Thread: Ranger Mass-Cas in Afghanistan: The Airborne Ranger in the Sky

Ranger Mass-Cas in Afghanistan: The Airborne Ranger in the Sky

Jack Murphy 33 Comments SOF News

A Mass Casualty event is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. When a military unit sustains so many injuries that it can no longer support itself, it becomes what is known as a Mass-Cas event. This doesn’t happen very often thankfully although we know of some other examples where casualties became overwhelming such as Operation Gothic Serpent or the Extortion 17 crash. One such event happened Saturday night to 3rd Ranger Battalion during a night operation in Southern Afghanistan.

A Ranger Platoon infiltrated the objective area by helicopter and soon came under attack. The details are still vague and we won’t speculate or armchair quarterback from a distance. We do know that the Rangers were hit both by command detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) and enemy combatants wearing suicide vests.
Four friendlies were killed in the blast, two Rangers and two enablers. Others were critically wounded during the series of detonations, many of them still in intensive care with serious injuries. The numbers of Wounded in Action are worse than anything I’ve heard in recent years.
While the media has reported on Sunday that Delta Force flawlessly executed a capture operation in Libya, and SEAL Team Six wisely aborted their mission in Somalia without taking casualties, the 75th Ranger Regiment was not so fortunate that same weekend. The New York Times reported on the casualties but rightly withheld the details until the families could be notified. The names have not been released by SOCOM and we ask that people not post any names until after that time.
There is a tradition in the Ranger Regiment that new soldiers each get assigned an Airborne Ranger in the Sky. They wear a KIA bracelet on their wrist for that Ranger in order to remember where the unit has been, what made it what it is, and to serve as a stark reminder for them to remember that, “Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.
My Airborne Ranger in the Sky was PFC Roy Brown who was killed in Panama during Operation Just Cause. As the war in Afghanistan draws to a close, we are sad to write that future Rangers who report in to the 75th Ranger Regiment will have a few more Airborne Rangers in the Sky to wear KIA bracelets for.

http://sofrep.com/28650/ranger-mass-...ne-ranger-sky/

The “Salute Seen Around The World” Wounded Ranger Salutes Commander Despite Injuries

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Bulldog1

Josh Hargis, a Ranger with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, was wounded last week in the attack that left four other members of his team dead. The 3rd was conducting a mission to try to capture a HVT (High Value Target), in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan.

With the little info we know so far, 36 members and a canine unit were attempting to capture a high value target in Panjwai in southern Afghanistan. When the troops arrived at the home, U.S. military officials said, the unit did a typical “call out” asking for those inside to come out.

One man appeared. Reports from the battlefield suggest he dropped to his knees and lifted his shirt to show the U.S. forces that he was not wearing a suicide bomb vest.

As several members of the Ranger unit moved toward the man to begin questioning him, a woman wearing a suicide vest emerged from the house and blew herself up, killing several members of the unit instantly, along with the dog, and injuring others.

Another Afghan male tried to escape from the compound.

As U.S. army medics, explosives specialists and others in the unit moved in to help the wounded, 13 improvised explosive devices went off, killing and injuring more U.S. forces.

Josh was one of the wounded and was evacuated for medical assistance. The photo below is Josh in a hospital in Afghanistan, right after the doctors stabilized his injuries. His wife posted this picture, along with what she received from Josh’s commander, this is a true warrior! No matter the pain we know Josh is in, he render’s the most beautiful salute you will ever see!

We will call this “The Salute Seen Around The World!” as it should be, and it should show what a true Warrior’s Spirit looks like! RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

This is what Josh’s wife Taylor posted to her FB:

I received this picture today along with a letter from the commander of the team Josh was a part of on the night of his injuries. A letter to explain to me what kind of man I have the privilege of being married to. He explained to me what happened and what was going on in the picture.

“Josh was seriously wounded as you know, and survived for almost two hours after his injury before arriving to the hospital. Josh was immediately pushed through a series of surgeries and emerged hours later into an intensive care unit here at our base in Afghanistan.

Despite being in intense pain and mental duress, Josh remained alert and compassionate to the limited Rangers that were allowed to visit his bedside. Prior to Josh being moved to Germany for his eventual flight to America, we conducted a ceremony to award him with the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.


A simple ceremony, you can picture a room full of Rangers, leaders, doctors, and nurses surrounding his bedside while the Ranger Regimental Commander pinned the Purple Heart to his blanket. During the presentation the Commander publishes the official orders verbally and leaned over Josh to thank him for his sacrifice.

Josh, whom everybody in the room (over 50 people) assumed to be unconscious, began to move his right arm under the blanket in a diligent effort to salute the Commander as is customary during these ceremonies. Despite his wounds, wrappings, tubes, and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute any person in that room had ever seen.

I cannot impart on you the level of emotion that poured through the intensive care unit that day. Grown men began to weep and we were speechless at a gesture that speak volumes about Josh’s courage and character. The picture, which we believe belongs on every news channel and every news paper is attached. I have it hanging above my desk now and will remember it as the single greatest event I have witnessed in my ten years in the Army.”

Josh Saluting His Commander After Presentation Of His Purple Heart. (Courtesy Taylor Hargis)

I agree with the commander, this should adorn the cover of every newspaper, magazine and news show. This shows the true meaning of the Warrior Spirit! Josh you are a true American Hero! Our thoughts and prayer’s go out to you, your wife, and all your Ranger brothers and those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the attack.

Get well soon brother! You have America behind you! We love you brother!

http://guardianofvalor.com/salute-se...pite-injuries/