1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: It is the Jesse Kelly Show on a very special 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: Memorial Day show where we take the entire show and 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: just honor the fallen, honor those who frankly can't hear it, 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: but it's still important for a country to remember them 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: and honor them. It's important for the future generations to 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: hear us honoring them. Joining me now, Javier Mackey, Javier, 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: before we get into Robbie Miller, who are you? Um? So, 8 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: I've served with Rob on the Special Forces Operational Detachment 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: two for two years, and uh I was his engineer, 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: he was the weapon sergeant. And we served together for 11 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: about two two and a half years on the on 12 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: the on our first both of our first team and 13 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: all retired. You know, I survived the event that Rob 14 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: gave his life for, but I went on to deploy 15 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: of several more times after that incident and later retired 16 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: out of the Army back in twenty eighteen. And I've 17 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: been enjoying my life as a civilion since. Who was 18 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: before we get to that day in the incident and whatnot? 19 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: Tell us tell us about Rob? Who was this guy? 20 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: What kind of guy was he? What did he love? 21 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: What did he hate? What what's did you guys, were 22 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: you close? Tell us about him? So, all right, So 23 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: we first met Robbie the day he arrived to the 24 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: team room, and I don't remember, but it was in 25 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: two thousand and five. I'm not sure which month of 26 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: the year it was, but we had been prepared prior 27 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: to his arrival that we were going to get a 28 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: eight He was part of the eighteen X Ray pro Gram, 29 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: which was a recruiting effort that recruited perspective green Berets 30 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: off the street and they had to be, like you know, 31 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: there's a lot of criteria they had to fit, one 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: of which they had to be twenty one years old 33 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: with some college experience. Robbie was one of those individuals. 34 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: And then in two thousand and five, after having gone 35 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: to basic training, completed Airborne School in all his requirements 36 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: for getting selected to be a Green Beret and the 37 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: Special Forces qualifications, he arrived to our team ready to go. 38 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: And when we met Robbie, so a little backstory to 39 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: our arrival. His arrival into the Army is a lot 40 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: different than ours than the guys who came ahead of him. 41 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: So our process of getting into to becoming a Green 42 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: Beret was a lot different. We had to first have 43 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: had at least four years in the army prior to 44 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: going to selection. We had to be an E four 45 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 1: or a specialist or a corporal promotable to sergeant before 46 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: going to the selection process. And then once you were selected, 47 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: there was no preparation course provided for us, and we 48 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: went to selection and while we were in the Q course. 49 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: Once you got selected, you go through the Q course 50 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: and that's where we started meeting these x rays and 51 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: everybody loved them because by the time they got to 52 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: the point where we were at, they were groomed to 53 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: be you know, they were they were groomed and they 54 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: understood the expectations that got them there. That being said, um, 55 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: when we got to our teams, you know, we got 56 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: the little bit of hazing from the guys when when 57 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: we got there and it was it was a little 58 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: rough for me. I'm gonna be a it was a 59 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: hard transition for myself. And so you know how it 60 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: is when you're the you've got just gone through the 61 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: gauntlet of being the new guy, and then you get 62 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: a new guy on the team. You're just waiting. Yeah, 63 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: so we were all waiting to see us younger guys 64 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: on the team. We were all having gone to everything 65 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: that we've gone through, we were waiting to see what's 66 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: going to re reaction. You know, how are they going 67 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: to retreat? How are the older senior guys going to 68 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: retreat the new guys. And Robert Robbie was the first 69 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: um eighteen X ray to walk through that door. And 70 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: when he walked through that door, the senior guys treated 71 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: him like he had been there for five years and 72 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: that he had a reputation, like they up and we 73 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: kind of looked at ourselves like w two e F dude, 74 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: what the heck? And we looked at this kid, and 75 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: there's nothing we can do but like him, because he 76 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: came in with this effectious smile, a little goofy, but 77 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: you can he was in shape and he knew his guns, 78 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: and so I was I was like, at first, I 79 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: was a little jealous, a little bitter because he didn't 