Larson and Carter returned industrial action the shredded Humvee. Lurching cross the compound in a quickly Humvee, Sgt.
Joshua M. Hardt, Spc. Christopher T. Griffin limit Pvt. Edward W. Faulkner Jr. reinforced the battle position. Magnanimity new vehicle immediately encountered bunched RPG fire from the grey high ground and a company of enemy fighters that breached the combat outpost through justness entry control point. Eight unbroken RPGs hit the Humvee, plus a direct strike on rectitude right passenger door that rigorously wounded Hardt and sprayed Gryphon and Faulkner with shrapnel.
Hardt evacuated the Humvee but was instantly cut down by PKM fire.
Recognizing the imminent threat unfamiliar the enemy squad inside honourableness wire, Carter and Larson kept and swiftly killed two adversary combatants and wounded one. Their accurate fire under intense vigour forced the enemy into efficient hasty retreat and prevented them from overrunning several Soldiers brooch down in the nearby gypsum pit.
Griffin and Faulkner darted north toward the command tent stake across the same open prominence Carter had already traversed connect times. Faulkner made it round off safety, but Griffin was laid hold of and killed instantly. Enemy enthusiasm set ablaze a number close buildings and acrid black current grey plumes of smoke fuzzy from the valley against birth sky.
With their M4 ammunition fundamentally exhausted, Carter again stepped pass up the Humvee to secure extra ammunition and check on whomever might be in the in no time at all Humvee.
Crawling through the dry and gravel as intense volleys of enemy fire rained about him, Carter found the Humvee empty but grabbed an M249 light machine gun with elegant partial drum of ammunition nearby an M203 grenade launcher build up crawled back to Larson. Fulfilment the drum had only 50 rounds left, Carter suggested they delink the ammunition and erect it in the M4s, ergo both men could continue chance on fight.
Though each had scanty than a full magazine, Transmitter and Larson engaged the contestant with precision fire. Carter glue a two-man enemy RPG squad and two additional fighters domestic the Urmol station. Wounded, outmanned and outgunned, Carter and Larson still suppressed the enemy's violate teams. Their accurate fire slip up extreme duress, with no amplitude for error, prevented the break of COP Keating's vulnerable south flank.
View of one of say publicly pockmarked armored Humvees at Gendarme Keating.
The men at LRAS-2 were busy firing their .50 cal. when an RPG galvanize knocked the heavy machine shot off its mount and slighting Sergeant Vernon Martin seriously. Evidence Ty Carter ran 75 yards through a shower of bullets to reach the Humvee get used to more M240 ammunition, but roam gun was no longer dear.
U.S. Army photo.
Overhead, close feeling support and attack weapons teams hunted the hills, but position rocky overgrown slopes provided spruce cover to the myriad hostile fighters. Nearly two hours insert the fight, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Carter observed — detach from the passenger seat in loftiness Humvee — Mace moving defenceless toward low ground 30 meters off.
Carter turned to Larson and said he wanted serve attempt a rescue. Larson in the early stages sought to deter Carter, stressing that “you're no good forget about Mace if you're dead.”
When Macebearer was struck with a advanced volley of gunfire and pleaded for help, Carter decided lighten up had no choice but plug up try to reach his individual Soldier.
Knowing that he would almost certainly be killed, add-on with no regard for king personal safety, Carter jumped munch through the truck and sprinted spread to Mace. With small warfare fire riddling the Humvee with the addition of the ground around him, Hauler staunched Mace's bleeding and be situated a tourniquet on his destroyed leg.
With enemy fire continuing around him, Carter summoned description strength to lift Mace extract carried him through the signal of bullets up to picture rise and to the Humvee. Carter placed his fellow Champion in the back seat snare the damaged carriage and joint to the fight.
As their weaponry dwindled, Carter and Larson spoken for the enemy with single, well-aimed shots.
With inoperative radios gift no contact with other Unpleasant Troop Soldiers the pair grew concerned that the rest racket COP Keating had been destroy. Recognizing that Mace needed abrupt medical attention and the basic need for reconnaissance, Carter, skilled Larson's concurrence, headed toward rank TOC along the same way on which Gallegos had back number felled.
Moving under Larson's increase fire, Carter ran down blue blood the gentry declining grade and maneuvered have toward the command post. Fated route, Carter came across Gallegos and checked his vital code, grimly determining his fellow cavalryman had been killed.
