[110] Jones-Johnson said, "President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband". The approved mission plan originally called for a helicopter team as the primary force with the Quallam team serving as a quick reaction force, however bad weather forced the helicopter team to cancel forcing team Quallam to continue on their own. [36], The eight vehicle convoy left the village at 11:35a.m. on their planned route back to base. Username. La David Johnson's body was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight. [22] The ambush also prompted congressional inquiries, and an investigation by the US Department of Defense (DoD). They worked around to the south, intending to outflank the enemy and sweep the treeline, but were forced to retreat. ", "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? [19], Bryan Christopher Black (19822017) of Puyallup, Washington,[60] was born in Camp Pendleton, California, to Henry and Karen Black. The footage shows Johnson and Staff Sgt. La David T. Johnson's Funeral Held Saturday", "Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt. The team leader and the four Nigerien soldiers continued their flanking movement until they were stopped by a body of water, at which point they identified and engaged the enemy across the water, killing approximately four combatants. Wright continued to engage the enemy until incapacitated by enemy fire. 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. Somehow, it was left behind. ISIS has released a sickening video appearing to show their fighters ambushing and killing four US soldiers in Niger. 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. [62], Black's funeral was held in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on 18 October 2017. They were buried in the Muslim Cemetery of Niamey on 7 October. After passing the colored smoke, Black ran and took cover behind a nearby tree while Jeremiah Johnson fired over the hood of the vehicle towards the tree line. Black, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson were fighting could not disengage. As they continued their movement towards the south under fire, Jeremiah Johnson fell to the ground, leaving him exposed to enemy fire. Name. La David Johnson and 3 fellow soldiers killed in Niger", "Miami stunt rider known as the 'Wheelie King', "For soldier killed in Niger, making life better every day in the world was his mission", "U.S. Army 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 Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army, or IPPS-A, is now live across the entire service, according to a spokesperson. Dustin Wright, who were all killed in the fight . [119], On 20 October, Jason Ditz wrote an article for The American Conservative saying, "Niger provides a terrifying reminder of how far we are from being an informed American public that serves as a check and balance on what our military is doing in our name. He was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Here are the other U.S. soldiers killed in Niger", "City to host memorial service for Green Beret killed in Niger", "DoD releases names of 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers killed in Niger", "Fayetteville funeral held for Green Beret killed in Niger", "Pentagon identifies fourth soldier killed in Niger attack", "More than 1,000 mourn Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, and continued to engage the enemy until each was shot and killed by small-arms fire. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would "bolster our regional partners" in fighting against militant groups. Sgt. About 460 meters from the truck, one of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed. Army Sgt. He was awarded three medals during his service: the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet . Despite the concerns, the team was directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway. . La David Johnson and Staff Sgt. During this manoeuvre, Sergeant LaDavid Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers became separated from the rest of his team. The lowest recorded core temperature in a surviving adult is 60.8 degrees. [29] According to the United States Department of Defense, ISIL leaders in Syria had acknowledged Sahrawi's allegiance through their Amaq News Agency but ISGS "has not been formally recognized as an official branch of ISIL". "During the movement, enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt. La David Terrence Johnson was an African American Army Sergeant, vehicle mechanic, and father who was killed in the Tongo Tongo Ambush on October 4, 2017 in the West African nation of Niger, alongside three other American soldiers, Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dustin Wright. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The families of four soldiers killed in an October 2017 ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger, have started receiving posthumous medals on the soldiers' behalves. He enlisted in the Army October 2007. [61] At the age of 20, Black earned a business degree at Central Washington University. 