80 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: get the same treatment and the same welcome that we 81 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: came in with. But I was glad that the team 82 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: had moved on from that mentality and welcome you know, 83 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: the next generation, and like, hey, you know, it was 84 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: kind of stupid to put these guys through what they 85 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: what they went through, and it's time to change that. 86 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: And so with with that, Sorry, sorry interrupt you real quick. Uh, 87 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: the the people listening, they aren't Green Berets, and I'm 88 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 1: certainly not a Green Bret. How big is a team? 89 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: What's a team made up of? What's he walking into? 90 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: All right? So he's walking into Each operational team has 91 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: a captain, all right? And then after the captain you 92 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 1: have a warrant officer. So the captain's MS is A 93 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: eighteen alpha and that's the Army's military Occupational Specialty numbering 94 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: code for that position. And then the warrant officer is 95 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: a warrant. A warrant officer is someone who was an 96 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: NCO at one point and became a tech technician, a 97 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: technician of sorts. So he is given the designation of 98 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: one eighty alpha. And the warrant officer is probably one 99 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: of the more he's probably the least spoken spoken about, 100 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:04,799 Speaker 1: but bar but is one of the key leaders within 101 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: a special forces attachment. Why what makes the warran officer 102 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: are so important? Again, I'm sorry, I'm sorry to interrupting again. 103 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Vier Mackey, former Special Forces. He's coming 104 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: on he's good to tell us pretty soon about Robbie 105 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: Miller Medal of Honor earner in Afghanistan. All right, why 106 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: why is the warr officers so important? Warrant officers like 107 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: they break like they analyze and break down the scope 108 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: of the mission and help us understand it better, help 109 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: the members of the team and understand it better. And 110 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: as with that, the captain, he's the face. He's the 111 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: face of the team, and he is the one who 112 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: who's talking to the He's the one leading, key leader 113 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: engagements with the local populace. He's the one selling the 114 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: missions to his fellow officers. Whereas the warrant officers he's 115 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: getting he's diving into the details of the mission. Um, 116 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: as far as the personalities of the guys that we're 117 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: going after, as far as the train analysis. I mean, 118 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: he's connecting the dots um of information and serves as 119 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: the chief of a chief of mission, you know, for 120 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: the for the captain, So the captain can focus on 121 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: his work. The team sergeant propus on his work, and 122 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: then um, the team sergeant who's the next important figure 123 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: on the team. He manages the NCOs the rest of 124 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: the team. Um, he is the is the glue that 125 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: keeps the team, the glue and the lubricant that keeps 126 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: the machine going. Um he is. He works hand in 127 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: hand with each of the seniors on the team. Um So, 128 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: he's the Zoo is the highest ranking NCO and the team. 129 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: And then you have the Bravo. The rest of the 130 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: These are just team guys, regular team guys on the 131 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: team from here, hold on, let me interrupt you again 132 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: real quick. We have to go to a quick break. 133 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: Will be right back with Javier MACKI. He's going to 134 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 1: tell us what this hero did in Afghanistan. Give us 135 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: just once, I could be right back. It is the 136 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: Jesse Kelly Show, and I don't want to waste any 137 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: time here. We have Javier Mackie Special Forces on the 138 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: phone with us right now, discussing a hero who gave 139 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: his life in Afghanistan. He just kind of laid out 140 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: the situation. What's the team look like? Okay, why do 141 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: I have a medal of honor citation in front of 142 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: me with this guy's name on it. What did he 143 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: do well, Robbie, Robbie, he led an assault. So let 144 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: me back up little bit. We um So, we were 145 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: on the night. So some sometime prior to January twenty fourth, 146 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: we received some information that um there was a high 147 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: value targeting in the area that we've been to before 148 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: and that there's an opportunity we can go capture, um 149 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: kill capture this this individual. So we started our mission 150 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: planning and Robert Miller was the junior um weapons sergeant 151 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: on the team, or the senior weapons sergeant on the team. 152 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: We had too at the time, and he his his 153 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: his soul responsibilities the weapons and training. So he while 154 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: he spent the lex that whole week part leading up 155 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: to the mission with along with another or other weapons sergeant, 156 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: getting our Afghans ready to