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[ crickets chirping ]
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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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♫♫
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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REPORTER: We learned overnight
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that at least three
U. S. Special Forces
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were killed in an ambush in
the African country of Niger.
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REPORTER #2: Officials say
a joint U. S. Nigerien patrol
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was ambushed by suspected
Islamic militants
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near the Mali border.
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REPORTER #3: The names
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of the American
Special Forces soldiers
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is being withheld,
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subject
to next‐of‐kin notifications.
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MAN ON TV: You must not draw
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until that clock makes the
first chime of the hour.
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Once that happens, you may fire
at your convenience.
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ARNOLD: I was sitting here
watching TV.
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It was like 10:30 at night,
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and somebody knocked
on the door.
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I didn´t know who it was,
so I got up
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and I went to the door
and I opened the door.
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And I want to say it was
a captain and a master sergeant.
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They were in dress blues,
and I knew.
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I just said, "No, no, no."
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♫♫
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I mean, I just knew because
they don´t show up
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at 10:30 at night
unless he´s dead.
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♫♫
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♫♫
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[ sighs ]
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TERRI: "Attached for your review
and action,
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this US‐AFRICOM´s completed
investigation conducted..."
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‐ "...pursuant
to Army Regulation 15.6..."
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‐ "...and to the facts and
circumstances surrounding..."
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‐ "...the enemy contact event
that occurred..."
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‐ "...on 4 October 2017..."
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‐ "...in Tongo Tongo, Niger."
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♫♫
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[ gunfire ]
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♫♫
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[ gunfire continues ]
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♫♫
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♫♫
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[ gunfire continues ]
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♫♫
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♫♫
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[ crickets chirping ]
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ARNOLD: My first thought was
"What the hell happened?"
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And it was like
I got shot or something.
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I mean, it was like my insides
just went empty.
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I almost fell down.
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The master sergeant, he said,
"You´re number one on the list.
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Number two is Will."
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And so I came to Will´s house.
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WILL:
At about 11:30 that night,
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two officers showed up,
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and, uh, they told me,
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"On behalf of a grateful nation,
we regret to inform you
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that your brother
has been killed in action."
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♫♫
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♫♫
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ARNOLD: And then Will drove
all the way to Brunswick,
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which is about 90 miles away,
to tell Dustin´s mom.
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♫♫
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TERRI: It was the worst day
of my life.
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♫♫
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Opening that door
and seeing Will
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and Mandy and my mom
and my sister standing there.
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And in that instant,
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I knew that something was wrong.
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But it took me a minute
to get it.
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♫♫
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It really took me a minute.
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All I can say is, "No."
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"No."
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♫♫
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♫♫
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[ train whistle blowing,
bell ringing ]
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REPORTER #4: Tonight,
we are getting no details
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beyond this statement
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that U. S. forces have come
under hostile fire
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in this area of southwest Niger
near the border with Mali.
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They are not offering
any other details.
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We will stay on this story...
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KAREN: I had come home from work
and sat down in the living room,
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kind of do, you know, the little
relaxing kind of thing
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and check the news.
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And while I was on my phone,
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a little news alert popped in
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that there was an incident that,
um, had just happened in Nigeria
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along the Mali border.
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And it was like, "Uh‐oh,"
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and that got my ‐‐
my, uh, attention
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and, uh,
I had a real bad feeling.
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HENRY:
Karen called me at work.
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She said that something
had happened in Niger.
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And I said, "Okay,"
and, uh, hung up.
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I went to a friend
of mine there.
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I said, "Hey, my son´s deployed,
and we heard about something.
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Pray for my son."
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And then Karen called me
at whatever time it was
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to say that she had gotten,
uh, the knock on the door.
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♫♫
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KAREN:
There´s nothing really to say.
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I mean, at that point,
it´s shock.
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You just...
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I don´t really even
remember reaction.
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♫♫
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HENRY: I couldn´t leave
till the next morning,
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and so I spent, uh,
just a grief‐filled...
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grief‐filled night.
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Just ‐‐ just unimaginable...
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thoughts.
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♫♫
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[ bell tolling ]
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REPORTER #5: The three
Green Berets who were killed
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and the two wounded
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were on a patrol
with the Niger soldiers
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when they were ambushed.
It is not clear...
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REPORTER #6:
The American soldiers
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were part
of a Green Beret battalion
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called the Bush Hawks,
assigned to train
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and assist the Nigerien army
in fighting terror.
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‐ Did the biscuits get in?
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Two piece, dirty rice,
mac and cheese.
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I was at work.
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Morning was going normal
and somebody turned around
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and said, "Debbie,
your husband´s here."
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And I went, "No, he´s not.
He´s in Texas."
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Okay.
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Somebody else said, "No, Deb,
your husband´s here."
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I turned around and saw him
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and my mother´s health
isn´t that good.
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So I looked at him
and I thought,
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"He´s only home
if it´s my mother or my son."
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And this may sound terrible,
but I was thinking,
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"God, let it be my mother."
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And as I got closer to him,
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I could tell by the look
on his face,
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it wasn´t my mother.
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♫♫
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♫♫
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I told him he was lying to me.
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That couldn´t be Jeremiah.
He was too good.
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There had to be a mistake.
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♫♫
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♫♫
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♫♫
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MYESHIA: My dad called me,
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and he was like,
"Hey, babe, where you at?"
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I said, "Oh, I´m out.
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I´m doing some errands
for auntie really fast.
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What happened?"
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He said, "Because the Army
people at the house for you."
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I said, "What?"
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He said, "The Army people
at the house for you."
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I said, "Okay, I´m coming right
now. I´m coming right now."
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♫♫
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We get there.
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They tell me, um...
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that they was
in, um, a rapid gunfight.
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And as of October 4th,
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Sergeant La David Johnson´s
whereabouts is unknown.
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I asked him, I said,
"What you mean ´unknown´
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Like, you can´t find him,
you don´t know where he at?"
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They told me, "No."
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After that, I couldn´t eat,
I couldn´t sleep,
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I couldn´t do anything,
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I´m just sitting here
wondering about,
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"Where is my husband?"
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"They gonna find him."
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That´s what I´m saying
to myself.
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They gonna find him.
They gonna find him.
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Then I get a call
saying that, um,
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they have an American soldier
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and they are willing
to do a trade
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or something like that.
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MEEK: For who?
‐ They didn´t say for who.
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They just said they willing
to do a trade.
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In my mind, they still
didn´t find my husband.
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I don´t know what´s going on.
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So any little thing
that somebody tells me,
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I´m thinking,
"Could this be my husband?
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Could this be my husband?"
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‐ If I can go back
and figure out
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who gave them that first report,
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I´d fucking choke the shit
out of them.
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I mean, it´s just ‐‐
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It´s egregious
that somebody would share
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that unconfirmed report
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with them and...
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Unconscionable that the family
would be given
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conflicting statements.
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‐ I didn´t hear anything else
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until my casualty
assistance officer
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came to my home October 6th.
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And he told me,
as of October 6th,
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00:10:42,262 --> 00:10:46,762
Sergeant Johnson went
from missing in action to KIA.
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Everybody went bananas.
212
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I was screaming and crying.
213
00:10:52,902 --> 00:10:55,962
My mother‐in‐law
was throwing, um, glasses
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00:10:55,962 --> 00:10:58,462
and screaming and crying.
215
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She falling on the floor,
just throwing things.
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00:11:02,302 --> 00:11:03,702
COWANDA: Aunt Rachel
used to always say,
217
00:11:03,702 --> 00:11:07,362
Lord, please take her before
you take one of her children
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00:11:07,362 --> 00:11:10,502
because she´s gonna go insane.
219
00:11:10,502 --> 00:11:14,402
October 6, 2017,
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00:11:14,402 --> 00:11:16,562
was the day
I think I went insane.
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00:11:18,702 --> 00:11:20,632
REPORTER #7:
The Pentagon´s Africa Command
222
00:11:20,632 --> 00:11:22,232
does not know for sure
223
00:11:22,232 --> 00:11:25,002
if this American soldier
was wounded
224
00:11:25,002 --> 00:11:27,132
and alive on the battlefield
225
00:11:27,132 --> 00:11:31,862
and if he was even, for a brief
time, in ISIS hands.
226
00:11:31,862 --> 00:11:34,232
MEEK: Did that phone call,
the memory of that,
227
00:11:34,232 --> 00:11:36,062
sort of leave you
with lingering doubt
228
00:11:36,062 --> 00:11:37,702
about whether La David
was captured?
229
00:11:37,702 --> 00:11:39,702
And today,
do you think he was captured
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00:11:39,702 --> 00:11:43,832
or have you been convinced
that he died fighting?
231
00:11:44,602 --> 00:11:48,502
‐ At that moment, yes,
I believed that...
232
00:11:48,502 --> 00:11:51,332
I felt that my husband
was captured.
233
00:11:51,332 --> 00:11:53,162
REPORTER #7:
This is a serious incident.
234
00:11:53,162 --> 00:11:55,602
Very little information
being publicly offered
235
00:11:55,602 --> 00:11:58,032
by the U. S. military.
236
00:11:58,032 --> 00:12:01,662
‐ It was a very frustrating time
for me
237
00:12:01,662 --> 00:12:03,902
and I think for everybody
in the Pentagon
238
00:12:03,902 --> 00:12:07,602
to not have a clear
239
00:12:07,602 --> 00:12:10,502
and really, um...
240
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♫♫
241
00:12:14,202 --> 00:12:16,762
...we felt accurate description
242
00:12:16,762 --> 00:12:19,062
of what had transpired
on the ground.
243
00:12:21,602 --> 00:12:23,602
I served 28 years on active duty
244
00:12:23,602 --> 00:12:25,602
as an Army Special Forces
officer
245
00:12:25,602 --> 00:12:30,162
and most recently served
as a senior civilian executive
246
00:12:30,162 --> 00:12:32,062
in the Office
of Secretary of Defense.
247
00:12:32,062 --> 00:12:34,962
♫♫
248
00:12:34,962 --> 00:12:40,502
I was recognized for my actions
during the 4‐day battle
249
00:12:40,502 --> 00:12:43,962
to retake the fortress
at Qala‐i‐Jangi...
250
00:12:43,962 --> 00:12:45,062
[ gunfire ]
251
00:12:45,062 --> 00:12:46,602
...which had been seized
252
00:12:46,602 --> 00:12:51,032
by 600 Al Qaeda
and Taliban prisoners.
253
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[ gunfire continues, explosion ]
254
00:12:55,662 --> 00:12:58,662
SOLDIER:
[ shouts indistinctly ]
255
00:12:58,662 --> 00:13:02,362
MARK: I received
the Distinguished Service Cross.
256
00:13:02,362 --> 00:13:04,862
On October 4, 2017,
257
00:13:04,862 --> 00:13:06,832
I was the acting
Assistant Secretary
258
00:13:06,832 --> 00:13:08,932
for Special Operations.
259
00:13:08,932 --> 00:13:10,832
I think there were
multiple factors
260
00:13:10,832 --> 00:13:14,262
that contributed
to the, um, inability
261
00:13:14,262 --> 00:13:17,132
to get a complete picture
early on.
262
00:13:17,132 --> 00:13:18,832
First of all, the fog of war
263
00:13:18,832 --> 00:13:22,602
certainly contributes
at the tactical level,
264
00:13:22,602 --> 00:13:25,532
but there seemed to be
a reluctance
265
00:13:25,532 --> 00:13:30,162
to share the full scope
of everything that was going on.
266
00:13:30,162 --> 00:13:32,232
REPORTER #8: The week ended
the same way it began ‐‐
267
00:13:32,232 --> 00:13:34,202
with questions
about why President Trump
268
00:13:34,202 --> 00:13:37,162
still hasn´t addressed
the ambush in Niger.
269
00:13:41,732 --> 00:13:43,302
‐ Thank you all very much.
270
00:13:43,302 --> 00:13:45,602
REPORTER #8: The Pentagon has
launched a full investigation.
271
00:13:45,602 --> 00:13:48,502
FBI agents on the ground
in Niger to assist.
272
00:13:48,502 --> 00:13:49,902
DAVID MUIR:
In a rare moment today,
273
00:13:49,902 --> 00:13:51,802
the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs, General Joseph Dunford,
274
00:13:51,802 --> 00:13:54,132
coming before the cameras
after the President today
275
00:13:54,132 --> 00:13:56,632
would not answer questions
sent his way.
276
00:13:56,632 --> 00:13:59,562
‐ I think first and foremost,
in this particular case,
277
00:13:59,562 --> 00:14:02,762
we owe the families as much
information as we can find out
278
00:14:02,762 --> 00:14:04,032
about what happened.
279
00:14:04,032 --> 00:14:06,532
REPORTER #8: On the Hill,
frustration is growing.
280
00:14:06,532 --> 00:14:08,362
REPORTER #9: Members of Congress
are now asking
281
00:14:08,362 --> 00:14:11,732
whether this was a failure
of intelligence or preparation.
282
00:14:11,732 --> 00:14:13,262
MICHAEL WALTZ:
Even if there were mistakes,
283
00:14:13,262 --> 00:14:14,762
if there were mistakes
from the team
284
00:14:14,762 --> 00:14:17,232
or there were mistakes
in the chain of command,
285
00:14:17,232 --> 00:14:18,902
the families deserve the truth.
286
00:14:18,902 --> 00:14:22,502
I mean, I think that´s truly
the heart of the issue here.
287
00:14:22,502 --> 00:14:26,462
The families deserve the facts
of what happened.
288
00:14:26,462 --> 00:14:28,832
RAY: We asked,
"What exactly went wrong?
289
00:14:28,832 --> 00:14:31,432
Why did these four men
lose their lives?"
290
00:14:31,432 --> 00:14:35,062
And no one would
give us an answer.
291
00:14:35,062 --> 00:14:39,432
♫♫
292
00:14:39,432 --> 00:14:40,932
MEEK: I spent years
investigating
293
00:14:40,932 --> 00:14:42,632
the friendly‐fire death in Iraq
294
00:14:42,632 --> 00:14:45,102
of Private First Class
David H. Sharrett II
295
00:14:45,102 --> 00:14:47,562
with his dad, Dave Sharrett Sr.,
296
00:14:47,562 --> 00:14:50,062
who was my high school
English teacher.
297
00:14:50,062 --> 00:14:52,002
In 2018,
Dave and his wife, Vicki,
298
00:14:52,002 --> 00:14:54,132
went down to a retreat
in Tennessee
299
00:14:54,132 --> 00:14:56,562
for families
of fallen service members,
300
00:14:56,562 --> 00:14:58,862
and they met Ray
and Debbie Gannon,
301
00:14:58,862 --> 00:15:00,462
who approached them and said,
302
00:15:00,462 --> 00:15:03,262
"Our son was killed
a few months ago in Niger.
303
00:15:03,262 --> 00:15:06,062
We don´t think the Army
is leveling with us.
304
00:15:06,062 --> 00:15:07,332
We don´t know what to do."
305
00:15:07,332 --> 00:15:10,732
So, Dave said, "Talk
to my former student James."
306
00:15:10,732 --> 00:15:13,102
And he put them
on the phone with me.
307
00:15:13,102 --> 00:15:14,902
And we talked and I told them
308
00:15:14,902 --> 00:15:17,062
that I had had concerns
since the incident
309
00:15:17,062 --> 00:15:19,702
in Tongo Tongo happened
that the full truth
310
00:15:19,702 --> 00:15:23,132
was not being told
to the American public.
311
00:15:23,132 --> 00:15:27,102
And so I promised Jeremiah
Johnson´s mother, Debbie Gannon,
312
00:15:27,102 --> 00:15:30,102
that I would not rest
until I knew what was knowable.
313
00:15:30,102 --> 00:15:33,532
♫♫
314
00:15:33,532 --> 00:15:37,002
♫♫
315
00:15:37,002 --> 00:15:38,362
BRAD:
Thank you for joining us today
316
00:15:38,362 --> 00:15:40,902
in remembrance
of our fallen brothers.
317
00:15:40,902 --> 00:15:42,532
My name is Colonel Brad Moses.
318
00:15:42,532 --> 00:15:44,062
I´m the 3rd group commander.
319
00:15:44,062 --> 00:15:47,732
On 4 October, Team Quallam
and their Nigerien partners
320
00:15:47,732 --> 00:15:50,002
were attacked by an enemy
that didn´t want them
321
00:15:50,002 --> 00:15:52,832
to make this small spot
in the world a better place.
322
00:15:52,832 --> 00:15:54,062
MEEK: When did you first feel
323
00:15:54,062 --> 00:15:56,132
like there was something wrong
with the story?
324
00:15:56,132 --> 00:15:57,802
Or when was the first moment
when you were like,
325
00:15:57,802 --> 00:15:58,932
"Whoa, wait a minute"?
326
00:15:58,932 --> 00:16:00,862
COWANDA:
When Colonel Moses came in,
327
00:16:00,862 --> 00:16:03,232
and from the time
he starts talking,
328
00:16:03,232 --> 00:16:06,232
it just seemed to me
everything was a lie.
329
00:16:06,232 --> 00:16:08,832
Because I had already
had someone already came
330
00:16:08,832 --> 00:16:11,102
and spoke to me
about another story.
331
00:16:11,102 --> 00:16:13,202
So I´m thinking when he came,
332
00:16:13,202 --> 00:16:16,162
it was gonna be exact
same story that I heard before,
333
00:16:16,162 --> 00:16:17,862
but it was totally the opposite.
334
00:16:17,862 --> 00:16:19,762
Colonel Moses told me
335
00:16:19,762 --> 00:16:22,662
that La David
was in the back of the truck.
336
00:16:22,662 --> 00:16:24,462
The truck hit the tree.
337
00:16:24,462 --> 00:16:29,932
And La David ‐‐ He said
that La David flew 900 meters
338
00:16:29,932 --> 00:16:31,732
and wind up in the bushes.
339
00:16:31,732 --> 00:16:32,932
[ laughing ] Yes.
340
00:16:32,932 --> 00:16:34,802
So I looked at him
and I told him,
341
00:16:34,802 --> 00:16:37,662
"You must think I´m really...
I´m really crazy
342
00:16:37,662 --> 00:16:39,162
to believe a story like that."
343
00:16:39,162 --> 00:16:43,332
‐ Just stuff that they said
didn´t add up at all.
344
00:16:43,332 --> 00:16:47,362
Everybody came telling me
different things.
345
00:16:47,362 --> 00:16:51,202
First day, um, Moses came
to my auntie house,
346
00:16:51,202 --> 00:16:53,462
sat on a couch saying
347
00:16:53,462 --> 00:16:57,032
that my husband, um, was
on the back of the truck
348
00:16:57,032 --> 00:16:59,232
shooting a machine rifle.
349
00:16:59,232 --> 00:17:01,902
They hit a tree.
He flew off.
350
00:17:01,902 --> 00:17:04,332
Then he say he was
the one driving the truck.
351
00:17:04,332 --> 00:17:05,332
So which one was it?
352
00:17:05,332 --> 00:17:07,332
Did he hit the tree and flew off
353
00:17:07,332 --> 00:17:10,032
or was he driving the truck?
354
00:17:10,032 --> 00:17:14,062
Everybody was just
saying anything
355
00:17:14,062 --> 00:17:18,962
because they know that mission
went horribly wrong.
356
00:17:18,962 --> 00:17:22,802
And it was gonna be a lot of
fingers to point and to blame.
357
00:17:23,862 --> 00:17:25,402
‐ The ODA caught
in a near ambush,
358
00:17:25,402 --> 00:17:27,732
made a decision to plant
their feet and fight.
359
00:17:27,732 --> 00:17:30,402
MEEK: Colonel Moses refused
to do an on‐camera interview,
360
00:17:30,402 --> 00:17:32,532
but he denied to me on the phone
361
00:17:32,532 --> 00:17:34,162
that he ever
gave conflicting information
362
00:17:34,162 --> 00:17:37,232
to the Johnson family
regarding La David´s death.
