Outlasting the Enemy in Shok Valley | No Man Left Behind

on October 2nd of 2008 we received the

on October 2nd of 2008 we received the mission to go conduct an operation in

mission to go conduct an operation in

mission to go conduct an operation in the northern province of nurse T and in

the northern province of nurse T and in

the northern province of nurse T and in Afghanistan the mission was to conduct a

Afghanistan the mission was to conduct a

Afghanistan the mission was to conduct a raid when a high-value target the plan

raid when a high-value target the plan

raid when a high-value target the plan was to infiltrate from the bottom of the

was to infiltrate from the bottom of the

was to infiltrate from the bottom of the valley and work our way up to this city

valley and work our way up to this city

valley and work our way up to this city that was built into the side of the

that was built into the side of the

that was built into the side of the mountain with my level of battle

mountain with my level of battle

mountain with my level of battle experience there were definitely red

experience there were definitely red

experience there were definitely red flags once we hit the ground we’ve got

flags once we hit the ground we’ve got

flags once we hit the ground we’ve got to be ready to fight I actually start to

to be ready to fight I actually start to

to be ready to fight I actually start to see women and children you know leaving

see women and children you know leaving

see women and children you know leaving the village and so I immediately got on

the village and so I immediately got on

the village and so I immediately got on the radio and called the detachment and

the radio and called the detachment and

the radio and called the detachment and told him hey you know heads on a swivel

told him hey you know heads on a swivel

told him hey you know heads on a swivel we’re gonna have a gun party immediately

we’re gonna have a gun party immediately

we’re gonna have a gun party immediately the bullets started coming in and the

the bullets started coming in and the

the bullets started coming in and the award bouncing off the rocks next to us

award bouncing off the rocks next to us

award bouncing off the rocks next to us the entire valley just erupted in a

the entire valley just erupted in a

the entire valley just erupted in a volley of fire and there was nowhere

volley of fire and there was nowhere

volley of fire and there was nowhere tied I had never experienced that level

tied I had never experienced that level

tied I had never experienced that level of intensity in an initial draw from an

of intensity in an initial draw from an

of intensity in an initial draw from an enemy force today you know these guys

enemy force today you know these guys

enemy force today you know these guys are well disciplined they had a plan

are well disciplined they had a plan

are well disciplined they had a plan we’ve fallen right into the ambush at

we’ve fallen right into the ambush at

we’ve fallen right into the ambush at this moment I was starting to feel that

this moment I was starting to feel that

this moment I was starting to feel that we were no longer in control of this

we were no longer in control of this

we were no longer in control of this that I get a radio call from Captain

that I get a radio call from Captain

that I get a radio call from Captain wall that is one of attachment members

wall that is one of attachment members

wall that is one of attachment members have been hit he said hey it’s Bear it

have been hit he said hey it’s Bear it

have been hit he said hey it’s Bear it looks pretty critical I’d never felt

looks pretty critical I’d never felt

looks pretty critical I’d never felt such excruciating pain in my entire life

such excruciating pain in my entire life

such excruciating pain in my entire life at times you would you would actually

at times you would you would actually

at times you would you would actually take your hand off the side of mountain

take your hand off the side of mountain

take your hand off the side of mountain in amazement look at your hand make sure

in amazement look at your hand make sure

in amazement look at your hand make sure your workshop trying to get up another

your workshop trying to get up another

your workshop trying to get up another foot because you’ve got two of your

foot because you’ve got two of your

foot because you’ve got two of your attachment members that are that are

attachment members that are that are

attachment members that are that are injured we were either all going to die

injured we were either all going to die

injured we were either all going to die there together or we were gonna get out

there together or we were gonna get out

there together or we were gonna get out of there I looked at my uniform and I

of there I looked at my uniform and I

of there I looked at my uniform and I just saw the blood run down and just

just saw the blood run down and just

just saw the blood run down and just cover the entire left side of my body my

cover the entire left side of my body my

cover the entire left side of my body my left leg one guy’s legs amputated

left leg one guy’s legs amputated

left leg one guy’s legs amputated another guy’s been shot in the pelvis in

another guy’s been shot in the pelvis in

another guy’s been shot in the pelvis in the bicep and another’s been shot

the bicep and another’s been shot

the bicep and another’s been shot through his ankle my triceps hanging off

through his ankle my triceps hanging off

through his ankle my triceps hanging off I’ve been through a lot of adversity in

I’ve been through a lot of adversity in

I’ve been through a lot of adversity in my life this was just another test and I

my life this was just another test and I

my life this was just another test and I knew if I could make it through then I

knew if I could make it through then I

knew if I could make it through then I would be able to survive pretty much

would be able to survive pretty much

would be able to survive pretty much anything even though we know the odds

anything even though we know the odds

anything even though we know the odds are stacked against us

are stacked against us

are stacked against us you’ve got the confidence that if we do

you’ve got the confidence that if we do

you’ve got the confidence that if we do the right things we can come out of this

the right things we can come out of this

the right things we can come out of this thing a lot I have most gratitude to

thing a lot I have most gratitude to

thing a lot I have most gratitude to everyone on my team who pulled together

everyone on my team who pulled together

everyone on my team who pulled together to make sure that I made it down

to make sure that I made it down

to make sure that I made it down life those I shed blood with we will

life those I shed blood with we will

life those I shed blood with we will always be my brother

always be my brother

always be my brother the bond that you have with those guys

the bond that you have with those guys

the bond that you have with those guys is for life it’s a good feeling to know

is for life it’s a good feeling to know

is for life it’s a good feeling to know that you got every man out alive and you

that you got every man out alive and you

that you got every man out alive and you didn’t leave any man behind