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Report paints bloody picture of Afghan fighting
CNN Pentagon Correspondent WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Special Forces have completed an internal report on how seven men died during the opening hours of Operation Anaconda in eastern Afghanistan in early March. The still-unreleased classified report details some of the most brutal fighting seen by U.S. forces in years including hours of vicious close combat and extraordinary heroism still largely untold. What exactly happened in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan March 4 may never be fully known as there are several differing accounts. The report is based on interviews with the survivors, as well as classified video taken by an airborne surveillance drone showing disturbing pictures of U.S. troops fighting to the death. The mission began when an MH-47 Chinook helicopter tried to drop off troops along a ridgeline known as Objective Ginger in the opening hours of Operation Anaconda.
As it came in, enemy gunfire shattered hydraulic lines causing the helicopter to repeatedly lurch. One of the Navy SEALS on board, Petty Officer Neil Roberts fell out of the helicopter. Several sources say he fell when he tried to rescue a door-gunner hanging by his harness. Others say it happened when the helicopter lurched. Roberts landed in a nest of al Qaeda fighters, fighting back until all of his grenades were gone, and his pistol empty. It's unclear if he was captured and executed -- or if he was killed in an exchange of gunfire. Those who have viewed the still-classified videotape from an unmanned Predator drone flying overhead differ in their conclusions. CNN has learned there was much more that has not been told. Rescue teamAir Force Tech Sgt John Chapman was part of six-man rescue team sent in to get Roberts back. Sources tell CNN Chapman came under very heavy enemy fire. He fought to the death and several other members of the rescue force were wounded. What Chapman may not have ever known is that it was possible the Navy SEAL had already been killed by the time the rescue team got there. Two other helicopters brought in more men to get the dead and wounded. They too faced withering enemy fire -- four were killed, several more wounded. Senior Airman Jason Cunningham tended to them for hours, moving the injured from the incoming enemy rounds now landing just feet away until he too was fatally hit. He died of his wounds on the mountainside while trying to help others. It was Cunningham's first combat mission. Meanwhile, still under fire, remaining Special Forces called in air support for more than 12 hours, bringing in the withering firepower of an AC-130 gunship to repeatedly drive off the attackers. Nonetheless, it was hours before everyone was brought off the mountain. Special operations forces are still waiting for the Pentagon to release the report. They want the men who fought so hard to save each other to be recognized for valor on a remote mountain they have now renamed Roberts Ridge. |
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