WEBVTT FILE

1
00:00:00.870 --> 00:00:03.500
[ crickets chirping ]

2
00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:07.000
Downloaded from
YTS.MX

3
00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:06.600
♫♫

4
00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:09.700
♫♫

5
00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:13.000
Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

6
00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:13.032
REPORTER: <i>We learned overnight</i>

7
00:00:13.032 --> 00:00:15.502
<i>that at least three</i>
<i>U. S. Special Forces</i>

8
00:00:15.502 --> 00:00:18.962
<i>were killed in an ambush in</i>
<i>the African country of Niger.</i>

9
00:00:18.962 --> 00:00:21.562
REPORTER #2: <i>Officials say</i>
<i>a joint U. S. Nigerien patrol</i>

10
00:00:21.562 --> 00:00:24.862
<i>was ambushed by suspected</i>
<i>Islamic militants</i>

11
00:00:24.862 --> 00:00:26.062
<i>near the Mali border.</i>

12
00:00:26.062 --> 00:00:27.202
REPORTER #3: <i>The names</i>

13
00:00:27.202 --> 00:00:28.502
<i>of the American</i>
<i>Special Forces soldiers</i>

14
00:00:28.502 --> 00:00:29.662
<i>is being withheld,</i>

15
00:00:29.662 --> 00:00:32.002
<i>subject</i>
<i>to next‐of‐kin notifications.</i>

16
00:00:33.802 --> 00:00:36.362
MAN ON TV: <i>You must not draw</i>

17
00:00:36.362 --> 00:00:40.832
<i>until that clock makes the</i>
<i>first chime of the hour.</i>

18
00:00:40.832 --> 00:00:44.702
<i>Once that happens, you may fire</i>
<i>at your convenience.</i>

19
00:00:44.702 --> 00:00:46.032
ARNOLD: I was sitting here
watching TV.

20
00:00:46.032 --> 00:00:48.802
It was like 10:30 at night,

21
00:00:48.802 --> 00:00:51.502
and somebody knocked
on the door.

22
00:00:53.032 --> 00:00:54.662
I didn´t know who it was,
so I got up

23
00:00:54.662 --> 00:00:57.862
and I went to the door
and I opened the door.

24
00:00:57.862 --> 00:01:01.362
And I want to say it was
a captain and a master sergeant.

25
00:01:01.362 --> 00:01:04.502
They were in dress blues,
and I knew.

26
00:01:04.502 --> 00:01:06.862
I just said, "No, no, no."

27
00:01:06.862 --> 00:01:12.302
♫♫

28
00:01:12.302 --> 00:01:14.832
I mean, I just knew because
they don´t show up

29
00:01:14.832 --> 00:01:18.902
at 10:30 at night
unless he´s dead.

30
00:01:18.902 --> 00:01:24.762
♫♫

31
00:01:24.762 --> 00:01:30.662
♫♫

32
00:01:30.662 --> 00:01:32.632
[ sighs ]

33
00:01:32.632 --> 00:01:35.132
TERRI: "Attached for your review
and action,

34
00:01:35.132 --> 00:01:39.132
this US‐AFRICOM´s completed
investigation conducted..."

35
00:01:39.132 --> 00:01:42.302
‐ "...pursuant
to Army Regulation 15.6..."

36
00:01:42.302 --> 00:01:44.862
‐ "...and to the facts and
circumstances surrounding..."

37
00:01:44.862 --> 00:01:47.162
‐ "...the enemy contact event
that occurred..."

38
00:01:47.162 --> 00:01:50.362
‐ "...on 4 October 2017..."

39
00:01:50.362 --> 00:01:52.602
‐ "...in Tongo Tongo, Niger."

40
00:01:52.602 --> 00:01:57.102
♫♫

41
00:01:57.102 --> 00:01:58.532
[ gunfire ]

42
00:01:58.532 --> 00:02:04.162
♫♫

43
00:02:04.162 --> 00:02:06.002
[ gunfire continues ]

44
00:02:06.002 --> 00:02:11.802
♫♫

45
00:02:11.802 --> 00:02:15.202
♫♫

46
00:02:15.202 --> 00:02:18.802
[ gunfire continues ]

