New Report on Niger Ambush Tells of Incredible Heroism Displayed by U.S. Forces

Meg Storm : Oct 30, 2017
Faithwire.com

While the prudence of the last-minute mission is still under question and it is uncertain whether the American and Nigerien forces were adequately equipped, it is clear that the bravery of Sgt. Johnson and the backup provided by the French military saved countless lives.

(Washington, DC)—[Faithwire.com] Heart-wrenching new details are emerging about the deadly October 4 ambush in Niger that killed four American servicemen. Sgt. La David Johnson, Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright died during the unplanned mission to capture or kill a high-ranking ISIS target. (Photo: Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wrigh, Sgt. La David T. Johnson/U.S. Army/via Fox News)

After nearly a month of speculation and minimal detail marred by an ongoing war of words between President Donald Trump and Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson over a condolence call the commander in chief made to Johnson's widow, new details have emerged from an unnamed military official about the troubling circumstances leading to the attack and the incredible heroism displayed by U.S. forces in an effort to not leave anyone behind.

As ABC News reported, a team of 12 Americans and 30 Nigerien soldiers departed the village of Tongo Tongo in six to eight vehicles, including an American contingent of two pickup trucks equipped with machine guns and an unarmed Land Cruiser. According to the high-ranking official, they were ambushed by more than 50 ISIS-linked fighters, who expertly attacked from either side of the tree-lined road and appeared to be well-trained in their use [of] machine guns, mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades.

While it seems as though the American and Nigerien forces initially made an attempt to flee the "kill zone," they soon realized the unarmed Land Cruiser was nowhere to be found. Refusing to leave anyone behind, it is believed the American pick-up trucks turned back to search for the missing vehicle, with Sgt. Johnson providing cover by firing a machine gun out the back of one of the trucks.

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