Firebase Wilderness

Combat Outpost/Firebase Wilderness
Gerda Serai District, Paktia Province, Afghanistan
A M777 155 mm howitzer being sling-loaded to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Combat Outpost Wilderness, Afghanistan, Oct. 31, 2013
Combat Outpost/Firebase Wilderness
Coordinates	33°17′N 69°13′E / 33.28°N 69.22°E / 33.28; 69.22
Type	Fire Support Base
Site information
Controlled by	United States United States Army
Site history
Built	2006 (2006)
Built by	Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 10th MTN DIV
In use	2006–2013
Battles/wars	Operation Enduring Freedom
Garrison information
Garrison	3rd BCT, 10th MTN DIV 4th BCT, 82nd ABN DIV 4th BCT, 101st ABN DIV 4th BCT, 25th INF DIV 3rd BCT, 101st ABN DIV 3rd BCT, 1st INF DIV
Occupants	203rd Corps, ANA Embedded Training Teams

Firebase Wilderness, also known as Forward Operating Base Tellier, was a joint U.S.-Afghan outpost in Afghanistan, in the Gerda Serai District of Paktia Province.

Overview

The strategic position of FB Wilderness enabled U.S. and Afghan forces to provide security along the Khost-Gardez Pass, a critical route through the Sulaiman Mountains, which connects downtown Khost to Gardez City.^[1]^[2] FB Wilderness was first occupied in late 2006 after being built from scratch by elements of 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.^[3] FB Wilderness then served as a base of operations for U.S. military elements, Afghan National Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 203rd ANA Corps, and Afghan regional policemen.^[3] During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, the area of the K-G Pass that Wilderness occupied was the site of frequent mujahedeen attacks on convoys including the Battle for Hill 3234.^[4] The historically hostile region was considered a hotbed of activity, especially during the summer months when insurgent forces often targeted Wilderness with mortars and rockets.^[5]

In 2007, 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers from 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment and based at FB Wilderness, renamed the firebase to FOB Tellier in honor of their fallen brother, Sergeant Zachary D. Tellier.^[6] During a gun battle with insurgent forces in the vicinity of FB Wilderness, SGT Tellier was fatally wounded on Sept. 29, 2007.^[7]

In October 2008, the CBS news program 60 Minutes aired a report by Lara Logan from FB Wilderness titled "Afghanistan: Fighting In A "'Hornet's Nest'".^[8]

U.S. military occupants

Since its establishment in December 2006, U.S. Army units have assumed control of Wilderness, including:

3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division^[3]
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division^[9]
506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division^[4]^[5]^[10]^[11]
4th BCT, 25th Infantry Division^[2]
187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division^[12]
C Troop 1-61 Cavalry
B Troop, and D Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
A Battery 1st platoon 1st Battalion 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
A Battery, 1st Platoon, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division^[10]^[11]

References

^ "Firebase Wilderness". GlobalSecurity.org. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b Otero, Stephen (2009). "Combined Action in the Khost-Gardez Pass" (Press release). ISAF. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pintagro, Michael (2006). "New firebase boosts regional security, transportation". Fort Drum Mountaineer. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b Gady, Franz-Stefan; Price, Jay (8 August 2013). "Even as U.S. hands over fight to Afghans, some troops still take fire". Miami Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b Baker III, Fred (10 Feb 2009). "Reporter's Notebook: Forward Operating Base Gardez 'Feels' Like Afghanistan". American Forces Press Release. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ "Army Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
^ "DoD Identifies Army Casualty" (Press release). Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). 1 October 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
^ "Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"". CBS News. 3 Sep 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ Clare, Micah (28 Jan 2008). "Second unit in 82nd history wins coveted award". U.S. Army News Release. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/Avallone_0608.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ ^a ^b CBS News: Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"
^ Pinnington, Abram (20 Dec 2012). "In the darkness of Wilderness, Rakkasans maintain readiness" (Press release). U.S. Army. Retrieved 11 November 2013.

External links

CBS News: Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"

War on terror

War in Afghanistan (2001–2016)
Iraq War (2003–2011)
Symbolism of terrorism

Participants

Operational

Targets

Individuals	Osama bin Laden Hamza bin Laden Anwar al-Awlaki Sirajuddin Haqqani Jalaluddin Haqqani Anas Haqqani Khalil Haqqani Hafiz Saeed Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Bahaziq Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Factions	al-Qaeda al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Abu Sayyaf Al-Shabaab Boko Haram Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Hizbul Mujahideen Islamic Courts Union Jaish-e-Mohammed Jemaah Islamiyah Lashkar-e-Taiba Taliban Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Islamic State

Conflicts

Operation Enduring Freedom	War in Afghanistan OEF – Philippines Georgia Train and Equip Program Georgia Sustainment and Stability OEF – Horn of Africa OEF – Trans Sahara Drone strikes in Pakistan
Other	Operation Active Endeavour Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present) Insurgency in the North Caucasus Moro conflict in the Philippines Iraq War Iraqi insurgency Operation Linda Nchi Terrorism in Saudi Arabia Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa War in Somalia (2006–2009) 2007 Lebanon conflict al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Overview

