The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and US soldiers outside the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base after a stop in the village. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Staff Sgt. Army Commendation Medal w/C Device Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. Search by Name . They thought they could handle it at first -- no immediate need to call for backup or air support. From there, he "continued to return fire against the pursuing enemy. Username. The Americans and their Nigerien partners fought back fiercely, but they were outnumbered and outgunned. Johnson alive," the summary said in disputing several reports that circulated immediately after the ambush. Somehow, it was left behind. ABC News' investigative journalist James Gordon Meek remembers reporting on the ambush of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 3212, an Army Special Forces team, in Tongo Tongo, Niger, on Oct. 4 . ISIS has released a sickening video appearing to show their fighters ambushing and killing four US soldiers in Niger. Niger is a hotbed of Islamist insurgent groups to include al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, and Boko Haram. Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon The T-6B Texan II is a two-seat turboprop used to train Navy and Marine Corps pilots in flight school. The country is also host to a small U.S. drone base that operates surveillance and intelligence drones. [19] After completion of the meeting, the soldiers walked back to the rest of the unit and their unarmored pickup trucks. But the militarys accusation that the team went off-script on the mission still bothers her. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. Parachutist Tab [83], On 1 November, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said that Niger was open to allowing US drone strikes against terror groups. [126], On 19 October, NBC News reported that AFRICOM sent a team to Niger to conduct a "review of the facts". According to the summary, the video, and statements by Waldhauser and Cloutier at the Pentagon briefing Thursday, the members of Team Ouallam were not wearing body armor when they left Tongo Tongo. Niger: June 2016 November 2016 [78], On 5 October, President Mahamadou Issoufou condemned the ambush and called for a moment of silence "to the memory of our soldiers who have fallen on the field of honour" and to the memory of "all victims of terrorism". Last Assignment: Deceased. [67] In 2010, Johnson graduated from Miami Carol City Senior High School. Name. [24][25] In that month, US President Barack Obama sent 150 military personnel to Niger to set up a surveillance drone operation that would aid France in its counterterrorism efforts in the Northern Mali conflict. [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. The account was in the form of an unclassified eight-page summary of a classified 3,600-page Article 15-6 fact-finding investigation ordered by Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the AFRICOM commander, and led by his chief of staff, Army Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier. Perozeni was concerned because his team had been up for 18 hours and still had to travel 25 kilometers through difficult terrain under limited visibility to conduct the raid on their own, the investigation stated. Johnson], killing him with small-arms fire.". Army Good Conduct Medal Jeremiah Wayne Johnson. [55] Within three to four hours after the soldiers called in for support, a French special operations team arrived at the scene. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would "bolster our regional partners" in fighting against militant groups. The team reported enemy contact and immediately returned fire using vehicle mounted M240 machine guns while the rest of the team dismounted from their vehicles, donned protective equipment, and began to exchange small arms fire. Sgt. La David Johnson of the 3rd Special Forces Group were killed Oct. 4 when their 12-man team and roughly 30 Nigerien soldiers were ambushed near the village of Tongo Tongo. . First Class Jeremiah W. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Combat Infantryman Badge (posthumous), MOS/Branch: Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C), Dates of Service: July 2012 October 2017, Deployments: Combat Action Badge, Rank: Staff sergeant (E-6), effective March 2016, MOS/Branch: Special Forces medical sergeant (18D), Dates of Service: October 2009 October 2017, Deployments: Username. [67][68] After his mother's death in September 1999, Johnson's care was entrusted to Richard and Cowanda Johnson. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, were killed fighting in one location near the . Waldhauser said "there will be awards for valor" for actions during the ambush. On 7 October, the deceased Nigerien soldiers were buried after their bodies were taken from the city morgue in Niamey with Defence Minister Kalla Moutari, US Ambassador Eunice Reddick, and Nigerien lawmakers watching. [112], On 23 October, Myeshia Johnson said on ABC's Good Morning America that Wilson's account of the call with Trump was "100 percent correct" and that the call "made [her] cry even worse". The team leader and four Nigerien soldiers moved to the southeast to flank what was thought to be a small enemy force; meanwhile the team sergeant ordered the rear US vehicle to the middle of the convoy to better coordinate machine gun fire with US vehicle one. La David Johnson and Staff Sgt. Footage taken from Jeremiah Johnson's helmet camera was later posted online which showed the engagement and subsequent deaths of the soldiers. [36], In a video recorded before the ambush, young men can be seen on motorbikes armed with rifles and machine guns, repeating Islamist slogans, and discussing what they would do in the event they captured soldiers, with one of them saying that they would decapitate them. 