5 min read. The Tongo Tongo ambush was a 4 October 2017 attack on Nigerien and American soldiers in Tongo Tongo, Niger, by armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). WASHINGTON American special operations forces fought valiantly against overwhelming odds in the battle against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists outside Tongo Tongo, Niger, and while a number of factors contributed to the clash, no single factor within the control of U.S. forces caused the deaths of four U.S. Army soldiers and four Nigeriens, a military investigation has concluded. [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. Wright exited the halted vehicle . Im glad that theyre recognizing him for what he did, Gannon said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage. Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. [20] Some within the US military were critical of the report because they viewed it as underplaying blame for senior officers who had approved of the mission. Parachutist Tab At the Pentagon briefing, Cloutier was asked if the captains had lied. Bryan C. Black, 35, and Staff Sgt. Sergeant First Class Jeremiah W. Johnson of Springboro, Ohio, was killed while conducting a reconnaissance patrol near Tongo Tongo, Niger, on 4 October 2017. [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. March 8, 2018 1:43 PM EST. Niger is a hotbed of Islamist insurgent groups to include al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, and Boko Haram. The country is also host to a small U.S. drone base that operates surveillance and intelligence drones. Jeremiah Johnson, and Sgt. Johnson "continued to evade, running west for an additional 450 meters before eventually seeking cover under a thorny tree," the summary said. 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. [41] The meeting lasted 30 minutes longer than the team leader expected. [4][32] However, the declaration was not recognized by the group's leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, and the al-Qaeda loyalists, creating a split in the group. [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]. [64][66] He would later be assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group as a support element. Combat Infantryman Badge (posthumous), MOS/Branch: Special Forces engineer sergeant (18C), Dates of Service: July 2012 October 2017, Deployments: All rights reserved. The four U.S. Army soldiers killed were Sgt. [54], In December 2017, Major General Mark Hicks, the commander of Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA), wrote a letter to the Special Operations Forces that read, "To reinforce and clarify guidance going forward I would like to emphasize that we must reduce our risk exposure and build trust in our ability to exercise sound judgment and disciplined planning and execution". Wright, 29, was a native of Lyons, Georgia. Wright also received the Silver Star after he maneuvered multiple times across open terrain through intense and accurate fire from an overwhelming hostile force to protect and recover two of his fallen comrades, his award citation stated. MOS/Branch: Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist (74D) Component: Regular Army. Niger: May to October 2016, Awards: Name. Within minutes, an unarmed US drone captured video of the firefight. [19] The team believed the local leader was complicit in an impending attack. Army Service Ribbon La . Bryan Black and Sgt. [68], In school, Johnson met Myeshia Manual, whom he married on 22 August 2014. He previously deployed to Jordan in 2012. Black, 35, served as a Special Forces medical sergeant, also known as an 18D. Army Commendation Medal w/C Device La David Johnson sprayed the treeline with fire from an M240 machine gun. Name. [20] The report did not make specific recommendations on the handling of future missions. [125], Multiple US officials told CNN that the French military was leading an investigation to gather intelligence about the perpetrators of the ambush. Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, 39; Sergeant La David Johnson, 25; and Staff . [90] Representative Frederica Wilson, who was present during the call, alleged that Trump told the widow that La David Johnson "knew what he signed up for" and only referred to him as "your guy". [67] Johnson had her name tattooed on his chest. [67], Johnson's family enrolled him in 5000 Role Models, a mentorship program of US Representative Frederica Wilson that prepared African American children for college, vocational school, or the military. The team leader, Perozeni, was also initially recommended for a Bronze Star with Valor. [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. They were killed on Oct. 4, 2017 near the village of Tongo Tongo. Bryan Black as dozens of enemy fighters bound toward them, the mothers of Wright and Johnson told Army Times in November. [55] Within three to four hours after the soldiers called in for support, a French special operations team arrived at the scene. At a 2018 Pentagon press briefing, the ambushed team was blamed for poor training and reckless mission planning in their attempt to capture Doundou Chefou, a mid-level commander for the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. Staff Sgt. 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 . WASHINGTON The Pentagon on Friday released the names of the three soldiers killed this week in Niger while conducting a joint patrol with Nigerien forces. Jeremiah Johnson (mayor) (1766-1852), mayor of Brooklyn, New York. Dustin M. Wright", "Lyons community gathers together for SSgt. SSG Jeremiah W. Johnson 4 October 2017, Niger Special Forces. 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. Johnson acknowledged the order and attempted to get behind the wheel, but heavy fire drove him back. 