'He died fighting for his brothers,' Niger ambush survivor says of fallen US soldier

[sl8]

'He died fighting for his brothers,' Niger ambush survivor says of fallen US soldier
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/died-fighting-brothers-niger-ambush-survivor-fallen-us/story?id=50670787

By ADAM CIRALSKYKIRIT RADIA CONOR FINNEGAN ELIZABETH MCLAUGHLIN Oct 24, 2017, 9:12 AM ET

Nearly three weeks after the deadly ambush on U.S. Special Ops forces in Niger, ABC News has learned chilling new details about the mission gone wrong from a survivor of the attack and a senior U.S. intelligence official.

...

Despite being massively outnumbered, the American and Nigerien troops held their own -- including Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in the ambush, the sources told ABC News.

...

“Without a doubt, his courage and bravery in action that day were above and beyond expectation. He died fighting for his brothers on his team. You can quote that verbatim,” the survivor added. “He grabbed any and every weapon available to him. The guy is a true war hero.”

...

The senior intelligence official credited the French forces who responded with “saving our bacon.”

“The French saved our men. Yes, we lost four. But we would have lost everybody if it wasn't for the French,” the official told ABC News....

Much more about the ambush in the linked article.

[lapfog_1]

1. of the four soldiers KIA

according to reports, none had ever seen action or been shot at before.

"green" berets indeed... WTF was the army doing sending out troops like that into possible hostile territory???

[Not Ruth]

2. I do not believe a single thing that the military has reported

[JDC]

3. I wonder if he was left behind alive and still fighting

[Not Ruth]

4. Given that there is no body, he may not be dead

[metalbot]

6. Don't start this

Let's think this through on several levels:

1. What does the US government gain by claiming he's dead, having the president call the widow (and look like an asshole while doing it)?
2. If he were not dead, and instead had been captured, then his captors could make the US government look like malicious morons simply by releasing video of the guy
3. If the guy had defected, then he could release his own video that would make the US government look like malicious morons.
4. If he's not dead, and is really off on a secret mission for the government, and he is captured, see step 2.
5. If he's not dead, and is really off on a secret mission for the government, and he pulls it off, and comes home, then the US government loses credibility with every serviceman who dies.
6. Aliens? I dunno. Maybe you can come up with a more credible reason why or how he might not be dead.

Alternatively, let's look at reasons why the widow may have been discouraged from viewing the body:
1. Decomposition from 2 days plus being partially eaten
2. Body has been severely mutilated and is in 2 dozen pieces. Plus decomposition.
3. Someone decided to burn the body

There is absolutely nothing that is preventing the family from having the body exhumed, examined, and having it DNA tested, which would put conspiracy theories like yours to rest. The US government absolutely knows that the family can do this via court order, and if exposed, the government would look ridiculously bad, so it makes no sense why they would not have his body in there.

[Demsrule86]

12. They gain not having to admit they left a guy behind and not have too many look at this closely.

[obamanut2012]

9. There was a body

[cwydro]

10. Oh please.

Smh.

[obamanut2012]

8. I think that is what happened

Especially because of where they are saying he was found.

[underpants]

5. I know this is hindsight but shouldn't you expect the #3 target to have heavy protection around him?

Whoever it was surely keeps himself surrounded with not only numbers but some of the best soldiers.

[GusBob]

7. Notice the message to the wife and children

THIS is how you honor a fallen soldier, Trump

[Demsrule86]

11. So where were our guys...where was air support...Trump as good as killed those men.