conduct this mission. Along with myself, 157 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: I was the eight I'm the eighteen Charlie, the engineer 158 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: on the team, and my job basically is to get 159 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: the logistics down, making sure we have the vehicles ready 160 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: to go, and come up with any obstacle clearing plans 161 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: that we'll need to to disrupt on along the way. 162 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: So come January twenty fourth, we get this mission. We've 163 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: we've done the planning, we've done the rehearsals, and we 164 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: sent our afkhnd our Afghans away to go it gets 165 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: a little bit of R and R before this time 166 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: before we were about to execute this mission, and we 167 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: soon we got the green light to go and the 168 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: you know, we the plan was for us to link 169 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: up with our Afghans at a place called Checkpoint Delta, 170 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: which was about I don't know, eight kilometers north of 171 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: the firebase. We get there, Robbie and the team. We 172 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: get there and something was kind of off from the 173 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 1: get go. There was some confusion. We didn't recognize a 174 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 1: lot of the Afghans that were supposed to be there. 175 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 1: But nevertheless, we continue on with the mission. So we 176 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,839 Speaker 1: hopped in our trucks and we continue north and we 177 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: get about eight We get another about four or five 178 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: kilometers into the validy and we hit our first obstacle, 179 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: which was a boulder in the road. And then this 180 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: is important because there was only one road. There's no way, 181 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: there's no getting around this boat or because on one 182 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: side of the boulder is a mountain and on the 183 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: other side of the boulder is a river, and there's 184 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: no driving around it. So I was tasked to go 185 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: blow that boulder or up. I blew it up and 186 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: we continue forward and we got to these switchbacks and 187 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: the same thing again, approached another border boulder. Well sometimes sorry, 188 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: sorry to interrupt again. Speak with Javier Mackey Greenbray. He's 189 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: telling us a story. Is this something that's common? Are 190 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: you are these boulders in the road? Are you thinking 191 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: this is done on purpose? Or this is just the norm? 192 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: I mean it's a roadbut beside a mountain. Well, this 193 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: is definitely new that like we've spent by this point, Rob, 194 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: myself and the majority of the team has spent two 195 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: years in this valley, and we know the people, we 196 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: know the patterns, but this was new, totally new, And 197 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: so we come across the second boulder and we blew 198 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: it up. In between the interdiction of the first boulder 199 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: and the second boulder. UM, we get news from UM. 200 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: We have some assets available to us that let us 201 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: know that we're the guy that we were going to 202 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: where we were going, he wasn't no longer there. He 203 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 1: had moved across the river and he was hunkered down 204 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 1: on the east side of the river. This river runs 205 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 1: north from the south. So we continue on to this 206 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: little plateau and it's still dark outside then it was. 207 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: It was a very cold night. We had the moon 208 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: having quite the moon hadn't quite crescent over the mountains, 209 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: so we're still in the in the shadow of the 210 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: lunar skylight, and we're in this deep valley and we 211 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: line up for trucks and we did something that not 212 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: a lot of people can say that they did during 213 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: UM in Iraq or in Afghanistan, and it's set up 214 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: an ambush to normally we're getting ambush, but in this 215 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: point we were able to set up an ambush with 216 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: left and right security, just like you would do in training, 217 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: and ambush our enemy. And this is a very rare occasion, 218 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: so we were all both. The only differences we had 219 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: a terrain feature, this river in between us and the 220 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: people we were ambushing, and once it was confirmed that 221 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: these guys were walking out, we opened up our ambush 222 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: and we unleashed a hell fire of destruction on these 223 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: guys that lasted for quite a bit because there they 224 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: were still shooting back at us. And Robert Millner, who 225 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: was in our second truck, he was manning the Mark 226 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: nineteen and this is an automatic grenade launcher that sheets 227 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: a forty millimeter linked grenade and it's a it's about 228 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: fifty rounds or thirty two rounds of pure hate coming 229 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: at you if you don't you know, if you only 230 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: have one can linked together, but we usually have two 231 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: or three cans linked one mortar box. And he was 232 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: he was getting his gun on on that and that 233 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: this firefight goes on for an undetermined amount of