Operational Detachment Alpha 574

Operational Detachment Alpha 574 is a part of the United States Army's Third Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. Its goal was to set the condition for a democratic government in Afghanistan to replace the insurgent Taliban rulers. Jason Amerine was noted for leading the group in several battles of the Invasion of Afghanistan.^[1]

Invasion of Afghanistan

Codenamed "Texas 12" (Texas One-Two), the detachment's goal was to set up a new government in Afghanistan; it was under control of the Taliban insurgents who were shielding those behind the 11 September attacks. The group was made up of 12 Americans under command of Captain Jason Amerine. They worked side-by-side with the anti-Taliban militia led by Hamid Karzai, who planned to take the Islamic spiritual center of Kandahar. The key, he said, to the province was the town of Tarin Kowt. The civilians of the town overthrew the Taliban governor, so Karzai and Amerine planned to defend it. The 12 Americans of Operational Detachment Alpha 574 and 35 Afghans defended Tarin Kowt from 100 Taliban trucks carrying 1,000 insurgents. The town was successfully defended by the troops of Alpha 574 as well as the Afghan freedom-fighters, who drove back the Taliban. Fighting again along the Arghandab River, Alpha 574 defeated the Taliban 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 bravery in the invasion of 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.^[2]

References