363
00:17:37,232 --> 00:17:39,232
However, the first
and most consistent thing
364
00:17:39,232 --> 00:17:41,662
I was told
by all the family members
365
00:17:41,662 --> 00:17:44,602
was that they, too,
had received dubious
366
00:17:44,602 --> 00:17:48,102
or conflicting information
from the military.
367
00:17:48,102 --> 00:17:49,632
WILL: The immediate report
368
00:17:49,632 --> 00:17:51,532
was that
he had been killed in combat
369
00:17:51,532 --> 00:17:54,732
and it had been by mortar fire.
370
00:17:54,732 --> 00:17:58,032
Mortar fire was the explanation
for his death.
371
00:17:58,032 --> 00:17:59,702
I didn´t have any reason
to think otherwise,
372
00:17:59,702 --> 00:18:02,862
but I viewed his body.
373
00:18:02,862 --> 00:18:06,302
I served for seven years
and saw my share.
374
00:18:06,302 --> 00:18:09,962
And what a mortar does
to the human body ‐‐
375
00:18:09,962 --> 00:18:12,832
shrapnel and fire ‐‐
is a lot different
376
00:18:12,832 --> 00:18:16,562
and is much more graphic
and ‐‐ and sinister
377
00:18:16,562 --> 00:18:18,562
than small‐arms fire.
378
00:18:18,562 --> 00:18:21,802
And he was not charred flesh.
379
00:18:21,802 --> 00:18:26,802
He was a man who had stood
his ground and fallen
380
00:18:26,802 --> 00:18:31,102
by small‐arms‐fire bullets
riddling his body.
381
00:18:33,202 --> 00:18:36,602
So the autopsy report was where
it really started clicking
382
00:18:36,602 --> 00:18:39,632
that something didn´t add up.
383
00:18:39,632 --> 00:18:41,732
DEBBIE: I had a gut feeling
when I heard all this
384
00:18:41,732 --> 00:18:44,402
from the very beginning
that something wasn´t right.
385
00:18:44,402 --> 00:18:49,202
I had already been
somewhat speaking with, uh...
386
00:18:49,202 --> 00:18:51,032
Dustin´s family,
387
00:18:51,032 --> 00:18:56,202
and what they were being told
and what we were being told
388
00:18:56,202 --> 00:18:58,602
were two different things.
389
00:18:58,602 --> 00:19:04,002
And I´m thinking, "Well, Dustin
and Jeremiah were side by side,
390
00:19:04,002 --> 00:19:08,602
so there can´t be
different stories."
391
00:19:08,602 --> 00:19:10,832
And that´s when I´m going,
392
00:19:10,832 --> 00:19:14,402
"Now I know
we´re being lied to."
393
00:19:14,402 --> 00:19:17,432
‐ And that´s the only damn thing
I asked him to do
394
00:19:17,432 --> 00:19:20,002
from the very beginning.
395
00:19:20,002 --> 00:19:21,832
Just tell me the truth.
396
00:19:26,632 --> 00:19:32,132
♫♫
397
00:19:32,132 --> 00:19:37,832
♫♫
398
00:19:37,832 --> 00:19:40,702
♫♫
399
00:19:40,702 --> 00:19:42,662
TERRI:
Everybody knows Afghanistan.
400
00:19:42,662 --> 00:19:44,262
Everybody knows Syria.
401
00:19:44,262 --> 00:19:46,762
Everybody knows those places.
402
00:19:46,762 --> 00:19:49,702
They don´t know about
Niger, Africa.
403
00:19:51,502 --> 00:19:55,002
I didn´t realize that...
404
00:19:55,002 --> 00:19:56,932
we even needed troops there.
405
00:19:59,602 --> 00:20:00,962
DEBBIE: I never thought
406
00:20:00,962 --> 00:20:02,662
there was anything
going on over there.
407
00:20:04,332 --> 00:20:07,262
Absolutely nothing.
408
00:20:07,262 --> 00:20:09,632
Never heard it on the news,
409
00:20:09,632 --> 00:20:12,802
never saw anything
that was going on over there.
410
00:20:14,202 --> 00:20:16,532
Had no idea
we had troops over there.
411
00:20:18,632 --> 00:20:19,762
MYESHIA:
I used to always tell him,
412
00:20:19,762 --> 00:20:21,132
"Make sure you stay alert.
413
00:20:21,132 --> 00:20:25,332
You know, don´t let
your guard down with nothing."
414
00:20:25,332 --> 00:20:26,802
And he reassure me.
He was like,
415
00:20:26,802 --> 00:20:28,562
"No, My, it´s not
nothing like that.
416
00:20:28,562 --> 00:20:29,932
You know, we´re just
going over here to train
417
00:20:29,932 --> 00:20:32,162
the African soldiers
and stuff like that."
418
00:20:32,162 --> 00:20:35,362
And I ain´t think nothing
about ISIS
419
00:20:35,362 --> 00:20:38,462
and stuff over there
coming to get him.
420
00:20:38,462 --> 00:20:40,632
No. That was the least
of my worries.
421
00:20:40,632 --> 00:20:45,362
♫♫
422
00:20:45,362 --> 00:20:50,102
♫♫
423
00:20:50,102 --> 00:20:53,402
ALAN: Having been in Iraq
and Afghanistan previously,
424
00:20:53,402 --> 00:20:56,132
there´s just
a different mindset in Niger.
425
00:20:56,132 --> 00:20:57,362
But I would never fool myself
426
00:20:57,362 --> 00:21:00,362
and think nothing could happen
in West Africa.
427
00:21:00,362 --> 00:21:02,102
We know why we were there.
428
00:21:04,102 --> 00:21:08,002
I joined the Army because
I wanted to serve others.
429
00:21:08,002 --> 00:21:12,632
I wanted to make a difference
in the world.
430
00:21:12,632 --> 00:21:14,932
I do not come
from a military family.
431
00:21:14,932 --> 00:21:17,432
I think most of
my military influence
432
00:21:17,432 --> 00:21:20,232
came from too many movies
as a child,
433
00:21:20,232 --> 00:21:22,262
probably watched "Rambo"
one too many times.
434
00:21:22,262 --> 00:21:23,862
And I´m not afraid
to admit that.
435
00:21:25,132 --> 00:21:28,102
As a Special Forces
Detachment Commander,
436
00:21:28,102 --> 00:21:30,862
when I was a captain
leading a 12‐man team
437
00:21:30,862 --> 00:21:34,132
in both eastern Afghanistan
and southern Afghanistan,
438
00:21:34,132 --> 00:21:35,962
we saw quite a bit of combat.
439
00:21:38,362 --> 00:21:39,702
In Niger,
440
00:21:39,702 --> 00:21:44,402
I was the advanced operations
base Niger commander.
441
00:21:45,602 --> 00:21:48,032
We were partnered
with Nigerien forces.
442
00:21:48,032 --> 00:21:51,402
We were there to work with them
because there was a very real
443
00:21:51,402 --> 00:21:53,932
and active threat in West Africa
444
00:21:53,932 --> 00:21:56,632
in the form of both
Al Qaeda affiliates
445
00:21:56,632 --> 00:21:58,462
and Islamic State affiliates,
446
00:21:58,462 --> 00:22:00,362
not to mention some other ones,
447
00:22:00,362 --> 00:22:03,162
kind of an alphabet soup
of threat forces out there.
448
00:22:03,162 --> 00:22:06,062
[ all yelling
in foreign language ]
449
00:22:06,062 --> 00:22:09,402
♫♫
450
00:22:09,402 --> 00:22:12,762
♫♫
451
00:22:12,762 --> 00:22:14,032
[ horns honking ]
452
00:22:18,462 --> 00:22:21,232
MOUSSA: The biggest problem now
is this area
453
00:22:21,232 --> 00:22:23,962
near the Malian border.
454
00:22:23,962 --> 00:22:25,932
These guys are very mobile.
455
00:22:25,932 --> 00:22:28,662
They move on motorcycles,
land cruisers.
456
00:22:28,662 --> 00:22:30,532
Any time we have
an encounter with them,
457
00:22:30,532 --> 00:22:34,402
we will just try to [inaudible]
and then cross the border.
458
00:22:34,402 --> 00:22:37,662
In normal time, you don´t see
them in large group.
459
00:22:37,662 --> 00:22:41,562
So just like scattered
in villages, you know,
460
00:22:41,562 --> 00:22:43,402
they have those small camps
461
00:22:43,402 --> 00:22:47,332
that only will group
to conduct an attack.
462
00:22:47,332 --> 00:22:49,702
‐ Surprise to us, we still
can´t get towards the enemy.
463
00:22:49,702 --> 00:22:51,232
Let´s go to Quallam.
464
00:22:51,232 --> 00:22:52,802
‐ Yeah.
465
00:22:52,802 --> 00:22:56,102
Stabilizing this part
of the world
466
00:22:56,102 --> 00:23:00,662
is part of the overall
global, like, uh,
467
00:23:00,662 --> 00:23:03,632
fight against, uh, evil.
468
00:23:03,632 --> 00:23:05,462
[ explosion ]
469
00:23:05,462 --> 00:23:08,802
♫♫
470
00:23:08,802 --> 00:23:11,502
DONALD: This environment
in Africa is no joke.
471
00:23:11,502 --> 00:23:15,232
It is just like Afghanistan,
just like Syria, just like Iraq,
472
00:23:15,232 --> 00:23:17,662
but it doesn´t get
the resourcing
473
00:23:17,662 --> 00:23:20,862
because it´s not
a combat environment, right?
474
00:23:20,862 --> 00:23:23,662
But it is a combat environment.
475
00:23:23,662 --> 00:23:26,062
And so stop putting lipstick
on the pig.
476
00:23:26,062 --> 00:23:27,862
It is what it is.
477
00:23:27,862 --> 00:23:30,102
[ all yelling
in foreign language ]
478
00:23:30,102 --> 00:23:31,762
DONALD: Most foreign fighters
479
00:23:31,762 --> 00:23:33,702
that joined the fight
in Afghanistan,
480
00:23:33,702 --> 00:23:36,802
Iraq, and Syria and other places
come from North Africa.
481
00:23:36,802 --> 00:23:40,402
They´re all now
starting to come back.
482
00:23:40,402 --> 00:23:44,732
Most of the designated
what they call terrorist groups,
483
00:23:44,732 --> 00:23:49,262
um, by the State Department
reside in Africa.
484
00:23:49,262 --> 00:23:54,232
♫♫
485
00:24:28,902 --> 00:24:34,802
♫♫
486
00:24:34,802 --> 00:24:40,662
♫♫
487
00:24:40,662 --> 00:24:46,632
♫♫
488
00:24:46,632 --> 00:24:50,062
♫♫
489
00:24:56,062 --> 00:24:57,032
ALAN: Alright,
so we´re getting ready
490
00:24:57,032 --> 00:24:59,102
to fly out to see Team Quallam.
491
00:24:59,102 --> 00:25:00,262
This will be
my first time out
492
00:25:00,262 --> 00:25:04,132
to see the guys
since we´ve gotten here.
493
00:25:04,132 --> 00:25:06,632
People are familiar
with the show "The A‐Team."
494
00:25:06,632 --> 00:25:09,002
"The A‐Team" is modeled
off of an ODA,
495
00:25:09,002 --> 00:25:10,862
an Operational Detachment Alpha,
496
00:25:10,862 --> 00:25:13,562
a 12‐man Special Forces team.
497
00:25:13,562 --> 00:25:15,262
[ helicopter blades whirring ]
498
00:25:15,262 --> 00:25:17,202
As a major in Special Forces,
499
00:25:17,202 --> 00:25:20,902
my ODAs included ODA 3212.
500
00:25:20,902 --> 00:25:22,632
I´m coming to check out
the barbershop.
501
00:25:22,632 --> 00:25:25,032
I heard good things.
502
00:25:25,032 --> 00:25:26,902
Who´s next?
503
00:25:26,902 --> 00:25:28,332
‐ You, sir.
‐ I´m good.
504
00:25:28,332 --> 00:25:30,232
I got mine in the capital
the other day.
505
00:25:30,232 --> 00:25:32,902
La David Johnson
stood out to me
506
00:25:32,902 --> 00:25:35,502
as the soldier´s soldier.
507
00:25:35,502 --> 00:25:37,562
He...
508
00:25:37,562 --> 00:25:39,762
He like ‐‐ like
all good mechanics,
509
00:25:39,762 --> 00:25:41,332
he was the jack‐of‐all‐trades.
510
00:25:41,332 --> 00:25:42,932
He could fix anything.
511
00:25:42,932 --> 00:25:44,632
When you´re not cutting hair,
512
00:25:44,632 --> 00:25:47,562
what are your other, uh,
camp duties around here?
513
00:25:47,562 --> 00:25:50,132
‐ Finding stuff to do, like
make sure my truck´s good,
514
00:25:50,132 --> 00:25:51,802
making sure my generator´s good,
515
00:25:51,802 --> 00:25:54,362
like regular maintenance
on the daily.
516
00:25:56,132 --> 00:25:57,802
SOLDIER: Hey. Hey.
517
00:25:57,802 --> 00:25:59,262
SOLDIER #2: There you go.
There you go.
518
00:25:59,262 --> 00:26:01,132
SOLDIER #1: Hey!
519
00:26:01,132 --> 00:26:05,032
ALAN: La David was
a kind‐hearted person
520
00:26:05,032 --> 00:26:06,702
who would give you
the shirt off his back
521
00:26:06,702 --> 00:26:08,732
in a rainstorm.
522
00:26:08,732 --> 00:26:10,732
He would help
anybody who needed it.
523
00:26:10,732 --> 00:26:14,562
♫♫
524
00:26:14,562 --> 00:26:17,532
COWANDA: Sergeant
La David Johnson´s mom passed
525
00:26:17,532 --> 00:26:19,802
when he was 5 years old.
526
00:26:19,802 --> 00:26:23,432
I am his auntie,
I´m married to his uncle,
527
00:26:23,432 --> 00:26:26,732
which made me become
his auntie/mom.
528
00:26:29,032 --> 00:26:31,532
‐ Yeah, I´m his uncle,
you know what I mean?
529
00:26:31,532 --> 00:26:34,962
But I raised him as my son.
530
00:26:34,962 --> 00:26:37,302
He was always a spiritual kid,
531
00:26:37,302 --> 00:26:40,162
and he always told us,
we need to be more grateful.
532
00:26:40,162 --> 00:26:43,262
He always said
that we more blessed
533
00:26:43,262 --> 00:26:46,502
than a lot of people
that we don´t see.
534
00:26:46,502 --> 00:26:50,062
‐ He was sweet, he was kind,
and he always was creative.
535
00:26:50,062 --> 00:26:51,962
He always found something to do.
536
00:26:51,962 --> 00:26:55,432
He never was a kid
just sit in the house.
537
00:26:55,432 --> 00:26:58,602
Like kids nowadays...never.
538
00:26:58,602 --> 00:27:03,202
♫♫
539
00:27:03,202 --> 00:27:04,562
MYESHIA:
They call him the Wheelie King
540
00:27:04,562 --> 00:27:06,032
because down here in Miami,
541
00:27:06,032 --> 00:27:08,602
he´s known for riding his bike
with one wheel.
542
00:27:10,832 --> 00:27:12,962
REPORTER #10:
His name is La David Johnson.
543
00:27:12,962 --> 00:27:15,202
He rides from his home
in Miami Gardens
544
00:27:15,202 --> 00:27:18,102
to his job in Pembroke Pines
on one wheel.
545
00:27:19,532 --> 00:27:22,102
MYESHIA:
He even was on the news for it.
546
00:27:22,102 --> 00:27:24,732
So he was very known
in our city.
547
00:27:24,732 --> 00:27:26,302
YOUNG MAN: My homie,
he do a catwalk
548
00:27:26,302 --> 00:27:29,602
from here to West Broward
with no wheel on the front.
549
00:27:29,602 --> 00:27:32,002
That´s crazy, man.
550
00:27:34,402 --> 00:27:35,762
‐ We love you, David.
551
00:27:35,762 --> 00:27:37,832
LA DAVID:
Love y´all, too, man.
552
00:27:37,832 --> 00:27:41,362
♫♫
553
00:27:41,362 --> 00:27:43,032
COWANDA: Our block,
we had a good block,
554
00:27:43,032 --> 00:27:45,662
but around us,
it was a lot of killing.
555
00:27:47,562 --> 00:27:50,002
And I think that he thought
maybe if he get out,
556
00:27:50,002 --> 00:27:53,302
he could have
a better life for himself.
557
00:27:53,302 --> 00:27:57,602
‐ He see me grind it out
all my life.
558
00:27:57,602 --> 00:28:01,562
And he was just saying,
"There got to be a better way."
559
00:28:01,562 --> 00:28:04,932
I would ask him, "Why you don´t
try and go to the military?"
560
00:28:04,932 --> 00:28:06,832
He´d be like, "I´ve been
thinking about that."
561
00:28:06,832 --> 00:28:09,032
I was like, "You should go."
562
00:28:09,032 --> 00:28:12,702
♫♫
563
00:28:12,702 --> 00:28:16,332
♫♫
564
00:28:16,332 --> 00:28:19,932
REPORTER #11: A community coming
together to honor a local hero.
565
00:28:19,932 --> 00:28:24,102
Today Puyallup remembers
Staff Sergeant Bryan Black.
566
00:28:24,102 --> 00:28:27,062
Black graduated from
Puyallup High School in 2000
567
00:28:27,062 --> 00:28:29,562
and enlisted nine years later.
568
00:28:29,562 --> 00:28:31,232
He spoke several languages,
569
00:28:31,232 --> 00:28:33,632
including the one spoken
in Niger,
570
00:28:33,632 --> 00:28:36,662
where he often tended
to injured civilians.
571
00:28:36,662 --> 00:28:38,332
A man they say...
572
00:28:38,332 --> 00:28:42,162
ALAN: Bryan Black, one of
the smartest man I´ve ever met.
573
00:28:42,162 --> 00:28:44,802
Extremely cerebral.
574
00:28:44,802 --> 00:28:47,002
There´s always something
on his mind.
575
00:28:47,002 --> 00:28:51,332
But he was so cool and calm
576
00:28:51,332 --> 00:28:54,432
that he knew
just when to speak his mind.
577
00:28:54,432 --> 00:28:58,362
And when he did,
you knew you were wrong.
578
00:29:00,662 --> 00:29:04,932
KAREN: I knew something was
different the day he was born.
579
00:29:04,932 --> 00:29:07,602
When I held him right
after he was born,
580
00:29:07,602 --> 00:29:09,462
he immediately pushed up
against me
581
00:29:09,462 --> 00:29:11,562
and did his first push‐up
582
00:29:11,562 --> 00:29:13,732
and literally
looked around the room.
583
00:29:13,732 --> 00:29:16,032
And it´s like, "Infants
that just were born
584
00:29:16,032 --> 00:29:18,762
don´t do that."
585
00:29:18,762 --> 00:29:21,662
And that pretty much
is what persisted
586
00:29:21,662 --> 00:29:23,862
throughout his entire childhood.
587
00:29:23,862 --> 00:29:27,732
Always having
the strong determination
588
00:29:27,732 --> 00:29:30,362
to do whatever it is
he wanted to do.
589
00:29:33,002 --> 00:29:36,232
HENRY: I remember the first year
when he was playing chess.
590
00:29:36,232 --> 00:29:38,832
He didn´t win many, uh, games
that year.
591
00:29:38,832 --> 00:29:40,132
And I remember ‐‐
592
00:29:40,132 --> 00:29:42,132
It may have been the last
tournament of the season ‐‐
593
00:29:42,132 --> 00:29:43,402
and he went out
in the parking lot.
