Fighters On Afghan Border: A Relentless Enemy

Campbell is in regular contact with the Pakistani military and says the relationship is improving a little more every day. "We would hope that they would do more within their capacity to stop people - command and control - and elements that come across the border in Afghanistan, and I would agree with that. I think they have tried to do some stuff. Is it enough? No,' Campbell said.

"It's not even close to enough," Logan remarked.

"Can they do more? Yes," he replied.

"Can they do a lot more?" Logan asked.

"Can they do a lot more? I would agree," Campbell replied.

Until they do, it's hard to see how U.S. soldiers at places like Combat Outpost Zerok can make any real progress in a fight that has claimed more American lives this year than any other.

Asked what the hardest thing is that he has had to deal with, Capt. Hintz told Logan, "It's losin' my soldiers. I lost a 18-year-old kid in Iraq. I've lost a 20-year-old kid in Afghanistan. Just lost a 29-year-old NCO a few weeks ago, stepped on a landmine. You're a failure 'cause you didn't take 'em home."

"I don't think anyone would call that a failure. I think people understand that in war and in combat, you lose soldiers," Logan said.

"Everybody knows in war you lose people. But just not your people," he replied.
As we left Hintz and his men, their mission at Zerok was coming to an end and new soldiers were pouring in to take over this fight.

"Is it your sense that you're winning here?" Logan asked.

"I think we're winning, I think we're winning," he said.

"You don't look convinced," Logan remarked.

"I'm not 100 percent convinced. I mean, but you can't look at it like we're losing. I'm not gonna come here and lose. So, do I think we've gained ground? Yes. Is it enough ground? No. I would like to say that if given another six months here I could bring in the next village, the next two villages and bring 'em to my side," Hintz said.

"But you can't," Logan said.

"I can't. I'll never give up on it, but at times I wonder if I walk outta here tomorrow, where's this place at?" Hintz asked.

"Where do you think?" Logan asked.

The captain relied, "Well, it it's lost."

---

Fallen members of the 101st Airborne Division, dating back to March 2010:

Maj. Robert F. Baldwin, 37, of Muscatine, Iowa. died Sept. 21 when a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Qalat, Afghanistan.

CW3 Matthew G. Wagstaff, 34, of Orem, Utah died Sept. 21 when a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Qalat, Afghanistan.

CW2 Jonah D. McClellan, 26, of St. Louis Park, Minnesota died Sept. 21 when a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Qalat, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, 25, of New Berlin, Ill. died Sept. 21 when a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Qalat, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., 23, of Osceola, Ind. died Sept. 21 when a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Qalat, Afghanistan.

1st Lt. Eric Yates, 26, of Rineyville, Ky. died Sept. 18, of wounds suffered Sept. 17 after an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol in Maquan, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jaime C. Newman, 27, of Richmond, Va. died Sept. 17 after an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol in Maquan, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Spc. Deangelo Barnell Snow, 22, of Saginaw, Mich., died Sept.17, when his unit was attacked as he was serving as a gunner in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Aaron K. Kramer, 22, of Salt Lake City, died Sept.16, when his unit was attacked by small arms fire as he was on patrol in Howzemadad, Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Todd W. Weaver, 26, of Hampton, Va., died Sept. 9 after being struck by an improvised explosive device as he was leading a dismounted area reconnaissance in Kandahar
Province, Afghanistan.

Capt. Jason T. McMahon, 35, of Mulvane, Kan., died Sept. 5 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire in Jalalabad.

Capt. Ellery R. Wallace, 33, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died Aug. 29 after his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (MRAP-ATV) was struck by an rocket propelled grenade while on patrol in Babur, Afghanistan Aug. 28.

Pfc. Bryn T. Raver, 20, of Harrison, Ark., died Aug. 29, when his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (MRAP-ATV) was struck by a rocket propelled grenade while on patrol in Babur, Afghanistan Aug. 28.

Sgt. Patrick K. Durham, 24, of Chattanooga, Tenn., was killed Aug. 28, when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Babur, Afghanistan.

Spc. Andrew J. Castro, 20, of Westlake Village, Calif., was killed Aug. 28, when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Babur, Afghanistan.

Sgt. James C. Robinson, 27, of Lebanon, Ohio died Aug. 28 when insurgents attacked his Forward Operating Base (FOB Boris) in the Bermal district, Paktika province, Afghanistan.