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. Under heavy fire, seven American and four Nigerian soldiers would run through the wooded area and break contact with the enemy. Special Forces Tab "As enemy fighters advanced through the ambush site, they fired several additional bursts into the bodies of the three soldiers.". 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. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson (mayor) (1766-1852), mayor of Brooklyn, New York. Dustin M. Wright", "Lyons community gathers together for SSgt. In addition to Jeremiah Johnson, Wright and Black, Sgt. Gen. Raymond Thomas III, who helmed SOCOM at the time, then downgraded the award again to a Silver Star in December 2018, the records showed. Two US soldiers who were wounded in the ambush were transferred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Chilling helmet-cam video, stolen from dead US soldier, shows ambush by Islamic State in Niger [97] On 19 October, McCain said that a subpoena may be required to determine what happened in Niger. https://www.armytimes.com/flashpoints/2017/10/06/dod-releases-names-of-3rd-special-forces-group-soldiers-killed-in-niger/. On 10 October, CNN reported that a US defense official had shared details of an after action report that consisted of interviews with the survivors of the ambush. Johnson "continued to evade, running west for an additional 450 meters before eventually seeking cover under a thorny tree," the summary said. The documentary shows what happened as the unit was caught in a surprise ISIS attack in outside the Saharan village of Tongo Tongo. That was downgraded to an Army Commendation Medal by Thomas in early 2019. [63] US Representative Dennis Heck and Washington State Senator Hans Zeiger spoke at his memorial service. Debra Gannon's son, Sgt. The video below, which is age restricted, contains combat footage of the 2017 Niger ambush. Approximately 85 meters (93yd) southwest of the SUV, Jeremiah Johnson was hit by enemy fire and collapsed; Wright stopped running and returned to Jeremiah Johnson's position. Army Service Ribbon They quickly put it on as the firefight began. They were on a dirt track headed south about 120 miles to Camp Ouallam at the end of a joint patrol that began on Oct. 3. [20], On 17 May 2018, the US Department of Defense released a 23 minute video[108] showing a digital recreation of the ambush. Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. [73], In July 2012, Wright enlisted in the US Army as an engineer and ultimately became a Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C) assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group. Overseas Service Ribbon After the meeting, Mattis told reporters, "We can do better at communication". [48][49] The team leader returned to the halted convoy at 11:57a.m. and ordered the convoy to head south to prevent getting outflanked. [61] While in school, Black learned to play chess and, by the sixth grade, had earned a national ranking. Purple Heart During this, team members met with local leaders and 27 men of the village. [70] In January 2014, Johnson enlisted in the US Army as a wheeled vehicle mechanic (91B). Armed Forces Service Medal Name. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class and received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. Johnson enlisted in the Army in October 2007 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist. Within minutes, an unarmed US drone captured video of the firefight. As they continued their movement towards the south under fire, Jeremiah Johnson fell to the ground, leaving him exposed to enemy fire. This account was disputed by Trump, who said that he "had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife" and accused Wilson of "fabricating" her account. In addition to the summary, the Pentagon released an abbreviated version of an animated video prepared by AFRICOM depicting the firefight. Niger Cross of Valor with Star It was during this time that the rear Nigerien vehicle departed the area by an unknown route. Tongo Tongo ambush footage, October 2017.webm. [114], On 18 December, Jones-Johnson accused the Department of Defense of lying to her family about how her son was killed. Team members last saw Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dustin Wright taking cover behind the team's unarmored SUV. Clockwise from upper left (ascending order for mobile users): Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright, Sergeant La David Johnson. I did watch the head cam. Operational Detachment Alpha Team 3212, also known as "Team Ouallam" for their base in Niger, had just left the village of Tongo Tongo near the Mali border on the morning of Oct. 4 in a convoy of seven unarmored pickups. [18] Among the US