In this episode of The Spear, John Amble talks to MWI’s own Maj. Jake Miraldi about the Battle of Barg-e Matal. In 2009, Maj. Miraldi was a platoon leader on his first deployment to Afghanistan. In July, Taliban forces overran the village of Barg-e Matal in eastern Afghanistan’s rugged Nuristan province. Maj. Miraldi and his platoon were part of a force of 100 US and Afghan soldiers sent to retake the village. They planned to be there for 96 hours. It eventually became a battalion mission that kept US soldiers fighting there for two months.
Listen to the full story of that mission below, and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image credit: Sgt. Matthew Moeller
I was part of this operation back in 2009 which was the bloodiest battle during the long Afghan war since 2001. I have been working on a book for last few months and Barge- metal battle was one of the battle that I wrote about it . There are still a lot about this battle they most people didn’t covered it .
John
My unit went there in 2010. It wasn’t as bad as in 09, but it was still a shit show. We set up a temporary COP for two months in the main village. Ran a couple of clearing ops and night raids in surrounding villages.
Is anyone still writing a book about Barge Matal? I was apart of the Task Force Civil Affairs team from PRT Nuristan that was dropped in there 2009. I was a Navy Corpsman "Medic" attached treating civilians, coalition forces and the ABP. I have tons of photos, videos and contacts still if anyone needs help. As with the movie Outpost I feel that this needs to be brought to attention and highlighted more to the mission, valor and lives lost. Thanks
Frank
Let me know what photos and videos you have. I lost all of mine since returning to the States. I was the NCO attached to the ABP on the initial operation going in to retake Barge Matal. I would like to chat and see some other perspectives on the mission.
Poncho I still have the video of you dropping Easter eggs in the corn field. I have several videos and pictures as well. Let me know if you still looking for some photos.
Fred
Fuck that corn field…
Yeah those fucking fields sucked ass, I told Fitzgerald we should have burned them down in the first week.
I was there in 2009 as part of the operation to retake Barge Matal. I was the NCO of the two man team attached to the ABP.
I remember you. I was there on initial infil/first TIC with 3rd PLT Alpha, 1-32, 10th MTN.
I hope your book turns out amazing. Don't forget to mention 3-71CAV. If you need any interviews via phone email me. I can probably get you some of my old leaderships phone numbers since we are still in contact (different kind) with there consent obviously and my contact info as well.
So it been a decade…on the initial infill I thought wave one was 2 Ch-47s west to over watch the landing of 3 more CH-47s on the west side and 3 on the east side in wave 2. The two 47s landed simultaneously for wave one, all 6 landed simultaneously for wave 2. The east-side to my understanding had only in-bedded US personal attached to Boarder Patrol and no medical personnel (their wounded were all transported to the west side before being treating).
The west side had an army scout platoon, and headquarters element with an Army Major, and 120 ANA with in-beds. I have less information for the eastside…but didn't think there was any US-army proper on the eastside in the initial until platoons Attack and Assault showed up day 4 or 5.
And the sawmill was at the foot of the bridge on the eastside. The "initial counter attack" the opposition had 3 DShKs up for over an hour at cyclic rate. Recoilless rifles were involved on day 1 or 2.
…So is this a second hand "first hand account," or the "official story"…or just good fan fiction ?
My platoon, Alpha 3rd platoon, were in the main village during the first attack on July 12th, 2009, and were part of the first infil into the village. We took heavy contact that evening, around 1800 if memory serves. That day, we lost SSG Eric J. Lindstrom, and SSG Brown and 1st LT Miraldi were wounded in action. I’m not certain how many enemy were killed, but aside from very unfortunate losses, we came out on top.
Ay what's your name. I was there in 09 I was a 371 guy attached to yall. I was there at the last part 31 days. Man it was intense. I was on the north side I believe. My gun position was lookin at the river it went from 2 to 1 and on the right side was the village. My gun position got most action when I was there. 8.5 hr long firefight was longest.
I was a 3-71 guy also. My position took the most also before you replaced us. We may have had the same position. I should have left a sector sketch
Garrett- 1-32 Inf 10th MTN. Summer 2009, RIP Miller and Coleman
Tim Neves
I was a medic. I was there for majority of the operation.
I was there in 09, 3-71. 6 insurgents from the "grassy knull" made a bold move to move down towards the side of the village during contact and I was able to eliminate them with the ol M-2. The platoon that came to relieve us basically took sniper and indirect after that. We were told it was going to be a three day mission but we were releived a little after 3 weeks.
I was there in July 09 with 3-71 bravo troop (scout platoon). My platoon was the first there from bravo. On the 4th day there about a 4 insurgents were trying to make it to the cornfields down the side of the "grassy knull" and I eliminated them with the ol 50 cal. I think 2nd platoon came to relieve us but only took sniper and indirect fire as it was pretty much dying down at that point. We were above the girls school and Sgt Velez joined us as to recon for our replacement platoon. ODA showed up in our second week there because we snatched a dude that we saw with an ICOM radio giving adjustments for indirect fire. Lost a couple guys I met when 1-32 showed up. They were outstanding guys for the short time I knew them. Miller and coleman