Pvt. Adam J. Novak, 20, of Prairie Du Sac, Wis. was killed Aug. 27, when a command-wired improvised explosive device was detonated near his vehicle during convoy operations in the
Paktiya province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Chad Derek Coleman, 20, of Moreland, Ga. was killed Aug. 27, when a command-wired improvised explosive device was detonated near his vehicle during convoy operations in the
Paktiya province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Benjamen Glen Chisholm, 24, of Fort Worth, Texas, died August 17, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his mounted patrol in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

Pvt. Charles Milton High IV, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M., died August 17, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his mounted patrol in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Kyle B. Stout, 25, of Texarkana, Texas, died July 30 when an improvised explosive device exploded near a security checkpoint in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Michael L. Stansbery, Jr., 21, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., died July 30 when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. James J. Oquin, Jr., 20, of El Paso, Texas, died July 23 when he was swept away by the current when a levee broke near his military vehicle during a patrol in the Paktika province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Matthew W. Weikert, 29, of Jacksonville, Ill., died July 17 of wounds sustained when his dismounted patrol encountered a land mine in Paktika, Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class John H. Jarrell, 32, of Brunson, S.C., died July 15 when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Leston M. Winters, 30, of Sour Lake, Texas, died July 15 when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Brandon M. King, 23, of Tallahassee, Fla., died July 14 in an attack by anti-Afghan forces at Combat Outpost Nolan, near Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Nathaniel D. Garvin, 20, of Radcliff, Ky., died July 12 of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, 32, of Austin, Texas, died July 10 of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit in Konar Province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Carlos J. Negron, 40, of Fort Myers, Fla., died July 10 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit at Konar Province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Anthony W. Simmons, 25, of Tallahassee, Fla., died July 8 during an indirect fire attack on Combat Outpost Monti, Afghanistan.

Pfc. David A. Jefferson, 23, of Philadelphia, Pa., died July 2 when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher D. Chapleau, 33, of LaGrange, Ky., died June 30 in a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw, 31, of Exeter, Maine, was killed June 27 when his unit came under small arms fire in the Konar province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. David W. Thomas, 40, of St. Petersburg, Fla. was killed June 27 when his unit came under small arms fire in the Konar province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. John M. Rogers, 26, of Riverside, Mo., died June 27 at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Spc. Jared C. Plunk, 27, of Stillwater, Okla. died June 25 when his mounted patrol came under small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire in the Konar province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Blair D. Thompson, 19, of Rome, N.Y., died June 25 when his mounted patrol came under small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire in the Konar province, Afghanistan.

1st Sgt. Eddie Turner, 41, of Fort Belvoir, Va., died June 22 at Camp Clark, Afghanistan of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Staff Sgt. Brandon M. Silk, 25, of Orono, Maine, died June 21 when a UH-60 (Blackhawk) helicopter made a hard landing near Gaza Ridge, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Andrew R. Looney, 22, of Owasso, Okla. died June 21 when an insurgent detonated a suicide vest next to a traffic control point outside of Lar Sholtan Village, Afghanistan.

Pfc. David T. Miller, 19, of Wilton, New York died June 21 when an insurgent detonated a suicide vest next to a traffic control point outside of Lar Sholtan Village, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. James P. Hunter, 25, of South Amherst, Ohio died June 18 when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Benjamin J. Park, 25, of Fairfax Station, Va., died June 18 when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in the Zhari District, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Nathan W. Cox, 27, of Fremont, Calif., died June 16 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained when his dismounted patrol encountered small arms fire near
Forward Operating Base Khogyani, Afghanistan on June 14.

Spc. Benjamin D. Osborn, 27, of Queensbury, N.Y., died June 15 of injuries sustained when his mounted patrol came under fire in the Shigalwasheltan district, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek, 22, of Calcium, N.Y. died June 8 in a vehicle incident in Gerda Serai, Afghanistan.

1st Sgt. Robert N. Barton II, 35, of Roxie, Miss., was one of five Soldiers killed June 7, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Dangam district, Kunar province,
Afghanistan.

Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala, 23, of Yigo, Guam, was one of five Soldiers killed June 7, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Dangam district, Kunar province,
Afghanistan.

Spc. Matthew R. Catlett, 23, of Houston, Texas, was one of five Soldiers killed June 7, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Dangam district, Kunar province,
Afghanistan.

Spc. Charles S. Jirtle, 29, of Lawton, Okla., was one of five Soldiers killed June 7, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Dangam district, Kunar province,
Afghanistan.

Spc. Blaine E. Redding, 22, of Plattsmouth, Neb., was one of five Soldiers killed June 7, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Dangam district, Kunar province,
Afghanistan.

2nd Lt. Michael E. McGahan, 23, of Orlando, Fla., died June 6 when his patrol came under small arms fire in the Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

PFC Christopher R. Barton, 22, of Concord, N.C., died May 24 when his unit came under small arms fire in the Khowst province of Afghanistan.

Spc. Jeremy L. Brown, 20, of McMinnville, Tenn., died May 9 when his dismounted patrol received small arms fire near Contingency Outpost Zerok, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Jonathon Hall, 23, of Chattanooga, Tenn., died April 8 from wounds suffered April 7 when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Paktika Province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Jonathan J. Richardson, 24, of Bald Knob, Ark., died from wounds suffered when his unit came under small arms, rocket and indirect fire in Khowst Province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Jason M. Kropat, 25, of White Lake, N.Y., died from wounds suffered when his unit came under small arms, rocket and indirect fire in Khowst Province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Vincent L.C. Owens, 21, of Fort Smith, Ark., died at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit came under direct fire in Yosuf Khel.