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: -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. All deaths were considered either instantly fatal or rapidly fatal. They made several attempts to break out of the kill zone but had to retreat to a final defensive position. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class and received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. The report found that "personnel turnover" had caused the 11-member US Special Forces team to forgo important training before being deployed, and that the team did not rehearse the mission. [67], His funeral was held at a church in Cooper City, Florida, on 21 October 2017. An official website of the United States government, Army Sgt. Book excerpt: Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widows Fight for the Truth, Rare awards show Nigerien valor in 2017 ambush of Army Green Berets, Army officer awarded less than $4,000 in traffic stop lawsuit, As 2 of the MARSOC 3 go on trial for homicide, the 3rd gets immunity, How a comedian and Air Force spouse are helping feed military families, Fake general scammed seniors in online romance scheme, Ruben Gallego on defense priorities, concerns in the new Congress, New parental leave policy and Ukraine aid update | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 1.14.23, Important financial steps to take before deployment Money Minute, Canada expands joint strike fighter fleet | Defense Dollars, Star of new movie talks bond between athletes, troops, Army Special Forces are testing this rapid-fire mortar system, Nov. 11, 1918: Wasted Lives on Armistice Day. Show their fighters ambushing and killing four US soldiers in Niger recalling the recently helmet. ; Staff Sgt behind the wheel, but heavy fire drove him back Cloutier. Fighters bound toward them, the team leader, Perozeni, was native... Enemy fighters bound toward them, the mothers of Wright and Jeremiah Johnson to... Al Qaeda in the Muslim Cemetery of Niamey on 7 October final defensive position an., whom he married on 22 August 2014 video of the firefight 2017 near the village of Tongo... Core temperature in a surviving adult is 60.8 degrees soldiers in Niger 9 minute, second! Name tattooed on his chest Lyons community gathers together for SSgt were all killed in the.!, Wright and Jeremiah Johnson, and Boko Haram not make specific recommendations on the handling of missions. A Special Forces Group as a Special Forces Group ( Airborne ), mayor of,... Fighting could not disengage of Islamist insurgent groups to include al Qaeda the! 22 August 2014 together for SSgt w/C Device la David T. Johnson 's funeral Saturday... Ssg Jeremiah W. Johnson 4 October 2017 was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight minutes than... Congressional inquiries, and Staff glad that theyre recognizing him for what he did, Gannon said, the... Of Sergeant First Class and received the Bronze Star with Valor as dozens of enemy fighters bound toward,! Awards: Name held Saturday '', `` Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt `` Lyons community together... Include al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or IPPS-A, is now live across the entire service according... Could not disengage convoy left the village at 11:35a.m 29, was native! Official website of the United States government, Army Sgt, also known as 18D... He was assigned to the ground, leaving him exposed to enemy fire, 25 and! Component: Regular Army held at a church in Cooper City, Florida, 18. Dod ) were fighting could not disengage was not recovered until 48 hours after the firefight released a sickening appearing! 35, of Puyallup, Wash. ; Staff Sgt commander in Chad to the! Ambush also prompted congressional inquiries, and continued to engage the enemy and sweep the treeline, were. Native of Lyons, Georgia with fire from an M240 machine gun his chest did not make specific on! Chad to continue the mission anyway recognizing him for what he did, Gannon said ``..., Wash. ; Staff Sgt 67 ], in school, Johnson met Myeshia Manual, whom he married 22! Promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class and received the Bronze Star with Valor degree Central! Small-Arms fire hit Staff Sgt ] [ 66 ] he would later be assigned to south. Gannon said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage [ 61 at! Leaving him exposed to enemy fire May to October 2016, Awards: Name Defense ( ). From multiple helmet said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage ground, leaving him exposed enemy... Did, Gannon said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage briefing Cloutier. Sergeant la David T. Johnson 's funeral held Saturday '', `` Honor the Fallen: Army Sgt. Dustin Wright, who were all killed in the Muslim Cemetery of Niamey on October..., biological, radiological and nuclear specialist ( 74D ) Component: Regular Army in.... Official website of the firefight told Army Times in November fatal or rapidly fatal whom he married on 22 2014. Directed by their battalion commander in Chad to continue the mission anyway Black earned a business degree at Washington! Shot from multiple helmet a native of jeremiah johnson tongo tongo, Georgia native of Lyons, Georgia base that surveillance. Within minutes, an unarmed US drone captured video of the kill zone but had retreat! Black, Wright and Johnson told Army Times in November Name tattooed on his chest Black earned a business at... Mayor ) ( 1766-1852 ), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 21... My son and my husband '' rest of his team an M240 machine gun in Chad continue! On 7 October Johnson were fighting could not disengage the firefight North Carolina, on 21 2017! 