War Hero Gets Career-Ending Reprimand

(CBS)  The battle of Wanatwas the deadliest battle of the Afghan war. Taliban video shows the enemy surrounding a remote outpost, and shooting down on U.S. soldiers like fish in a barrel.

When it was over nine Americans lay dead.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports their company commander, Capt. Matthew Myer, was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in fighting off a much larger force. His voice is heard calmly talking to Apache gunships overhead.

"Be advised, we're in a bad situation," Myer said. "Need you to come in hot immediately."

The enemy was so close that Myer told the incredulous pilots to lay down fire within 10 meters of his position.

"I know it's high risk, but we need to get these guys off of us," Myer said.
"Ten meters," the pilot replied. "You got to be kidding me."

Exclusive: War Hero's Acts Faulted

Now Myer, along with two of his superior officers who were not at the battle, have received career-ending letters of reprimand for failing to prepare adequate defenses in the days leading up to the attack.

Forty-nine Americans and 24 Afghan soldiers had been ordered to set up the outpost deep in enemy territory.

More about the Battle of Wanat
Watch David Martin's Exclusive Report on the Wanat Battle
Soldier's Last Letter from Afghanistan
"I was Just Starting to Live My Life"
9 U.S. Troops Killed in Afghan Attack

It was July of 2008, and according to Sgt. David Dzwick, they were short of not just troops, but basic necessities.

"The second day we were extremely low on water," Dzwick said. "When you start running out of water it's very hard to continue working through the heat of the day.

Despite warnings from villagers that an attack was imminent, an unmanned surveillance drone which had been watching over the troops was diverted to a higher priority mission.

"Not having surveillance was the concern for me," Dzwick said. "Part of the planning is that we would have some."

The first Apache helicopters got there an hour and five minutes after the Taliban opened fire. By then, Captain Myer was the only officer still alive.

Myer can still appeal but right now he has been both decorated and reprimanded for the same battle.

[run2jazz2]

When I was assigned to 3rd Special Forces group back in the 90's I knew of a Major who was tabbed and the XO for the batallion I was assigned. He about had every damn award that one could think of yet he was passed up for promotion to Lt. Colonel.

The Cheese d*** who made Lt. Colonel in the batalion was a "Yes" man who played the game politically and knew that the Colonel who was "His boy" at West Point put in a good word with the establishment so he could get promoted.

This Major told me that he was not getting promoted because he was a soldier's soldier who was enlisted before becoming an officer and learned a long time ago not to "Play" the game. I am not sure whatever happen to this guy, but I am sure that this left a bad taste in his mouth? God bless this Captain and even if you win the appeal you are better than the way you were treated. Be all you can be!

[jlsnlouisiana]

What can a civilian do to help this soldier? It's NOT RIGHT! If the actions of a fallen soldier's father can produce a reprimand, than the actions of an angry american can right the wrong that reprimand is causing.

[bd1973]

Stupid leader does happen..but usually goes with time, and trust, longevity of an old shoe. This guy is young and must have a mistake, I am not doubting the military reprimand. I worked under stupid leader..old drunk guy...to the point of not even having existing orders for very unusual situations. Unmistakable can happen and has to. Those that go on living depend on it too...

[IntheUK]

Thank you, Capt Myer, for your sacrifice and your service. I know the men who served under you appreciated your leadership.
CBS has not told us why this happened. It was politically motivated as a father who lost his son in the battle was looking for a scapegoat. Of course, CBS, took the father's side and the Army was forced by this administration and the media to find a scapegoat. CBS has not asked about the father's relationship with his son. I feel sorry for the man whose way of honoring his son (who was also awarded the silver star) is to be embittered to the point of wanting to ruin other lives. Matt Myer will recover from this, whether in or out of the military. The father will only have his bitterness.

[lmartink]

This wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last, where U.S. soldiers were put in a crappy situation with little or no support.

It comes down to stupid and arrogant leadership. From idiots like Douglas MaCarthur, Curtis Lemay, William Westmoreland, to George W. Bush -- and dozens of others -- their arrogance and stupidity have been stunning.