time. UM. 234 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: At the same time we're having we have ISSR or 235 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: we have an aircraft on the station that's identified its 236 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: marking targets for us, and we're shooting, and Robbie Miller's 237 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: pretty much directing fires. UM where the ISSR would with 238 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: an aircraft platform would indicate where there were a troop movement, 239 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: and he would hit it up with the mark nineteen 240 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: and we would um shoot at those at at his 241 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: at his markings. UM. Later cease fire was called Javier, 242 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: I'm sorry to do it again. It's sticking radio. It's 243 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: the way it is. Javier Mackie is being good enough 244 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: to give us some real, a real story about a 245 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: hero that we lost here on this Memorial Day. We 246 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: are going to go to another quick break. We're going 247 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: to be back so he can continue. And I'm glad 248 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,199 Speaker 1: you are taking your time and walking us through this. 249 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: So people can understand the situation. He's gonna come back 250 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: and he's going to continue to tell us what this 251 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: man did, what he's sacrificed for this country, for you, 252 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: for me, for his teammates. Mostly. I'm sure we'll be 253 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: right back on the Jesse Kelly Show. It is The 254 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: Jesse Kelly Show on a Memorial Day special to honor 255 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: the fallen, and I'm gonna go right back to him, 256 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: so I know you're on the edge of your seat. 257 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 1: I am as well. Javier Mackie Special Forces is joining us. 258 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: He has been telling us leading up to Robert Miller 259 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: gave his life in Afghanistan. When I'm middle of honor 260 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: doing it. We have a citation. I can read it 261 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: for you, but it doesn't even come close to doing 262 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: justice to what he did. So I'm gon hand the 263 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: floor back to Javier. Javier, please continue. You guys just 264 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,360 Speaker 1: bushed a bunch of guys and you're making their lives miserable. 265 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: Wouldn't continue, So the captain calls cease fire. Each of 266 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,360 Speaker 1: the leaders from the trucks consolidate and it's been decided 267 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: we have to go conduct a what they call it 268 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: battle damage assessment from Harold almacologist a BDA. What that 269 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: basically is, we're going to identify whether or not we 270 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: actually killed who we were going after, or we can 271 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: capture them if they're still alive and positively identify if 272 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 1: there is no other civilian casualties or damage is done. 273 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: And so this is numb this is normally done to 274 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: cover our butts, but it's also done to just to 275 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 1: reaffirm that we actually did what we are there to do. 276 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 1: And so we have to go north a little bit 277 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: when we cross a bridge, and then we head back 278 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: south where they ambush. Where we ambush the individuals coming 279 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: out of the compound where they were and from what 280 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: I can tell in the darkness, they had policed up 281 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: all their bodies and it was really hard to determine 282 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: people that we hit. So that being said, just to 283 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 1: give them three description. So as we're walking south down 284 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: the river's now on the right side of our of 285 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: our patrol and it's and the trail starts to open up. 286 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: It's a thin trail, it's about a meter or so wide, 287 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: and it starts to open up where we have some 288 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 1: level terraced agricultural rocky rocky terrain and to the right 289 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: to the left is a mountain. So we have this 290 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: mountain off to our left gently sloping up into a 291 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: ridge a finger, like a finger like land mass that 292 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: protrudes downward, and at the tip of the finger would 293 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 1: be a like a little draw. And on the other 294 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: side of that draw was like another finger like ridgeline 295 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: that comes down going towards the river. At that little 296 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: intersection where the draw was and those two fingers met 297 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: was a boulder. And where Robbie's upfront because he speaks Bashtu, 298 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: he speaks French, he speaks Russian. The kid when he 299 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: came to the team knowing multiple languages, and while he 300 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: was in Afghanistan, he pushed that he learned Dari and Pashtu, 301 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: and he was the strongest in Dari and Poshtu outside 302 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: of our interpreters who are also with us. And so 303 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,959 Speaker 1: he was helping out with hurting the cats of the 304 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: Afghans that were in the patrol alongside us. So we 305 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 1: get to this point where we're crossing this little rocky 306 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: outcove going towards where this boulder is, and the Afghans 307 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,719 Speaker 1: who are up front, this is their country, you know, 308 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: we're putting them up front and then you know, you 309 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: hear this oliwa akbar, and the next thing you know, 310 