47
00:02:18.802 --> 00:02:24.362
♫♫

48
00:02:24.362 --> 00:02:29.902
♫♫

49
00:02:29.902 --> 00:02:35.462
♫♫

50
00:02:35.462 --> 00:02:41.002
♫♫

51
00:02:41.002 --> 00:02:46.562
♫♫

52
00:02:46.562 --> 00:02:52.102
♫♫

53
00:02:52.102 --> 00:02:57.662
♫♫

54
00:02:57.662 --> 00:03:03.302
♫♫

55
00:03:03.302 --> 00:03:08.832
♫♫

56
00:03:08.832 --> 00:03:14.402
♫♫

57
00:03:14.402 --> 00:03:19.932
♫♫

58
00:03:19.932 --> 00:03:25.502
♫♫

59
00:03:25.502 --> 00:03:27.432
[ crickets chirping ]

60
00:03:29.362 --> 00:03:33.232
ARNOLD: My first thought was
"What the hell happened?"

61
00:03:33.232 --> 00:03:36.302
And it was like
I got shot or something.

62
00:03:36.302 --> 00:03:40.332
I mean, it was like my insides
just went empty.

63
00:03:40.332 --> 00:03:42.402
I almost fell down.

64
00:03:43.532 --> 00:03:47.262
The master sergeant, he said,
"You´re number one on the list.

65
00:03:47.262 --> 00:03:49.032
Number two is Will."

66
00:03:51.962 --> 00:03:54.362
And so I came to Will´s house.

67
00:03:56.062 --> 00:03:57.802
WILL:
At about 11:30 that night,

68
00:03:57.802 --> 00:03:59.402
two officers showed up,

69
00:03:59.402 --> 00:04:02.532
and, uh, they told me,

70
00:04:02.532 --> 00:04:05.532
"On behalf of a grateful nation,
we regret to inform you

71
00:04:05.532 --> 00:04:07.462
that your brother
has been killed in action."

72
00:04:07.462 --> 00:04:10.702
♫♫

73
00:04:10.702 --> 00:04:13.932
♫♫

74
00:04:13.932 --> 00:04:15.562
ARNOLD: And then Will drove
all the way to Brunswick,

75
00:04:15.562 --> 00:04:18.502
which is about 90 miles away,
to tell Dustin´s mom.

76
00:04:18.502 --> 00:04:23.232
♫♫

77
00:04:23.232 --> 00:04:25.802
TERRI: It was the worst day
of my life.

78
00:04:25.802 --> 00:04:30.232
♫♫

79
00:04:30.232 --> 00:04:34.162
Opening that door
and seeing Will

80
00:04:34.162 --> 00:04:38.802
and Mandy and my mom
and my sister standing there.

81
00:04:38.802 --> 00:04:41.902
And in that instant,

82
00:04:41.902 --> 00:04:45.762
I knew that something was wrong.

83
00:04:45.762 --> 00:04:49.402
But it took me a minute
to get it.

84
00:04:49.402 --> 00:04:54.032
♫♫

85
00:04:54.032 --> 00:04:55.562
It really took me a minute.

86
00:04:55.562 --> 00:04:57.532
All I can say is, "No."

87
00:04:59.562 --> 00:05:01.462
"No."

88
00:05:01.462 --> 00:05:06.332
♫♫

89
00:05:06.332 --> 00:05:11.132
♫♫

90
00:05:11.132 --> 00:05:14.932
[ train whistle blowing,
bell ringing ]

91
00:05:14.932 --> 00:05:17.532
REPORTER #4: <i>Tonight,</i>
<i>we are getting no details</i>

92
00:05:17.532 --> 00:05:18.862
<i>beyond this statement</i>

93
00:05:18.862 --> 00:05:21.832
<i>that U. S. forces have come</i>
<i>under hostile fire</i>

94
00:05:21.832 --> 00:05:26.902
<i>in this area of southwest Niger</i>
<i>near the border with Mali.</i>

95
00:05:26.902 --> 00:05:28.732
<i>They are not offering</i>
<i>any other details.</i>

96
00:05:28.732 --> 00:05:30.132
<i>We will stay on this story...</i>

97
00:05:30.132 --> 00:05:33.702
KAREN: I had come home from work
and sat down in the living room,

98
00:05:33.702 --> 00:05:36.562
kind of do, you know, the little
relaxing kind of thing

99
00:05:36.562 --> 00:05:38.032
and check the news.

100
00:05:38.032 --> 00:05:39.932
And while I was on my phone,

101
00:05:39.932 --> 00:05:42.102
a little news alert popped in

102
00:05:42.102 --> 00:05:46.432
that there was an incident that,
um, had just happened in Nigeria

103
00:05:46.432 --> 00:05:48.802
along the Mali border.

