{"id":29344,"date":"2020-08-24T17:41:51","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T17:41:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/08\/24\/fallen-ranger-died-freeing-talibans-prisoners-last-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:38:04","slug":"fallen-ranger-died-freeing-talibans-prisoners-last-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2020\/08\/24\/fallen-ranger-died-freeing-talibans-prisoners-last-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Fallen Ranger died freeing Taliban\u2019s prisoners last year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An Army Ranger<\/a> killed in action last winter was fatally wounded during a raid on a Taliban detention facility in Badghis province<\/a>, Afghanistan, that freed 34 people, including a dozen children and six women, according to an investigation released through a Freedom of Information Act request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock<\/a>, 26, was fatally wounded by small-arms gunfire Jan. 13, 2019, as multiple combatants fled from a concealed position that he and other Rangers were approaching during the nighttime raid, the investigators wrote. Meddock died four days later at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center<\/a> in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the loss, investigators praised the surgical team that medically evacuated Meddock from the battlefield and kept him from succumbing to his wounds on three occasions when his pulse dropped mid-flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anticipating Meddock\u2019s pulse would drop again, the surgical team aboard a helicopter placed a balloon catheter in his aorta, which was then inflated to push blood to vital organs. The challenging procedure prevented Meddock from experiencing another dangerous drop in blood pressure during the flight to Bagram Airfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the raid itself, Meddock was assigned to a quick reaction force. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan as a member of 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, <\/a>out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rangers departed Bagram on the night of Jan. 12, 2019, cross-loading aircraft at an unnamed waypoint, and infiltrated via helicopter very early the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon landing in Badghis province\u2019s Jawand district, the team received small-arms fire and the guards at the Taliban detention facility released their prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock, 26, of Spearman, Texas, died in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of wounds sustained from small arms fire. (Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The QRF element that included Meddock was asked by the main assault force to help round up the people who were \u201cegressing from the prison, including prisoners and combatants,\u201d the investigation reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The QRF also was tasked to pursue a group of six people who ran 500 meters northwest of the target compound. The group of six appeared to be hiding between a tree and the steep banks of a river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the QRF closed in, they performed a \u201ccallout\u201d intended to get \u201cthe Afghan personnel hiding to come out peacefully,\u201d the investigation reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the callout, the QRF soldiers began walking toward the six Afghans, only to be met by gunfire that ultimately struck Meddock in his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rangers returned fire and called in a danger-close fire mission, though the type of munitions used were redacted in the investigation. The gunfight ended in six enemy fighters killed in action, the investigation stated. Eight other enemy fighters were killed elsewhere during the raid.<\/p>\n\n\n\t