Don't be surprised if some major medals are awarded from this action. It sounds like it was probably touch-and-go for a while.
Our troops fought and stood their ground despite being outnumbered and taken by surprise. The medals have come out:
On July 13, 2008, about 45 Americans and 24 Afghan soldiers battled up to 200 enemy fighters determined to overrun the newly established Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler and Observation Post Top Side, nestled in the village of Wanat in the Waygul Valley of Konar province.
When the fighting stopped, nine paratroopers were dead and 27 were wounded.
For their actions on that day, 11 soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, received Silver Stars, the third highest award for valor. An additional 17 received Bronze Star Medals with V device and 25 received Army Commendation Medals with V device.
The enemy wanted a media massacre event to break our home morale, I'd guess.
Half the enemy was likely killed or wounded in the 4-hour battle (as Strategypage reported). And we held the media event.