594
00:29:43,402 --> 00:29:45,962
He sat on a curb
and he was really mad.
595
00:29:45,962 --> 00:29:47,732
And I went and talked to him,
sat down.
596
00:29:47,732 --> 00:29:50,232
I said, "Look,
if you study and work at it,
597
00:29:50,232 --> 00:29:51,402
you´re gonna be good."
598
00:29:51,402 --> 00:29:52,832
And he did the whole summer
and next year,
599
00:29:52,832 --> 00:29:56,132
he, uh, won just about every
chess tournament he played in.
600
00:29:56,132 --> 00:30:01,502
♫♫
601
00:30:01,502 --> 00:30:06,832
♫♫
602
00:30:06,832 --> 00:30:12,202
♫♫
603
00:30:12,202 --> 00:30:13,862
ALAN: Jeremiah Johnson was
a new member of the team
604
00:30:13,862 --> 00:30:17,732
and had previously been
at my company headquarters.
605
00:30:19,402 --> 00:30:22,662
He had the instincts
of the perfect soldier.
606
00:30:24,902 --> 00:30:28,402
DEBBIE: He was just about like
any other little boy,
607
00:30:28,402 --> 00:30:31,632
outside running around
all the time.
608
00:30:31,632 --> 00:30:34,832
He broke a couple of bones
and didn´t even whine about it.
609
00:30:34,832 --> 00:30:37,662
He´d just come home
and go, "This hurts."
610
00:30:39,502 --> 00:30:43,132
JENNIFER: Jeremiah
was the fucking badass.
611
00:30:43,132 --> 00:30:46,102
There´s just no other way
around that.
612
00:30:46,102 --> 00:30:48,432
He was just a badass.
613
00:30:48,432 --> 00:30:50,462
He was scared of nothing.
614
00:30:50,462 --> 00:30:54,562
♫♫
615
00:30:54,562 --> 00:30:59,032
Growing up, he was a pain
in the butt,
616
00:30:59,032 --> 00:31:01,332
but he was also a hero
and a protector.
617
00:31:01,332 --> 00:31:05,532
♫♫
618
00:31:05,532 --> 00:31:07,962
You know, military kids,
you move around,
619
00:31:07,962 --> 00:31:11,632
people would pick on us,
and he would always defend me.
620
00:31:11,632 --> 00:31:14,462
Being younger ‐‐ three,
almost three years younger ‐‐
621
00:31:14,462 --> 00:31:17,762
he would still defend me.
622
00:31:17,762 --> 00:31:21,832
RAY: When we first met,
Jeremiah was about 16.
623
00:31:21,832 --> 00:31:26,432
And, you know, we got together
and I told him
624
00:31:26,432 --> 00:31:29,302
I was ‐‐ I was gonna ask
his mother to marry me.
625
00:31:29,302 --> 00:31:31,562
And, uh, he said,
626
00:31:31,562 --> 00:31:35,132
"Well, you know, I don´t think
I´ll ever call you dad."
627
00:31:35,132 --> 00:31:38,932
I said, "I understand that.
You already have a father."
628
00:31:38,932 --> 00:31:43,032
I said, "But, uh, you know,
if I could just be your friend
629
00:31:43,032 --> 00:31:47,232
and mentor, that´d be ‐‐
that´d suit me fine."
630
00:31:47,232 --> 00:31:50,532
And over the years,
I became Pops.
631
00:31:52,332 --> 00:31:55,532
And it did my heart good.
632
00:31:55,532 --> 00:31:58,732
DEBBIE: He, uh, joined the Army
at a late age.
633
00:31:58,732 --> 00:32:01,002
That kind of shocked us.
634
00:32:01,002 --> 00:32:04,462
He wanted to do his part.
635
00:32:04,462 --> 00:32:07,462
He wanted to serve his country.
636
00:32:07,462 --> 00:32:11,662
He wanted to do
what he could to, uh,
637
00:32:11,662 --> 00:32:16,262
take care of the terrorists
that were out there.
638
00:32:16,262 --> 00:32:17,962
‐ I remember very clearly
the day he told me
639
00:32:17,962 --> 00:32:20,062
he wanted to join the Army.
640
00:32:20,062 --> 00:32:21,402
I said, "Why?
641
00:32:21,402 --> 00:32:25,302
You are 29 years old.
Why now?"
642
00:32:25,302 --> 00:32:27,002
He said, "Because I want
to legally kill people
643
00:32:27,002 --> 00:32:29,402
and blow shit up."
644
00:32:29,402 --> 00:32:31,332
I swear to God.
645
00:32:31,332 --> 00:32:35,102
And I went,
"Alrighty, that works."
646
00:32:35,102 --> 00:32:40,762
♫♫
647
00:32:40,762 --> 00:32:44,402
‐ Well, this is how
we set the charge.
648
00:32:44,402 --> 00:32:46,202
‐ This will not make
the final cut.
649
00:32:46,202 --> 00:32:49,032
‐ Tom Hanks
in, uh, "Saving Private Ryan."
650
00:32:49,032 --> 00:32:51,762
This should make the final cut.
‐ There you go.
651
00:32:51,762 --> 00:32:53,202
ALAN: Dustin Wright.
652
00:32:53,202 --> 00:32:55,602
Dusty could walk into a crowd
of a thousand people
653
00:32:55,602 --> 00:32:58,762
and within an hour, be best
friends with all of them.
654
00:32:58,762 --> 00:33:00,232
DUSTIN: I actually like
this kind of stuff.
655
00:33:00,232 --> 00:33:03,262
I mean, anybody can shoot a gun.
You know?
656
00:33:03,262 --> 00:33:04,932
Demo is something else.
657
00:33:04,932 --> 00:33:06,732
It´s a lot more fun.
658
00:33:06,732 --> 00:33:09,262
[ explosion ]
659
00:33:11,732 --> 00:33:13,662
Mission success.
660
00:33:13,662 --> 00:33:17,802
♫♫
661
00:33:17,802 --> 00:33:21,932
♫♫
662
00:33:21,932 --> 00:33:25,232
ARNOLD:
Our whole family served.
663
00:33:25,232 --> 00:33:26,732
My granddaddy
and his four brothers
664
00:33:26,732 --> 00:33:28,362
were in World War II.
665
00:33:28,362 --> 00:33:31,502
My grandmother´s three brothers
were in World War II.
666
00:33:31,502 --> 00:33:35,962
Our family goes back
to the War of 1812.
667
00:33:35,962 --> 00:33:39,902
WILL: We had a family member
in service at any point
668
00:33:39,902 --> 00:33:42,332
through constant engagement
since that war.
669
00:33:42,332 --> 00:33:43,962
And to our knowledge,
670
00:33:43,962 --> 00:33:46,632
we´ve never lost anyone
except for Dustin.
671
00:33:49,732 --> 00:33:50,962
When I think about Dustin,
672
00:33:50,962 --> 00:33:54,632
it´s my best friend
and he´s half my soul.
673
00:33:56,832 --> 00:33:59,802
We nailed it as brothers.
674
00:33:59,802 --> 00:34:03,802
♫♫
675
00:34:03,802 --> 00:34:07,702
♫♫
676
00:34:07,702 --> 00:34:09,732
We had a blessing
that most people don´t get.
677
00:34:09,732 --> 00:34:13,102
We had each other
through thick and thin.
678
00:34:13,102 --> 00:34:16,362
TERRI: He and Will
were always together.
679
00:34:16,362 --> 00:34:18,732
They didn´t go a day
without speaking.
680
00:34:20,202 --> 00:34:22,102
Just not one day.
681
00:34:22,102 --> 00:34:26,462
♫♫
682
00:34:26,462 --> 00:34:30,832
♫♫
683
00:34:30,832 --> 00:34:34,362
‐ So I haven´t told him yet
684
00:34:34,362 --> 00:34:36,462
about him having a‐a niece.
685
00:34:36,462 --> 00:34:39,762
So that´s what, um, I wanted
to come out here
686
00:34:39,762 --> 00:34:42,432
and talk to him about today
because I don´t know
687
00:34:42,432 --> 00:34:43,902
what I´m gonna do
with a little girl.
688
00:34:43,902 --> 00:34:45,602
[ laughs ]
689
00:34:49,762 --> 00:34:53,202
Them damn Wright boys.
690
00:34:53,202 --> 00:34:57,302
Little spice and trouble
and meanness
691
00:34:57,302 --> 00:34:59,532
and a whole ‐‐
whole lot of fighting,
692
00:34:59,532 --> 00:35:02,462
but end of the day,
693
00:35:02,462 --> 00:35:04,362
a whole lot of love, too.
694
00:35:05,632 --> 00:35:07,162
To Dustin.
695
00:35:10,462 --> 00:35:12,062
I love you, brother.
696
00:35:23,902 --> 00:35:29,462
♫♫
697
00:35:29,462 --> 00:35:31,402
[ Man singing
in foreign language ]
698
00:35:31,402 --> 00:35:37,102
♫♫
699
00:35:37,102 --> 00:35:39,562
MEEK: Five months after
the gunfight in Tongo Tongo,
700
00:35:39,562 --> 00:35:43,002
ISIS in West Africa claimed
responsibility for the attack.
701
00:35:43,002 --> 00:35:45,062
They released
a propaganda video,
702
00:35:45,062 --> 00:35:46,132
which included clips
703
00:35:46,132 --> 00:35:48,262
from Jeremiah Johnson´s
helmet cam,
704
00:35:48,262 --> 00:35:50,632
which they took off his body.
705
00:35:50,632 --> 00:35:52,702
[ gunfire ]
706
00:35:55,932 --> 00:35:58,762
The video shows the final
desperate minutes of battle
707
00:35:58,762 --> 00:36:03,162
from Bryan, Jeremiah, Dustin
alone around their vehicle,
708
00:36:03,162 --> 00:36:05,562
exchanging heavy fire
with the enemy.
709
00:36:05,562 --> 00:36:08,732
[ gunfire continues ]
710
00:36:08,732 --> 00:36:14,602
♫♫
711
00:36:14,602 --> 00:36:17,732
REPORTER #12: Newly released
video shows the deadly ambush
712
00:36:17,732 --> 00:36:20,702
of American soldiers
and is raising new questions
713
00:36:20,702 --> 00:36:22,362
about the U. S. military mission
714
00:36:22,362 --> 00:36:23,902
in the African country
of Niger.
715
00:36:23,902 --> 00:36:26,932
REPORTER #13:
It shows just how outgunned
716
00:36:26,932 --> 00:36:28,662
and overwhelmed they were.
717
00:36:28,662 --> 00:36:32,962
♫♫
718
00:36:32,962 --> 00:36:37,232
♫♫
719
00:36:37,232 --> 00:36:39,162
THOMAS:
Good afternoon, everyone.
720
00:36:39,162 --> 00:36:41,332
We are here this afternoon
to brief you
721
00:36:41,332 --> 00:36:45,032
on the findings of U. S. Africa
Command´s investigation
722
00:36:45,032 --> 00:36:48,032
into the ambush of U. S.
and Nigerien soldiers
723
00:36:48,032 --> 00:36:50,932
near the Tongo ‐‐
near Tongo Tongo, Niger,
724
00:36:50,932 --> 00:36:53,602
in early October 2017,
725
00:36:53,602 --> 00:36:56,462
and also to answer
your questions.
726
00:36:56,462 --> 00:36:57,732
Before we begin, however,
727
00:36:57,732 --> 00:37:00,202
I would like to extend
my deepest condolences
728
00:37:00,202 --> 00:37:04,702
to the families and loved ones
of those lost in this attack.
729
00:37:04,702 --> 00:37:06,762
Our commitment,
first and foremost,
730
00:37:06,762 --> 00:37:11,132
has been to provide a complete
accounting to the families.
731
00:37:11,132 --> 00:37:13,302
I would like to talk with you
in greater detail
732
00:37:13,302 --> 00:37:16,232
about the preparedness
of Team Quallam to conduct,
733
00:37:16,232 --> 00:37:19,762
partnered, advise, assist
and accompany operations
734
00:37:19,762 --> 00:37:21,832
on 3 and 4 October.
735
00:37:21,832 --> 00:37:25,462
The investigation discovered
the integration and training
736
00:37:25,462 --> 00:37:28,932
with partnered forces
in Niger was inadequate.
737
00:37:28,932 --> 00:37:31,262
Team Quallam did not meet
the appropriate standards
738
00:37:31,262 --> 00:37:33,532
of familiarization
and integration
739
00:37:33,532 --> 00:37:35,432
with the Nigerien
Partner Force
740
00:37:35,432 --> 00:37:39,632
prior to conducting the initial
mission on 3 October.
741
00:37:39,632 --> 00:37:43,232
In addition, routine tasks
such as conducting rehearsals
742
00:37:43,232 --> 00:37:45,932
for immediate action drills
upon enemy contact
743
00:37:45,932 --> 00:37:49,432
were not completed prior to
stepping off for this mission.
744
00:37:49,432 --> 00:37:52,702
The team did not conduct
those basic soldier‐level skills
745
00:37:52,702 --> 00:37:54,302
that would ‐‐
that are really necessary
746
00:37:54,302 --> 00:37:57,102
to go on an operation
such as this.
747
00:37:57,102 --> 00:37:59,432
REPORTER #14:
So in layman´s terms,
748
00:37:59,432 --> 00:38:01,362
how would you characterize this?
749
00:38:01,362 --> 00:38:03,402
Are they sloppy
or are they cowboys?
750
00:38:03,402 --> 00:38:04,732
Are they taking too much risk?
751
00:38:04,732 --> 00:38:06,402
What would you tell
the American people about this?
752
00:38:06,402 --> 00:38:08,062
How would you characterize
your behavior?
753
00:38:08,062 --> 00:38:11,202
‐ The special operators on
the continent are serving well.
754
00:38:11,202 --> 00:38:15,402
They do high‐risk missions
and based on my observations,
755
00:38:15,402 --> 00:38:17,462
this particular ‐‐
this particular team
756
00:38:17,462 --> 00:38:20,732
is not indicative
of what they do.
757
00:38:20,732 --> 00:38:23,202
KAREN: That was infuriating
to me, and it´s like,
758
00:38:23,202 --> 00:38:24,602
"Oh, my gosh."
759
00:38:24,602 --> 00:38:26,102
I didn´t even finish listening
to the news conference.
760
00:38:26,102 --> 00:38:27,432
I turned it off.
761
00:38:27,432 --> 00:38:30,902
I couldn´t stand to even
look at him after I heard that.
762
00:38:30,902 --> 00:38:33,432
It´s like,
"How can you possibly say that?"
763
00:38:33,432 --> 00:38:37,562
‐ I think it´s an unfair
characterization of an ODA
764
00:38:37,562 --> 00:38:41,662
that found itself
in a bad situation
765
00:38:41,662 --> 00:38:44,132
and did the best
that they could.
766
00:38:44,132 --> 00:38:46,762
And to say
that they weren´t indicative,
767
00:38:46,762 --> 00:38:49,532
I just don´t think
it´s a fair characterization
768
00:38:49,532 --> 00:38:52,662
of ‐‐ of the ‐‐ the men
on that detachment.
769
00:38:52,662 --> 00:38:53,862
‐ It stung.
770
00:38:53,862 --> 00:38:57,502
It hurt...
really bad to hear that
771
00:38:57,502 --> 00:39:00,202
because it was clear
772
00:39:00,202 --> 00:39:05,262
that a statement like that
was protecting the command
773
00:39:05,262 --> 00:39:08,662
and, in a way, trying
to protect the community
774
00:39:08,662 --> 00:39:13,302
while badmouthing a team
775
00:39:13,302 --> 00:39:18,162
that had the odds overwhelmingly
stacked against them.
776
00:39:18,162 --> 00:39:20,502
‐ Those briefings,
777
00:39:20,502 --> 00:39:23,262
I thought, were embarrassing
briefings.
778
00:39:23,262 --> 00:39:27,302
‐ Infuriating, unbelievable
779
00:39:27,302 --> 00:39:29,832
to ‐‐ to literally say these
780
00:39:29,832 --> 00:39:34,802
about my stepson
and his comrades.
781
00:39:37,532 --> 00:39:43,232
I mean, it, uh,
just besmirches their memory.
782
00:39:45,502 --> 00:39:47,102
MEEK:
General Waldhauser.
783
00:39:49,162 --> 00:39:51,432
General Waldhauser,
ABC News.
784
00:39:51,432 --> 00:39:53,532
General, your public comments
785
00:39:53,532 --> 00:39:55,032
about the team
and its competence,
786
00:39:55,032 --> 00:39:56,302
which you said
they were not indicative
787
00:39:56,302 --> 00:39:57,432
of other special operators
788
00:39:57,432 --> 00:39:59,162
who are doing great work
on the continent.
789
00:39:59,162 --> 00:40:00,902
That´s what they had ‐‐
‐ Correct.
790
00:40:00,902 --> 00:40:02,262
MEEK:
They said that was hurtful
791
00:40:02,262 --> 00:40:04,232
to the families of the fallen.
They told us that.
792
00:40:04,232 --> 00:40:05,602
‐ Well, it wasn´t intended
to be hurtful
793
00:40:05,602 --> 00:40:07,062
to the families of the fallen.
794
00:40:07,062 --> 00:40:09,262
The intent was to make that
the special operations forces
795
00:40:09,262 --> 00:40:10,962
have difficult missions
on the continent.
796
00:40:10,962 --> 00:40:12,202
They carry them out every day
797
00:40:12,202 --> 00:40:14,202
and to try to highlight
some of the shortcomings
798
00:40:14,202 --> 00:40:15,562
that the investigation found
799
00:40:15,562 --> 00:40:17,462
with regards
to contributing factors
800
00:40:17,462 --> 00:40:19,062
to the overall situation,
801
00:40:19,062 --> 00:40:22,202
but it was never intended
to be hurtful to the families.
802
00:40:22,202 --> 00:40:23,202
MEEK:
Thank you for your time.
803
00:40:23,202 --> 00:40:25,462
‐ Thanks.
804
00:40:25,462 --> 00:40:30,402
TERRI: Well, maybe he didn´t
mean to hurt us, but he did.
805
00:40:30,402 --> 00:40:35,202
And not just as a gold star
mother who´s lost a child,
806
00:40:35,202 --> 00:40:37,632
but as an American.
807
00:40:37,632 --> 00:40:41,232
Why would you throw your people
under the bus?
808
00:40:43,102 --> 00:40:46,832
Why would you...
809
00:40:46,832 --> 00:40:49,702
blame your men...
810
00:40:52,132 --> 00:40:55,362
...who were following
your orders
811
00:40:55,362 --> 00:40:58,502
and who you´re responsible for?
812
00:40:58,502 --> 00:41:01,502
♫♫
813
00:41:01,502 --> 00:41:04,302
Doesn´t the buck stop
with the leader?
814
00:41:06,662 --> 00:41:10,362
Isn´t that why
there´s a chain of command
815
00:41:10,362 --> 00:41:13,562
and isn´t that why the chain
of command is followed?
816
00:41:15,132 --> 00:41:17,132
‐ But according
to General Waldhauser,
817
00:41:17,132 --> 00:41:20,932
ODA 3212 did not follow
the chain of command.
818
00:41:20,932 --> 00:41:23,302
He alleged that the team
did not inform
819
00:41:23,302 --> 00:41:28,202
their commanding officers of the
true intent of their mission.
820
00:41:28,202 --> 00:41:30,432
‐ The investigation
also found the team
821
00:41:30,432 --> 00:41:33,132
inaccurately portrayed
the concept of operations
822
00:41:33,132 --> 00:41:36,132
for the first
of three total missions
823
00:41:36,132 --> 00:41:38,562
on 3 and 4 October.