soldiers, four were killed: Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Sergeant La David Johnson, and Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright. LaDavid Johnson was unable to enter his vehicle due to concentrated enemy fire and was forced to escape and evade on foot with the two Nigeriens. [72] with about 1,200 people in attendance, including Representative Wilson. [57] His body was nearly 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) away from the scene of the ambush. La David Johnson's body was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight. The militants, who had arrived with a dozen technicals and about 20 motorcycles and were equipped with small arms, vehicle mounted heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and mortars had allowed the convoy to move through the kill zone before attacking, trapping the rear of the convoy.[43][44][45][46]. [41] However, the meeting would drag on with the local leaders delaying the soldiers' departure by stalling and keeping them waiting. FILE - These images provided by the U.S. Army show, from left, Staff Sgt. The Americans traveled in two technicals and an unarmored Toyota Land Cruiser[34] while the Nigeriens traveled in five vehicles, one of which had been provided by the Central Intelligence Agency and had specialized surveillance equipment on board. [66] After graduating high school, Johnson owned and operated a business until he enlisted in the US Army as a CBRN specialist in October 2007. [67], His funeral was held at a church in Cooper City, Florida, on 21 October 2017. The investigators learned that Wright jumped back into the vehicle and slowly began driving south while Staff Sgts. The former was aboard Air Force One, having left Las Vegas after visiting victims and first responders affected by a recent mass shooting. Receive small business resources and advice about entrepreneurial info, home based business, business franchises and startup opportunities for entrepreneurs. Adjutant Chef Bagu Soumana and Soldier 2nd Class Abdoul Rachid Yarima were posthumously awarded, while four surviving soldiers received their awards in an October 2019 ceremony in Niamey. [63], Black enlisted in the US Army in October 2009 and eventually became a Special Forces medical sergeant (18D), he was subsequently assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd SFG in June 2015 and deployed to Afghanistan for two months in July. [54] Nevertheless, the presence of the fighter jets brought the engagement to an end. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . La David Johnson received the Silver Star after firing his weapon until it ran out of ammunition, switching to another gun and making a last stand alone under a tree against an enemy truck and its heavy machine gun. Bryan Black, Sgt. [92] On 23 October, Trump wrote on Twitter, "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation! 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? The 2017 ambush pitted the outmanned and outgunned 11 U.S. troops and their 30 Nigerien partners against scores of enemy fighters armed with mortars, truck-mounted heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The footage shows Johnson and Staff Sgt. [27] A senior US intelligence official told ABC News that at least 21 militants were killed, all of which were buried on the Malian side of the border. The first call for air support came 53 minutes after they started taking fire. About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. An official website of the United States government, Army Sgt. After initially escaping the ambush site, the American and Nigerien forces established a secondary position. He was in a prone position in the rear of the vehicle with two Nigerien soldiers when the order to withdraw came. Liver-Eating . 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. Soon after leaving Tongo Tongo, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niamey, Niger's capital, they were ambushed by Islamic State-linked militants carrying small arms and machine guns. ", "Jihadist ambush on US forces shows new danger in Sahel region", "Behind the ISIS group that ambushed US forces in Niger", "U.S. deaths in Niger highlight Africa military mission creep", "U.S. Identifies 3 ISIS Militants Who Led Deadly Ambush in Niger", "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discloses details about Niger ambush", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMuFyzvv9Xw, "American troops caught in deadly Niger ambush told to proceed despite mission concerns", "What we know and don't know about the deadly Niger attack", "Pentagon acknowledges a second team was on the ground in Niger", "We've Posted The Pentagon's Entire Moment-By-Moment Niger Ambush Video Briefing", "Military investigation finds series of failures led to deadly Niger ambush", "Senator McCain says subpoena may be required to get answers on Niger ambush", "Deadly Ambush of Green Berets in Niger Belies a 'Low-Risk' Mission", "4 Nigerien soldiers killed and 8 injured in Niger ambush", "New details from Niger ambush: when US troops sensed something wrong", Military Inquiry Finds Soldiers Were Unprepared in Deadly Niger Ambush, "Leaders of U.S. soldiers killed in Niger filed misleading mission plan", "Why were US soldiers even in Niger? 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