104
00:05:48.802 --> 00:05:51.302
And it was like, "Uh‐oh,"

105
00:05:51.302 --> 00:05:55.602
and that got my ‐‐
my, uh, attention

106
00:05:55.602 --> 00:05:59.762
and, uh,
I had a real bad feeling.

107
00:06:02.462 --> 00:06:03.962
HENRY:
Karen called me at work.

108
00:06:03.962 --> 00:06:06.162
She said that something
had happened in Niger.

109
00:06:06.162 --> 00:06:08.632
And I said, "Okay,"
and, uh, hung up.

110
00:06:08.632 --> 00:06:10.102
I went to a friend
of mine there.

111
00:06:10.102 --> 00:06:13.302
I said, "Hey, my son´s deployed,
and we heard about something.

112
00:06:13.302 --> 00:06:14.802
Pray for my son."

113
00:06:14.802 --> 00:06:17.232
And then Karen called me
at whatever time it was

114
00:06:17.232 --> 00:06:20.262
to say that she had gotten,
uh, the knock on the door.

115
00:06:20.262 --> 00:06:24.602
♫♫

116
00:06:24.602 --> 00:06:26.532
KAREN:
There´s nothing really to say.

117
00:06:26.532 --> 00:06:29.802
I mean, at that point,
it´s shock.

118
00:06:29.802 --> 00:06:30.962
You just...

119
00:06:30.962 --> 00:06:34.232
I don´t really even
remember reaction.

120
00:06:34.232 --> 00:06:38.062
♫♫

121
00:06:38.062 --> 00:06:40.502
HENRY: I couldn´t leave
till the next morning,

122
00:06:40.502 --> 00:06:44.962
and so I spent, uh,
just a grief‐filled...

123
00:06:44.962 --> 00:06:48.132
grief‐filled night.

124
00:06:48.132 --> 00:06:52.762
Just ‐‐ just unimaginable...

125
00:06:52.762 --> 00:06:54.532
thoughts.

126
00:06:54.532 --> 00:06:59.202
♫♫

127
00:06:59.202 --> 00:07:03.702
[ bell tolling ]

128
00:07:03.702 --> 00:07:05.762
REPORTER #5: <i>The three</i>
<i>Green Berets who were killed</i>

129
00:07:05.762 --> 00:07:06.902
<i>and the two wounded</i>

130
00:07:06.902 --> 00:07:09.502
<i>were on a patrol</i>
<i>with the Niger soldiers</i>

131
00:07:09.502 --> 00:07:12.132
<i>when they were ambushed.</i>
<i>It is not clear...</i>

132
00:07:12.132 --> 00:07:13.332
REPORTER #6:
<i>The American soldiers</i>

133
00:07:13.332 --> 00:07:14.862
<i>were part</i>
<i>of a Green Beret battalion</i>

134
00:07:14.862 --> 00:07:16.802
<i>called the Bush Hawks,</i>
<i>assigned to train</i>

135
00:07:16.802 --> 00:07:21.262
<i>and assist the Nigerien army</i>
<i>in fighting terror.</i>

136
00:07:21.262 --> 00:07:22.932
‐ Did the biscuits get in?

137
00:07:24.932 --> 00:07:28.362
Two piece, dirty rice,
mac and cheese.

138
00:07:28.362 --> 00:07:30.462
I was at work.

139
00:07:30.462 --> 00:07:33.302
Morning was going normal
and somebody turned around

140
00:07:33.302 --> 00:07:36.002
and said, "Debbie,
your husband´s here."

141
00:07:36.002 --> 00:07:38.502
And I went, "No, he´s not.
He´s in Texas."

142
00:07:39.732 --> 00:07:41.332
Okay.

143
00:07:41.332 --> 00:07:45.102
Somebody else said, "No, Deb,
your husband´s here."

144
00:07:45.102 --> 00:07:47.362
I turned around and saw him

145
00:07:47.362 --> 00:07:49.932
and my mother´s health
isn´t that good.

146
00:07:49.932 --> 00:07:52.662
So I looked at him
and I thought,

147
00:07:52.662 --> 00:07:56.262
"He´s only home
if it´s my mother or my son."

148
00:07:56.262 --> 00:07:57.962
And this may sound terrible,
but I was thinking,

149
00:07:57.962 --> 00:08:01.232
"God, let it be my mother."