Prelude
History
Timeline
Operations
Logistics
Impact
International Security Assistance Force
Taliban insurgency
Drone strikes in Pakistan
Withdrawal of U.S. troops
- 2011–2016
- 2020–2021
Resolute Support Mission
Evacuation

Casualties
and losses

Afghan forces
Civilian
- 2001–2006
- 2007
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Timeline

2001	Bombing of Kandahar Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif Siege of Kunduz Herat uprising Fall of Kabul Battle of Tarinkot Fall of Kandahar Battle of Qala-i-Jangi Dasht-i-Leili massacre Battle of Shawali Kowt Battle of Sayyd Alma Kalay Battle of Tora Bora
2002 –2006	2002 Guantanamo Bay Uruzgan bombing Kabul bombing 2003 Pakistan Embassy in Kabul attack 2004 2005 2006 Taliban offensive
2007	Shinwar shooting Hyderabad airstrike Nangar Khel incident Helmand airstrikes Baghlan bombing Bagram bombing South Korean hostage crisis
2008	Haska Meyna airstrike Azizabad airstrike Wech Bagtu airstrike Kabul Indian embassy bombing Kabul S Hotel attack Kidnapping of David Rohde Sarposa attack Kandahar bombing Spin Boldak bombing
2009	Granai airstrike Kunduz airstrike Narang raid February Kabul raids Kabul Indian embassy bombing Kandahar bombing NATO HQ bombing Camp Chapman attack Battle of Sabzak
2010	January Kabul attack Raid on Khataba February Kabul attack Uruzgan attack Sangin airstrike Maywand murders Tarok Kolache Nadahan bombing May Kabul bombing Badakhshan massacre Operation Halmazag
2011	Mano Gai airstrike Sarposa prison escape Bin Laden raid Logar bombing I-C Hotel Kabul attack Nimruz bombing Zabul bombing Chinook shootdown Helmand killing Pakistani border attack Ashura bombings
2012	Order of battle Urination video Kapisa airstrike Quran burning protests April attacks Forward Operating Base Delhi massacre Kandahar massacre September Camp Bastion raid Shesh Aba raid Body pictures
2013	Farah attack June Kabul bombings Presidential palace attack Herat U.S. consulate attack Jalalabad Indian consulate bombing
2014	Kabul S Hotel attack Herat Indian consulate attack Bagram bombing Paktika bombing Yahyakhel bombing December Kabul bombings Atiqullah Raufi assassination
2015	Park Palace attack Kabul Parliament attack Khost bombing April Jalalabad bombing 7 August Kabul attacks 10 August Kabul bombing 22 August Kabul bombing Ghazni prison escape Battle of Kunduz Hospital airstrike Kandahar Airport bombing Kabul Spanish Embassy attack Bagram bombing
2016	Nangarhar offensive Operation Omari April Kabul attack Kunduz-Takhar highway hostage crisis Kabul Canadian Embassy convoy bombing 30 June bombings July Kabul bombing Janikhel offensive AUoA attack September Kabul attacks Battle of Tarinkot Battle of Kunduz Battle of Boz Qandahari Mazar-i-Sharif German consulate bombing Bagram bombing
2017	January bombings Sangin airstrike March Kabul attack Nangarhar airstrike Camp Shaheen attack May Kabul bombing June Herat bombing Battle of Bora Bora June Lashkargar bombing August Herat attack 17 October attacks 20 October attacks 28 December Kabul bombing
2018	I-C Hotel Kabul attack STC Jalalabad attack Kabul ambulance bombing March Kabul bombing Kunduz madrassa attack 22 April Kabul bombing 30 April Kabul bombings Battle of Farah July Jalalabad bombing Battle of Darzab Ghazni offensive September Jalalabad bombing
2019	Maidan Shar attack Camp Shorabak attack 2019 Kabul mosque bombing 1 July Kabul attack Ghazni bombing 28 July Kabul bombing July Farah bombing 7 August Kabul bombing 17 August Kabul bombing 2 & 5 September Kabul bombings 17 September bombings Qalat bombing Jalalabad suicide bombing Haska Meyna mosque bombing Bagram attack
2020	6 March Kabul shooting Kabul gurdwara attack May attacks June attacks July attacks August attacks Jalalabad prison September attacks October attacks November attacks Kabul University attack December attacks
2021	Attacks Taliban offensive Kabul school bombing Battle of Kandahar Fall of Herat Battle of Lashkargah Capture of Zaranj Fall of Kabul Kunduz mosque bombing Kandahar bombing 2021 Kabul Airlift Operation Allies Refuge Operation Pitting Operation Devi Shakti Kabul airport attack August 29 drone strike