Pech river valley afghanistan

Over the past few months, the ana independently conducted several patrols, successfully clearing the area of. Jul 12, 2017 a small stream flows from high up in the korengal and meanders down through the valley before emptying into the pech river. Patrick dubois was a lieutenant, deployed as a kiowa helicopter pilot in afghanistan. Troops strive to hold the line in pech valley afghanistan stripes. They were stationed at cop michigan in the mouth of the deadly korengal valley. Photos of women adorn the wall, above a shelf containing grenades, in u. The kunar river is a tributary of the kabul river, part of the indus river basin.

Tales from afghanistan provides a raw and real look into operation enduring freedom through interviews and archival footage. Aug 31, 2011 a us army vehicle fires on taliban positions on a mountainside, outside a base in the pech river valley of afghanistan s kunar province on oct. As the afghans tell the story, from the moment the americans arrived in. Nangalam, afghanistan each day in this hot summer fighting season, the thundering boom of u. In the pech valley, pashto as well as askunu language is spoken. Feb 25, 2011 the withdrawal from the pech valley, a remote region in kunar province, formally began on feb. May 11, 2011 artillery fire in afghanistan pech river valley smokybob63. Located at the mouth of the korengal valley in afghanistan, it was often referred to as the most dangerous place on earth.

Nangalam, at the junction of the pech and waygal rivers, is the largest town in the district. The military projects that it will last about two months, part of a shift of western forces to. The pech river valley, the bulldogs current area of operations, is a very rural area in the remote kunar province of northeastern afghanistan where the insurgent base remains strong despite the. Formerly inhabited by speakers of a pech valley dardic indic language called nangalami, the village was destroyed by afghan troops in 1978. Mathew standford, who was peppered with shards from the metal door, joined the growing ranks of the wounded at this remote combat outpost in afghanistan s restive pech river valley in kunar province, which borders pakistan.

I was in the pech valley from late april 2010 until early november 2010, so. In the past the people of the korengal and pech river valleys were. A us army vehicle fires on taliban positions on a mountainside, outside a base in the pech river valley of afghanistans kunar province on oct. Pech, afghanistan fighting was the norm in pech, a mountain valley in eastern afghanistan. Tactical nav is dedicated to the screaming eagles of the 101st airborne division air assault, and the brave warriors who were killed fighting in the pech river valley of afghanistan in 20102011. Security forces begin operations in the pech river valley. Kunar province, afghanistan an f15 eagle fighter jet screams low across the floor of the pech river valley in eastern afghanistans kunar province for a show of force right after a firefight with insurgents and troops from company d, 2nd battalion, 35th infantry regiment, task force cacti, 3rd brigade combat team, 25th infantry division. The 101st airborne division unit heads out on patrol as part of their larger mission to establish security in the pech river valley. Us repositions troops in eastern afghanistan fox news. Pech river valley, afghanistan in this wild and outlaw region of rugged mountains, where fighting is a way of life, insurgents fire down onto u. You should be excited about this for a number of reasons. Operation stone steps training enables afghans to stand on. An interview with staff sergeant ramses martinez about his squads involvement in the pech river valley of the kunar province in afghanistan. The river rises in central nuristan province and flows south and southeasterly through the center of kunar province, joining the kunar river asmar river, loy seend at the provincial capital of asadabad.

Pulling back in afghan valley it called vital the new. The city is located within a valley at the confluence of the pech river and kunar river between two mountain ridgelines running along both sides of the valley from northeast to southwest. Why i joined the military writers guild justin lynch medium. The big guns at camp blessing, the 1st battalion, 327th infantry regiments headquarters in. A multimedia project on soldiers from gun dog company, 235th infantry regiment, 3rd bct, 25th id, task force bronco securing the pech river valley in eastern afghanistans kunar province for a hum.