Produced by Max McClellan and Jeff Newton

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[mohnsters]

Lara- About a month ago my son called in the middle of the night form Afghanistan. Their convoy had been attacked and he just needed to hear my voice, I guess. Then, Sunday night, I watch your broadcast and saw his base being attacked. You were at his FOB. No matter how hard it was for me to watch, thank you for letting me in to his life and experience. I have watched it over and over. I would love to hear more about your time at his FOB. I too have been through a war. I lived through 17 years of civil war in El Salvador. It's just hard to watch my child go through this. Thank you.

[mothrover]

Basevich's book, "Washington Rule: America's Path to Permanent War" indicates that Afghanistan is a needless, purposeless war like Vietnam. Can't we as a nation, scrutinize the legitimacy of an imperial worldwide military to police the world?

[pen22850911]

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[NOMOREWARS4ISRAEL]

Lara,

Why don't you mention (and ask General Petraeus about) the neoconservatives advising General Petraeus like Iran's Press TV channel just did this past week via the following interview that you might want to take a look at at your convenience?:

http://*******.com/neoconsandgeneralp??etraeus

http://*******.com/neoconsresurfacing??underobama

[NOMOREWARS4ISRAEL]

Take the '??' out of each URL above for them to go through or simply go to the top of AMERICA-HIJACKED.COM if interested further.

[NOMOREWARS4ISRAEL]

Lara,

You mentioned in the following 'Q & A' live chat that we are in Afghan (quagmire) because of 9/11, but why no mention of primary 9/11 motivation (see *******.com/911motivation video and videos that play automatically after initial one finishes)?:

www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6905223n&tag=contentBody;housing

[Hosquatch]

I am not one who would encourage our military to shrink from a legitimate fight. However, what this 60 Minutes segment confirms is that we have put our brave young men in an impossible situation, with no clear goals, and no chance of victory. In military terms, "we are totally defensive"...our men are just sacrificial lambs, waiting to die, for no good reason. It has been clear that our "strategy" in Afghanistan has been mindless for a long time. It is time to stop wasting the lives of young American soldiers for no good reason and end the political charade. Pull out of Afghanistan. NOW...

[tournews1]

Logan - which is more difficult to withstand, the bullets of the enemy outside while you're safely tucked into the armored vehicle or the wrath of the women whose husbands you sleep with?

[iBear60]

My thanks to the men and women serving America. Its not their war but they sacrifice to keep up free. Its Freedom vs the Taliban. I'm glad John Hintz and Joe Vowell and their soldiers are on our side.

[rafaeldrc]

How will this war read in the pages written by historians one hundred years from now? Will the patriotic valor and commitment of "our" soldiers ring as honorable? Will any of these soldiers be remembered, except for a line bearing their name, scribbled on some granite memorial, yet to be commissioned?

In all this patriotic media hype, that sells much detergent, we must remember that Afghanistan is a mismanaged war, entered into with no real purpose, that pressure and negotiation may have allowed Bin Ladin to have been hand delivered to us, without war, but we never tried.

So we find ourselves in the same place as other civilizations that were so naive to invade Afghanistan, mired down, trapped and demoralized. That is a fact of history and the terrain! We should have known better. And that is how history will record us, the same as the Russians and the others who thought they had the right stuff to realize victory.

We must face the fact that we are not the good guys... We are the invaders. And if the defenders (Afghans/Pakistanis) were half as well armed as we, they would have run us out of their country a long time ago. That is how superior we are and how history will record us. (Vietnam, again.)

The worst part is that this war is bankrupting the USA in three ways: financially, morally and our system of laws is becoming more and more a police state. History will record it that way, as well.

This story may raise goose-bumps while watching it but it doesn't change a thing. It's just a form of mindless entertainment under the guise of news. The true story is yet to be written.

[hagar39]

FACT: As long as this war goes on, we the USA will never conquer Afghanistan or the Middle East.
We should have learned our lesson when we tried to conquer Vietnam.
The "enemy" in these nations were and are fighting for their resources, pride, families, hertiage, self government, etc.
Our troops are fighting and kiling for a monthly pay check. Guess who usually wins?

[43rdParallel]

Thanks for the report, but I do wish 60 Minutes would have at least mentioned the U.S. troops who were up on the mountain during the firefight. The platoon with boots on the ground was doing the heavy lifting and grunt work on this particular day. I assume those soldiers provided the mortar fire and did most of the killing. You're not going to beat the Taliban (or anyone else) fighting from trucks.