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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, Life Goes On…
Four years ago today, a US Army Special Forces Team was attacked in Niger, West Africa, leaving four Americans dead, two wounded, and a political wake almost as bad as the attack itself. My son was on the team and, by the grace of God, survived. I wrote a lot about it, if you care to know, here, here, here, here, and here.
Pictured left from left to right are those we lost. Bryan Black. I have a friendship with his parents and they are truly great people. His Dad single-handedly stays in touch with all the other families which is how I know what is to follow. Bryan’s wife and two boys are doing well and she wrote a book about the experience that I enjoyed and I fully endorse.
Next JW Johnson. His family is fairing OK and I hear little about them. LaDavid Johnson. I keep tabs on LaDavid Johnson’s family (a wife and three kids) and his parents. They are recovering slowly but steadily and opening up to the Black family’s continued attempts at a relationship. Both Johnson’s recently received honorary Green Berets due to this incident. Dustin Wright. Dustin Wright’s family is managing as well, although his father struggles. The Wrights have set up a foundation in his name to assist veterans. Good on em’.
As for the survivors, I only keep in touch with “the three amigos,” as I call them. The Team Leader, The Big Ranger, and of course, my son. The Team Leader, inappropriately blamed for the attack, has gotten married, formally exonerated from the blame for the incident, and promoted to Major. He was denied any awards for his actions in Niger but conducted himself near flawlessly, his courage beyond the pale, and was clearly leading until he was shot and subsequently thrown from a vehicle rendering him unconscious then severely dazed for the rest of the fight.
The Big Ranger (aptly named as he spent many years in Ranger Battalion and is a big human being) has recovered from taking a round to the elbow and hilariously shared that it improved his already stellar golf game. I told him I could shoot him in the other elbow and maybe he could go pro. He declined. He got divorced, not due to the ambush but I believe due to long-standing issues. He’s a seriously good soldier, has deployed a ton, and has been awarded three purple hearts, so I am sure that’s not a relationship builder. He’s highly engaged with his son and reaching toward the twilight of his career. I’m happy to report my son has gotten married, bought a house, and had a beautiful baby girl. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class, and his military career, thankfully, has been uneventful since Niger.
The Niger investigation was a debacle, few were held accountable for it, and those who were were on the periphery of the circumstances surrounding the attack, the majority of the blame was sloughed off on the team. Suffice it to say, I was grossly disappointed (disgusted) by the Special Forces Chain of Command and what I would characterize as a total abdication of leadership. Not one senior officer stood up and said the buck stops with me, particularly the one who made the call to keep them in bad-guy territory for over 30 hours despite the team pushing back several times. This abdication flies in the face of how I was taught, view, and execute leadership to this day. Leadership from my optic is risky and stuff happens; a risk you are willing to accept being the leader – own what happens under your watch. After watching Niger play out, it does not surprise me that zero people in DoD, uniformed or civilian, resigned over the Afghanistan debacle.
Stepping off soapbox … now…
I will go to Arlington today and gimp to Bryan’s grave and pay my respects. Please take the time and remember what happened today and send some prayers out for the deceased, their families, and the survivors.
God bless the fallen and those who by His grace came back.
Congratulations, Gramps!
I recommend this post be promoted to the Main Feed immediately. Keeping this issue out in the public eye (even on such a limited venue as Ricochet) is one of the few ways to honor these Soldiers who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Thanks again for another great post. I’m happy to see your concern on a personal level, as well as the blame game.
Although I don’t have military experience I have experience on the street. After action reports should involve more than just the blame game. Police actions that involve the use of force should be looked at as a unique incident with specific facts involving specific action(s). There are also training issues that need to be addressed and changed if necessary. CYA is not unique to the military.
God bless them all – and you too. I have a difficult time going to see my friends, but it is always rewarding in some way. Just difficult.
Congrats gramps.
Thanks @percival. God bless them is right. And being a grandparent is the best job I have ever had.
Thank PH. That is why I post and NEVER want to forget. I appreciate the sentiment to Honor these soldiers and agree.
Hi Doug,
Thanks for the note. I truly appreciate it and just this evening spoke to my son. Seems the new Battalion Commander brought the Team Leader over for a professional development session and my son said it was packed. He conducted and After Action Review for the whole Battalion, took responsibility for what the team could have done better, and highlighted things the command could have done better with the optic of looking back and all that has happened. He’s a great guy and a fantastic leader.
Thanks @instugator. I am sorry for the loss of your friends, none of mine are at Arlington. And I agree it is rewarding in some way. Today was excellent. Nice weather, quiet, it was really great. Finished it off at attention to the bagpipe version “Amazing Grace.” It was just right.
Hank Black was published in the Military Times IRT the Niger attack:
https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2021/10/04/reflections-on-trust-from-father-of-fallen-green-beret-on-4th-anniversary-of-deadly-niger-ambush/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB%2010.4.21&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief
Everyone following this thread ought to take the time to read the linked article. (I did, but found it very hard to read all the way through at one sitting. Maybe I’m just getting too old to compartmentalize my emotions like I used to.)