150
00:08:01.232 --> 00:08:05.132
And as I got closer to him,

151
00:08:05.132 --> 00:08:08.262
I could tell by the look
on his face,

152
00:08:08.262 --> 00:08:10.102
it wasn´t my mother.

153
00:08:10.102 --> 00:08:13.202
♫♫

154
00:08:13.202 --> 00:08:16.302
♫♫

155
00:08:16.302 --> 00:08:18.702
I told him he was lying to me.

156
00:08:18.702 --> 00:08:21.532
That couldn´t be Jeremiah.
He was too good.

157
00:08:21.532 --> 00:08:23.402
There had to be a mistake.

158
00:08:23.402 --> 00:08:28.862
♫♫

159
00:08:28.862 --> 00:08:34.302
♫♫

160
00:08:34.302 --> 00:08:39.762
♫♫

161
00:08:39.762 --> 00:08:40.932
MYESHIA: My dad called me,

162
00:08:40.932 --> 00:08:42.362
and he was like,
"Hey, babe, where you at?"

163
00:08:42.362 --> 00:08:43.602
I said, "Oh, I´m out.

164
00:08:43.602 --> 00:08:45.732
I´m doing some errands
for auntie really fast.

165
00:08:45.732 --> 00:08:47.132
What happened?"

166
00:08:47.132 --> 00:08:48.732
He said, "Because the Army
people at the house for you."

167
00:08:48.732 --> 00:08:50.532
I said, "What?"

168
00:08:50.532 --> 00:08:52.332
He said, "The Army people
at the house for you."

169
00:08:52.332 --> 00:08:54.502
I said, "Okay, I´m coming right
now. I´m coming right now."

170
00:08:54.502 --> 00:08:58.032
♫♫

171
00:08:58.032 --> 00:08:59.362
We get there.

172
00:08:59.362 --> 00:09:02.632
They tell me, um...

173
00:09:02.632 --> 00:09:07.402
that they was
in, um, a rapid gunfight.

174
00:09:07.402 --> 00:09:09.362
And as of October 4th,

175
00:09:09.362 --> 00:09:13.302
Sergeant La David Johnson´s
whereabouts is unknown.

176
00:09:14.462 --> 00:09:16.462
I asked him, I said,
"What you mean ´unknown´

177
00:09:16.462 --> 00:09:18.362
Like, you can´t find him,
you don´t know where he at?"

178
00:09:18.362 --> 00:09:20.562
They told me, "No."

179
00:09:20.562 --> 00:09:23.702
After that, I couldn´t eat,
I couldn´t sleep,

180
00:09:23.702 --> 00:09:24.832
I couldn´t do anything,

181
00:09:24.832 --> 00:09:26.302
I´m just sitting here
wondering about,

182
00:09:26.302 --> 00:09:28.302
"Where is my husband?"

183
00:09:28.302 --> 00:09:29.462
"They gonna find him."

184
00:09:29.462 --> 00:09:30.602
That´s what I´m saying
to myself.

185
00:09:30.602 --> 00:09:33.602
They gonna find him.
They gonna find him.

186
00:09:33.602 --> 00:09:36.932
Then I get a call
saying that, um,

187
00:09:36.932 --> 00:09:40.432
they have an American soldier

188
00:09:40.432 --> 00:09:42.102
and they are willing
to do a trade

189
00:09:42.102 --> 00:09:44.532
or something like that.

190
00:09:44.532 --> 00:09:46.662
MEEK: For who?
‐ They didn´t say for who.

191
00:09:46.662 --> 00:09:48.562
They just said they willing
to do a trade.

192
00:09:48.562 --> 00:09:51.462
In my mind, they still
didn´t find my husband.

193
00:09:51.462 --> 00:09:55.102
I don´t know what´s going on.

194
00:09:55.102 --> 00:09:57.462
So any little thing
that somebody tells me,

195
00:09:57.462 --> 00:09:58.902
I´m thinking,
"Could this be my husband?

196
00:09:58.902 --> 00:10:01.932
Could this be my husband?"

197
00:10:01.932 --> 00:10:04.032
‐ If I can go back
and figure out

198
00:10:04.032 --> 00:10:07.502
who gave them that first report,

199
00:10:07.502 --> 00:10:09.332
I´d fucking choke the shit
out of them.

200
00:10:09.332 --> 00:10:11.432
I mean, it´s just ‐‐

201
00:10:11.432 --> 00:10:16.432
It´s egregious
that somebody would share

202
00:10:16.432 --> 00:10:18.762
that unconfirmed report

203
00:10:18.762 --> 00:10:23.062
with them and...

