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U.S. NEWS Monday 18 deceMber 2017
APNewsBreak: U.S. soldier fought

to end after ambush in Niger

By LOLITA C. BALDOR tions about whether John- gotten away and was still
Associated Press son was killed in the assault alive and hiding. The Pen-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Army and not found, or if he was tagon only acknowledged
Sgt. La David T. Johnson taken away by the enemy. that he was missing after
died in a hail of gunfire, hit According to the officials, his body was located two
as many as 18 times as he a medical examination days later by local forces.
took cover in thick brush, concluded that Johnson The Pentagon has de-
fighting to the end after was hit by fire from M-4 clined to release details
fleeing militants who had rifles — probably stolen by about the exact mission of
just killed three comrades the insurgents — and Sovi- the commando team. U.S.
in an October ambush in et-made heavy machine officials have previously
Niger, The Associated Press guns. It is believed he died said that the joint U.S.-Niger
has learned. in the attack. patrol had been asked to
A military investigation has The officials said Johnson assist a second American
concluded that Johnson was found under thick commando team hunting
wasn’t captured alive or scrub brush where he tried for a senior Islamic State
killed at close range, dis- to take cover. There were member, who also had for-
pelling a swirl of rumors no indications he was shot mer ties to al-Qaida in the This file photo provided by the
about how he died. at close range, or had Islamic Maghreb. The team U.S. Army Special Operations
The report has determined been bound or taken pris- had been asked to go to a Command shows Sgt. La
that Johnson, 25, of Miami oner, as several media re- location where the insur- David Johnson, who was killed
Gardens, Florida, was killed ports have suggested. gent had last been seen, in an Oct. 4 ambush in Niger.
by enemy rifle and ma- A U.S. Africa Command and collect intelligence.q Associated Press
chine gun fire from mem- began its investigation with
bers of an Islamic State a team headed by Army
offshoot, according to U.S. Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier,
officials familiar with the the command’s chief of
findings. The Oct. 4 am- staff. The team visited lo-
bush took place about 120 cations in Niger to collect
miles (200 kilometers) north evidence and informa-
of Niamey, the African na- tion about the attack, and
tion’s capital. Johnson’s will soon submit a draft of
body was recovered two Cloutier’s report to Marine
days later. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser,
U.S. officials familiar with head of Africa Command.
the findings spoke to the Waldhauser could ask for
AP on condition of ano- additional information. The
nymity to describe details final report is expected to
of an investigation that has be released next month.
not been finalized or pub- The officials familiar with
licly released. the report’s conclusions
A 12-member Army special said that during the attack,
forces unit was accompa- Johnson and two Nigerien
nying 30 Nigerien forces soldiers tried to get to a ve-
when they were attacked hicle to escape, but were
in a densely wooded area unable to do so, became
by as many as 50 militants separated from the others
traveling by vehicle and and were shot as they were
carrying small arms and running for safety.
rocket-propelled grenade The report concluded that
launchers. Johnson, who was athletic
Johnson was struck as and a runner, was in the
many as 18 times from a lead and got the farthest
distance by a volley of ma- away, seeking cover in the
chine gun rounds, accord- brush. Officials said there
ing to the U.S. officials, who were a number of enemy
said he was firing back as shells around Johnson,
he and two Nigerien sol- and evidence that he ap-
diers tried to escape. peared to fight to the end.
All told, four U.S. soldiers His boots and other equip-
and four Nigerien troops ment were later stolen, but
were killed in the ambush. he was still wearing his uni-
Two U.S. and eight Nigerien form.
troops were wounded. As news of the ambush
The bodies of three U.S. came out, the U.S. mili-
Green Berets were located tary sent in rescue teams
on the day of the attack, to search for Johnson, not
but not Johnson’s remains. making his status public in
The gap in time led to ques- the hope he might have