Even the honorable and brilliant Robert E. Lee ordered the infamous charge at Gettysburg. At least General Lee had the courage to ride over to where the sparse remnants of his attack were making their way back to safety from the battle. He ran out among them shouting, "I'm sorry boys, I'm sorry."

The othere just sit in their ivory towers and try to tranfer blame down the line where it fall on some poor Captain or Sargeant.

Support the troops? You bet. Support stupid leadership, and ignorant missions? Absolutely not

[Dgunner]

TODAY ANOTHER VETERAN CRIES ONCE AGAIN IN THE SHADOWS OF BAD MEMORIES AND REGRETS.THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR THESE MEN ARE NOT THE ONES WHO SLEEP WITH THIER DECISIONS. THE DECISIONS THAT FORGE FUTURES AND FORMS CIVILIZATION AS THEY KNOW IT ON FOUNDATIONS OF COWARDS WHO HIDE BEHIND THIER FLAG.THESE ARE THE BURDENS THAT TRUE HEROS HAVE TO BEAR AS WELL AS THE FIGHT ITSELF.

[Mutantone]

Captain Myer is going to be the scapegoat for the commands responsibility of sending him and his men into the fish bowl, and now that it went south, as most poorly planned missions do, the one following orders and at great personal risk to himself and his men, as attested to the fact that only nine died. Proof, that doing the best with what he had, he did his duty to the fullest of his ability an earned the silver star. And now to cover up the problem of who ordered him in to the situation he is to be sacrificed so that they may continue to do the same thing again and again that is the real issue that is misaddressed by charging him the warrior.

The truth is more important than the facts." - Frank Lloyd Wright
?Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.? ? Ronald Reagan

[babooph]

The ones who ordered the 49 in there seem to have come out just fine from their "safe" positions...

[Overruled1]

I wasn't there, but it is standard practice to set up defenses.

[RoscoVanBone]

This is nothing new. The military kills and eats its own all the time. Americans like a clean, bloodless war. Most want our side to win, many sick sons of ******* don't, or don't care. During my time of service the Army packaged up Lt. Bill Calley (1970) and handed his headless corps to the American people when the mess got a little to big late one afternoon at My Lai (mee-lie) to sweep under the rug and Americans needed to clean their souls. They needed to insure themselves that it was not they who were were responsible for death in Vietnam. So, Lt. Bill was sacrificed. Many sorry ass Americans cheered. I remember punching quite a few of them outside Fort Meade in Boomtown when it was annonced he was convicted.

Now that the military has to explain how a few Americans died in the war, something Americans do not what to hear of, someone has to pay for it. Of course it will never fall on the bastards who put our boys there based on a lie. The article said that the Capt. was the only officer left. Had there been a LT. remaining too, it would have been his ass on the chopping block. Capt, I fully support you and thank you for your selfless service to a nation of mostly ungrateful, liberal slugs who have never done anything worthwhile in their lives and think they can sit in judgement of you. They don't rate high enough on the human scale to allow them to carry toilet paper to the latrine for you. Those calling for your court martial fit right in with this group. I thank you for your service to this great country and want to you to know that I would follow you into combat anywhere, anytime. You are a class act and a great American. America is damn lucky to have you, it is just that some of them are far too stupid to realize it. Considering the gratitude the Army is showing you, maybe it is time to show them your back quarter and tell them to plant a great big kiss, right there! Walk tall and stand proud, for you are an American hero. GOd bless you Capt.

[joelzwilliams]

Myer got a Silver Star for calling in air-support from his bunker while other soldiers who participated in rendering life saving aid to their buddies and fought under withering enemy fire only received Bronze Stars. That should tell you something about the 173rd's Brigade leadership. The fact that those troops went days without food, water and fuel for their weapons trucks should tell you even more about their Battalion leadership. And the fact that Myer remained in place without demanding reinforcement, even after locals repeatedly warned him of a pending large scale attack, speaks volumes about his leadership.

BTW, the Army Officer Corps is like a big fraternity, even if Myer's appeal is successful, just having the taint of a Letter of Reprimand in your file will cause you to be passed over for promotion. And since you can only remain a CPT for six years, he might as well leave now with whatever dignity he has left.

God Bless the families of the nine fallen heroes of Chosen Company