MWI sat down with Medal of Honor recipient SSG (ret) Ryan Pitts to discuss the lessons from the Battle of Wanat. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving as a Forward Observer in 2d Platoon, Chosen Company, 2-503rd Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, during combat operations against an armed enemy at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler vicinity of Wanat Village, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008.
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Overhead view of VPB Kahler, OP Topside, and Wanat village
MoH Recipient SSG (ret) Ryan Pitts, 18 APR 2016 from Dept of Military Instruction on Vimeo.
Battle of Wanat from Dept of Military Instruction on Vimeo.
The U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute detailed report of the Battle of Wanat can be found here.
Maps of the Battle of Wanat can be found here.
This is an incredible story. As a cadet, I feel that recent operations and battles in the Middle East should be outlined and taught at our school more often. Cadets could benefit from analyzing reports and lessons learned from certain missions by observing how other leaders have acted on our modern unconventional battlefield. Hearing about the PL popping up into SGT Pitts fighting position during the Battle of Wanat may seem minor, but it shows how significant a leader can be in helping others deal with adversity.