Operational Detachment Alpha 574

Operational Detachment Alpha 574 is a part of the United States Army's Third Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. At the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom it operated in Afghanistan to help defeat the Taliban and create conditions for the establishment of a democratic government in Afghanistan. Jason Amerine was noted for leading the group in several battles of the Invasion of Afghanistan.[1]

Operational Detachment Alpha 574
Hamid Karzai with Amerine and his men.
Active1997, 2001
CountryUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Army
TypeA-Team
Role1997-Sent to Saudi Arabia as a Mobile Training Team (MTT) to train the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) 2001-Set condition for a democratic government in Afghanistan.
Size12 personnel
Nickname(s)Texas One-Two
EngagementsInvasion of Afghanistan
Battle of Tarin Kowt
Battle of Shawali Kowt
Battle of Sayyd Alma Kalay
Capture of Kandahar
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Jason Amerine

Invasion of Afghanistan
Main articles: United States invasion of Afghanistan and War in Afghanistan

ODA 574 from Alpha Company, 3rd Btn, 5th SFG[2] deployed from Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (nicknamed K2 by the Special Forces) just outside of Tarin Kowt on 14 November, accompanied by Pashtun militia leader, Hamid Karzai, who was returning from exile.

Friendly fire incident

As Karzai's forces pushed south towards Kandahar, an error by an attached United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party on 5 December Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) fell short of its intended target, 100 yards from their position. It killed Master Sgt. Jefferson Donald "Donnie" Davis, Staff Sgt. Brian Cody Prosser,[3] and SFC Daniel H. Petithory and twenty members of Karzai's militia. Five other members of ODA 574 and Karzai were wounded. Five minutes after the friendly fire incident, Hamid Karzai was notified by a satellite phone call that he'd been selected to lead Afghanistan's new interim government.[4][5]

Capture of Kandahar

Assisted by ODA 586 soldiers from Bravo Company, 3rd Btn, 5th SFG, with reinforcements from ODA 750 (Bravo Company, 2nd Btn, 7th SFG) and ODA 524 (Bravo Company, 1st Btn, 5th SFG), Karzai was able to negotiate the surrender of Taliban forces around Kandahar.[6][7]

Nicknamed "Texas 12" (Texas One-Two), the group comprised 12 U.S Green Berets under command of Captain Jason Amerine. They worked side by side with the militia, who were led by Hamid Karzai. Their primary objective was to capture the Islamic spiritual center in the city of Kandahar. To capture the province. it was necessary to first capture the town of Tarin Kowt. The civilians of the town overthrew the Taliban governor, so Karzai and Amerine moved in to help defend it. The 12 Americans of ODA 574, assisted by U.S. close air support and 35 Afghans, successfully defended Tarin Kowt against 1,000 Taliban delivered by 100 trucks.

Assisting the local militia, they helped to defeat the Taliban further along the Arghandab River and at Shawali Kowt and Sayyd Alma Kalay. These victories were the key to the Kandahar Campaign, ending when Kandahar fell to US Marines. When Kandahar fell, Karzai became the interim president of Afghanistan, so Alpha 574's goal was complete.

Awards

For their bravery in Afghanistan, Operational Detachment Alpha 574 was awarded three Silver Stars, four Bronze Star Medals for Valor, three Bronze Star Medals, and eleven Purple Hearts. Amerine himself was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.[8]

References
  1. Zullo, Allan: Battle Heroes: Voices from Afghanistan
  2. "Special Forces Group Organization - Before the Growing of SF Community". Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. "Southland Soldier 'Willing to Pay the Price'". Los Angeles Times. 6 December 2001. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  4. "Special Forces History 80 Tragedy at Kandahar" (PDF). Blacksmith Publishing. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  5. Barry, Stephanie (12 December 2001). "Hometown bids soldier farewell". Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  6. "5th Special Forces Group "Task Force Dagger" Commemorative Challenge Coin Versions 1 – 5". The Commander's Challenge. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  7. "Joint Special Operations Task Force - North (JSOTF-N) (Afghanistan) "Task Force Dagger"". Global Security. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  8. "America's Army: Real Heroes". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007.
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