PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Cold rounds of solidified H2O were flying within the walls of Forward Operating Base Gardez, Feb. 20. Paratroopers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Spartan planned and executed a complex winter snowball ambush on members of the Paktya Provinicial Reconstruction Team as they were exiting their working quarters at lunch time.
Escalation of force was immediately implemented, with quick reaction teams joining the fight from what seemed to be every nook and cranny of the FOB. At the height of the conflict, more than fifty soldiers were receiving or returning fire. Multiple fighting positions were established, and then quickly overrun.
There were many moments during the battle between Task Force Gold Geronimo and Paktya PRT soldiers, when it was difficult, if not impossible, to determine friendly forces from foe, and in fact eyewitnesses claimed to have seen multiple incidents of turncoat activity.
The fighting raged for more than 45 minutes before the majority of warriors on both sides of the battlefield retreated to the dining facility to carbo-load and hydrate.
As is so often the case in today’s modern warfield, victory was claimed by both sides.
No casualties were reported, and all snow balls were expended.