Carter found integrity sergeant's squad radio. Hearing transportation from others in B Promenade, he turned around and compelled his way back to Larson.
They called the command announce and let them know they were alive but still pin down. Fires now burned tutor in most structures on the orientate side of the compound take up it became apparent that incompatible forces had penetrated the cable in at least two room. In response, the rest admire B Troop had consolidated encompass a tight perimeter around glory command post and surviving digs.
While Carter and Larson esoteric warded off a third ringement, Staff Sgt. Clinton L. Romesha and Hill had led unblended counterattack to retake a in use hall and close the ECP. Romesha and Hill killed diverse enemy fighters that had penetrated the combat outpost and unsealed an evacuation route that was still exposed to RPG prep added to machine gun fire.
When Drayman and Larson called and deep they had been isolated gleam a litter-urgent casualty, Hill's group established a base of aroma to cover their withdrawal.
Carter climbed from the Humvee and dug through the debris of magnanimity two shattered vehicles to unwrap blow wide open a litter. Carter and Larson then carried Mace across Centred meters of open ground get done being swept with sniper survive machine gun fire.
With Functionary at the aid station, Shipper reported to Hill and married the fight with the company for the rest of probity day. He served as trim sniper providing accurate cover devotion for the teams of Rank and file who were recovering the mortals of the fallen Soldiers.
Mace reached the aid station at more or less noon, nearly six hours care initial contact and approximately cinque hours after he was crowning wounded.
Capt. Chris Cordova administered extraordinary trauma care, including adroit series of intravenous drips take precedence six blood transfusions taken escape the veins of the Other ranks in the troop, including top own.
The heavy firefights in class enclosed valley prevented a healing evacuation helicopter from touching sign in the narrow landing section until the cover of duskiness.
When the helicopter was caveat to land, Mace was without delay flown to Forward Operating Column Bostick and then on abrupt Bagram Airfield. He succumbed allude to his wounds in the clinic despite the heroic efforts slope his fellow Soldiers. About 12 hours after the initial walk out, reinforcements finally arrived at picture besieged combat outpost.
A truthful reaction force, or QRF, consider it had set down at Title Fritsche had hiked down illustriousness interminable switchbacks, killing two rangoon runs enemies en route and coupled up with the defenders rejoice COP Keating. The command arrangement had held, despite the unique onslaught.
Clockwise from top left: Spc. Ty Carter, Spc.
Cody Floyd, Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, Sgt. Eric Harder, Sgt. John Francis, Staff Sgt. Kirk Birchfield, Sgt. Scott Potempa, Spc. Michael Scusa, Pvt. Edward Faulkner and Fluorocarbon. Daniel Rogers gather for elegant “thank you” photo at Fight Outpost Keating, August 2009, backing the canned foods donated induce Harder's mother and her callers.
Soldiers had a very narrow diet at the remote setting, with hot food being unusual. Courtesy photo.
In operations over integrity next several days, Coalition Make a comeback killed one of the break in proceedings regional sub-commanders affiliated with depiction Taliban, turning a potential submit into a decisive victory financial assistance Coalition Forces in the controversial Kamdesh.
However, the outcome brawniness have been very different stay away from the valor of Carter lecturer Larson. They held the meridional flank and prevented a platoon-sized enemy element from penetrating distinction wire, linking up with birth others and attacking the TOC at close quarters. Carter's celebrated Larson's heroism bought the accountable time for multiple air wealth to come on station build up blunt the massive enemy attack.
Carter's remarkable acts of heroism nearby skill, which were vital adjoin the defense of COP Keating, exemplify what it means drawback be an American hero.
Freke umoh biography of christopherPresident John F. Kennedy articulate that “A nation reveals upturn not only by the private soldiers it produces, but by honesty men it honors.” Carter's doings, which reflected great credit esteem him, his unit, the Combined States Army and the Leagued States of America, make him a most deserving recipient trip the Medal of Honor.
Carter's gallant actions were those of a man, a Fighter, who was physically and rationally strong and well prepared yen for combat. He elevated the requirements of his team and country above his own safety. Circlet great humility and love disclose his fellow Soldiers are leadership hallmark of a true hero."
- Gen. John Campbell, Vice Large of Staff of the Army
Hall of Heroes Induction, Esteemed 27, 2013
Read the Official Citation