824
00:41:38,562 --> 00:41:41,332
Mark: If I were to summarize
the report in one sentence,
825
00:41:41,332 --> 00:41:44,832
it said that the ODA
was ill‐prepared
826
00:41:44,832 --> 00:41:47,832
and conducting
an unauthorized mission.
827
00:41:47,832 --> 00:41:50,032
‐ Not only did
General Waldhauser suggest
828
00:41:50,032 --> 00:41:54,062
that ODA 3212
was relatively incompetent,
829
00:41:54,062 --> 00:41:56,602
he went on to claim
that this team of Green Berets
830
00:41:56,602 --> 00:42:01,162
left base under false pretenses
to try to capture or kill
831
00:42:01,162 --> 00:42:03,832
one of the most dangerous
terrorists in the region ‐‐
832
00:42:03,832 --> 00:42:06,762
A man named Doundou Chefou.
833
00:42:06,762 --> 00:42:09,932
In effect, he accused the team
of going on a rogue mission
834
00:42:09,932 --> 00:42:12,302
for the ISIS commander´s scalp.
835
00:42:12,302 --> 00:42:13,462
The Pentagon investigation
836
00:42:13,462 --> 00:42:15,702
found the team´s commanders,
two captains,
837
00:42:15,702 --> 00:42:17,802
mischaracterized
the initial mission,
838
00:42:17,802 --> 00:42:20,402
claiming it was less dangerous
than it really was.
839
00:42:20,402 --> 00:42:23,132
ROGER: Had the first mission
been properly characterized,
840
00:42:23,132 --> 00:42:25,762
it would have been required
to ‐‐ to be approved
841
00:42:25,762 --> 00:42:26,902
at a higher level.
842
00:42:26,902 --> 00:42:28,232
And by being approved
at a higher level,
843
00:42:28,232 --> 00:42:29,962
it would have received
more oversight
844
00:42:29,962 --> 00:42:31,302
from the chain of command.
845
00:42:31,302 --> 00:42:33,862
‐We started to see press reports
come out
846
00:42:33,862 --> 00:42:37,102
that there was, you know, claims
847
00:42:37,102 --> 00:42:42,732
that ODA 3212
decided on their own
848
00:42:42,732 --> 00:42:48,462
that they would, um, institute
a kill/capture mission
849
00:42:48,462 --> 00:42:53,332
to one of the lieutenants
of, uh, ISIS in Niger.
850
00:42:53,332 --> 00:42:55,302
‐ That kind of narrative,
as it started to leak out,
851
00:42:55,302 --> 00:42:58,402
kind of gave me pause
because something like this,
852
00:42:58,402 --> 00:42:59,832
from what I understood,
853
00:42:59,832 --> 00:43:02,662
was going after a, you know,
a highly targeted,
854
00:43:02,662 --> 00:43:06,032
well‐known terrorist commander
855
00:43:06,032 --> 00:43:07,532
and would have had
a lot of visibility.
856
00:43:07,532 --> 00:43:10,432
So to think that the team
could just kind of go rogue
857
00:43:10,432 --> 00:43:12,662
on its own
just didn´t make sense to me.
858
00:43:12,662 --> 00:43:18,232
‐ I don´t buy the fact that
the ODA submitted their plan,
859
00:43:18,232 --> 00:43:21,132
and then at the last minute,
860
00:43:21,132 --> 00:43:23,532
rolled over in their trucks
to ‐‐ to the Nigeriens
861
00:43:23,532 --> 00:43:25,402
and said, "Let´s go.
862
00:43:25,402 --> 00:43:28,162
We´re ‐‐ We´ll tell you
when we get there."
863
00:43:28,162 --> 00:43:30,602
It doesn´t work like that.
That´s not how we operate.
864
00:43:30,602 --> 00:43:35,162
‐ Going after
a high‐value target,
865
00:43:35,162 --> 00:43:38,362
like this gentleman,
is a top‐down process,
866
00:43:38,362 --> 00:43:40,032
and it is top‐down approved.
867
00:43:40,032 --> 00:43:42,702
It´s a 4‐star‐level
approval con‐op.
868
00:43:42,702 --> 00:43:45,262
You don´t ‐‐ You can´t get away
with cutting and pasting
869
00:43:45,262 --> 00:43:46,802
and, you know,
getting in your trucks
870
00:43:46,802 --> 00:43:49,462
and going, "Yeehaw," right?
You just can´t do it.
871
00:43:49,462 --> 00:43:51,232
‐ They don´t need to act
like my son
872
00:43:51,232 --> 00:43:54,062
was some kind of damn Rambo
873
00:43:54,062 --> 00:43:57,902
out there on his own
doing something.
874
00:43:57,902 --> 00:44:00,902
Because all he was doing
was what he was told,
875
00:44:00,902 --> 00:44:04,262
and...he fought his ass off.
876
00:44:12,402 --> 00:44:15,832
ALAN: On September 28,
I left Niger
877
00:44:15,832 --> 00:44:18,032
and went back to Fort Bragg,
North Carolina,
878
00:44:18,032 --> 00:44:20,362
where my pregnant wife
and daughter
879
00:44:20,362 --> 00:44:22,202
were waiting for me.
880
00:44:22,202 --> 00:44:25,732
We went to the hospital
on October 1st
881
00:44:25,732 --> 00:44:27,232
for my wife to be induced,
882
00:44:27,232 --> 00:44:30,332
and my second daughter
was born
883
00:44:30,332 --> 00:44:33,202
early in the morning
on October 2nd.
884
00:44:33,202 --> 00:44:37,102
♫♫
885
00:44:37,102 --> 00:44:38,932
On the morning of October 4th,
886
00:44:38,932 --> 00:44:40,502
we´re getting ready
to be discharged.
887
00:44:40,502 --> 00:44:43,562
I brought the car seat up,
get the baby loaded up,
888
00:44:43,562 --> 00:44:46,762
and my phone, uh, received
a text message
889
00:44:46,762 --> 00:44:50,662
and all it said was,
"You need to come in to work.
890
00:44:50,662 --> 00:44:53,962
Something has happened."
891
00:44:53,962 --> 00:44:56,602
‐ Exactly what did happen
is in dispute.
892
00:44:56,602 --> 00:44:59,932
The United States Africa Command
released their version
893
00:44:59,932 --> 00:45:04,962
of the events in this 268‐page,
heavily redacted report.
894
00:45:04,962 --> 00:45:06,502
It´s a combination of facts
895
00:45:06,502 --> 00:45:09,232
and what many people
close to the investigation say
896
00:45:09,232 --> 00:45:13,362
are omitted details
and unsubstantiated opinion.
897
00:45:13,362 --> 00:45:15,662
NARRATOR: The teams manning
for this mission...
898
00:45:15,662 --> 00:45:18,202
MEEK: Accompanying the report
was a narrated video
899
00:45:18,202 --> 00:45:20,702
with mission footage
and animation
900
00:45:20,702 --> 00:45:22,702
to support AFRICOM´s account
901
00:45:22,702 --> 00:45:26,002
of what went wrong
on the ill‐fated mission.
902
00:45:26,002 --> 00:45:28,632
DEBBIE: "Team Quallam
and partner forces
903
00:45:28,632 --> 00:45:30,062
depart at Camp Quallam
904
00:45:30,062 --> 00:45:34,532
at 5:59 on October 3rd, 2017,
905
00:45:34,532 --> 00:45:38,732
traveling in a military convoy
in a northwest direction."
906
00:45:38,732 --> 00:45:40,632
NARRATOR:
The teams´ U. S. soft personnel
907
00:45:40,632 --> 00:45:42,532
traveled in three vehicles,
908
00:45:42,532 --> 00:45:46,532
two of which were equipped
with mounted M240 machine guns.
909
00:45:46,532 --> 00:45:48,302
The 34 Nigerien personnel
910
00:45:48,302 --> 00:45:50,502
traveled in
five additional vehicles.
911
00:45:50,502 --> 00:45:53,602
RAY: "The convoy continued
from checkpoint one
912
00:45:53,602 --> 00:45:57,102
in the northeastern direction
for 43 kilometers,
913
00:45:57,102 --> 00:45:59,732
arriving 5 miles south of Tiloa
914
00:45:59,732 --> 00:46:03,332
on approximately
ten hundred hours."
915
00:46:03,332 --> 00:46:04,762
NARRATOR:
The concept of operations
916
00:46:04,762 --> 00:46:06,862
that was submitted
for approval stated
917
00:46:06,862 --> 00:46:09,862
that the purpose of the mission
was to conduct a civil
918
00:46:09,862 --> 00:46:13,462
and military reconnaissance
in the vicinity of Tiloa.
919
00:46:13,462 --> 00:46:16,232
MARK: The plan, submitted
to higher headquarters,
920
00:46:16,232 --> 00:46:20,602
called for them to do a patrol
that would include a series
921
00:46:20,602 --> 00:46:22,902
of what we call
key leader engagements
922
00:46:22,902 --> 00:46:25,032
to meet with local leaders,
923
00:46:25,032 --> 00:46:27,162
discuss the situation
on the ground,
924
00:46:27,162 --> 00:46:29,232
and, if possible,
find any intelligence leads
925
00:46:29,232 --> 00:46:31,262
that the locals
may be able to give them.
926
00:46:31,262 --> 00:46:34,402
♫♫
927
00:46:34,402 --> 00:46:36,932
NARRATOR: The mission plan did
not accurately characterize
928
00:46:36,932 --> 00:46:39,202
the intended purpose
of the mission.
929
00:46:39,202 --> 00:46:44,262
‐ From the beginning, everything
was negative about the team.
930
00:46:44,262 --> 00:46:48,362
Basically, what they said
was the team leader lied
931
00:46:48,362 --> 00:46:54,332
in the brief that he submitted
to hire for the mission.
932
00:46:54,332 --> 00:46:56,502
NARRATOR:
The mission was, in fact,
933
00:46:56,502 --> 00:46:59,362
to pinpoint the location of
and capture
934
00:46:59,362 --> 00:47:03,062
or, if necessary,
kill the ISIS‐GS sub‐commander.
935
00:47:03,062 --> 00:47:06,332
MARK: I have a really hard time
believing that to be the case.
936
00:47:06,332 --> 00:47:08,902
Doundou Chefou was identified
937
00:47:08,902 --> 00:47:13,462
as a leader of the Islamic State
in the Greater Sahara,
938
00:47:13,462 --> 00:47:15,832
and to say
that the ODA went rogue
939
00:47:15,832 --> 00:47:17,732
and not only
the detachment commander,
940
00:47:17,732 --> 00:47:19,202
but that the team sergeant
941
00:47:19,202 --> 00:47:21,662
and all these
other experienced NCOs
942
00:47:21,662 --> 00:47:24,802
all agreed to go on a mission
943
00:47:24,802 --> 00:47:26,432
to kill or capture
Doundou Chefou
944
00:47:26,432 --> 00:47:30,202
and just blatantly lie,
it would be a big deal.
945
00:47:30,202 --> 00:47:32,402
‐ A captain on an "A" team
946
00:47:32,402 --> 00:47:35,662
does not have the authority
or the power
947
00:47:35,662 --> 00:47:38,102
to make those decisions.
948
00:47:38,102 --> 00:47:39,902
‐ I didn´t have any inside
information telling me all this,
949
00:47:39,902 --> 00:47:41,862
but I just know,
as an infantry man,
950
00:47:41,862 --> 00:47:43,102
we would never do that.
951
00:47:43,102 --> 00:47:46,062
We would never go
on a rogue mission
952
00:47:46,062 --> 00:47:48,132
outside the wire
to track down somebody.
953
00:47:48,132 --> 00:47:51,362
And so, it just did not
smell truthful.
954
00:47:52,762 --> 00:47:55,232
NARRATOR: Once in Tiloa,
the team searched for
955
00:47:55,232 --> 00:47:57,132
but could not
successfully locate
956
00:47:57,132 --> 00:48:00,002
the ISIS‐GS sub‐commander.
957
00:48:00,002 --> 00:48:01,902
They conducted the rest
of their mission
958
00:48:01,902 --> 00:48:03,832
and began their return to base.
959
00:48:03,832 --> 00:48:07,502
♫♫
960
00:48:07,502 --> 00:48:11,132
♫♫
961
00:48:11,132 --> 00:48:13,062
MARK: The first mission
had been completed.
962
00:48:13,062 --> 00:48:14,502
They made it to Tiloa.
963
00:48:14,502 --> 00:48:18,232
They checked on the Nigerien
checkpoint that was out there
964
00:48:18,232 --> 00:48:22,102
and the team was returning back
to base in Quallam.
965
00:48:23,802 --> 00:48:28,302
WILL: "At approximately 1700
hours on 3 October 2017,
966
00:48:28,302 --> 00:48:29,962
Team Quallam´s convoy halted
967
00:48:29,962 --> 00:48:32,702
approximately 5 kilometers
south of..."
968
00:48:32,702 --> 00:48:36,332
‐ "...in order to receive
additional information
969
00:48:36,332 --> 00:48:38,302
for a possible remission."
970
00:48:38,302 --> 00:48:40,762
‐ Well, they go ‐‐
They headed back to base.
971
00:48:40,762 --> 00:48:41,962
End of the day.
972
00:48:41,962 --> 00:48:45,302
and, um,
they got to change the mission.
973
00:48:47,262 --> 00:48:50,102
NARRATOR: During the team´s
return to base from Tiloa,
974
00:48:50,102 --> 00:48:52,402
they received
high‐confidence intelligence
975
00:48:52,402 --> 00:48:54,762
that placed the ISIS‐GS
sub‐commander
976
00:48:54,762 --> 00:48:57,732
northwest of Tiloa,
near the Mali border.
977
00:48:58,962 --> 00:49:04,032
MARK: This is when they were
redirected to go to a location
978
00:49:04,032 --> 00:49:06,762
where the higher headquarters
believe that Doundou Chefou,
979
00:49:06,762 --> 00:49:09,802
or at least a cellphone
associated with him,
980
00:49:09,802 --> 00:49:11,832
had been present for the night.
981
00:49:11,832 --> 00:49:13,732
NARRATOR:
This time‐sensitive intelligence
982
00:49:13,732 --> 00:49:16,362
gave the Nigerien
and U. S. forces
983
00:49:16,362 --> 00:49:19,762
a narrow window to capture him
while he remained in Niger.
984
00:49:19,762 --> 00:49:20,902
‐ At this point,
985
00:49:20,902 --> 00:49:23,002
you have Colonel Brad Moses
getting involved
986
00:49:23,002 --> 00:49:25,362
and Lieutenant Colonel Painter
getting involved.
987
00:49:25,362 --> 00:49:26,762
MARK:
Lieutenant Colonel Painter
988
00:49:26,762 --> 00:49:29,362
was the Special Forces
battalion commander,
989
00:49:29,362 --> 00:49:35,062
and he was also, uh,
the task force commander there
990
00:49:35,062 --> 00:49:36,232
on the ‐‐ on the continent.
991
00:49:36,232 --> 00:49:38,832
NARRATOR: The approved
concept of operation
992
00:49:38,832 --> 00:49:41,962
called for another U. S.
and Nigerien partnered force
993
00:49:41,962 --> 00:49:44,662
to clear the target,
with the Quallam‐based team
994
00:49:44,662 --> 00:49:47,002
serving
as a quick reaction force.
995
00:49:47,002 --> 00:49:48,062
MEEK: The new mission called
996
00:49:48,062 --> 00:49:50,362
for a second,
more seasoned ODA team
997
00:49:50,362 --> 00:49:52,102
to fly in on helicopters
998
00:49:52,102 --> 00:49:54,632
and raid the campsite
of Doundou Chefou.
999
00:49:54,632 --> 00:49:57,032
That´s the same ISIS commander
who the team
1000
00:49:57,032 --> 00:50:00,002
was accused
of going rogue to hunt down.
1001
00:50:00,002 --> 00:50:02,362
So at this point, ODA 3212,
1002
00:50:02,362 --> 00:50:05,002
also referred to
as the Quallam‐based team,
1003
00:50:05,002 --> 00:50:07,402
is ordered
to play a backup role.
1004
00:50:07,402 --> 00:50:11,362
Their job will be to reinforce
their comrades if they need it.
1005
00:50:11,362 --> 00:50:12,802
[ thunder rumbling ]
1006
00:50:12,802 --> 00:50:15,302
NARRATOR: However,
due to weather constraints,
1007
00:50:15,302 --> 00:50:18,032
the other team was forced
to return to base.
1008
00:50:20,032 --> 00:50:24,162
RAY: The initial ODA coming
from another part of Niger
1009
00:50:24,162 --> 00:50:26,362
couldn´t make it
due to weather conditions,
1010
00:50:26,362 --> 00:50:29,802
and now the responsibility
goes to Jeremiah´s team.
1011
00:50:29,802 --> 00:50:32,002
ARNOLD:
Instead of ending the mission
1012
00:50:32,002 --> 00:50:35,432
and 3212 going back to camp,
1013
00:50:35,432 --> 00:50:39,202
they told them to continue
without the other forces
1014
00:50:39,202 --> 00:50:41,332
being a part.
1015
00:50:41,332 --> 00:50:43,262
ALAN:
Upon receipt of that directive,
1016
00:50:43,262 --> 00:50:46,962
Team Quallam´s mission changed
from providing a flexible,
1017
00:50:46,962 --> 00:50:51,032
redacted force
to capturing and detaining."
1018
00:50:51,032 --> 00:50:52,662
MEEK: Now, you might think that
the team would be thrilled
1019
00:50:52,662 --> 00:50:54,962
to be the main reigning force.
1020
00:50:54,962 --> 00:50:56,762
After all,
according to the AFRICOM report,
1021
00:50:56,762 --> 00:51:00,262
they had just set out on a rogue
mission to do exactly that.
1022
00:51:02,332 --> 00:51:04,162
Have you ever seen that image?
1023
00:51:04,162 --> 00:51:05,962
ALAN:
No, I´ve never seen this image.
1024
00:51:05,962 --> 00:51:08,902
But that´s Captain Mike Perozeni
on a satellite phone
1025
00:51:08,902 --> 00:51:13,402
not looking happy, concerned.
1026
00:51:13,402 --> 00:51:15,362
MARK:
Captain Perozeni was assigned
1027
00:51:15,362 --> 00:51:19,032
as the Special Forces
detachment commander,
1028
00:51:19,032 --> 00:51:23,162
so he is the senior officer
on that detachment
1029
00:51:23,162 --> 00:51:26,832
and is responsible for the
conduct of all their operations.
1030
00:51:26,832 --> 00:51:28,362
MEEK: According to those
who were there,
1031
00:51:28,362 --> 00:51:30,802
this is one of the moments
when the detachment commander,
1032
00:51:30,802 --> 00:51:32,432
Captain Mike Perozeni,
1033
00:51:32,432 --> 00:51:35,002
was pushing back
against the new orders.
1034
00:51:35,002 --> 00:51:37,602
He spoke to his command
in satellite phone calls
1035
00:51:37,602 --> 00:51:39,232
and text messages,
1036
00:51:39,232 --> 00:51:42,762
telling them that to head north
deep into unfamiliar desert
1037
00:51:42,762 --> 00:51:44,232
with no backup force available,
1038
00:51:44,232 --> 00:51:47,132
no possibility of speedy
medical evacuation,
1039
00:51:47,132 --> 00:51:49,602
an exhausted Nigerien
partner force,
1040
00:51:49,602 --> 00:51:54,002
and his own lightly armed team
was needlessly risky.
1041
00:51:54,002 --> 00:51:58,202
TERRI: He protested vigorously
is my understanding.
1042
00:51:58,202 --> 00:52:01,662
He knew that
they weren´t...equipped.
1043
00:52:01,662 --> 00:52:04,732
He knew that
that wasn´t their mission.
1044
00:52:06,762 --> 00:52:09,402
That´s not what
they were there for.