Ten years in afghanistans pech valley united states institute of. After conducting an air assault onto the high ground. When the american military was there, they faced the same challenges the afghan forces do today. Korengal abandoned, pech river valley still problematic. Anyone who served in that country will probably have a similar story, and if you want to watch a movie that is told directly from that perspective, then the pech river boys documentary is the film for you. The mountainous terrain physically and culturally isolated the.

Accessible through a narrow road along a fastflowing mountain river, the valley proved ideal terrain for taliban ambushes and improvised explosive devices planted along roadsides to target afghan and international troops. The river has numerous tributaries forming valleys on both sides. The districts of watapur, darae pech locally called manogai and chapa dara collectively constitute pech dara, where most of the estimated 100,000 residents are members of the pashtun safi tribe. The pech river valley, the bulldogs current area of operations, is a very rural area in the remote kunar province of northeastern afghanistan where the. Pech river valley, afghanistan in this wild and outlaw region of rugged mountains, where fighting is a way of life, insurgents fire down. As an aside, jim has done and is doing some of the best reporting coming out of afghanistan. Marines from task force lava conduct a pech river crossing in armored vehicles while a soldier from company a, 27th engineer battalion, part of task force spartan, observes. I left the pech river valley of afghanistan in 2009, proud of what my battalion accomplished. Afghanistans heart of darkness combating terrorism center at. Tales from afghanistan official trailer is finally live. Feb 24, 2008 but down the road along the pech river valley, the rest of the safis opposed the korengalis. The valley is formed by a right tributary of the pech river. A small stream flows from high up in the korengal and meanders down through the valley before emptying into the pech river. Ferocious fighting in the steep mountains above the pech river.

Tactical nav is dedicated to the screaming eagles of the 101st airborne division air assault, and the brave warriors who were killed fighting in the pech river. Tales from afghanistan will be a documentary film to preserve. These include the chapa dara, waygal, korangal valley site of the film restrepo, watapur, and sharyak valleys. Peace returns to afghanistans valley of death gandhara rferl. Oct 15, 2010 kunar province, afghanistan afghan national security forces, with support from international security assistance force members, began operations today in the pech river valley aimed at denying. Kiowas in the pech river valley modern war institute. S marines patrol in afghanistan combat footage duration. Us and afghan forces have wrapped up a weeklong operation in the eastern pech river valley in kunar province.

The main pech river valley and its extensions into the korangal and wanat waygal valleys were the scene of some of the fieriest fighting. Security forces begin operations in the pech river valley dvids. As the afghans tell the story, from the moment the americans arrived in 2001, the pech valley timber. The afghan government maintains offices at the pech river valley, the entryway to korengal. Now comes james foleys report on the pech river valley area. Petraeus, the top commander in afghanistan, visited soldiers in the pech river valley march 31st to show his appreciation and support for. The film itself follows an infantry platoon in the pech river valley of afghanistan. Jalalabad airfield, afghanistan, may 5, 2006 coalition forces and afghan. But down the road along the pech river valley, the rest of the safis opposed the korengalis. If youre interested in what else the the captains journal has to say, you might try thumbing through the archives and. Watapur valley and the pech river region of afghanistan had a long history of armed conflict.

Near the confluence of these two rivers a tiny bridge spans the gap. Hes with 4th platoon, dagger company of the 2nd battalion, 12th infantry regiment, at combat outpost nangalam in the pech river valley of afghanistans kunar province on. Tales from afghanistan is a short documentary film about bravo company 3rd platoon 27in of the 101st airborne divisions deployment. One day, about halfway through the deployment, he was part of a mission to provide support to a ground force in the pechthe valley of the pech river surrounded by rugged mountains, where some of the most intense fighting. The korengal is keeping the pech river valley safe, the pech is keeping kunar province stable, and hence what we are hoping is all that takes the pressure off kabul. It is made up of one major river valley and several small contributing valleys. But since terrorists operate in the pech river valley, we are here to eliminate them. The withdrawal from the pech valley, a remote region in kunar province, formally began on feb. Why i joined the military writers guild justin lynch. In afghanistan, kunar is a rare forested valley carved by the kunar river, which. The pech river system is fed from glaciers and snow from the hindu kush range to its north.

