Soldier Saves Squad After Humvee Sinks in Afghan River
Staff Sgt. Tyler Clabaugh led his convoy out of a flooded river in Afghanistan, rescuing his men and preventing a disaster.
In March, a convoy of two Humvees and two pickups carrying Civil Affairs personnel approached a swollen river in western Afghanistan. The lead Humvee, barely 500 miles old and equipped with the latest armor and jamming gear, plunged six feet into the water, flooding the interior up to the roof. Clabaugh, riding up front, shouted orders, helped his teammate Sgt. Cain out of the vehicle, and led all five occupants to shore despite wearing full body armor.
Recognizing the danger of remaining exposed, he set up a security perimeter and warned a panicked sergeant against test-firing an M249. He then used a satellite phone to request a quick-reaction force, which arrived that evening with Afghan National Army soldiers. The next morning the sunken Humvee was towed back to base, and Clabaugh reflected on how quick leadership averted a potential tragedy.
Why it matters
The account shows how decisive leadership can prevent loss of life in combat zones.
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