A firefight in the Korengal, Afghanistan

[asianshepherd]

Wow dude! Awesome coverage! Thanks for sharing. Keep your helmet on and stay low.

How come the LT is armed with a MK48 and has more fire power than his fellow mate, did he double up as a Saw gunner too? LOL!:bsmilie:


Those are Merrell Sawtooth Boots. Cheers!

The LT is using the M249 SAW. It is actually up to the LT what he wants to carry and in reality it has more firepower than the M4 and firepower is everything here!

BTW, those aren't the Merrell Sawtooth but something else because I was looking at the Sawtooth for a while. Plan to get them the next time I come out here.

 

[asianshepherd]

I'm glad that you are safe. Thanks for the coverage.
Were the terps armed ? seems like they are unarmed like you ? If so they are damn *******s, using you to "test water" .

The terps are usually not armed but I've met some with AKs when they go on patrol. I think it was more a bad decision on their part to suggest that I go first! I have no hard feelings for them though!

 

[asianshepherd]

Awesome work man! Who are you shooting for? Will we see this in the papers soon?

I freelance but file most of my pics to AFP so they could appear anywhere to be honest. Thanks for the compliment, btw.

 

[iamryansaw]

nothing but inspiration from and respect for you.

 

[asianshepherd]

nothing but inspiration from and respect for you.

Thanks for the compliment. I see that you are using the D90. The shots from this series is actually from the D90 + 17-35mm 2.8

 

[wildsoyabean]

stay alive! ... if i were in where u were...i think i can only just hide instead of shoot!

 

[JacePhoto]

stay alive. i wont want to be in such a situation. take care!

 

[gazkw]

kudos for sharing... i would buy you a beer anytime to hear you share your experiences!

feel free to pm me.

 

[daredevil123]

Awesomw work bro. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Pics are important, but safety first bro. Take care out there. Don't take unnecessary risks.

 

[darkspore]

You have a dangerous job man. Great stuff! Stay safe.

 

[asianshepherd]

kudos for sharing... i would buy you a beer anytime to hear you share your experiences!

feel free to pm me.

Thanks, man! I think I might just take up on your offer when I come back to Singapore in December for a week!

 

[kenkht]

I never come to this section (reportage and sports) until your postings. Incredible.
Are you going to cover the election runoff in Nov?

 

[asianshepherd]

I never come to this section (reportage and sports) until your postings. Incredible.
Are you going to cover the election runoff in Nov?

Thanks! I could but most likely not. I covered the first election in Kabul and in all honesty, I'm ready to go home after two months in the field.

 

[gazkw]

Thanks, man! I think I might just take up on your offer when I come back to Singapore in December for a week!

no probs... anytime! pm'ed u my number.

 

[Oly5050]

There isn't really a strict regulation when they soldiers are deployed. They can wear any kind of boots or high top shoes (to protect the ankles) as long as it's of a colour that blends in (I don't know what the exact requirements are). I've seen Merrell boots and shoes, Oakley, Columbia, Asolo, Garmont, etc. Many, however, will just stick to standard issue boots but they are not the absolute best. The soldiers pay for these shoes out of their own pockets and they believe that comfort and good traction is worth paying for out in the battlefield.

This is something new to me, letting the soldiers wear what they want out on deployment. On further thought, this policy makes sense though. I went to relook the photos and indeed they appear to be wearing like trail boots kind of thing.

 

[sprintist]

great coverage again!

what was the follow up of such firefights? do they ever need to account for enemy fatalities etc?

 

[Akatsuki]

Great coverage! Impressed! I'm following this thread

 

[asianshepherd]

great coverage again!

what was the follow up of such firefights? do they ever need to account for enemy fatalities etc?

It usually depends on the terrain accessibility more than anything else. In May the platoon I was embed with had a major firefight with a group of Talibans resulting in the death of most of them. The platoon actually went up the mountains to collect the bodies and weapons, etc.

My current location's terrain is really quite rough and it's just not worth going up hostile terrain to check body count. After a firefight, the platoon would just leave and return to base.

 

[DinoSG]

wow..show us more pics.. thanks

 

[JamesW]

I really respect your line of work. Awesome stuff there. :thumbsup:

Stay safe.