This is the first cache in a series of caches that highlights some of the Battles fought by American Forces. Hopefully as you go thru these, you will either refresh a memory or learn something new.
All of these caches were accessible within a couple of feet of my truck; staying in the right of way on the public roads. You do not have to get off of the road by more than a couple of feet for a few of the caches. The majority of the caches, I was able to not even get out of my truck (all the way) to hide. Now there were a couple of spots where it is nice to have 4x4 in your vehicle. Didn’t have to use today, but if it had rained recently or you need new tires, will probably want the 4by. Low clearance vehicles can still get to a lot of these caches, but the cacher may want to park and walk down the road to a few of them, or catch a ride with another cacher. Due to these warnings, the D/T on these caches are at 2/2.5, unless it was an extra tricky/hard hide and the D/T shows accordingly.
This is the only traditional cache in the series and it is also the most meaningful battle for me, since I was there and a part of it. Platoon Sergeant for 3rd Platoon Battle Company. All the rest of the caches are ? caches that will require a simple search (related webpage) or a memory jog from grade school to answer and find the final location of the cache.
Operation Rock Avalanche was a six-day U.S.-led offensive from 19–25 October 2007, for the purpose of hunting Taliban fighters in the Korangal Valley of Afghanistan. The mission also aimed to establish a peace with the local populace so that a road could be safely built through the area by the Afghan government.
Over the course of the operation, a series of running battles occurred with members of the Taliban, as well as with local tribesmen. US Army Paratrooper Salvatore Giunta would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during combat between US forces and local Afghans
Operation Rock Avalanche began in the early morning hours of 19 October 2007 when US and Afghan forces boarded UH-60 and CH-47 helicopters at the Korangal Outpost (KOP) to be inserted in the southern portion of the Korangal Valley, near the village of Yaka Chine. This main force consisted mostly of B Company, 2-503rd Infantry, but also included support elements such as US Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC), and a Low-Level Voice Intercept (LLVI) team from the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade. Elements from A, C, and D companies, 2-503 Infantry, also occupied blocking positions around the valley in an effort to prevent Taliban forces from leaving the area.
There were several skirmishes early in the operation ultimately leading to AC-130 and AH-64 gunships firing into the village, resulting in civilian casualties. The night of the 21st, US forces moved east to conduct operations near the villages of Landigal and Aliabad.
Mid-day on the 23rd, Taliban forces attacked and overran a US machine gun position, killing 1 and wounding 2 more, before being forced to withdraw. Taliban forces were also able to capture several weapons and equipment from the fallen Americans.
US and Afghan forces continued to patrol the area and meet with village elders, resulting in several more firefights and large amounts of US air and artillery support being employed.
As the sun set on the 25th, US and Afghan forces began concluding the operation. During their egress, Taliban forces initiated an "L" shaped ambush against 1st and 3rd Platoon, B Company. US Forces were able to break out of the killzone and launch a successful counter-attack, but only after 2 Americans were killed and 5 more wounded. Taliban leader Muhammad Tali was killed by US Army's SPC Giunta, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the engagement.