1045
00:52:09,402 --> 00:52:12,732
‐ He objected because he knew
that his unit
1046
00:52:12,732 --> 00:52:17,632
was not prepared to do this ‐‐
this new mission
1047
00:52:17,632 --> 00:52:19,302
because they left
for a day trip,
1048
00:52:19,302 --> 00:52:24,902
not an overnight movement,
and not to go fight somebody.
1049
00:52:24,902 --> 00:52:27,702
‐ In Mike Perozeni´s mind
on the ground,
1050
00:52:27,702 --> 00:52:29,962
he´s identifying risk.
1051
00:52:29,962 --> 00:52:33,732
He was communicating back
to the company headquarters
1052
00:52:33,732 --> 00:52:36,562
and ultimately back up
to Lieutenant Colonel Painter
1053
00:52:36,562 --> 00:52:40,062
the risks that were involved
from his standpoint
1054
00:52:40,062 --> 00:52:41,232
on the ground.
1055
00:52:41,232 --> 00:52:45,262
‐ Now, deep in the highly
censored AFRICOM report,
1056
00:52:45,262 --> 00:52:47,262
they do acknowledge
that Captain Perozeni
1057
00:52:47,262 --> 00:52:49,332
tried to have
the mission scrubbed.
1058
00:52:49,332 --> 00:52:50,962
WILL:
"In order to conduct this raid,
1059
00:52:50,962 --> 00:52:52,832
Team Quallam
and their partner force
1060
00:52:52,832 --> 00:52:55,702
would have to move an additional
25 kilometers north
1061
00:52:55,702 --> 00:52:59,362
through difficult terrain
under limited visibility.
1062
00:52:59,362 --> 00:53:00,932
Given that distance
to travel..."
1063
00:53:00,932 --> 00:53:02,762
‐ "...and the fact
that his partner force
1064
00:53:02,762 --> 00:53:08,262
have been up for over 18 hours,
redacted expressed to redacted
1065
00:53:08,262 --> 00:53:11,432
his preference
that the force return to base."
1066
00:53:11,432 --> 00:53:14,602
ARNOLD: "...redacted relayed
redacted´s preference
1067
00:53:14,602 --> 00:53:15,802
to redacted."
1068
00:53:15,802 --> 00:53:18,732
MARK: "...but redacted
directed that redacted
1069
00:53:18,732 --> 00:53:22,762
move to objective north
and conduct the raid."
1070
00:53:22,762 --> 00:53:24,432
ALAN: I highly doubt
1071
00:53:24,432 --> 00:53:29,102
that Mike politely, uh,
expressed a "preference"
1072
00:53:29,102 --> 00:53:33,802
as it said in the investigation
of ‐‐ of his concerns.
1073
00:53:33,802 --> 00:53:35,932
Mike will speak his mind.
1074
00:53:35,932 --> 00:53:39,002
Mike, uh, will not
hold anything back,
1075
00:53:39,002 --> 00:53:42,662
and so I have no doubt that
he expressed those concerns.
1076
00:53:42,662 --> 00:53:45,662
‐ The U. S. Special Forces
commander for Northwest Africa
1077
00:53:45,662 --> 00:53:47,162
was Lieutenant Colonel
David Painter,
1078
00:53:47,162 --> 00:53:49,702
who was hundreds of miles
away in Chad,
1079
00:53:49,702 --> 00:53:52,702
and he overruled
Captain Perozeni´s objections.
1080
00:53:52,702 --> 00:53:54,132
Colonel Brad Moses,
1081
00:53:54,132 --> 00:53:57,602
the 3rd Special Forces group
commander based in Germany,
1082
00:53:57,602 --> 00:54:00,332
also was informed
of the changes to mission
1083
00:54:00,332 --> 00:54:03,432
and that Perozeni and ODA 3212
1084
00:54:03,432 --> 00:54:07,232
were now going to be the main
force raiding the campsite.
1085
00:54:07,232 --> 00:54:09,662
But Colonel Moses told me that
Lieutenant Colonel Painter
1086
00:54:09,662 --> 00:54:12,562
did not tell him about
Captain Perozeni´s objections
1087
00:54:12,562 --> 00:54:13,902
to going forward.
1088
00:54:13,902 --> 00:54:16,402
He says had he known about
the captain´s concerns
1089
00:54:16,402 --> 00:54:19,802
about the mission, he would have
called him directly.
1090
00:54:19,802 --> 00:54:22,732
DEBBIE:
They were told to go anyway.
1091
00:54:22,732 --> 00:54:26,132
They didn´t care that there was
no backup for those boys.
1092
00:54:28,032 --> 00:54:33,862
‐ The way I operated as a ‐‐
as commander of SOC Africa was,
1093
00:54:33,862 --> 00:54:37,332
my guys on the ground tell me
what they´re going to do
1094
00:54:37,332 --> 00:54:39,662
and what they´re not
going to do, right,
1095
00:54:39,662 --> 00:54:41,332
based off of the risk.
1096
00:54:41,332 --> 00:54:43,162
And the captain tells me ‐‐
1097
00:54:43,162 --> 00:54:45,032
a team leader
on the ground tells me ‐‐
1098
00:54:45,032 --> 00:54:47,802
"Hey, sir." Or it comes up
through the chain.
1099
00:54:47,802 --> 00:54:49,862
"No way.
This is just ‐‐
1100
00:54:49,862 --> 00:54:51,802
I just don´t feel comfortable
with it."
1101
00:54:51,802 --> 00:54:53,602
Then the brake goes on hard.
1102
00:54:53,602 --> 00:54:56,532
MEEK: I guess one big question
that comes to mind with all this
1103
00:54:56,532 --> 00:54:59,362
is if your captain had come up
with this plan
1104
00:54:59,362 --> 00:55:01,062
and "We´re gonna ‐‐
We´re gonna make our bones.
1105
00:55:01,062 --> 00:55:02,332
We´re gonna make our careers.
1106
00:55:02,332 --> 00:55:04,202
We´re gonna go kill this guy
or capture him
1107
00:55:04,202 --> 00:55:05,302
and we´ll be the heroes,"
1108
00:55:05,302 --> 00:55:06,902
or whatever their motives
would have been,
1109
00:55:06,902 --> 00:55:08,902
if Africa command was correct,
1110
00:55:08,902 --> 00:55:11,802
that that´s what they were doing
from the start,
1111
00:55:11,802 --> 00:55:13,562
if all that was true,
1112
00:55:13,562 --> 00:55:15,862
why would this guy,
Captain Mike Perozeni,
1113
00:55:15,862 --> 00:55:19,362
object to searching
his target´s campsite?
1114
00:55:19,362 --> 00:55:20,432
ALAN: It makes no sense.
1115
00:55:21,862 --> 00:55:24,132
Why would he push back now
1116
00:55:24,132 --> 00:55:27,202
if he was supposedly on board
at the very front?
1117
00:55:27,202 --> 00:55:30,202
Why would he be issuing
or expressing concerns
1118
00:55:30,202 --> 00:55:34,402
about not being equipped
or prepared
1119
00:55:34,402 --> 00:55:36,802
if that was his intent
all along?
1120
00:55:36,802 --> 00:55:38,432
MEEK:
Not only did Captain Perozeni
1121
00:55:38,432 --> 00:55:40,362
object to the missions
assigned in the field,
1122
00:55:40,362 --> 00:55:42,862
he first voiced concerns
before his team
1123
00:55:42,862 --> 00:55:44,602
even left their base in Quallam.
1124
00:55:44,602 --> 00:55:46,762
ALAN: The people
in my company headquarters
1125
00:55:46,762 --> 00:55:49,662
knew that Mike pushed back.
1126
00:55:49,662 --> 00:55:51,702
So why that wasn´t shared
with the families,
1127
00:55:51,702 --> 00:55:55,002
I´ll never know,
but I will say there´s no reason
1128
00:55:55,002 --> 00:55:57,162
it should not have been
shared with the families.
1129
00:55:57,162 --> 00:56:01,232
‐ I was left with the impression
that this guy was a screw‐up.
1130
00:56:01,232 --> 00:56:05,562
And he screwed up and carried
my son off and got him killed
1131
00:56:05,562 --> 00:56:10,532
because that´s what
I was led to believe.
1132
00:56:10,532 --> 00:56:13,632
And I think that´s probably
the biggest injustice
1133
00:56:13,632 --> 00:56:17,502
was I walked around
pissed off for a year
1134
00:56:17,502 --> 00:56:21,262
and my anger was directed
toward somebody
1135
00:56:21,262 --> 00:56:25,102
that was completely innocent
of what they told me he did.
1136
00:56:25,102 --> 00:56:27,762
HENRY: It´s clear that
if he had been listened to,
1137
00:56:27,762 --> 00:56:32,662
my son and Jeremiah,
1138
00:56:32,662 --> 00:56:36,232
La David, and Dustin
would be here today.
1139
00:56:37,732 --> 00:56:41,832
MARK: The only reason why they
would accuse Captain Perozeni
1140
00:56:41,832 --> 00:56:45,802
and the team of lying
and mischaracterizing
1141
00:56:45,802 --> 00:56:51,362
is to somehow absolve
the chain of command above them
1142
00:56:51,362 --> 00:56:55,262
and basically say because they
went out under false pretenses,
1143
00:56:55,262 --> 00:56:57,832
they put themselves
in a bad situation
1144
00:56:57,832 --> 00:57:00,262
and are therefore responsible
for what happened.
1145
00:57:02,362 --> 00:57:04,032
‐ There´s no way ‐‐
1146
00:57:04,032 --> 00:57:09,232
Like I say,
anybody with any common sense
1147
00:57:09,232 --> 00:57:12,162
would be headed back to base
1148
00:57:12,162 --> 00:57:13,902
and then all of a sudden decide
to turn around
1149
00:57:13,902 --> 00:57:16,832
and go six hours the other way
in the middle of the night.
1150
00:57:18,932 --> 00:57:20,662
NARRATOR: Through the night
of October 3rd,
1151
00:57:20,662 --> 00:57:24,532
the team made the difficult
movement north to the target.
1152
00:57:24,532 --> 00:57:26,402
MARK: They traveled
from late afternoon
1153
00:57:26,402 --> 00:57:29,602
till early the next morning
to get to the position.
1154
00:57:29,602 --> 00:57:31,732
NARRATOR:
On the morning of October 4th,
1155
00:57:31,732 --> 00:57:34,362
the team reached the objective
at sunrise,
1156
00:57:34,362 --> 00:57:37,932
but the enemy had already
departed the area.
1157
00:57:37,932 --> 00:57:40,132
The team discovered
enemy rations,
1158
00:57:40,132 --> 00:57:44,562
a motorcycle, drying uniforms,
and warm fire pits.
1159
00:57:44,562 --> 00:57:47,032
RAY:
This campsite was abandoned.
1160
00:57:47,032 --> 00:57:49,402
Nothing there to speak of.
1161
00:57:49,402 --> 00:57:50,802
And that they were
just gonna go off
1162
00:57:50,802 --> 00:57:55,462
looking for trash
and pocket litter.
1163
00:57:55,462 --> 00:57:57,632
ALAN:
In the middle of the desert,
1164
00:57:57,632 --> 00:57:59,762
there is nothing urgent enough
1165
00:57:59,762 --> 00:58:02,802
to send an improperly
supplied element
1166
00:58:02,802 --> 00:58:04,862
that far out into the desert.
1167
00:58:04,862 --> 00:58:07,502
NARRATOR: After completing the
mission near the Mali border,
1168
00:58:07,502 --> 00:58:11,562
the team was directed by
AOB Niger to return to base.
1169
00:58:11,562 --> 00:58:16,502
♫♫
1170
00:58:16,502 --> 00:58:21,462
♫♫
1171
00:58:21,462 --> 00:58:23,332
RAY:
While returning to base,
1172
00:58:23,332 --> 00:58:26,962
Team Quallam´s partner,
Nigerien forces, needed water,
1173
00:58:26,962 --> 00:58:28,232
so the convoy stopped
1174
00:58:28,232 --> 00:58:31,662
near the village
of Tongo Tongo to resupply.
1175
00:58:33,702 --> 00:58:35,302
NARRATOR: As the team waited,
1176
00:58:35,302 --> 00:58:38,362
they conducted an impromptu
key leader engagement
1177
00:58:38,362 --> 00:58:40,602
with the village elder.
1178
00:58:40,602 --> 00:58:42,332
During
the key leader engagement,
1179
00:58:42,332 --> 00:58:47,732
team members met with leaders
and 27 men of the village.
1180
00:58:47,732 --> 00:58:50,262
The meeting lasted
about 30 minutes longer
1181
00:58:50,262 --> 00:58:52,732
than the team commander
expected.
1182
00:58:52,732 --> 00:58:54,302
WILL: "Witnesses believe
the village owner
1183
00:58:54,302 --> 00:58:57,332
deliberately delayed the convoy
from departing in an effort
1184
00:58:57,332 --> 00:59:00,502
to allow the enemy time
to set up the ambush."
1185
00:59:00,502 --> 00:59:02,262
NARRATOR: At 11:35 hours,
1186
00:59:02,262 --> 00:59:04,032
the team
moved out of the village
1187
00:59:04,032 --> 00:59:06,632
of Tongo Tongo
on their planned route.
1188
00:59:06,632 --> 00:59:08,732
HENRY:
"The convoy traveled southeast
1189
00:59:08,732 --> 00:59:10,862
along the eastern edge
of the village.
1190
00:59:10,862 --> 00:59:12,332
Shortly thereafter,
1191
00:59:12,332 --> 00:59:14,902
a villager approaching
the village from the tree line
1192
00:59:14,902 --> 00:59:17,802
to the east directed
the convoy down a road,
1193
00:59:17,802 --> 00:59:20,132
which appeared to cut
through the wood line
1194
00:59:20,132 --> 00:59:22,262
due east from Tongo Tongo."
1195
00:59:22,262 --> 00:59:24,432
ARNOLD: "As the convoy
moved through the narrow road
1196
00:59:24,432 --> 00:59:26,302
between two wood lines,
1197
00:59:26,302 --> 00:59:28,502
the vehicles to the rear
of the convoy
1198
00:59:28,502 --> 00:59:30,462
began to receive
small‐arms fire."
1199
00:59:30,462 --> 00:59:32,332
[ gunfire ]
1200
00:59:32,332 --> 00:59:34,332
NARRATOR: At this point,
the convoy halted.
1201
00:59:34,332 --> 00:59:38,062
The team reported enemy contact
to the advanced operating base
1202
00:59:38,062 --> 00:59:40,262
and returned small‐arms fire.
1203
00:59:40,262 --> 00:59:43,162
DEBBIE: "I was starting to pick
back up even more.
1204
00:59:43,162 --> 00:59:46,032
I could see Jeremiah,
Dustin, Bryan
1205
00:59:46,032 --> 00:59:48,762
shooting their M4s
at muzzle flashes
1206
00:59:48,762 --> 00:59:52,032
and suspected
likely enemy locations."
1207
00:59:52,032 --> 00:59:53,802
MEEK: After the first shots
were fired,
1208
00:59:53,802 --> 00:59:58,832
most of the three dozen Nigerien
troops with the ODA fled,
1209
00:59:58,832 --> 01:00:01,162
leaving less than a dozen
to fight out the battle
1210
01:00:01,162 --> 01:00:03,902
alongside the American team.
1211
01:00:03,902 --> 01:00:05,232
RAY: "Realizing then
1212
01:00:05,232 --> 01:00:07,532
that the team was
significantly outnumbered
1213
01:00:07,532 --> 01:00:09,402
by a well‐trained force,
1214
01:00:09,402 --> 01:00:13,032
Team Quallam´s commander ordered
everyone to break contact
1215
01:00:13,032 --> 01:00:14,962
and to withdraw to the south."
1216
01:00:17,162 --> 01:00:18,632
NARRATOR:
As the rest of the team
1217
01:00:18,632 --> 01:00:20,232
loaded into their vehicles,
1218
01:00:20,232 --> 01:00:24,132
they saw Staff Sergeants
Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson,
1219
01:00:24,132 --> 01:00:28,302
and Dustin Wright in the
vicinity of U. S. vehicle 2.
1220
01:00:28,302 --> 01:00:30,932
The team commander signaled
to begin movement,
1221
01:00:30,932 --> 01:00:32,962
and Staff Sergeant
Jeremiah Johnson
1222
01:00:32,962 --> 01:00:36,062
acknowledged the order
with a thumbs‐up.
1223
01:00:36,062 --> 01:00:38,032
A team member
threw a smoke grenade
1224
01:00:38,032 --> 01:00:40,532
to conceal the team´s movement.
1225
01:00:40,532 --> 01:00:43,062
MEEK: No one knows
exactly what happened,
1226
01:00:43,062 --> 01:00:46,862
why U. S. vehicle 2 with Bryan,
Dustin, and Jeremiah
1227
01:00:46,862 --> 01:00:49,832
did not follow the rest of
the team out of the kill zone.
1228
01:00:49,832 --> 01:00:51,462
But now they were alone.
1229
01:00:51,462 --> 01:00:54,002
A large attacking force
descended upon them.
1230
01:00:54,002 --> 01:00:56,132
[ gunfire ]
1231
01:00:56,132 --> 01:00:58,902
WILL: Staff Sergeant Wright
began driving U. S. vehicle 2
1232
01:00:58,902 --> 01:00:59,962
slowly south,
1233
01:00:59,962 --> 01:01:01,432
while Staff Sergeant Black
1234
01:01:01,432 --> 01:01:03,332
and Staff Sergeant
Jeremiah Johnson
1235
01:01:03,332 --> 01:01:05,462
walked along next
to the vehicle,
1236
01:01:05,462 --> 01:01:07,632
providing suppressive fire.
1237
01:01:07,632 --> 01:01:09,832
HENRY: "During the movement,
enemy small‐arms fire
1238
01:01:09,832 --> 01:01:12,602
hit Staff Sergeant Black,
killing him instantly."
1239
01:01:12,602 --> 01:01:18,462
♫♫
1240
01:01:18,462 --> 01:01:21,362
♫♫
1241
01:01:21,362 --> 01:01:23,932
[ gunfire ]
1242
01:01:23,932 --> 01:01:29,902
♫♫
1243
01:01:29,902 --> 01:01:33,902
RAY: We saw Bryan Black
fall first.
1244
01:01:33,902 --> 01:01:38,632
Watch Dustin and Jeremiah
pull him back to safety,
1245
01:01:38,632 --> 01:01:41,302
realizing that Bryan
had lost his life.
1246
01:01:41,302 --> 01:01:45,402
Jeremiah and Dustin
tried to leave the area.
1247
01:01:45,402 --> 01:01:46,862
[ gunfire ]
1248
01:01:46,862 --> 01:01:48,662
But there was no, uh,
1249
01:01:48,662 --> 01:01:51,962
no support fire
from the other team members.
1250
01:01:51,962 --> 01:01:54,162
They were just left
to fend for themselves.
1251
01:01:54,162 --> 01:01:56,132
[ gunfire ]
1252
01:01:56,132 --> 01:02:02,132
♫♫
1253
01:02:02,132 --> 01:02:03,962
DEBBIE:
"Overrun by enemy fighters,
1254
01:02:03,962 --> 01:02:05,262
Staff Sergeant Wright
1255
01:02:05,262 --> 01:02:07,502
and Staff Sergeant
Jeremiah Johnson
1256
01:02:07,502 --> 01:02:09,962
were forced to evade on foot.
1257
01:02:09,962 --> 01:02:12,962
Approximately 85 meters
from the vehicle,
1258
01:02:12,962 --> 01:02:15,632
enemy small‐arms fire
1259
01:02:15,632 --> 01:02:18,302
hit Staff Sergeant
Jeremiah Johnson..."
1260
01:02:20,932 --> 01:02:22,902
"...severely wounding him."
