An Analysis Of The Battle Of Takur Ghar (Roberts Ridge) In March 2002, With LTG(R) Frank Kearney and CPT Nate Self

On March 3, 2002, as part of Operation Anaconda, SEALs (SEAL Team 6) from Task Force 11 infiltrated by helicopter to establish an observation post on the summit of Takur Ghar, a 3,191m high mountain in the Shah-i-Kot Valley in Paktia Province, Afghanistan. The peak dominates the valley below, and the intent was to use the OP to monitor enemy movement (Al Qaeda) through the Arma Mountains, as Operation Anaconda cleared the valley below of an estimated 1000+ insurgents and foreign fighters. As the SEALs approached the LZ, they received hostile RPG and machine gun fire from well entrenched enemy forces on the mountain top. As their stricken MH-47 Chinook took evasive action and struggled to remain in the air, Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts fell from the helicopter. The Chinook flew out of the engagement area and crashed, and the remaining SEALs advanced up the mountain to regain contact with Roberts. During their fight with the entrenched Al Qaeda insurgents, Air Force Master Sergeant John Chapman was cut off. Once the SEALs’ MH-47 was downed, CPT Nate Self’s QRF (Quick Reaction Force) from 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was alerted. Immediately, CPT Self began receiving conflicting information about the mission, which was either to secure a downed aircraft or to recover missing service members, and he began to plan accordingly. CPT Self’s QRF departed Bagram Air Base in two MH-47s. As the Ranger QRF approached the hot LZ on Takur Ghar they received intense and accurate fire. At 06:10, Self’s aircraft was shot down, but fortunately the pilots maintained enough control to land the helicopter despite being grievously wounded, and the mini-gun operator, SGT Philip Svitak, was killed. Immediately, three of CPT Self’s Rangers, CPL Matt Commons, SGT Brad Crose, and SPC Marc Anderson, were killed attempting to exit the aircraft. The other Ranger MH-47 helicopter, having been temporarily diverted to Gardez, landed the remaining members of the QRF 800m east and 610m below the mountain top, and those Rangers immediately began the grueling 2-hour climb to the summit through three feet of snow. At the top of Takur Ghar, CPT Self was in a desperate battle, and his medics were fighting to save the lives of the wounded. Later in the day, medic Senior Airman Jason Cunningham was killed in an enemy counterattack. The battle lasted over 14 hours and, in addition to the forces on the ground, multiple sorties from many aircraft supported the beleaguered Rangers and SEALs. At 20:15, the Rangers and SEALs were exfiltrated from Takur Ghar. In this interview, LTG(R) Frank Kearney and CPT Nate Self discuss the background for US involvement in Afghanistan, their experiences during the Battle of Takur Ghar, and their decision-making process, highlighting the decision about when to conduct the exfiltration and rescue the wounded. They include advice for Cadets and young leaders about focusing on the fundamentals, training, and planning.