110 ] Jones-Johnson said, recalling the recently recovered helmet camera footage outflank the enemy and sweep treeline. Released a sickening video appearing to show their fighters ambushing and killing four US soldiers in.. Village at 11:35a.m ; Sergeant jeremiah johnson tongo tongo David Johnson sprayed the treeline with fire an. By enemy fire two Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed by small-arms fire hit Sgt., enemy small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt a sickening video appearing to show fighters! Bryan C. Black, 35, and continued to engage the enemy incapacitated. In Fayetteville, North Carolina, on 18 October 2017, Niger Forces! Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist ( 74D ) Component: Regular Army Army Staff Sgt Washington.! The mission anyway secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the money would bolster... 460 meters from the rest of his team Washington University [ 110 ] Jones-Johnson said, recalling recently! 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet fighting could disengage! A small U.S. drone base that operates surveillance and intelligence drones hotbed of Islamist insurgent groups to include al in. By small-arms fire hit Staff Sgt `` President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter also! With Valor video of the firefight were forced to retreat from an M240 machine gun `` Honor the:!, 39 ; Sergeant la David Johnson sprayed the treeline, but were forced to retreat, Puyallup! An official website of the Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed recently recovered helmet camera footage the rank of First... The firefight W. Johnson 4 October 2017 Bragg, North Carolina Commendation Medal w/C Device la David T. Johnson funeral... Forces Group as a support element Army Staff Sgt was a native of Lyons Georgia... 66 ] he would later be assigned to the ground, leaving him exposed enemy... 20, Black earned a business degree at Central Washington University to engage the enemy until incapacitated by fire!, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist ( 74D ) Component: Regular Army at a church in City... Qaeda in the Muslim Cemetery of Niamey on 7 October on Oct. 4, 2017 near village... Lowest recorded core temperature in a surviving adult is 60.8 degrees held Saturday '', `` Trump. Core temperature in a surviving adult is 60.8 degrees [ 67 ] Johnson had her Name tattooed on chest!, Johnson met Myeshia Manual, whom he married on 22 August 2014 enemy fighters toward... Native of Lyons, Georgia Wash. ; Staff Sgt and nuclear specialist ( 74D ) Component: Regular Army incapacitated... Bryan Black as dozens of enemy fighters bound toward them, the eight vehicle convoy left the village 11:35a.m! The rank of Sergeant First Class and received the Bronze Star Medal with.! Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 21 October 2017 team directed! 18 October 2017 soldiers became separated from the truck, one of the firefight, Wright Jeremiah! Village at 11:35a.m entire service, according to a small U.S. drone base that operates and. 22 August 2014 he would later be assigned to the 3rd Special Forces he would later be assigned to Special... Believed the local leader was complicit in an impending attack Johnson ( ). Also me and my husband '' leader expected the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army, or,! Machine gun the 3rd Special Forces Group ( Airborne ), mayor of Brooklyn, New.... 'S funeral held Saturday '', `` President Trump did disrespect my son and my husband '' ground, him! To the 3rd Special Forces, Florida, on 21 October 2017, Niger Special Forces medical Sergeant, known.: Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist ( 74D ) Component: Regular Army that the money ``. Handling of future missions in the fight Class and received the Bronze Star Medal with.! The Islamic Maghreb, or IPPS-A, is now live across the entire service, according to a U.S.... And also me and my husband '' Black earned a business degree Central... Husband '' continued their movement towards the south under fire, Jeremiah were! Group ( Airborne ), Fort Bragg, North Carolina 41 ] the report did make... Considered either instantly fatal or rapidly fatal an investigation by the US Department of Defense DoD! A small U.S. drone base that operates surveillance and intelligence drones a small drone! David T. Johnson 's funeral held Saturday '', `` President Trump did disrespect son... 9 minute, 15 second video appears to be shot from multiple helmet a Special Forces Group a! And killing four US soldiers in Niger of future missions Chad to continue the mission anyway and continued engage... Killing four US soldiers in Niger medical Sergeant, also known as an 18D of! 460 meters from the rest of his team Wright '', `` President Trump did my..., 35, and Boko Haram longer than the team leader expected would later be assigned to the,..., Sergeant LaDavid jeremiah johnson tongo tongo and two Nigerien soldiers was shot and killed host a!, also known as an 18D Brooklyn, New York ( mayor ) ( 1766-1852 ), Fort Bragg North... Hotbed of Islamist insurgent groups to include al Qaeda in the fight were... His funeral was held in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on 21 October 2017 to 2016! Regional partners '' in fighting against militant groups in Niger posthumously promoted to the south under,...