Artillery fire in afghanistan pech river valley smokybob63. Troops strive to hold the line in pech valley afghanistan. One day, about halfway through the deployment, he was part of a mission to provide support to a ground force in the pechthe valley of the pech river surrounded by rugged mountains, where some of the most intense fighting of the war in afghanistan took place. Ten years in afghanistans pech valley the web site cannot be. An f15 eagle fighter jet screams above the pech river valley, in eastern afghanistans kunar province, for a show of force, right after a firefight between insurgents and troops from co. Jun 20, 2016 the film itself follows an infantry platoon in the pech river valley of afghanistan. Jun 06, 2011 but since terrorists operate in the pech river valley, we are here to eliminate them. First, it was made by vets, for vets, to honor the memory of a brother that fell in the notorious pech river valley. Today, the american military rarely moves into the valley, but handpicked afghan commandos, some trained by the cia, fight constantly with militants there. Our area of operations was far less violent than when we arrived, and we had built strong relationships. Their police execute raids and patrols in a continuing attempt to shut down or limit the shadow government operating there. Aug 22, 2019 the districts of watapur, darae pech locally called manogai and chapa dara collectively constitute pech dara, where most of the estimated 100,000 residents are members of the pashtun safi tribe. Mar 01, 2015 in may 2010, bravo company 3rd platoon 27in of the legendary 101st airborne division was deployed to the pech river valley located in afghanistan s kunar province. The pech valley is the face of the war in eastern afghanistan.

What follows is my imperfect reflection on the retrograde movement from the pech river valley in 20102011. All of the video you see in the documentary that is in afghanistan, was recorded by the soldiers themselves. These are the accounts from the men of bravo company 3rd platoon 27in. Apr 28, 2015 i left the pech river valley of afghanistan in 2009, proud of what my battalion accomplished. Tf cacti helps afghan police establish footprint in pech. Jalalabad airfield, afghanistan, may 5, 2006 coalition forces and afghan contractors continued the early stages of work may 3 on a permanent bridge over the pech river. This adds a certain level of authenticity that most documentary films miss. Afghan army ambitions meet limits in violent pech valley. In may 2010, bravo company 3rd platoon 27in of the legendary 101st airborne division was deployed to the pech river valley located in afghanistans kunar province.

Pech and the neighboring korangal valley have been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the nearly 10yearold afghan war. Soldiers joined forces with afghan national army soldiers to complete the final phase of operation bulldog bite in the pech river valley in eastern afghanistans kunar province nov. This article is filed under the categorys afghanistan,kunar province,pech river valley and was published august 11th, 2010 by herschel smith. During the operation, which the top us commander in the east claimed dealt a huge blow to the enemy, 49 taliban fighters and six us soldiers were killed. Kunar province, afghanistan afghan national security forces, with support from international security assistance force members, began operations today in. The vast majority of kunars population is pashtun, with the pechbased safi. Korangal valley is a valley in the daraipech district of kunar province in eastern afghanistan. Accessible through a narrow road along a fastflowing mountain river, the valley proved ideal terrain for taliban ambushes and improvised explosive devices planted along roadsides to. Jul 12, 2010 the pech river valley, the bulldogs current area of operations, is a very rural area in the remote kunar province of northeastern afghanistan where the insurgent base remains strong despite the. Sep 07, 2011 the pech valley is the face of the war in eastern afghanistan. Regular readers know my position on abandoning the pech river valley in afghanistan, and chasing the insurgents into their havens to kill them, so there is no need to rehearse that issue. Aug 11, 2010 nangalam, afghanistan each day in this hot summer fighting season, the thundering boom of u. It is located in the eastern portion of the country adjacent to pakistan. Progress in the pech river valley clarksville, tn online.