[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. Honoring those who fought and died in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom The investigators learned that Wright jumped back into the vehicle and slowly began driving south while Staff Sgts. [96], Senator John McCain stated that the Trump administration was not being forthcoming about the details of the ambush. "The enemy did not capture Sgt. [84] On 30 November, the government of Niger gave the US permission to fly armed drones out of Niamey. The Tongo Tongo village elder first notified and then led Nigerien forces to the location of SGT L. Johnson's remains. [28] On 19 October, Kelly, whose son was killed in the War in Afghanistan in 2010, defended Trump's call with the widow of La David Johnson. [59], Among the Nigeriens, five were killed and eight were wounded. [36], The eight vehicle convoy left the village at 11:35a.m. on their planned route back to base. 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. Amid the fallout from the ambush, scrutiny placed on U.S. Africa Command highlighted more problems across missions in the region, including poor medical evacuation capabilities and a lack of air support. During this sustained attack the ODA leader was thrown from the bed of the team's pickup. 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. ", "APNewsBreak: US soldier fought to end after ambush in Niger", "ISIS Affiliate Claims October Attack on U.S. There was originally a rotary wing element which was supposed to join them during their visit to Tongo Tongo, however the rotary wing element had to stand down due to bad weather. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the . [1], In January 2013, a senior Nigerien official told Reuters that Bisa Williams, the then-United States Ambassador to Niger, requested permission to establish a drone base in a meeting with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou. [63], Jeremiah Wayne "JW" Johnson (19772017) of Springboro, Ohio, was born in New Bern, North Carolina, to J.W. [67] Johnson had her name tattooed on his chest. First Class Jeremiah Johnson posthumously received the Bronze Star with Valor. On October 4, 2017, four U.S. soldiers from the Africa Command were ambushed and killed during a mission near Tongo Tongo, Niger. Sgt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. [19], Bryan Christopher Black (19822017) of Puyallup, Washington,[60] was born in Camp Pendleton, California, to Henry and Karen Black. Debra Gannon's son, Sgt. [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. The deaths of four U.S. soldiers, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. As the team searched they discovered enemy rations, uniforms and a motorcycle all of which were destroyed by partner Nigerien soldiers. [69], Dustin Michael Wright (19882017) of Lyons, Georgia, was born in Toombs County, Georgia, to Arnold Wright and Terri Criscio. [57] His body was nearly 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) away from the scene of the ambush. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. Staff Sgt. 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. [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. Niger: June 2016 November 2016 The native of Puyallup, Washington, enlisted in the Army in October 2009, according to a statement from U.S. Army Special Operations Command. By Jack Moore On 1/25/18 at 7:00 AM EST. La David Johnson sprayed the treeline with fire from an M240 machine gun. [4][29][30] In August 2013, MUJAO merged with al-Mourabitoun, which swore allegiance to al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri. The two remained with Black's body and further assessed his wounds. The video below, which is age restricted, contains combat footage of the 2017 Niger 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. To avoid confusion, throughout this report SFC Johnson is referred to as Staff Sergeant (SSG) Johnson, as that was his rank at the time . "There are three cases there that will be dealt with by [Special Operations Command]" to determine whether disciplinary action or a court-martial is merited, he said. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, were killed fighting in one location near the . [135], Two Nigeriens received Bronze Stars with Valor for their actions during the ambush one for a Nigerien who joined in a flanking maneuver against the ISGS militants and one for a Nigerien who exposed himself to stop friendly fire coming from a quick reaction force's heavy machine-gun.[136]. Niger: June 2016 October 2016, Awards: Black, killing him instantly," the summary said. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson. [17], In 2015, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara was established by Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, who was a spokesperson and senior leader of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), a splinter group of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. . At 1522 on 6 October 2017, the Nigeriens transferred the remains of SGT L. Johnson to U.S. custody. and Debra Johnson,[64][66] and graduated from North Stafford High School in 1996. [95], On 13 December, Wilson told Jonathan Capehart on his podcast that there was a cover-up. 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. Soldiers, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tongo_Tongo_ambush&oldid=1133945159, Green Beret senior Officers and team leaders disciplined for the outcome of the ambush, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 06:37. During this, team members met with local leaders and 27 men of the village. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson (right) became honorary Green Berets. 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". [139][140] He was killed by French forces in a mid-2021 raid and a 45 minute video of the 2017 incident was recovered.[141]. La . Dustin Wright died Wednesday. Two US soldiers who were wounded in the ambush were transferred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Army Service Ribbon Johnson enlisted in the Army in October 2007 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist. Meritorious Service Medal Special Forces Tab They were killed on Oct. 4, 2017 near the village of Tongo Tongo. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Parachutist Badge In the day preceding the ambush, the Nigerien and US soldiers conducted a mission attempting to locate and capture or kill Doundou Chefou, a commander in the ISGS. [127] According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has since joined the investigation. Parachutist Tab Name. [58] On 12November, additional remains of LaDavid Johnson were found at the site where his body was recovered. La David Johnson (left) and Sgt. Who Is the Army Punishing? The footage shows Johnson and Staff Sgt. La David T. Johnson's Funeral Held Saturday", "Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt. [65] A memorial service was also held for Black on 19 November in Puyallup. [79] On 6 October, Issoufou declared three days of national mourning. [98] On the same day, Senator Lindsey Graham said that the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee will be briefed next week. [123], Interviewed in a 2020 documentary, United States Army veteran and author Paul Rieckhoff described the significance of the incident:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, When I watch that video I think of the worst-case scenario. [55] Within three to four hours after the soldiers called in for support, a French special operations team arrived at the scene. Bryan Black, Sgt. His hands "were not bound and he was not executed but was killed in action while actively engaging the enemy," the summary said. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson, who was killed in action in the 2017 attack and decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for Valor, praised the French but said the U . La David Johnson were posthumously awarded the Silver Star while Staff Sgt. 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. 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. The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, . Army Achievement Medal Im glad that theyre recognizing him for what he did, Gannon said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage. This information can be obtained through a FOIA request. La David Johnson was also killed during the 2017 ambush. [53] Two French Super Puma helicopters were brought in from Mali to evacuate the injured Nigeriens and Americans, while Berry Aviation, an independent contractor, evacuated the bodies of the fallen US soldiers. About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. [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. [60] Black moved to Mammoth Lakes, California, where he taught skiing, worked construction jobs in the off season, and met his wife, Michelle. q. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at [email protected]. Bryan C. Black and Sgt. [33], On 2 October 2017, a US special forces (SOF) team from 3rd Special Forces Group based in Quallam received intelligence that placed a high value ISGS sub-commander in their area of responsibility. [91], On 18 October, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared that Wilson had willfully mischaracterized the spirit of the conversation. [133], In November 2018, the US military sent letters of reprimand to four officers and two soldiers, most notably to Air Force Major General Marcus Hicks, who was in charge of special operations forces in Africa, and Captain Michael Perozeni. [88], On 17 October, during a press conference, Trump was asked about his silence by a reporter and commented on the incident. 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? [60][63][64] He spoke English, French, Arabic, and Hausa, the last of which is spoken in Niger. You have reached a collection of archived material. [91] On the same day, three reporters from the Los Angeles Times wrote that his response "illustrated the hazards of his extemporaneous governing style, the disorganization within his White House, and his refusal to back down in the face of criticism". Bryan C. Black, 35, and Staff Sgt. 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. Jeremiah Johnson joined the active-duty Army in 2008 after a year in the Army Reserves. Combat Infantryman Badge, Rank: Sergeant (E-5), effective April 2017, MOS/Branch: Wheeled vehicle repairer (91B), Dates of Service: January 2014 October 2017, Deployments: 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 . In March 2018, more than five months after the attack, the SUV used by the Americans and the helmet cam footage was discovered by Tuareg Rebels in Mali after clashes with bandits in the border area. 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. Jeremiah Johnson (gridiron football) (born 1987), American and Canadian football running back. Army Commendation Medal [20] The report did not make specific recommendations on the handling of future missions. The winding tale of how the lightly armed team wound up in the melee, and why the militarys investigation placed primary blame on the ground force rather than senior leaders, has been covered extensively, including in a recent ABC documentary, 3212 UN-REDACTED. Wright exited the halted vehicle, looked toward the enemy and then dragged Black into cover. ", The attackers brought up a truck-mounted heavy machine gun and raked the tree, the summary said. The Hall of Valor includes citations related to actions during the Global War on Terror. Soon after, a vehicle with a mounted machine gun stopped within 100 meters (110yd) of LaDavid Johnson's position and pinned him down. ", "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.". Jeremiah Johnson, Staff . 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. Name. [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. [41] A senior congressional aide told NBC News that the ambush was caused by a "massive intelligence failure" with no overhead surveillance of the mission, or a quick reaction force in place to swiftly respond in the event that the mission went wrong. 65 ] a memorial Service was also Held for Black on 19 November Puyallup... They were killed fighting in one location near the village at 11:35a.m details of village... Below, which is age restricted, contains combat footage of the village of Tongo. Islamic State in the 65 ] a memorial Service was also killed during the 2017 ambush a... The Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the,! 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