Washington, D.C. — The Department of Defense (DoD) has released a statement of the names of three soldiers that were killed in Niger assigned to the U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces Group based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Green Berets Staff Sergeant (SSG) Bryan Black and SSG Dustin Wright along with SSG Jeremiah Johnson were confirmed by the DoD as being killed in action on Wednesday after a large terrorist force from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) ambushed the Green Beret team and its Nigerien counterparts in southwestern Niger.
Green Berets Micheal Perezoni and Brent Bartels were wounded in the fire fight and were medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional U.S. Army Medical Center in Germany.
Department of Defense press release:
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Dear Chair Rangers of the Puzzle Palace: Regarding Risk Assessment of ops, any ops, in West Africa, High Danger. From potty breaks to patrols, burn pits to bungle in the jungle - it's ALL bad guys, big time. For the past many years I've been listening to the African officers for whom I've been a civilian sponsor while they spend their year at Ft. Leavenworth's CGSC. There is no variance to the stories. Between (name that terrorist group) and the in-country uprisings related to growing pains of young wannabe democracies, the results are the same for "advisors" and UN blue hat forces alike: Danger! Danger, Will Robinson! To put any other spin on this always volatile environment is an insult to everyone's intelligence as well as their professional efforts and attitudes. I've had guys spend 18 mos at DLI/CGSC, go home for two weeks with their families, then join multinational forces all over Mali or South Sudan. I follow the military news all over the continent as closely as possible because our CGSC grads are everywhere, and guys from our military partners all over the world are serving all over Africa with us. In the midst of ambushes, bombings, village burnings and open assaults, they send me pictures of themselves interacting with civilian children, families, entertainers (!) to show that the mission is more than armament. I am so sorry that these members of an ODA met such an end. More than any other service, the focus, philosophy and training of this Special Forces appeals to my heart, mind and soul. They bring to bear intellectual, military, social, medical, engineering - hell, you name it, they'll find a way to Bring It - to bear in their intersect. I know this is amphibean hq, but my years downhill from the Piedmont at Seymour made me partial to my neighbors in Pineland. I'm a homer, not ashamed to admit it. Rest In Peace, Green Berets. You will be missed.
The deaths of these men will create heartache well beyond their loss to families, friends, and teammates. It already sounds like the propaganda wheels are churning out blame and denial. My prayers go out to all of those that are truly impacted by the loss of these brave men. May their deaths not be in vain.
Stand by your Servicemen and Women in war and in peace , In uniform or civies. Rest In Peace and Lest We Forget
It is so hard to hear that the four warriors lost from the Green Beret team, after having given selfless service, and made the ultimate sacrifice, are not being properly honored by the Pentagon. This would be too hard to bear if it wasn't for the fact that we know these brave, devoted men suffer no more, and rest peacefully in the arms of their heavenly Father. But their brothers- in- arms, their families, and the whole country is left to mourn them, and to hear they are being thrown under the bus by their own govt is so unjust and unconscionable. The Pentagon needs to offer up the truth, and give these men the honor they have earned and so deserve. Praying for justice!
My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and fellow brothers in arms for Staff Sgt. Black, Staff Sgt. Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Wright. May you all rest in peace. Your battle is now over. You have fought your last fight. You gave your all to your country. I thank God there are men like you willing to bring the fire to the fight. Like everyone else, it ticks me off when our government sends people out to do our business and then distances themselves when things go bad. Asshats...