204
00:10:23.062 --> 00:10:27.702
Unconscionable that the family
would be given

205
00:10:27.702 --> 00:10:29.302
conflicting statements.

206
00:10:30.862 --> 00:10:33.202
‐ I didn´t hear anything else

207
00:10:33.202 --> 00:10:36.132
until my casualty
assistance officer

208
00:10:36.132 --> 00:10:39.532
came to my home October 6th.

209
00:10:39.532 --> 00:10:42.262
And he told me,
as of October 6th,

210
00:10:42.262 --> 00:10:46.762
Sergeant Johnson went
from missing in action to KIA.

211
00:10:48.202 --> 00:10:49.832
Everybody went bananas.

212
00:10:49.832 --> 00:10:52.902
I was screaming and crying.

213
00:10:52.902 --> 00:10:55.962
My mother‐in‐law
was throwing, um, glasses

214
00:10:55.962 --> 00:10:58.462
and screaming and crying.

215
00:10:58.462 --> 00:11:02.302
She falling on the floor,
just throwing things.

216
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

218
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,

220
00:11:14.402 --> 00:11:16.562
was the day
I think I went insane.

221
00:11:18.702 --> 00:11:20.632
REPORTER #7:
<i>The Pentagon´s Africa Command</i>

222
00:11:20.632 --> 00:11:22.232
<i>does not know for sure</i>

223
00:11:22.232 --> 00:11:25.002
<i>if this American soldier</i>
<i>was wounded</i>

224
00:11:25.002 --> 00:11:27.132
<i>and alive on the battlefield</i>

225
00:11:27.132 --> 00:11:31.862
<i>and if he was even, for a brief</i>
<i>time, in ISIS hands.</i>

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

230
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
00:12:10.502 --> 00:12:14.202
♫♫

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
00:12:51.032 --> 00:12:55.662
[ 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: <i>The week ended</i>
<i>the same way it began ‐‐</i>

267
00:13:32.232 --> 00:13:34.202
<i>with questions</i>
<i>about why President Trump</i>

268
00:13:34.202 --> 00:13:37.162
<i>still hasn´t addressed</i>
<i>the ambush in Niger.</i>

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: <i>The Pentagon has</i>
<i>launched a full investigation.</i>

271
00:13:45.602 --> 00:13:48.502
<i>FBI agents on the ground</i>
<i>in Niger to assist.</i>

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: <i>On the Hill,</i>
<i>frustration is growing.</i>

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:
<i>His name is La David Johnson.</i>

543
00:27:12.962 --> 00:27:15.202
<i>He rides from his home</i>
<i>in Miami Gardens</i>

544
00:27:15.202 --> 00:27:18.102
<i>to his job in Pembroke Pines</i>
<i>on one wheel.</i>

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: <i>A community coming</i>
<i>together to honor a local hero.</i>

565
00:28:19.932 --> 00:28:24.102
<i>Today Puyallup remembers</i>
<i>Staff Sergeant Bryan Black.</i>

566
00:28:24.102 --> 00:28:27.062
<i>Black graduated from</i>
<i>Puyallup High School in 2000</i>

567
00:28:27.062 --> 00:28:29.562
<i>and enlisted nine years later.</i>

568
00:28:29.562 --> 00:28:31.232
<i>He spoke several languages,</i>

569
00:28:31.232 --> 00:28:33.632
<i>including the one spoken</i>
<i>in Niger,</i>

570
00:28:33.632 --> 00:28:36.662
<i>where he often tended</i>
<i>to injured civilians.</i>

571
00:28:36.662 --> 00:28:38.332
<i>A man they say...</i>

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: <i>Newly released</i>
<i>video shows the deadly ambush</i>

712
00:36:17.732 --> 00:36:20.702
<i>of American soldiers</i>
<i>and is raising new questions</i>

713
00:36:20.702 --> 00:36:22.362
<i>about the U. S. military mission</i>

714
00:36:22.362 --> 00:36:23.902
<i>in the African country</i>
<i>of Niger.</i>

715
00:36:23.902 --> 00:36:26.932
REPORTER #13:
<i>It shows just how outgunned</i>

716
00:36:26.932 --> 00:36:28.662
<i>and overwhelmed they were.</i>

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: <i>The teams manning</i>
<i>for this mission...</i>

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
♫♫