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: you know, you hear automatic gunfire coming from the boulder 311 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: toward our direct action, and our patrol opens up. The 312 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: Afghans who are with this they just bug out. They 313 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: they're gone. They run towards the river because there was 314 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: some cover in that area, and a marine who was 315 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: attached to us, he's trying to get them back into 316 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: the fight. So Robbie is left in the front of 317 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: this of the formation with myself, staff Sargeant Nick McGarry, 318 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: staff Sergeant Rob gutierres and Airfon our interpreter right behind him. 319 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: And then behind our little formation is the headquarters, like 320 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: the team sergeant, the captain, the warrant officer are eighteen 321 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: Fox who's our intelligence in CEO, and one other person 322 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: I can't remember at the time, but anyway, the captain 323 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: gets hit in his open volley. Now we're being ambush. 324 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: We just walked into a near ambush. And so immediately 325 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: Rob who's up front where that boulder was, Rob interdicts 326 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: the guy with the machine gun and he kills him. 327 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: And as now this is in the dark now and 328 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: the aircraft that's above has this infrared light that only 329 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: can be seen in under our nods, and so they're 330 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: marking targets that are in our area, and they flood 331 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: They actually flooded this little withdraw where Rob was kind 332 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:36,199 Speaker 1: of stuck at and it was nothing but him and 333 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 1: act you know, insurgents and and so he's by himself. 334 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: I'm about about fifty meters behind him, and we're dealing 335 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: with our own problems that I will go into later. 336 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: At this time, Rob is, he's he's he's operating the 337 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: saw a two forty nine. This is a small squad 338 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: automatic weapon and it shoots a five to five to 339 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: six round belt fit gun. And he had a chopped 340 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: down version of it, and he didn't he was the 341 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,719 Speaker 1: only one in our patrol that didn't have a suppressor. 342 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: So he is he engaged and killed fifteen to twenty 343 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 1: five people within a three minute span. He also threw 344 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 1: numerous hand grenades before he was hit during his exchange 345 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 1: of fire. He was hit in the right underneath his 346 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: right armpit. It was a through and through the last 347 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: words he said, was great contact. And he was heading 348 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: towards me and we and you know, this is a 349 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: this is a mission that we did everything according to 350 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 1: our soop, and everything went down according to our sop 351 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: up until up until this happened. And and so you know, 352 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: Rob laid down his final burst of gunfire, killing five 353 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 1: of the remaining guys in his area, which we were 354 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: still trying to deal with at the same time. So 355 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: at the same time when Rob got was hit, he said, 356 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: you know, break contact. What had been going on with us? 357 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: Is my captain? He was, like I said, he was 358 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: the first one in the exchange of fire to get hit, 359 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 1: and he was down. And they were about another fifty 360 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: meters behind the position where we're apt, where gautierres and 361 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: Nick Geary and I were. We were trapped basically in 362 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: the X and we were still getting you know, we 363 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 1: were taking effect of gunfire at less than twenty five 364 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: meters and um, lucky for us, we didn't have We 365 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: had suppressed him fours and we were able to interdict 366 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: our targets effectively thanks to the IR platform identifying enemy 367 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: combatants behind a wall that were that was like five 368 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: ten meters away from our area, and it was playing 369 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: whacka moole for like ten minutes. And during that time, 370 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,679 Speaker 1: backs changed the fire I was hit. I received my 371 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: first gunshot to the chest, and I stayed in the fight. 372 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 1: It hit my magazine I had. We had at the 373 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:35,199 Speaker 1: time the Army started issuing these still magazines, and I 374 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: mean I didn't really build the impact until I went 375 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: to go grab for a magazine and I couldn't. I 376 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: couldn't use it. I couldn't use it to shoot my weapon. 