Va. cop finds Afghanistan to be 'The Tougher Beat'

Photo By Frank O'Brien | Sgt. Darrell S. McCatty of Chesterfield, Va. explains the details of the insurgent attack at forward operating base Athgar, Zabul province, Afghanistan, to Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas H. Yancey of Columbia, Virginia and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nelson N. Connor of Richmond, Va. McCatty, with the Staunton-based Virginia Army National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, was awarded a combat action badge Sept. 26 for his actions. The 116th “Stonewall Brigade” is deployed to Afghanistan conducting counterinsurgency operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

ATHGAR, AFGHANISTAN

09.26.2011

Story by Sgt. Frank O'Brien 

116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Sgt. Darrell S. McCatty of Chesterfield, Va. of the Staunton-based Virginia Army National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was awarded a combat action badge Sept. 26 for his role in countering at an attack at Forward Operating Base Athgar, Zabul province, Afghanistan.

McCatty is assigned as part of a two-man 116th team to the remote FOB Athgar which is manned mostly by Romanian and Afghan National Army troops.

On July 24, while on a tour of the FOB with an unarmed Romanian major, gunmen attacked the base with small arms fire and mortars. McCatty returned fire holding the position alone until an Afghan National Army soldier arrived on the scene. McCatty directed Afghan soldiers from his position and continued following the unit’s battle plan until the attack was over.

Of the Afghan soldier who responded to the attack, McCatty said: “That soldier was professional and had no problem following directions. He wasn’t hesitant at all.”

McCatty, a police officer for Chesterfield County, Va., is a graduate of Virginia Union University where he played football for four years, and later was a wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers.

“Taking fire is scarier than having football players charge you,” said McCatty. “And compared to policing, Athgar by far is the tougher beat.”

McCatty was recently promoted to sergeant, mere steps from where he was involved in the firefight. The Romanian and Afghan forces that he fought beside attended the ceremony to show their support for him and the respect for his actions that day.

Soldiers of the 116th “Stonewall Brigade” are deployed as a command and control headquarters in charge of active duty and NATO troops conducting counterinsurgency operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 09.26.2011
• Date Posted: 10.08.2011 10:48
• Story ID: 78224
• Location: ATHGAR, AF