Second anniversary of largest successful search and rescue operation since Vietnam

08.13.2007

Courtesy Story

United States Air Forces Central           

U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

July marked the second anniversary of the rescue of Navy SEAL Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell and his team from Afghanistan and one of the largest combat search and rescue operations since the Vietnam Era.

Luttrell was the only survivor of four SEALS that were on a secret mission to locate a terrorist leader in the mountains of Afghanistan. An ambush by more than 60 Taliban and al-Qaida fighters meant certain fate, but not before Team Leader, Lt. Michael Murphy got out one last extraction call; an act that has him in consideration for the Medal of Honor.

The 13-day rescue effort to find and bring back the SEAL team, as well as 16 crew members and passengers of a CH-47 Chinook rescue helicopter, was named Operation Earned Respect. The coordinated effort involved hundreds of personnel from the Combined Air and Space Operations Center and Central Command.

Through the joint ground and air effort, HM2 Luttrell and the other 19 military members were successfully recovered.

The CAOC coordinated the air campaign for Operation Earned Respect consisting of more than 400 sorties and nearly 2,000 flying hours flown by U.S. and coalition aircraft while employing unique space capabilities to find Luttrell and the others. Those efforts ensured there was a constant airpower presence overhead while the search for the missing SEALS continued.

"This operation demonstrated how the CAOC is uniquely equipped and manned for these situations," said Maj. Gen. Maury Forsyth, deputy combined force air component commander. "Our Airmen here have the ability to integrate and synchronize joint assets to achieve the right effect at the right time to ensure mission success. And in search and rescue, leaving no one behind is what it is all about."

During the search, the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) task force learned a survivor was still alive and had taken refuge in the village of Sabray. He was being helped by the villagers despite Taliban threats of death. One of the villagers helped him stay hidden, while another traveled by foot to a nearby base to alert authorities to his whereabouts. An HH60G Pavehawk brought pararescuemen into the village and retrieved Luttrell on July 3, 2005. Two more SEALs were found the following day, and the last was recovered six days later. All were recovered or returned with honor by Air Force CSAR.

The SEAL mission and the subsequent rescue ended up being the largest single loss of American life during Operation Enduring Freedom and the largest loss ever for the Navy SEALS but at the end ... no one was left behind.

Air Force CSAR has been credited with nearly 500 combat saves since Sept. 11, 2001, and continue to look for ways to improve upon their lifesaving capabilities.

The newest way is the replacement for the HH60G – the proposed CSAR-X.

"The Air Force is the only service with forces dedicated to the critical mission of combat search and rescue," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "We take that mission seriously and this new CSAR platform will greatly benefit all service members who perform vital work deep in hostile uncertain or enemy territory."

The CSAR mission still continues in Afghanistan as well as Iraq and other worldwide locations. These professionals perform their duties based on the CSAR motto and a slogan that HM2 Marcus Luttrell experienced first hand ... "these things we do, that others may live."

• Date Taken: 08.13.2007
• Date Posted: 08.13.2007 15:04
• Story ID: 11790