377 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: I hear Rob say, great contact. So I changed bags 378 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: and I go straight to you know, I'm suppressing. I'm 379 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: going to suppressive fires and he gives this last burst 380 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,479 Speaker 1: and I do I wait for him to pass me 381 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: I can do my automatic verse and he didn't, and 382 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: so I look over. I hit my our floodlight on 383 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: my rifle to see what was happening, and he was down. 384 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 1: So I remember getting up and running over to you know, 385 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: saying Rob's hit and I ran up to him to 386 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 1: see if you know, maybe he tripped or whatever, and 387 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: he was on his last breath, and I went quickly 388 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: went back and I told the guys, I going, hey, 389 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: look Rob's head. I need you guys to come help me. 390 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: So mcgeary, Rob Utierrez and myself ran through gunfire to 391 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: go back to Robbie to start rendering first aid, and 392 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: Nick McGarry provided covering fire during that maneuver. He stayed 393 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: there with the interpreter, who also provided some security for him. 394 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: Mind you, we're still we're still in the X, We're 395 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: still in the kill zone of the fired of their 396 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 1: of the enemy's ambush, and and we're doing the best 397 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: we can to get ourselves out of it. And during 398 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: this time period our tack, our sop wasn't really I 399 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: kind of broke our sop at this point by going 400 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 1: to Rob, which under normal circumstances we would have left 401 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: them there until we had gotten the fire superiority and 402 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 1: the ability to outmaneuver the enemy and didn't get to 403 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 1: him as quick as possible. But I broke protocol on 404 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: that and went directly to him with the jatach, which 405 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 1: was another big no no. He's the one guy controlling fires, 406 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: so under gunfire, we started to render first aid to Rob. 407 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: And it is at this time where I realized that 408 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,439 Speaker 1: Rob was did. It was a thrilling through. I couldn't 409 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: find the gunshot mon at first. When I finally did, 410 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: it was a chess you know, I applied a chess 411 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: seal to it, and from that point on it was 412 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: there was nothing else I can do. I didn't find 413 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: an exit wound until later, and I mean there was 414 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: nothing I can do about it. I've beat myself up 415 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:09,719 Speaker 1: over it for years, and I've come to accept that 416 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: nobody would have survived that gunshot wound. And it's important 417 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: that I continue to tell this story because hopefully both 418 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: Rob Gautiers and Nicholas McGarry, who are both up for 419 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: the Middle you know they've been recommended for the Middle 420 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 1: of Honor as well, their stories need to be told. 421 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 1: And I'll continue to tell the story as I know it. 422 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: Rob gutierres continue to fight it out while Nick McGarry 423 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: continued to deal with the hold on, hold on you. 424 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: I'm sorry to do it again, my brother. I think 425 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: it's probably a great time. Let me let me pause 426 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 1: and bring you back again. I just don't want to. 427 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: I don't want to interrupt this story. I don't want 428 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 1: to screw it up. So hang on real quick on 429 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: the Jesse Kelly Show. We'll be right back so Javier 430 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: Mackie can finish this up. Please. It is the Jesse 431 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: Kelly Show, back again with Javier Mackie telling us the 432 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: story of Robbie Miller Medal of Honor earner in Afghanistan 433 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: and a couple other Green Brays who were up for 434 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: the Medal of Honor. Javier, I'm sorry to interrupted had 435 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: to do that again. Please continue, sir, so Rob Gutiers 436 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: and ourselves where we're at this point where we have 437 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: to make some really tough decisions asked to movement of 438 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: Robbie's body and um figuring out how are we gonna 439 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: complete this mission. And so it was determined that Rob 440 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: Gutierrez was going to call in some more He's going 441 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: to call in some aircraft strengthen runs with a ten. 442 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: I mean they were going to be danger close and 443 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: between and between the gun runs, We're going to attempt 444 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: to move Rob's body. So the aircraft came through, they 445 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: got their clear hot and you know, they rained down 446 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: their weaponarian on top of us. At about it was 447 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 1: danger closed whatever danger close by definition and in the 448 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: Air Force rags and Army regulations, we very well meant 449 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: that criteria. And in between gun runs, be attempted to 450 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 1: move Rob's body and we just couldn't do it. I mean, 451 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: the rock the terrain was rocky between trying to get 452 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: this weapon and all this other stuff. It was just 453 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 1: too hard. And then the second gun run came in, 454 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: and after that gun run came in and came a 455 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: hell fire of RPG gun fire and small arms fire 456 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 1: from from one of the ridge lines from a top 457 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: of and so Rob and I we we interdicted those 458 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: targets to be suppressed their fires. And by this time 459 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 1: the marine who had been trying to herd the cats 460 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: with the Afghans had reappeared and he was like, hey, 461 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: I'm here, and we you know, I made the determination. 