Battle of Shok Valley

Battle of Shok Valley
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Members of ODA 3336 in the Shok Valley
Date6 April 2008
Location
Shok Valley, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Result U.S./Afghan failure to capture Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Belligerents
 United States
 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan		 Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin
Commanders and leaders
Capt. Kyle Walton
MSG Scott Ford		 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Units involved

Task Force Bushmaster[1]

Local and foreign Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin fighters
Strength
15 soldiers
≈100 soldiers		 ≈200 initial force
≈50–200 reinforcements
Casualties and losses
6 wounded, local interpreter killed
2 killed, several wounded		 150–200 killed (U.S. estimate)[citation needed]

The Battle of Shok Valley, also known as Operation Commando Wrath, was a joint U.S.-Afghan raid designed to kill or capture Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) in the Shok Valley of Nuristan Province of Afghanistan on 6 April 2008.[2] Ten soldiers[3] belonging to U.S Army special forces and their combat cameraman[4] were awarded the Silver Star for bravery, the greatest number of such awards for a single battle since the Vietnam War.[5] In 2018, Special Forces medic Ronald J. Shurer's Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.[6] In 2019, Special Forces weapons sergeant Matthew O. Williams's Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.[7] In addition SrA Zachary Rhyner, ODA 3336's attached Air Force Combat Controller, was awarded the Air Force Cross.[8]

  1. ^ New York Times staff (25 July 2010). "View Is Bleaker Than Official Portrayal of War in Afghanistan". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Soldiers Honored With Silver Stars Following Extraordinary Battle in Afghanistan". PBS. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. ^ Rusty Dennen. "Fredericksburg native awarded Silver Star for valor during harrowing April battle in Afghanistan". fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012.
  4. ^ Gina Cavallaro. "Valor of combat cameraman earns him Silver Star". Army Times.
  5. ^ "Incident Report: A Raging Firefight". WikiLeaks via The New York Times. 25 July 2010.
  6. ^ "President Donald Trump Award Medal of Honor". USA Today. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  7. ^ "President Trump awards Medal of Honor to Master Sgt. Matthew Williams". Army Times. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Department of Defense. "Zachary J. Rhyner Award Citation". Military Times.