1261
01:02:22,902 --> 01:02:28,502
♫♫
1262
01:02:28,502 --> 01:02:32,702
♫♫
1263
01:02:32,702 --> 01:02:38,062
♫♫
1264
01:02:38,062 --> 01:02:40,232
TERRI:
"Staff Sergeant Wright stopped,
1265
01:02:40,232 --> 01:02:43,402
returned to Staff Sergeant
J. Johnson
1266
01:02:43,402 --> 01:02:45,832
and continued
to engage the enemy..."
1267
01:02:45,832 --> 01:02:49,002
‐ "...attempting to protect
Staff Sergeant Johnson,
1268
01:02:49,002 --> 01:02:51,862
Staff Sergeant Wright
fired his M4
1269
01:02:51,862 --> 01:02:54,962
at the enemy
as they advanced on his position
1270
01:02:54,962 --> 01:02:57,032
until he was fatally wounded.
1271
01:02:57,032 --> 01:02:59,902
The enemy killed both soldiers
with small‐arms fire."
1272
01:02:59,902 --> 01:03:03,802
♫♫
1273
01:03:03,802 --> 01:03:06,762
WILL: I know what it took
to take him down.
1274
01:03:06,762 --> 01:03:09,562
And I´m proud of it.
1275
01:03:09,562 --> 01:03:13,032
It makes me want to strap
on my boots and go back.
1276
01:03:13,032 --> 01:03:14,432
It does.
1277
01:03:14,432 --> 01:03:16,932
I have no problem
with how he went.
1278
01:03:18,562 --> 01:03:20,702
I´m ‐‐ I´m jealous.
1279
01:03:20,702 --> 01:03:25,462
That´s ‐‐ It´s crazy,
but as a warrior, I´m jealous.
1280
01:03:25,462 --> 01:03:30,432
He ‐‐ He fought more than
10 men could fight.
1281
01:03:31,662 --> 01:03:33,532
Till his dying breath.
1282
01:03:33,532 --> 01:03:36,062
He did it for love.
1283
01:03:36,062 --> 01:03:39,462
He did it for the man
standing next to him, so...
1284
01:03:39,462 --> 01:03:41,432
I don´t have an issue
with that at all.
1285
01:03:41,432 --> 01:03:45,132
♫♫
1286
01:03:45,132 --> 01:03:46,462
MEEK:
The team quickly realized
1287
01:03:46,462 --> 01:03:48,432
that Bryan and Jeremiah
and Dustin
1288
01:03:48,432 --> 01:03:50,132
had not followed them.
1289
01:03:50,132 --> 01:03:51,362
Four of the Green Berets
1290
01:03:51,362 --> 01:03:53,532
went off on foot
to try to find them
1291
01:03:53,532 --> 01:03:56,032
but were pinned down
by heavy fire.
1292
01:03:56,032 --> 01:03:57,732
The remainder of the team
and their vehicles
1293
01:03:57,732 --> 01:03:59,602
were forced to withdraw again,
1294
01:03:59,602 --> 01:04:03,432
but this time La David
and two Nigerien soldiers
1295
01:04:03,432 --> 01:04:05,702
were lost in the chaos.
1296
01:04:05,702 --> 01:04:07,162
NARRATOR::
Believing Sergeant Johnson
1297
01:04:07,162 --> 01:04:08,902
was in control of his vehicle,
1298
01:04:08,902 --> 01:04:10,862
the driver of U. S. vehicle 1
1299
01:04:10,862 --> 01:04:13,202
accelerated hard
to the northwest.
1300
01:04:14,602 --> 01:04:16,662
MYESHIA:
"Sergeant La David Johnson
1301
01:04:16,662 --> 01:04:18,132
and the two Nigerien soldiers
1302
01:04:18,132 --> 01:04:20,732
were unable to get
into their vehicle
1303
01:04:20,732 --> 01:04:24,832
and with enemy forces rapidly
closing on their position,
1304
01:04:24,832 --> 01:04:27,332
they were forced
to evade on foot."
1305
01:04:27,332 --> 01:04:29,132
NARRATOR: The Nigerien soldiers
were killed
1306
01:04:29,132 --> 01:04:30,132
with small‐arms fire.
1307
01:04:30,132 --> 01:04:33,162
roughly 400 meters
from position 2.
1308
01:04:33,162 --> 01:04:36,202
MYESHIA: "Sergeant La David
Johnson continued to evade,
1309
01:04:36,202 --> 01:04:40,002
running west
for an additional 450 meters
1310
01:04:40,002 --> 01:04:44,102
before eventually seeking cover
under a thorny tree.
1311
01:04:44,102 --> 01:04:49,002
Sergeant La David Johnson
fired his U. S. M4 weapon
1312
01:04:49,002 --> 01:04:52,232
a total of five times
on advancing enemy
1313
01:04:52,232 --> 01:04:54,032
before being killed."
1314
01:04:54,032 --> 01:04:58,362
♫♫
1315
01:04:58,362 --> 01:05:02,762
♫♫
1316
01:05:02,762 --> 01:05:05,932
‐ The rest of 3212
had no idea that La David,
1317
01:05:05,932 --> 01:05:08,962
Bryan, Jeremiah, and Dustin
had been killed,
1318
01:05:08,962 --> 01:05:11,162
along with
four Nigerien soldiers
1319
01:05:11,162 --> 01:05:14,062
and a Nigerien
civilian contractor.
1320
01:05:14,062 --> 01:05:15,832
Two other members of the team
had been wounded,
1321
01:05:15,832 --> 01:05:18,702
including Captain Perozeni,
who was shot in the side.
1322
01:05:18,702 --> 01:05:21,662
The six Americans
and four Nigeriens remaining
1323
01:05:21,662 --> 01:05:24,562
were down to a total
of 60 rounds of ammunition.
1324
01:05:26,302 --> 01:05:29,532
They made a desperate call
on their radio ‐‐ broken arrow,
1325
01:05:29,532 --> 01:05:31,632
which is a term that goes back
to the Vietnam War
1326
01:05:31,632 --> 01:05:35,602
and means essentially
all hope is lost.
1327
01:05:35,602 --> 01:05:38,062
MARK: "With enemy vehicles
fast approaching,
1328
01:05:38,062 --> 01:05:41,132
Team Quallam and the Nigerien
partners realized
1329
01:05:41,132 --> 01:05:44,662
their unit was being overwhelmed
and radioed higher headquarters
1330
01:05:44,662 --> 01:05:48,562
for the first time
since the initial contact."
1331
01:05:48,562 --> 01:05:50,802
MEEK: Captain Perozeni
texted frantic messages
1332
01:05:50,802 --> 01:05:52,132
to his headquarters, saying...
1333
01:05:57,032 --> 01:06:00,002
And two U. S. commanders in Niger
that day told me
1334
01:06:00,002 --> 01:06:02,402
that dozens
of Special Forces soldiers
1335
01:06:02,402 --> 01:06:06,762
were eager to fly to Tongo Tongo
to save ODA 3212.
1336
01:06:06,762 --> 01:06:08,062
‐ One of those ODAs
1337
01:06:08,062 --> 01:06:10,262
had helicopters
at their disposal,
1338
01:06:10,262 --> 01:06:11,732
immediately got in the air
1339
01:06:11,732 --> 01:06:14,862
and started flying
in the direction of Tongo Tongo
1340
01:06:14,862 --> 01:06:17,062
because they were fighting
tooth and nail
1341
01:06:17,062 --> 01:06:19,832
to get in there
and help their brothers.
1342
01:06:19,832 --> 01:06:22,502
They radioed back
to Lieutenant Colonel Painter
1343
01:06:22,502 --> 01:06:27,802
to receive permission to go in,
and multiple times were denied.
1344
01:06:27,802 --> 01:06:30,132
MEEK: Lieutenant Colonel Painter
was the same officer
1345
01:06:30,132 --> 01:06:31,602
who, the night before,
1346
01:06:31,602 --> 01:06:33,862
had denied
Captain Perozeni´s request
1347
01:06:33,862 --> 01:06:35,002
to return to base.
1348
01:06:36,262 --> 01:06:39,662
MARK: At 14:58, a French Mirage
fighter jet
1349
01:06:39,662 --> 01:06:41,162
made a show of force
1350
01:06:41,162 --> 01:06:45,962
by flying over the troops in
contact site at a low altitude.
1351
01:06:45,962 --> 01:06:47,362
The enemy broke contact
1352
01:06:47,362 --> 01:06:51,202
and departed the area
after the show of force.
1353
01:06:51,202 --> 01:06:53,102
ALAN: The French were the ones,
at the end of the day,
1354
01:06:53,102 --> 01:06:55,732
who came in
as the quick‐reaction force
1355
01:06:55,732 --> 01:06:57,962
and ‐‐ and rescued the ODA.
1356
01:06:57,962 --> 01:07:02,562
And that really frustrated
and ‐‐ and pissed off the guys
1357
01:07:02,562 --> 01:07:04,202
who were sitting there
at Quallam
1358
01:07:04,202 --> 01:07:07,132
with helicopters ready to go
1359
01:07:07,132 --> 01:07:11,732
and to this day does not
sit well with a lot of the guys.
1360
01:07:11,732 --> 01:07:13,362
ARNOLD:
"French forces evacuated
1361
01:07:13,362 --> 01:07:15,802
the surviving members
of Team Quallam
1362
01:07:15,802 --> 01:07:17,062
from the battlefield."
1363
01:07:23,662 --> 01:07:26,062
‐ The deaths of the four
Special Forces soldiers
1364
01:07:26,062 --> 01:07:28,062
and the failure to even rescue
their own men
1365
01:07:28,062 --> 01:07:31,002
from the battlefield
was a huge embarrassment.
1366
01:07:31,002 --> 01:07:33,532
And in spite
of what AFRICOM claimed,
1367
01:07:33,532 --> 01:07:35,262
there was little
or no evidence at all
1368
01:07:35,262 --> 01:07:38,502
that the team had gone rogue
as they were accused of.
1369
01:07:38,502 --> 01:07:40,802
In fact,
Captain Mike Perozeni
1370
01:07:40,802 --> 01:07:43,402
pushed back against
the superior officers twice,
1371
01:07:43,402 --> 01:07:44,862
which begs the question ‐‐
1372
01:07:44,862 --> 01:07:47,862
Why were the captain´s
concerns overruled?
1373
01:07:47,862 --> 01:07:50,362
What was driving his immediate
chain of command
1374
01:07:50,362 --> 01:07:53,102
to push ODA 3212 forward
1375
01:07:53,102 --> 01:07:54,932
against the team´s
better judgment?
1376
01:07:56,932 --> 01:07:59,202
And did a mysterious
additional vehicle,
1377
01:07:59,202 --> 01:08:01,662
which joined the convoy
as they left base
1378
01:08:01,662 --> 01:08:05,902
on October 3rd,
factor in to that decision?
1379
01:08:05,902 --> 01:08:07,902
I´ve confirmed
with intelligence officials
1380
01:08:07,902 --> 01:08:10,462
that what was identified
in the AFRICOM animations
1381
01:08:10,462 --> 01:08:13,962
simply as a 3‐man
Nigerien reconnaissance team
1382
01:08:13,962 --> 01:08:16,862
and a truck they labeled
Nigerien vehicle number 3
1383
01:08:16,862 --> 01:08:19,802
was, in fact, a team
1384
01:08:19,802 --> 01:08:22,162
of Nigerien CIA operatives.
1385
01:08:23,732 --> 01:08:26,402
It´s not at all uncommon
for CIA operatives
1386
01:08:26,402 --> 01:08:28,462
who are going
into dangerous areas
1387
01:08:28,462 --> 01:08:31,562
to be in the company of
U. S. Special Forces soldiers.
1388
01:08:31,562 --> 01:08:34,132
But because of the top‐secret
nature of their work,
1389
01:08:34,132 --> 01:08:36,662
it´s not always clear to the
troops they´re operating with
1390
01:08:36,662 --> 01:08:39,632
what or who they´re looking for.
1391
01:08:39,632 --> 01:08:42,332
In this case, the American
trained and outfitted operatives
1392
01:08:42,332 --> 01:08:44,502
were carrying
a sophisticated device
1393
01:08:44,502 --> 01:08:48,432
which can covertly lock onto
and track a cellphone signal.
1394
01:08:48,432 --> 01:08:50,002
And with it, we have learned,
1395
01:08:50,002 --> 01:08:52,902
they were the ones
who were hunting Doundou Chefou
1396
01:08:52,902 --> 01:08:56,502
in the hope that he would lead
them to an even bigger prize ‐‐
1397
01:08:56,502 --> 01:08:59,762
an American Christian aid worker
named Jeffery Woodke,
1398
01:08:59,762 --> 01:09:02,762
who was being held hostage
somewhere in the region.
1399
01:09:07,362 --> 01:09:11,632
ELS: When Jeff was a child,
he used to spin the globe
1400
01:09:11,632 --> 01:09:13,632
and look where he stopped.
1401
01:09:13,632 --> 01:09:15,562
And one time he stopped
1402
01:09:15,562 --> 01:09:17,902
and his finger was pointed
at Niger.
1403
01:09:17,902 --> 01:09:19,432
And he told his mom,
1404
01:09:19,432 --> 01:09:23,362
"When I grew up,
I´m gonna go to Niger."
1405
01:09:23,362 --> 01:09:26,702
When he was grown up,
he remembered that moment
1406
01:09:26,702 --> 01:09:30,262
and he looked up and saw
how poor the nation was
1407
01:09:30,262 --> 01:09:33,862
and when he sees suffering,
he wants to alleviate it.
1408
01:09:33,862 --> 01:09:37,162
He looks for ways to help
the people.
1409
01:09:37,162 --> 01:09:40,662
So he build wells.
He did animal vaccinations.
1410
01:09:40,662 --> 01:09:45,062
He helped create schools for
kids so they could be educated.
1411
01:09:46,302 --> 01:09:49,132
He worked very close
with the local population
1412
01:09:49,132 --> 01:09:50,962
in view of their needs.
1413
01:09:53,502 --> 01:09:57,362
‐ This was the start
of the whole process
1414
01:09:57,362 --> 01:09:59,462
of the upwards budget.
1415
01:09:59,462 --> 01:10:00,532
ELS: That morning,
1416
01:10:00,532 --> 01:10:03,632
Jeff announced
this special project.
1417
01:10:05,532 --> 01:10:07,162
We´re seeing the video of Jeff
1418
01:10:07,162 --> 01:10:09,662
with the leaders
of the community.
1419
01:10:09,662 --> 01:10:13,302
After all that, he went home.
1420
01:10:13,302 --> 01:10:14,602
And then it happened.
1421
01:10:16,932 --> 01:10:19,002
He heard ‐‐ he heard shots.
1422
01:10:19,002 --> 01:10:20,002
He ran away.
1423
01:10:22,732 --> 01:10:24,332
He fleed.
1424
01:10:24,332 --> 01:10:29,532
♫♫
1425
01:10:29,532 --> 01:10:31,202
But they ‐‐ they got him.
1426
01:10:31,202 --> 01:10:36,632
♫♫
1427
01:10:45,262 --> 01:10:48,102
Then it was just all a blur.
1428
01:10:51,162 --> 01:10:53,462
I just kept saying no.
1429
01:10:53,462 --> 01:10:56,762
It took a long time for me
to, um,
1430
01:10:56,762 --> 01:11:00,102
to really accept the reality
that it had really happened.
1431
01:11:00,102 --> 01:11:02,202
Yeah.
1432
01:11:02,202 --> 01:11:04,932
[ sighs ] Yeah.
1433
01:11:07,162 --> 01:11:11,002
‐ Certainly, we knew
who Jeff Woodke was in Niger.
1434
01:11:11,002 --> 01:11:13,002
His clothes were
in my headquarters,
1435
01:11:13,002 --> 01:11:16,162
so that should he be freed
during our time there,
1436
01:11:16,162 --> 01:11:18,962
he would be brought through
and given back his belongings
1437
01:11:18,962 --> 01:11:23,262
as part of his reintegration
to feel human again.
1438
01:11:23,262 --> 01:11:27,962
But when ODA 3212 left the wire
on their reconnaissance mission,
1439
01:11:27,962 --> 01:11:30,302
never was there an understanding
1440
01:11:30,302 --> 01:11:31,762
that it related
to Jeffery Woodke.
1441
01:11:31,762 --> 01:11:33,932
It wasn´t in any
of the mission plans.
1442
01:11:33,932 --> 01:11:36,202
It was never told to me
after the fact.
1443
01:11:36,202 --> 01:11:39,802
It was never in any of the
conversations that took place.
1444
01:11:39,802 --> 01:11:41,362
‐ Jeffery Woodke
was never brought up
1445
01:11:41,362 --> 01:11:43,032
in any of the mission planning
1446
01:11:43,032 --> 01:11:45,332
and his name appears nowhere
1447
01:11:45,332 --> 01:11:49,332
in the 268‐page
redacted AFRICOM report.
1448
01:11:49,332 --> 01:11:50,902
Plus, the four families
of the fallen
1449
01:11:50,902 --> 01:11:54,302
were never told about
any connection between Woodke
1450
01:11:54,302 --> 01:11:58,432
and the missions until General
Waldhauser alleged that
1451
01:11:58,432 --> 01:11:59,802
in his press conference,
1452
01:11:59,802 --> 01:12:01,902
shocking nearly everyone
who heard it.
1453
01:12:01,902 --> 01:12:04,902
‐ And I think it´s important
to underscore why then
1454
01:12:04,902 --> 01:12:06,262
was that mission undertaken?
1455
01:12:06,262 --> 01:12:08,202
Why was it so important
to send those people up there?
1456
01:12:08,202 --> 01:12:10,502
We´ve had an American citizen
by the name of Jeffery Woodke,
1457
01:12:10,502 --> 01:12:13,232
who´s been captured
and held hostage
1458
01:12:13,232 --> 01:12:16,202
in somewhere in that area
for the last year and a half,
1459
01:12:16,202 --> 01:12:19,202
and there was a possibility
that what they might find
1460
01:12:19,202 --> 01:12:21,362
at that target
would be a piece of the puzzle
1461
01:12:21,362 --> 01:12:22,702
of the whole
of government approach
1462
01:12:22,702 --> 01:12:24,862
to try to return an American
who´s been held hostage
1463
01:12:24,862 --> 01:12:26,432
for over a year and a half.
1464
01:12:26,432 --> 01:12:29,532
MEEK: You´ll recall at General
Waldhauser´s press briefing,
1465
01:12:29,532 --> 01:12:31,462
he wasn´t asked
a question about this,
1466
01:12:31,462 --> 01:12:35,032
but he just sort of
brought up Jeffery Woodke.
1467
01:12:35,032 --> 01:12:38,832
And he said that third mission
in searching that site
1468
01:12:38,832 --> 01:12:43,702
was to look for intelligence on
that hostage Jeffery Woodke.
1469
01:12:43,702 --> 01:12:46,702
Is that something
that you´ve ever heard?
1470
01:12:46,702 --> 01:12:48,432
‐ I had never heard that,
1471
01:12:48,432 --> 01:12:52,602
and I don´t recall that ever
being part of the instructions
1472
01:12:52,602 --> 01:12:57,602
that were given to
Captain Perozeni and his team.
1473
01:12:57,602 --> 01:13:01,562
So I´m not sure where
that characterization came from.
1474
01:13:01,562 --> 01:13:03,362
MEEK: Jeffery Woodke,
1475
01:13:03,362 --> 01:13:05,602
this hostage that´s been held
since October 2016.
1476
01:13:07,402 --> 01:13:08,732
‐ Yeah.
1477
01:13:08,732 --> 01:13:10,332
MEEK: His name come up
in the briefings?
1478
01:13:10,332 --> 01:13:13,132
‐ No, never once.
