This is the Operation that the book and movie "Lone Survivor" is based upon. The operation lasted until mid July 2005.

In 2011, I was at FOB Wright (ABad) in Asadabad located in the Kunar Valley of Afghanistan. It is 7 miles from where the operation took place. I learned that there were six other Medal of Honors earned within 10 miles of Abad. It was not a nice place to be.

Abad is also right across the valley from where Operation Strong Eagle III (Battle of Barawala Kalay Valley) took place beginning March 28 2011. I watched this battle take place. It is the battle that the documentary movie "The Hornets Nests" covers.

I have flown over the Korangal Valley and have driven pasts its junction with the Pech Valley many times.
Its is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. An outdoor recreationist's dream.
Very southern Colorado/ northern New Mexico except the Himalaya's are the back drop.

I was very fortunate that it was nothing like that when I got there, about 2 years after you. I think the bad dudes were just content to ride out the time until we left. All the smaller COPs and bases had collapsed to Wright. The guys we replaced were at Honaker-Miracle before pulling back to Wright. FOB Joyce was closed when we were there. Still, my gun section (because my CoC only sent one gun section to Wright to support 2 ODA teams and our cav squadron) were the only gun in my battalion to schwack bad dudes. As a gun chief it was fun to lord that over the rest of my peers who were firing illum rounds during the day to scare off bad guys and we were dropping 155mm HE for folks who got into TICs.

Absolutely beautiful country up there, I love mountains. I've told multiple people I'd love to vist and camp up there if it was possible.

ETA when I was told I was going to Wright I instantly googled it and was like a WebMD google, all the casualties in Kunar and the MOHs awarded in the area, and heavy enemy contact I thought this won't be good. I asked my 1SG for any advice or tips since I'd never been to Afghanistan and just Iraq and all I got told was "I don't wanna see videos or pictures of y'all firing in just tan tshirts". Just muttered Jesus Christ and walked away. Ended up shooting multiple times in crocs and PT gear with my plate carrier

JABQ04 said:

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I was very fortunate that it was nothing like that when I got there, about 2 years after you. I think the bad dudes were just content to ride out the time until we left. All the smaller COPs and bases had collapsed to Wright. The guys we replaced were at Honaker-Miracle before pulling back to Wright. FOB Joyce was closed when we were there. Still, my gun section (because my CoC only sent one gun section to Wright to support 2 ODA teams and our cav squadron) were the only gun in my battalion to schwack bad dudes. As a gun chief it was fun to lord that over the rest of my peers who were firing illum rounds during the day to scare off bad guys and we were dropping 155mm HE for folks who got into TICs.

Absolutely beautiful country up there, I love mountains. I've told multiple people I'd love to vist and camp up there if it was possible.

ETA when I was told I was going to Wright I instantly googled it and was like a WebMD google, all the casualties in Kunar and the MOHs awarded in the area, and heavy enemy contact I thought this won't be good. I asked my 1SG for any advice or tips since I'd never been to Afghanistan and just Iraq and all I got told was "I don't wanna see videos or pictures of y'all firing in just tan tshirts". Just muttered Jesus Christ and walked away. Ended up shooting multiple times in crocs and PT gear with my plate carrier.

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Korangal Valley was over that big mountain to the left side of the picture.

This was normal "look" ( No crocks or tan shirts) until they folded them up and flew them out one night.
They shot down the Aerostat one day.
Also had the experience of them firing the Excaliber rounds. Sent everyone to hard cover then blasted away. I have pictures of them blasting away at Ranger Mountain just across the valley.

Left the ODA's to shoot with their 120's which they were very good at doing.

Was at Mertharlam for a week and the visitors quarters was right next to the two Triple 7s there. Needless to I got absolutely no sleep for that week.

Was searching pictures on line and came across for Lynn Redman. She is the nurse that worked on me and my truck crew who had become casualties in an MRAP wreck on March 28,2011.
We were flown back to the FST at Abad. Unfortunately, one did not make it. She told me it was hard working on us because she knew all of us. She mentioned the battle across the valley that cause all the casualties to flood in.

Lt. Commander Lynn Redman.