Profile of FOB Keating on Globalsecurity.org

 

www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fob_keating.htm

 

Some interview with soldiers there:

 

www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977842012&grpId=3659174697241980

Heros interviewed in ISAF channel on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/user/ISAFMEDIA#p/f/5/movYzOxeKso

Got a call from my son this morning. He's stationed about 60 miles from Firebase Keating.I don't know how much of this is inside knowledge, and how much is from rumor control.

 

The firebase was at the base of a narrow valley/canyon, very exposed to plunging fire from the surrounding heights. This affected what kind of air support could be used. Firebase Keating had an OP up on one of the surrounding heights.The firebase was down to  about 40 American personnel. With 8 KIA and 24 wounded, that means just about everybody there caught a piece of it.

 

Both the firebase and the OP were assaulted simultaneously, starting about 06:00 in the morning. The OP was not overrun because the Taliban had to assault uphill, and it was easier to defend. The OP did not fall.

 

The Taliban cut the concertina on the Afghan sectors of the firebase and assaulted through the gaps. They entirely penetrated the base. The Taliban went from building to building shooting up whatever was in them. Fighting was so close, and the fighters so intermixed, that they could not call in supporting fires in the firebase area.

 

The first two AH-64's that came in were shot up, and had to retire back to an airbase while they were still flyable.  Heavy fire from the heights above Keating kept choppers away, and shifted air support to fixed wing

 

There was so much fire around the firebase that reinforcements had to land 5 miles away and hump in. My son thought the reinforcements were from a Ranger company, and also some special operators (SEALS or Special Forces). He also stated that the firefight lasted for 24 hours, not the 6 hours reported in news accounts.

 

 My son said that his unit is on increased alert, with troops stationed in their vehicles in likely attack hours.