462 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: I was like, all right, hey, we're gonna jump over this. 463 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: There's a wall behind us, and we're gonna go over 464 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: this wall. We're going to try to communicate to our 465 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: headquarters guys, who are you know, a couple hundred meters 466 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 1: behind us, that what the situation is, and see if 467 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: they can maneuver up to our position. What ended up 468 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: happening was I realized I gotten shot again, and this 469 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: time it hit the shoot to talk, the push to 470 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: talk to my radio. The only operating radio that we 471 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: had was the j TAX and he was controlling he 472 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: was controlling an air with it. The decision was made 473 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 1: by Gautier's that he was going to maneuver with the 474 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,719 Speaker 1: marine to a different spot to suppress, to get more 475 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: casts or you know, so close air support fires on 476 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 1: various aspects of the terrain so that I can maneuver 477 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 1: back to the CCP and report everything that was going on. Now, 478 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: mind you that we still have an element of guys 479 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: across the river, you know, pulling security, but they couldn't 480 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: fire because in between because we were a position in 481 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: between them and the enemy. So the only people that 482 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 1: could actually fire were those who were on the ground, 483 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: and that was you know Gautier's mcgeary, what was Rob 484 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 1: Miller who we had to leave behind, and the marine 485 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: and the rest of the team. So I eventually made 486 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: it back to the CCP and Nick McGary he had 487 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:44,960 Speaker 1: made it back. Now, Nick, well, when we went to 488 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 1: go fight it out with to go pull Rob Nick 489 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: was pulling security with our interpreter and Nick was He 490 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: had effectively taken out eight guys that were you know, 491 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 1: I mentioned the Blackamole situation. He effectively taken out eight 492 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: to twelve guys that was behind this wall, but with 493 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 1: by himself. You know, that fight handernd awesome and back 494 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,160 Speaker 1: um and we like this is like we're getting back 495 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: to the firebase and he's telling us everything that would happen, 496 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: that happened, um, and he's clearly shaken up. I think 497 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 1: I'm the most damaged at this point, you know, after 498 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,239 Speaker 1: being shot twice and now I'm seeing my you know, 499 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: having robbed die in my arms, and now I'm looking 500 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 1: at my captain. My captain is blue and uh trying 501 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 1: to take it all in and uh so Nick, Nick McGarry, 502 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: he put us in the security posture, we robbed Utier, 503 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: secured the area for a metavac and then on the 504 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 1: first birth that came, they put myself uh in the 505 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 1: in the uh captain cusick on the bird because he 506 00:33:55,200 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 1: was injured. So what happened after that was the Nick 507 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: McGarry linked up with Rob Gutierrez along with the rest 508 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 1: of the team, and a organized a counter assault. Between 509 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 1: the two of them, they use the cast, the cast 510 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 1: on the aircraft and they're maneuvering on the ground to 511 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 1: out maneuver the out maneuver the enemy, killing several more 512 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 1: and then being able to recover the body of Rob Miller. So, 513 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 1: Javier m is there anything else anyone else you want 514 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: to acknowledge really quickly before we sign off. And I 515 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 1: cannot thank you enough for sharing the story of obviously 516 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:49,839 Speaker 1: not just not just Robbie Miller, of all of all 517 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: you heroes. My goodness, fan is there is there anyone 518 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 1: else needs a quick acknowledgement before we go? Third Special 519 00:34:55,160 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 1: Forces Group, third Battalion is where we hild we have 520 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: I think right now to see Rob Miller, Matt Williams, 521 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 1: rob Ron Schirter. You know, we have three solid melvan 522 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: Or recipients and I hand you know, there's easily a 523 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: you know, a couple of other dozen more that can 524 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:21,360 Speaker 1: say that we're outstanding heroes for the last twenty years. 525 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: And we fought side by side for twenty years in 526 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 1: Afghanistan without complaining. We loved what we did. Along the way, 527 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: we lost a lot of our good friends, and you know, 528 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: it's really hard to talk about. I'm trying to hold 529 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: it back, but that's what today is, That's what this 530 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,400 Speaker 1: weekend is all about. It's not about the hamburgers and 531 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,880 Speaker 1: hot dogs. Is about remember our buddies and remembering you know, 532 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 1: the values of winter Nation is mounted on and an 533 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: I just want to tell you that was outstanding. I 534 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 1: know that was not easy. The country is better off 535 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:04,359 Speaker 1: for having heard his story and the story of all 536 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 1: you heroes. Simperfy, my brother, Simperfy. I told you it 537 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: was going to be a heavier, different show. All right, 538 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:12,880 Speaker 1: we have more A Memorial Day.