Kamdesh ambush played out like Wanat battle

[unhappycamper]

A Chinook lands at Combat Outpost Keating in March.


Kamdesh ambush played out like Wanat battle
By Matthew Cox and Michelle Tan - Staff writers
Posted : Saturday Oct 31, 2009 14:03:34 EDT

The attack on Combat Outpost Keating in the Kamdesh district of Nuristan province felled eight American soldiers and wounded 24 others before the enemy was finally pushed out of the camp’s perimeter.

The soldiers “were sitting ducks,” said Larry Mace, father of Army Spc. Stephan Mace, who was killed in the Oct. 3 battle.

That attack was eerily similar to another Afghanistan battle 15 months earlier in Wanat, in nearby Kunar province.

Both ground assaults were on remote American outposts. The enemy struck with devastating speed and firepower, each time nearly overwhelming highly trained, battle-hardened defenders. Combined, 17 soldiers were killed, 51 wounded.

How could this happen — twice?


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/army_kamdesh_103109w/