On the morning of July 13, 2008, Sgt. Ryan Pitts and a small contingent of nine paratroopers were manning an observation post that overlooked a remote American base housing 48 of their brothersinarms in Afghanistan’s deadly Wanat Valley. The sun had yet to crest the Hindu Kush mountains surrounding the small outpost when a force of more than 200 Taliban fighters unleashed a barrage of rocketpropelled grenades and machine gun fire.
Pitts was wounded in the opening onslaught. Shrapnel peppered his arms and legs. In spite of his wounds, Pitts returned fire with an M240 machine gun, slinging 650 bullets a minute at the advancing enemy. Whenever he needed to reload the 27pound weapon, Pitts lobbed hand grenades over the outpost’s walls. While he fought to fend off waves of determined Taliban fighters, nine of his fellow paratroopers were killed and 27 more were wounded.
Pitts survived the attack and would later be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in what became known as the Battle of Wanat. Had it not been for Pitts’ uncommon devotion to duty and his skill with the M240, the number of American dead would have been higher.
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