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LTC Stephen F.
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thank you, my friend SSG Robert Mark Odom for making us aware that the current SOCOM commander Gen. Richard D. Clarke and U.S. Ambassador Eric P. Whitaker presented two Bronze Star Medals, one Army Commendation Medal and three Army Achievement Medals to Nigerien soldiers who fought in the Oct. 4, 2017, ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo that claimed the lives of four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien soldiers.
1. The four surviving soldiers who received awards were Cpl. Moustapha Kakalé, Soldier 2nd Class Ibrahim Assoumane, Soldier 2nd Class Abdou Kane and Soldier 2nd Class Kamel Issoufou Oumar.
2. Family members representing Adjutant Chef Soumana Bagué and Soldier 2nd Class Abdoul Rachid Yarima received posthumous awards and condolences from Clarke and Whitaker, according to embassy officials.

Old friends of mine were the two past commanders of SOCOM - General Tony Thomas and General Joe Votel [who commanded CENTCOM afterwards].

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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If memory serves me properly, the Christian governments discriminated against the Muslims economically. Oil was pumped near the Muslim lands which polluted the waters and the land. Fishing and farming suffered tremendously, and the Christian government did not share the oil revenue with the Muslims.
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SSG Robert Mark Odom
SSG Robert Mark Odom
5 y
I believe that event(s) you are referring to MAJ. Landgren occurred a few years prior to the one that LTC. Ford is referencing. Thank you both for your thoughtful comments.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
5 y
You are probably right. SSG Robert Mark Odom
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
5 y
Niger has been predominantly Muslim for decades SSG Robert Mark Odom
If you are referring to Nigeria, for a couple decades they had a Christian President and Muslim Vice President or vice versa for stability. That was jeopardized when al Qaeda became active and after Boko Haran launched its genocide program in northern Nigeria.
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SSG Robert Mark Odom
SSG Robert Mark Odom
5 y
LTC Stephen F. Thank you sir for sharing. I'm familiar with both countries and their many challenges.
Primarily from my work as a congressional staffer and travels on the House Foreign Relations Committee . My area of Interest focus was Nigeria. I've travel there many times before and I am familiar with the country, culture, and history. Regards, Mark Odom
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