1479
01:13:13,132 --> 01:13:15,132
‐ The mission was
a sensitive site ‐‐
1480
01:13:15,132 --> 01:13:17,202
clear a sensitive site
for intelligence.
1481
01:13:17,202 --> 01:13:19,202
ALAN: For General Waldhauser
to say,
1482
01:13:19,202 --> 01:13:21,202
"We were out there
looking for Jeff Woodke,"
1483
01:13:21,202 --> 01:13:24,062
seemed like a convenient excuse
on his part
1484
01:13:24,062 --> 01:13:26,102
as the commander of AFRICOM
1485
01:13:26,102 --> 01:13:31,432
to try and put a, uh, noble
cause about what we were doing.
1486
01:13:31,432 --> 01:13:33,402
MEEK: Does that change things,
1487
01:13:33,402 --> 01:13:37,432
how you see what Jeremiah
was doing out there at all?
1488
01:13:37,432 --> 01:13:39,262
If he was part of a team
that was helping
1489
01:13:39,262 --> 01:13:43,102
to facilitate efforts to locate
and eventually recover
1490
01:13:43,102 --> 01:13:46,732
an American‐held hostage
by ISIS?
1491
01:13:46,732 --> 01:13:48,002
‐ Yes and no.
1492
01:13:48,002 --> 01:13:50,202
Um...
1493
01:13:50,202 --> 01:13:52,302
It still could have
waited another day.
1494
01:13:52,302 --> 01:13:55,862
Um...
1495
01:13:55,862 --> 01:14:01,232
I mean, I´m all for finding
the American, definitely, but...
1496
01:14:01,232 --> 01:14:03,202
another day...
1497
01:14:03,202 --> 01:14:06,562
when they could have had backup
1498
01:14:06,562 --> 01:14:10,102
would have made a world
of difference.
1499
01:14:10,102 --> 01:14:12,862
We´d have four boys
back home, probably.
1500
01:14:12,862 --> 01:14:15,832
‐ If this was indeed
on my husband´s behalf,
1501
01:14:15,832 --> 01:14:18,632
I would have to say
thank you so very much.
1502
01:14:18,632 --> 01:14:20,362
Um...
1503
01:14:20,362 --> 01:14:22,702
I´m still I´m very sorry
it happened.
1504
01:14:24,762 --> 01:14:26,302
And that would be
a terrible burden
1505
01:14:26,302 --> 01:14:28,432
to know that people might die
in the attempt
1506
01:14:28,432 --> 01:14:30,662
to rescue my husband.
1507
01:14:30,662 --> 01:14:32,832
I don´t take that lightly.
1508
01:14:32,832 --> 01:14:38,732
♫♫
1509
01:14:38,732 --> 01:14:41,502
♫♫
1510
01:14:45,502 --> 01:14:47,602
[ wind chimes chiming ]
1511
01:14:55,902 --> 01:14:58,002
‐ Colonel, come on in.
‐ My name is Lieutenant Hudson.
1512
01:14:58,002 --> 01:14:59,902
‐ Tom, how are you?
‐ Good.
1513
01:14:59,902 --> 01:15:03,562
‐ Real pleasure.
Come on in.
1514
01:15:03,562 --> 01:15:07,202
OFFICER: This week is about, you
know, recognizing the valor.
1515
01:15:07,202 --> 01:15:09,832
You know, our gold star families
and our fallen heroes ‐‐
1516
01:15:09,832 --> 01:15:11,562
national treasure.
1517
01:15:11,562 --> 01:15:12,702
Obviously there´s nothing
1518
01:15:12,702 --> 01:15:16,362
I´m gonna be able to say
that will, you know,
1519
01:15:16,362 --> 01:15:20,002
do much for your loss, frankly,
but, you know...
1520
01:15:20,002 --> 01:15:22,432
MEEK: Despite the fact the
official military investigation
1521
01:15:22,432 --> 01:15:24,962
tarnished the actions
of ODA 3212,
1522
01:15:24,962 --> 01:15:28,462
nearly two years
after the attack in Tongo Tongo,
1523
01:15:28,462 --> 01:15:31,202
the fallen soldiers were finally
given some recognition
1524
01:15:31,202 --> 01:15:33,032
for their sacrifices.
1525
01:15:33,032 --> 01:15:35,532
‐ So I´d like to present you
with the Bronze Star award.
1526
01:15:35,532 --> 01:15:37,602
Bronze Star with valor.
1527
01:15:37,602 --> 01:15:39,702
You can see the award there,
1528
01:15:39,702 --> 01:15:43,802
and you can read
the citation there.
1529
01:15:43,802 --> 01:15:46,002
DEBBIE: Well, thank you very
much for bringing this down
1530
01:15:46,002 --> 01:15:48,102
and presenting it to us.
OFFICER: Yes, ma´am.
1531
01:15:48,102 --> 01:15:50,662
♫♫
1532
01:15:50,662 --> 01:15:54,002
‐ He´s truly missed.
OFFICER: Yes.
1533
01:15:54,002 --> 01:15:59,602
♫♫
1534
01:15:59,602 --> 01:16:01,132
DEBBIE: He deserves it.
1535
01:16:01,132 --> 01:16:04,232
He´s earned that honor.
1536
01:16:04,232 --> 01:16:07,332
But I´ve lost my child.
1537
01:16:07,332 --> 01:16:09,302
That´s never gonna
make that right.
1538
01:16:11,632 --> 01:16:14,932
But my son would not want me
to turn my back on the military.
1539
01:16:17,102 --> 01:16:19,232
My stepson´s in the military,
in the Marine ‐‐
1540
01:16:19,232 --> 01:16:21,602
in the Marine Corps ‐‐
Michael.
1541
01:16:21,602 --> 01:16:24,762
My grandson Danny
is in the Army.
1542
01:16:24,762 --> 01:16:28,132
My granddaughter´s
in the Army Reserves ‐‐ medic.
1543
01:16:28,132 --> 01:16:31,632
And I am still
all for the military.
1544
01:16:33,402 --> 01:16:36,932
I am very...
1545
01:16:36,932 --> 01:16:40,102
very infuriated with the Army
1546
01:16:40,102 --> 01:16:41,962
and the ones involved with this.
1547
01:16:44,002 --> 01:16:45,632
I´m sure they wake up
every morning now,
1548
01:16:45,632 --> 01:16:48,332
and they don´t think
about those four boys.
1549
01:16:49,662 --> 01:16:51,462
I wake up without my son
every morning
1550
01:16:51,462 --> 01:16:53,302
just as the other parents do.
1551
01:16:53,302 --> 01:16:56,432
♫♫
1552
01:16:56,432 --> 01:16:59,032
The wives wake up
without their husbands,
1553
01:16:59,032 --> 01:17:02,802
the brothers and sisters wake up
without their brother,
1554
01:17:02,802 --> 01:17:06,702
kids wake up without their dads,
1555
01:17:06,702 --> 01:17:12,402
and we deserve the full truth
and some accountability.
1556
01:17:12,402 --> 01:17:14,962
♫♫
1557
01:17:14,962 --> 01:17:18,732
HENRY: I feel the pain of
the families as much as I can.
1558
01:17:18,732 --> 01:17:20,132
I understand their grief.
1559
01:17:20,132 --> 01:17:22,602
I grieve with them
for their loss.
1560
01:17:22,602 --> 01:17:24,802
And I think that they grieve
for our loss.
1561
01:17:26,732 --> 01:17:29,862
KAREN: For me, I don´t want to
just constantly living my life.
1562
01:17:29,862 --> 01:17:33,662
"Okay. In October of 2017,
this happened.
1563
01:17:33,662 --> 01:17:36,002
Let´s rehash it again and again
and again and again."
1564
01:17:36,002 --> 01:17:38,402
That´s not me.
1565
01:17:38,402 --> 01:17:41,802
[ train whistle blows ]
1566
01:17:41,802 --> 01:17:43,502
You don´t live with your head
in the sand
1567
01:17:43,502 --> 01:17:45,832
and act like it never happened,
1568
01:17:45,832 --> 01:17:49,602
but move forward,
do positive things,
1569
01:17:49,602 --> 01:17:51,402
continue to grow and learn
1570
01:17:51,402 --> 01:17:54,632
and impact other people
in their lives.
1571
01:17:54,632 --> 01:17:58,062
♫♫
1572
01:17:58,062 --> 01:18:01,462
♫♫
1573
01:18:01,462 --> 01:18:04,762
Well, yeah, it´s already ‐‐
It´s already named,
1574
01:18:04,762 --> 01:18:06,602
but I think you can change
their names
1575
01:18:06,602 --> 01:18:07,602
up to, like, a year.
WOMAN: Is it Opie?
1576
01:18:07,602 --> 01:18:09,302
KAREN: Yeah.
‐ What´s their name?
1577
01:18:09,302 --> 01:18:10,462
WOMAN: Opie.
1578
01:18:10,462 --> 01:18:12,002
‐ Oh, that´s perfect.
1579
01:18:12,002 --> 01:18:13,332
‐ I get a new grand‐dog.
1580
01:18:13,332 --> 01:18:14,632
‐ I know.
1581
01:18:14,632 --> 01:18:16,932
[ laughter ]
1582
01:18:16,932 --> 01:18:19,562
HENRY: It´s a routine now
of life without Bryan,
1583
01:18:19,562 --> 01:18:23,932
adjusting but remembering
and thanking our Lord
1584
01:18:23,932 --> 01:18:27,002
for what we had with him
for all those years.
1585
01:18:34,662 --> 01:18:37,202
[ dog barking ]
1586
01:18:43,032 --> 01:18:44,802
COWANDA:
We all family now.
1587
01:18:47,762 --> 01:18:48,932
Their pain is my pain,
1588
01:18:48,932 --> 01:18:50,862
and I know my pain
is their pain.
1589
01:18:50,862 --> 01:18:52,632
We all going through
the same thing.
1590
01:18:52,632 --> 01:18:54,302
We just want to know the truth.
1591
01:19:00,162 --> 01:19:02,462
OFFICER: The president of
the United States of America,
1592
01:19:02,462 --> 01:19:06,002
authorized by Act
of Congress 9 July 1918,
1593
01:19:06,002 --> 01:19:09,702
has awarded the Silver Star
to Sergeant La David T. Johnson.
1594
01:19:09,702 --> 01:19:10,962
Sergeant Johnson,
1595
01:19:10,962 --> 01:19:13,432
with total disregard
for his personal safety or life,
1596
01:19:13,432 --> 01:19:16,002
maneuvered multiple times
across open terrain
1597
01:19:16,002 --> 01:19:17,862
through intense
and accurate fire
1598
01:19:17,862 --> 01:19:21,002
from an overwhelming hostile
force to protect his team.
1599
01:19:21,002 --> 01:19:23,102
MEEK: I want to ask you
about the ceremony.
1600
01:19:23,102 --> 01:19:25,602
At one point, you kind of
like turned away,
1601
01:19:25,602 --> 01:19:27,232
like, your back to the audience.
1602
01:19:27,232 --> 01:19:29,762
Do you remember that moment,
how you were feeling?
1603
01:19:31,132 --> 01:19:33,962
‐ I was angry.
1604
01:19:33,962 --> 01:19:35,362
Angry.
1605
01:19:35,362 --> 01:19:37,962
I wanted my husband
to be here with me.
1606
01:19:40,362 --> 01:19:44,162
No ‐‐ A war medal or anything
could bring him back.
1607
01:19:46,702 --> 01:19:49,802
I´m angry and I´m still angry
to this day.
1608
01:19:55,262 --> 01:19:57,262
Come on. You ready?
1609
01:19:57,262 --> 01:20:02,162
♫ Happy birthday to you ♫
1610
01:20:02,162 --> 01:20:07,262
♫ Happy birthday to you ♫
1611
01:20:07,262 --> 01:20:12,362
♫ Happy birthday,
dear Shay Shay ♫
1612
01:20:12,362 --> 01:20:15,932
♫ We love you, we do ♫
1613
01:20:15,932 --> 01:20:17,832
Whoo!
You love Mommy?
1614
01:20:17,832 --> 01:20:18,932
BOY: Blow.
1615
01:20:18,932 --> 01:20:20,702
‐ Whoo!
1616
01:20:20,702 --> 01:20:23,162
[ laughs ]
1617
01:20:23,162 --> 01:20:24,732
Ooh, pretty girl.
1618
01:20:27,302 --> 01:20:30,702
Yeah, I don´t got anything
to make him sit up.
1619
01:20:30,702 --> 01:20:32,932
GIRL: Daddy can sit
on Shay Shay lap.
1620
01:20:32,932 --> 01:20:35,502
‐ I can´t.
I got to hold it.
1621
01:20:35,502 --> 01:20:37,562
but I´ll lay it like that.
1622
01:20:37,562 --> 01:20:40,632
They still
ask questions every day.
1623
01:20:43,332 --> 01:20:47,462
"Mommy, when Daddy coming home?
When Daddy coming home?"
1624
01:20:47,462 --> 01:20:49,462
And I have to tell them,
"Daddy not coming home.
1625
01:20:49,462 --> 01:20:53,032
You know, Daddy in Heaven now,
you know.
1626
01:20:53,032 --> 01:20:56,202
So, you know, you could see
Daddy in your dreams."
1627
01:20:56,202 --> 01:20:59,762
♫♫
1628
01:20:59,762 --> 01:21:03,362
♫♫
1629
01:21:03,362 --> 01:21:04,902
And when I´m dead and gone,
1630
01:21:04,902 --> 01:21:07,602
I´m gonna reunite
with my husband.
1631
01:21:09,462 --> 01:21:11,062
He´s gonna be waiting for me.
1632
01:21:11,062 --> 01:21:16,862
♫♫
1633
01:21:16,862 --> 01:21:22,702
♫♫
1634
01:21:22,702 --> 01:21:24,302
WILL:
You wanna go get the doggie?
1635
01:21:24,302 --> 01:21:26,302
Huh? Abigail.
1636
01:21:26,302 --> 01:21:28,732
Hey. Abigail.
1637
01:21:28,732 --> 01:21:29,862
You want to go get the doggie?
1638
01:21:29,862 --> 01:21:31,732
A lot of changes
on the personal front.
1639
01:21:31,732 --> 01:21:32,902
I´ve been married now ‐‐
1640
01:21:32,902 --> 01:21:36,002
September 22nd,
it was a year.
1641
01:21:36,002 --> 01:21:39,932
I have a 9‐month‐old daughter,
Abigail.
1642
01:21:42,932 --> 01:21:45,862
Far as my brother and his life,
1643
01:21:45,862 --> 01:21:48,262
his legacy and his death,
1644
01:21:48,262 --> 01:21:51,302
it´s been a long,
arduous process
1645
01:21:51,302 --> 01:21:53,102
over the last two years.
1646
01:21:53,102 --> 01:21:56,732
Um, the most recent development,
you know,
1647
01:21:56,732 --> 01:21:59,662
was obviously his award.
1648
01:21:59,662 --> 01:22:02,602
He was awarded the Silver Star
for Valor in Combat.
1649
01:22:02,602 --> 01:22:05,462
[ "The Star‐Spangled Banner"
playing ]
1650
01:22:05,462 --> 01:22:10,362
♫♫
1651
01:22:10,362 --> 01:22:11,632
OFFICER: Staff Sergeant Wright,
1652
01:22:11,632 --> 01:22:14,402
with total disregard
for his personal safety or life,
1653
01:22:14,402 --> 01:22:16,762
maneuvered multiple times
across open terrain
1654
01:22:16,762 --> 01:22:18,502
through intense
and accurate fire
1655
01:22:18,502 --> 01:22:20,402
from an overwhelming
hostile force
1656
01:22:20,402 --> 01:22:23,532
to protect and recover
two of his fallen comrades.
1657
01:22:23,532 --> 01:22:24,702
His courage...
1658
01:22:24,702 --> 01:22:25,902
TERRI: I can´t change the past.
1659
01:22:25,902 --> 01:22:29,002
I can´t bring Dustin back.
1660
01:22:29,002 --> 01:22:32,002
But I can have a voice.
1661
01:22:32,002 --> 01:22:35,102
And I can be a thorn
in your side...
1662
01:22:38,762 --> 01:22:41,232
...to get my point across.
1663
01:22:41,232 --> 01:22:42,832
And that point is
1664
01:22:42,832 --> 01:22:46,402
if we´re gonna have
a strong country,
1665
01:22:46,402 --> 01:22:50,702
we have to have
a strong military.
1666
01:22:50,702 --> 01:22:54,862
And that means
when you make a mistake,
1667
01:22:54,862 --> 01:22:57,462
you are accountable.
1668
01:22:57,462 --> 01:23:00,462
And you must hold yourself
accountable,
1669
01:23:00,462 --> 01:23:03,232
because that is what my son did.
1670
01:23:03,232 --> 01:23:05,962
He held himself accountable
1671
01:23:05,962 --> 01:23:09,362
for his actions that day.
1672
01:23:09,362 --> 01:23:10,832
He had a choice.
1673
01:23:10,832 --> 01:23:12,702
He could have kept running.
1674
01:23:12,702 --> 01:23:13,962
He didn´t.
1675
01:23:13,962 --> 01:23:16,162
He stopped.
1676
01:23:16,162 --> 01:23:17,832
He stopped.
1677
01:23:17,832 --> 01:23:20,432
♫♫
1678
01:23:20,432 --> 01:23:24,702
He turned around,
and he faced his enemy.
1679
01:23:25,862 --> 01:23:27,862
Not everybody can say that.
1680
01:23:27,862 --> 01:23:32,832
♫♫
1681
01:23:32,832 --> 01:23:35,102
WILL: I´m gonna share
a few quotes.
1682
01:23:35,102 --> 01:23:36,962
They´re not from a writer.
1683
01:23:36,962 --> 01:23:39,332
They´re from a man
named Dustin Wright.
1684
01:23:41,062 --> 01:23:43,862
"Life boils down to a series
of choices.
1685
01:23:43,862 --> 01:23:46,862
Before long,
the choices you make
1686
01:23:46,862 --> 01:23:50,332
and the ones you don´t
become you.
1687
01:23:50,332 --> 01:23:53,502
All choices lead you somewhere.
1688
01:23:53,502 --> 01:23:56,962
Bold choices take you
where you´re supposed to be."
1689
01:23:59,732 --> 01:24:01,132
He may have gave
his last breath,
1690
01:24:01,132 --> 01:24:03,362
but that´s not
where his life ended.
1691
01:24:03,362 --> 01:24:05,902
And that´s not where
our lives ended.
1692
01:24:05,902 --> 01:24:08,732
That´s where we were challenged
to truly live again.
1693
01:24:11,262 --> 01:24:14,702
The sacrifices by men
like La David Johnson,
1694
01:24:14,702 --> 01:24:17,902
Jeremiah Johnson,
Bryan Black, and Dustin Wright
1695
01:24:17,902 --> 01:24:21,962
require a response
from us as Americans.
1696
01:24:23,562 --> 01:24:25,262
MEEK:
Have you rejoined the Army?
1697
01:24:25,262 --> 01:24:27,362
‐ I have.
MEEK: Have you rejoined the Army
1698
01:24:27,362 --> 01:24:30,432
to avenge Dustin´s death?
1699
01:24:31,562 --> 01:24:34,732
‐ I think...
it would be easy to say
1700
01:24:34,732 --> 01:24:38,032
and completely understandable
if I said,
1701
01:24:38,032 --> 01:24:39,362
"I want to go get ´em,"
1702
01:24:39,362 --> 01:24:41,002
but that´s not why I rejoined.
1703
01:24:41,002 --> 01:24:43,602
I rejoined because I care
about my country.
1704
01:24:43,602 --> 01:24:46,932
I care about the men and women
that are still going to combat.
1705
01:24:46,932 --> 01:24:49,232
I care about American blood
being spilled,
1706
01:24:49,232 --> 01:24:53,062
and if I can do something
to help, I want to.
