The Battle of Shok Valley produced more Silver Star awards for a single battle than any U.S. engagement since the Vietnam War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 6 April 2008
- Silver Stars awarded
- 10 (plus combat cameraman)
- Medals of Honor upgraded
- 2 (Shurer 2018, Williams 2019)
- Air Force Cross recipient
- SrA Zachary Rhyner
- Target
- Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, HIG leader
- Province
- Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
U.S. and Afghan forces sought to neutralize Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG), a militant group active in Afghanistan. Intelligence identified his presence in the remote Shok Valley of Nuristan Province, prompting planners to organize a joint raid aimed at killing or capturing him.
On 6 April 2008, U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers and Afghan troops conducted Operation Commando Wrath in the Shok Valley. The raid encountered intense resistance; ten U.S. soldiers and their combat cameraman displayed exceptional bravery, and Air Force Combat Controller SrA Zachary Rhyner provided critical close air support throughout the engagement.
Hekmatyar was not captured or killed, but the battle became notable for the extraordinary valor displayed by U.S. forces. Ten Silver Stars were awarded—more than for any single battle since Vietnam—and two were later upgraded to the Medal of Honor: Ronald J. Shurer's in 2018 and Matthew O. Williams's in 2019.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent