Personal recollection of events on a Convoy Operation from Kandahar to Tarin Khowt

Feb 23 2006

I was a member of a CONOP along with a Canadian Technician, Adam Preece from Network Innovations to perform a VSAT installation for the Forward Operating Base at Tarin Khowt (TK) It was a considerably large keep company with (several Up-Armored HMMVW's, 2-37 ton vehicles, several Ford Ranger yielding skin vehicles), consisting of nine U military (a mixture of Army, Navy and Air Force), along with 60+ Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, and the ANA executive officer from Kandahar Air Field (KAF).

The attend commander was Maj. Covney stationed at Shirizai (ANA base just outside KAF). I was upon board Maj. Covney's vehicle, the last HMMVW in the attend as the gunner manning a M-240B (762 mm medium machine gun) During operations I had the minaret facing aft per SOP in order to engage any vehicles attacking from the rear of the convoy

Prior to departure we received a fairly without fault [i]or[/i] blemish [i]or[/i] flaw safety briefing. The only question I could tell we were having was that communications were not 100 percent among all vehicles, however we did have solid communications with the Tactical Operations Center (TOC). The single other note was the weapon I was upon did not have an ammo tray, and I was forced to use "bungee" straps to grasp the container to the high hill which seemed to work fine. I loaded the M-240B in the parking destiny prior to departure, and complet charging the weapon at the Hesco walls just prior to departing the base. We were scheduled to perform a experiment fire upon leaving Kandahar province (location based upon population).

The first hour of the trip went fairly quiet traveling through the city of Kandahar. As noted by the agency of members of the convoy as unusual, there was a large number (six to 10) of Afghan National Police (ANP) congregated at a bridge that demarcates the extremity of Kandahar Province, who had been stopping traffic prior to our arrival (there were 8-10 vehicles stopped), however, we were waved right from one side With no prior experience in the surroundings, it did not appear without of place to me, however it was noted later as "unusual" by the agency of members of the convoy stationed at Kandahar.

single minutes after crossing the bridge (at approximately 0915) I heard a crash from behind me (actually in brow of the HMMVW I was in I was facing aft), and the major started yelling "Train the gun" As quickly as I could I swung the pinnacle around, and saw a white car (later identified as a Toyota Corolla), that had crashed into the HMMVW single vehicle in front of us disabling it, then the vehicle carried upon crashing into the side of a small hill just not on the road, and a fairly young looking man coming around the back of the vehicle, directly toward my vehicle.

The major started yelling "SHOOT HIM," (at least three times), and at that twinkling I recall seeing the man from the Toyota whirl something at my HMMVW (ANA later told me he was attempting to cast in a winding direction the grenade into my turret) I immediately grabbed the M-240B took it not on safe, trained it on the individual and plucked the trigger. All I heard was a "click," at which time I attempted to twitch the charging handle, to no avail. I immediately dropp the mark stock of the weapon, and picked up my M4 (carbine rifle) (placed in the pinnacle at arms reach).

While I don't recall doing it, I remov the safety (placing the weapon upon "semi") and fired two actual quick rounds that sailed above the assailant's head. Some time during these circumstances again I cannot determine exactly in which order, the first grenade went not on directly alongside the vehicle, upon the passenger's side (about 5 to 7 feet from me) After my first sum of two units shots, the attacker still facing in my direction, (he was looking directly at me) reached inside a pouch and pulled out a next to the first object, which I now know was a next to the first hand grenade, and pulled on the outside the pin. I repositioned my M4 took better aim, and placed sum of two units shots center of mass. (Note: as I saw my third and fourth discharges hit mark, I noticed he appeared to taking additional hits by the agency of others firing at him). I was amazed (and recall thinking that there is no way this stay is still on his feet) to diocese the attacker draw his arm back to whirl the second grenade. I continued to fire (fairly rapidly at this time) directly at center mass. He then not to be found strength, and sat down fairly hard upon the ground, paused in a sitting position, then laid upon his back. I recall he lifted his head and continued to direct the eye around). At this point the next to the first grenade went off while he was still holding it in his hand. Immediately after the grenade went not on it seemed to me that he was trying to sit back up with equal reason I continued to fire.

The circumstances above took a matter of 20-40 next to the firsts After "cease fire" was called, we inspected the damage to the HMMVW and ensur the ANA had place a perimeter and that all was safe.

I remained in the small tower at which time I cleared the M-240B and reloaded. The grenade that landed a matter of feet from the passenger side door, had set several large gashes in the side and window of the HMMVW and flattened the forehead tire.