1707
01:24:53,062 --> 01:24:54,432
I should do something.
1708
01:24:54,432 --> 01:24:57,962
MEEK: Your son Will
re‐enlisted recently.
1709
01:24:57,962 --> 01:25:01,402
‐ Not with my blessings.
1710
01:25:01,402 --> 01:25:04,062
He did that on his own,
and that´s his prerogative.
1711
01:25:04,062 --> 01:25:06,802
He´s a grown man.
1712
01:25:06,802 --> 01:25:09,262
And I don´t know ‐‐
1713
01:25:09,262 --> 01:25:11,932
Honestly,
I don´t know his motivation.
1714
01:25:11,932 --> 01:25:14,802
Um...
1715
01:25:14,802 --> 01:25:17,132
But I was ‐‐
1716
01:25:17,132 --> 01:25:20,702
I was not happy
when I found that out.
1717
01:25:20,702 --> 01:25:24,332
♫♫
1718
01:25:24,332 --> 01:25:26,132
[ sighs ]
1719
01:25:26,132 --> 01:25:32,062
♫♫
1720
01:25:32,062 --> 01:25:35,162
♫♫
1721
01:25:35,162 --> 01:25:38,232
♫♫
1722
01:25:38,232 --> 01:25:40,362
The Army let me down.
1723
01:25:40,362 --> 01:25:43,632
They let my son down,
and then they lied about it.
1724
01:25:43,632 --> 01:25:49,502
♫♫
1725
01:25:49,502 --> 01:25:53,162
♫♫
1726
01:25:53,162 --> 01:25:57,162
It was like the guys that
actually made the decision
1727
01:25:57,162 --> 01:26:00,502
for them to do that mission
ran from their decision.
1728
01:26:03,302 --> 01:26:05,532
And did everything they could
1729
01:26:05,532 --> 01:26:08,702
to force the blame
down the ladder
1730
01:26:08,702 --> 01:26:11,462
as far as it could go.
1731
01:26:11,462 --> 01:26:13,202
MEEK:
Secretary Mattis wanted scalps.
1732
01:26:13,202 --> 01:26:14,332
I mean, we´ve heard that.
1733
01:26:14,332 --> 01:26:16,362
He was the Defense Secretary
at the time,
1734
01:26:16,362 --> 01:26:17,732
and he wanted accountability.
1735
01:26:17,732 --> 01:26:19,402
He wanted to pin blame
on people.
1736
01:26:19,402 --> 01:26:20,432
ARNOLD: Correct.
1737
01:26:20,432 --> 01:26:21,532
ALAN:
Where´s the accountability?
1738
01:26:21,532 --> 01:26:23,062
Where is the blame?
1739
01:26:23,062 --> 01:26:24,832
And it became very apparent
1740
01:26:24,832 --> 01:26:27,732
that there were certain levels
of the chain of command
1741
01:26:27,732 --> 01:26:29,262
that were being targeted
1742
01:26:29,262 --> 01:26:31,632
and other parts
that really weren´t.
1743
01:26:31,632 --> 01:26:34,402
MEEK: Above your rank.
ALAN: Above my rank.
1744
01:26:34,402 --> 01:26:35,902
MEEK: And the people
above your rank were...
1745
01:26:35,902 --> 01:26:37,332
ALAN: Lieutenant Colonel
Dave Painter,
1746
01:26:37,332 --> 01:26:39,602
Colonel Brad Moses ‐‐
1747
01:26:39,602 --> 01:26:43,762
my commander
and my commander´s commander.
1748
01:26:43,762 --> 01:26:46,162
MEEK: People close to
the investigation have told me
1749
01:26:46,162 --> 01:26:48,202
that the move to protect
higher‐ranking officers
1750
01:26:48,202 --> 01:26:49,832
began almost immediately.
1751
01:26:49,832 --> 01:26:51,702
Just a week after its launch,
1752
01:26:51,702 --> 01:26:54,932
General Waldhauser replaced
the lead investigator
1753
01:26:54,932 --> 01:26:59,532
with his own Chief of Staff,
Major General Roger Cloutier.
1754
01:26:59,532 --> 01:27:02,702
ROGER: In October of 2017,
General Waldhauser appointed me
1755
01:27:02,702 --> 01:27:05,362
to conduct an investigation
into the enemy attack
1756
01:27:05,362 --> 01:27:09,302
on U. S. and Nigerien forces
near Tongo Tongo in Niger.
1757
01:27:09,302 --> 01:27:12,532
My first responsibility was
to the families of the fallen.
1758
01:27:12,532 --> 01:27:15,232
DONALD: This is wrong.
This is wrong.
1759
01:27:15,232 --> 01:27:18,702
Using your chief of staff,
as much as I love the man,
1760
01:27:18,702 --> 01:27:22,032
to do the investigation
for AFRICOM.
1761
01:27:22,032 --> 01:27:24,432
The last thing we want
is AFRICOM
1762
01:27:24,432 --> 01:27:29,032
controlling an investigation
of themselves.
1763
01:27:29,032 --> 01:27:32,862
‐ The idea that the Secretary
of Defense let AFRICOM
1764
01:27:32,862 --> 01:27:37,132
investigate themselves here
and that the combatant commander
1765
01:27:37,132 --> 01:27:41,432
appointed his chief of staff
to look at this,
1766
01:27:41,432 --> 01:27:45,102
I felt was just unconscionable.
1767
01:27:45,102 --> 01:27:46,832
And their unwillingness
1768
01:27:46,832 --> 01:27:50,362
to look at those commanders
above the company level
1769
01:27:50,362 --> 01:27:53,902
is an egregious shortcoming
1770
01:27:53,902 --> 01:27:58,862
and dereliction
of their responsibilities
1771
01:27:58,862 --> 01:28:02,732
to really assess
what happened here.
1772
01:28:02,732 --> 01:28:05,562
‐ The investigation
was an attempt
1773
01:28:05,562 --> 01:28:10,362
to protect senior leaders
and their careers.
1774
01:28:10,362 --> 01:28:13,232
And a deliberate attempt
1775
01:28:13,232 --> 01:28:17,902
to hold the...company commander
1776
01:28:17,902 --> 01:28:19,502
and the detachment commander
1777
01:28:19,502 --> 01:28:23,262
and the team members
accountable.
1778
01:28:23,262 --> 01:28:25,532
‐ I was ultimately
held accountable.
1779
01:28:25,532 --> 01:28:29,432
I ultimately received
this reprimand.
1780
01:28:29,432 --> 01:28:31,462
"Memorandum
for Major Alan Van Saun
1781
01:28:31,462 --> 01:28:34,432
dated October 9, 2018.
1782
01:28:34,432 --> 01:28:36,862
You are hereby reprimanded
for failing to ensure
1783
01:28:36,862 --> 01:28:41,432
that the members of Operational
Detachment Alpha ODA 3212
1784
01:28:41,432 --> 01:28:43,302
were adequately trained
1785
01:28:43,302 --> 01:28:45,932
prior to conducting
combined operations
1786
01:28:45,932 --> 01:28:49,002
with a Nigerien partner force."
1787
01:28:49,002 --> 01:28:51,332
And then
Major General John Deedrick
1788
01:28:51,332 --> 01:28:53,002
came to visit me at the Pentagon
1789
01:28:53,002 --> 01:28:57,532
to give me the final results
of my punishment.
1790
01:28:57,532 --> 01:29:00,802
And he notified me
that, more or less,
1791
01:29:00,802 --> 01:29:04,432
my future in the Army was over.
1792
01:29:04,432 --> 01:29:08,562
So my words to him were, "Sir,
just so we´re straight here,
1793
01:29:08,562 --> 01:29:11,432
just so I understand
we´re on the same page,
1794
01:29:11,432 --> 01:29:14,332
you are essentially
ending my career
1795
01:29:14,332 --> 01:29:17,332
over something
that I was not part of,
1796
01:29:17,332 --> 01:29:19,902
nor did I have authority over."
1797
01:29:21,162 --> 01:29:26,902
"ODA 3212 was trained
and certified and validated
1798
01:29:26,902 --> 01:29:29,932
by Lieutenant Colonel Painter
and Colonel Moses."
1799
01:29:32,032 --> 01:29:34,902
Then he changed the topic,
asked if I had any questions.
1800
01:29:34,902 --> 01:29:37,702
We shook hands,
and I went on my way.
1801
01:29:37,702 --> 01:29:39,502
‐ Colonel Moses
and Colonel Painter
1802
01:29:39,502 --> 01:29:40,562
were not held accountable,
1803
01:29:40,562 --> 01:29:42,532
but they should have been
held accountable.
1804
01:29:42,532 --> 01:29:44,202
And the reason
they weren´t held accountable
1805
01:29:44,202 --> 01:29:46,102
is because
they´re card‐carrying,
1806
01:29:46,102 --> 01:29:49,502
you know, members of the club.
1807
01:29:49,502 --> 01:29:53,862
He was a scapegoat
to protect higher officers
1808
01:29:53,862 --> 01:29:57,302
from being punished.
1809
01:29:57,302 --> 01:29:59,602
MYESHIA:
They gave him a reprimand.
1810
01:29:59,602 --> 01:30:01,932
For what?
He wasn´t even much there.
1811
01:30:01,932 --> 01:30:05,132
His daughter is born
the same day my husband died,
1812
01:30:05,132 --> 01:30:09,632
and I´m pretty sure
that eats him up every day.
1813
01:30:09,632 --> 01:30:10,962
‐ It´s all about the club.
1814
01:30:10,962 --> 01:30:13,532
It´s all about protecting
the establishment.
1815
01:30:13,532 --> 01:30:15,562
It´s all about, you know,
1816
01:30:15,562 --> 01:30:18,032
circling the wagons
around the senior leaders.
1817
01:30:18,032 --> 01:30:21,262
‐ They spent months
and months and months
1818
01:30:21,262 --> 01:30:24,602
trying to formulate a damn story
1819
01:30:24,602 --> 01:30:27,432
that they thought
would protect their ass.
1820
01:30:27,432 --> 01:30:29,102
‐ So that first mission
was the one
1821
01:30:29,102 --> 01:30:31,632
that was not
properly characterized.
1822
01:30:31,632 --> 01:30:34,802
It was characterized as a civil
military reconnaissance
1823
01:30:34,802 --> 01:30:38,802
when it was actually focused
on the ISIS‐GS sub‐commander.
1824
01:30:38,802 --> 01:30:41,362
MEEK: So if you were sitting
across from Roger Cloutier
1825
01:30:41,362 --> 01:30:44,062
right now instead of me...
1826
01:30:44,062 --> 01:30:47,032
‐ I´d say, "Get your ass
in the yard."
1827
01:30:47,032 --> 01:30:48,462
That´s exactly what I´d say.
1828
01:30:48,462 --> 01:30:51,862
And I´d try to beat
that son of a bitch to a pulp.
1829
01:30:51,862 --> 01:30:54,732
He would need medical assistance
to leave my house.
1830
01:30:56,362 --> 01:30:58,232
If I had to hit him
with a damn ball bat,
1831
01:30:58,232 --> 01:31:01,762
it wouldn´t matter.
1832
01:31:01,762 --> 01:31:04,602
I´d ‐‐ I´d put something on him
he would remember
1833
01:31:04,602 --> 01:31:06,762
as long as I´m gonna
remember my son.
1834
01:31:06,762 --> 01:31:10,702
♫♫
1835
01:31:12,902 --> 01:31:16,002
♫♫
1836
01:31:16,002 --> 01:31:19,132
♫♫
1837
01:31:19,132 --> 01:31:22,332
MEEK: The Pentagon´s response,
what we found, is to stand firm
1838
01:31:22,332 --> 01:31:25,232
by their investigation
and its conclusions
1839
01:31:25,232 --> 01:31:26,662
by refusing to comment.
1840
01:31:26,662 --> 01:31:29,862
Military officials have also
avoided answering questions
1841
01:31:29,862 --> 01:31:33,402
of many of the family members
of the four fallen soldiers.
1842
01:31:33,402 --> 01:31:36,702
And so the official record
remains unchanged,
1843
01:31:36,702 --> 01:31:38,502
despite the preponderance
of the evidence
1844
01:31:38,502 --> 01:31:42,302
showing ODA 3212
did not go rogue
1845
01:31:42,302 --> 01:31:44,562
or contribute
to their own downfall
1846
01:31:44,562 --> 01:31:46,732
as the Pentagon suggests.
1847
01:31:46,732 --> 01:31:50,502
‐ There´s been a lot of ink
1848
01:31:50,502 --> 01:31:53,362
spilled on this, uh,
1849
01:31:53,362 --> 01:31:56,762
on this incident in Niger.
1850
01:31:56,762 --> 01:31:59,532
And I think a lot of...
1851
01:32:02,262 --> 01:32:04,262
...mischaracterization
1852
01:32:04,262 --> 01:32:06,402
of what actually occurred
1853
01:32:06,402 --> 01:32:08,502
and to the detriment,
1854
01:32:08,502 --> 01:32:12,202
not only of the men
on the ground
1855
01:32:12,202 --> 01:32:14,462
and their legacy
and their performance,
1856
01:32:14,462 --> 01:32:16,962
but also to the special
operations community in general.
1857
01:32:16,962 --> 01:32:19,032
And it´s important to me
1858
01:32:19,032 --> 01:32:22,962
that we attempt to set
the record straight
1859
01:32:22,962 --> 01:32:25,862
and recognize
1860
01:32:25,862 --> 01:32:27,762
that these men served
with honor.
1861
01:32:27,762 --> 01:32:30,432
They didn´t mischaracterize
their mission.
1862
01:32:30,432 --> 01:32:32,102
They fought valiantly
1863
01:32:32,102 --> 01:32:35,702
and made the ultimate sacrifice.
1864
01:32:35,702 --> 01:32:38,702
And it´s important to tell
that whole story
1865
01:32:38,702 --> 01:32:41,802
so that America
knows the truth.
1866
01:32:41,802 --> 01:32:47,802
♫♫
1867
01:32:47,802 --> 01:32:53,802
♫♫
1868
01:32:53,802 --> 01:32:59,802
♫♫
1869
01:32:59,802 --> 01:33:05,862
♫♫
1870
01:33:05,862 --> 01:33:11,862
♫♫
1871
01:33:11,862 --> 01:33:17,862
♫♫
1872
01:33:17,862 --> 01:33:23,862
♫♫
1873
01:33:23,862 --> 01:33:29,862
♫♫
1874
01:33:29,862 --> 01:33:35,862
♫♫
1875
01:33:35,862 --> 01:33:41,862
♫♫
1876
01:33:41,862 --> 01:33:47,862
♫♫
1877
01:33:47,862 --> 01:33:53,862
♫♫
1878
01:33:53,862 --> 01:33:59,862
♫♫
1879
01:33:59,862 --> 01:34:05,932
♫♫
1880
01:34:05,932 --> 01:34:10,162
♫♫
1881
01:34:17,502 --> 01:34:18,902
‐ [ grunts ]
1882
01:34:23,132 --> 01:34:27,062
I turned 33 three days ago.
1883
01:34:27,062 --> 01:34:30,862
I am a bit of an old man
compared to most.
1884
01:34:33,762 --> 01:34:36,802
But I know
I had unfinished business.
1885
01:34:36,802 --> 01:34:42,802
♫♫
1886
01:34:42,802 --> 01:34:48,802
♫♫
1887
01:34:48,802 --> 01:34:54,662
♫♫
1888
01:34:54,662 --> 01:34:58,132
The events of my brother
solidified that position.
1889
01:34:58,132 --> 01:35:01,762
I admire him, I respect him
and everything he´s done
1890
01:35:01,762 --> 01:35:04,762
and everything he was able to do
in the short time he had here.
1891
01:35:04,762 --> 01:35:06,432
And I wanted to do things
with my life
1892
01:35:06,432 --> 01:35:07,662
that would make him proud
1893
01:35:07,662 --> 01:35:10,602
and to go into Special Forces
is part of that.
1894
01:35:11,902 --> 01:35:13,832
For me, this is a bold choice.
1895
01:35:13,832 --> 01:35:16,562
For my wife and my family,
this is a bold choice.
1896
01:35:16,562 --> 01:35:22,562
♫♫
1897
01:35:22,562 --> 01:35:24,862
I think my dad...
He is, uh...
1898
01:35:24,862 --> 01:35:26,732
Throughout my career,
my brother´s career,
1899
01:35:26,732 --> 01:35:28,302
he´s kind of had
the same stance.
1900
01:35:28,302 --> 01:35:32,002
He´s proud of us
but doesn´t want it to be us.
1901
01:35:32,002 --> 01:35:34,662
And I get that.
1902
01:35:34,662 --> 01:35:39,032
To willingly watch
another son go down that path,
1903
01:35:39,032 --> 01:35:40,932
I can´t imagine
how hard it would be.
1904
01:35:42,202 --> 01:35:43,262
WIFE: Ready?
1905
01:35:43,262 --> 01:35:46,502
God is great, God is good.
1906
01:35:46,502 --> 01:35:48,932
Let us thank him for our food.
1907
01:35:48,932 --> 01:35:53,632
[ Praying indistinctly ]
1908
01:35:53,632 --> 01:35:55,862
Amen.
1909
01:35:55,862 --> 01:35:58,662
Yay, Abigail.
1910
01:35:58,662 --> 01:36:02,132
WILL: You know,
I am painfully aware
1911
01:36:02,132 --> 01:36:04,362
of what can happen
on the worst day.
1912
01:36:04,362 --> 01:36:05,402
It´s terrifying.
1913
01:36:05,402 --> 01:36:06,962
I mean, I...
1914
01:36:06,962 --> 01:36:09,102
I know what I stand to lose.
1915
01:36:09,102 --> 01:36:11,632
And that´s why I´m not
taking it for granted.
1916
01:36:11,632 --> 01:36:15,462
♫♫
1917
01:36:15,462 --> 01:36:17,632
[ indistinct conversation ]
1918
01:36:17,632 --> 01:36:19,832
But...
1919
01:36:19,832 --> 01:36:23,462
I wasn´t called
to live a cautious life.
1920
01:36:23,462 --> 01:36:26,732
And, you know,
I believe
1921
01:36:26,732 --> 01:36:30,202
it was Andrew Jackson said.
1922
01:36:30,202 --> 01:36:33,602
"I was built for the storm
and the calm doesn´t suit me."
1923
01:36:33,602 --> 01:36:37,032
So this is...
1924
01:36:37,032 --> 01:36:38,462
where God has placed me.
1925
01:36:38,462 --> 01:36:39,962
This is what
he´s put on my heart.
1926
01:36:39,962 --> 01:36:42,202
This is where he called me,
1927
01:36:42,202 --> 01:36:44,132
and I´m gonna see it through.
1928
01:36:44,132 --> 01:36:50,132
♫♫
1929
01:36:50,132 --> 01:36:56,132
♫♫
1930
01:36:56,132 --> 01:37:02,202
♫♫
1931
01:37:02,202 --> 01:37:08,202
♫♫
1932
01:37:08,202 --> 01:37:14,162
♫♫
1933
01:37:14,162 --> 01:37:20,162
♫♫
1934
01:37:20,162 --> 01:37:26,132
♫♫
1935
01:37:26,132 --> 01:37:32,102
♫♫
1936
01:37:32,102 --> 01:37:38,102
♫♫
1937
01:37:38,102 --> 01:37:44,062
♫♫
1938
01:37:44,062 --> 01:37:50,032
♫♫
1939
01:37:50,032 --> 01:37:56,032
♫♫
1940
01:37:56,032 --> 01:38:02,002
♫♫
1941
01:38:02,002 --> 01:38:08,032
♫♫
1942
01:38:08,032 --> 01:38:14,032
♫♫
1943
01:38:14,032 --> 01:38:20,002
♫♫