Firebase Wilderness

The strategic position of FB Wilderness enabled U.S. and Afghan forces to provide security along the Khost-Gardez Pass, a critical route through the Sulaiman Mountains, which connects downtown Khost to Gardez City.{{cite web|title=Firebase Wilderness|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fb_wilderness.htm |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=11 November 2013|date=7 May 2011}}{{cite press release|last=Otero|first=Stephen|title=Combined Action in the Khost-Gardez Pass|url=http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/news/combined-action-in-the-khost-gardez-pass.html|access-date=11 November 2013|publisher=ISAF |year=2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112202528/http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/news/combined-action-in-the-khost-gardez-pass.html|archive-date=12 November 2013}} FB Wilderness was first occupied in late 2006 after being built from scratch by elements of 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. FB Wilderness then served as a base of operations for U.S. military elements, Afghan National Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 203rd ANA Corps, and Afghan regional policemen.{{cite news|last=Pintagro|first=Michael|title=New firebase boosts regional security, transportation|url=http://www.drum.army.mil/mountaineer/Article.aspx?ID=3095|access-date=11 November 2013|newspaper=Fort Drum Mountaineer|year=2006|archive-date=12 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112201101/http://www.drum.army.mil/mountaineer/Article.aspx?ID=3095|url-status=dead}} During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, the area of the K-G Pass that Wilderness occupied was the site of frequent mujahedeen attacks on convoys including the Battle for Hill 3234.{{cite news|last=Gady|first=Franz-Stefan|title=Even as U.S. hands over fight to Afghans, some troops still take fire|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/26/3586813/even-as-us-hands-over-fight-to.html |access-date=11 November 2013|newspaper=Miami Herald |author2=Price, Jay|date=8 August 2013}} The historically hostile region was considered a hotbed of activity, especially during the summer months when insurgent forces often targeted Wilderness with mortars and rockets.{{cite news|last=Baker III|first=Fred|title=Reporter's Notebook: Forward Operating Base Gardez 'Feels' Like Afghanistan |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/ID/53019/|access-date=11 November 2013|newspaper=American Forces Press Release|date=10 Feb 2009}}

In 2007, 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers from 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment and based at FB Wilderness, renamed the firebase to FOB Tellier in honor of their fallen brother, Sergeant Zachary D. Tellier.{{cite news|title=Army Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier|url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CC&Date=20120511&Category=MEDIA0150&ArtNo=511009990&Ref=PH&Presentation=desktop#img-1|access-date=15 November 2013|newspaper=Cape Cod Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232107/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CC&Date=20120511&Category=MEDIA0150&ArtNo=511009990&Ref=PH&Presentation=desktop#img-1|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead}} During a gun battle with insurgent forces in the vicinity of FB Wilderness, SGT Tellier was fatally wounded on Sept. 29, 2007.{{cite press release|title=DoD Identifies Army Casualty |publisher=Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)|access-date=15 November 2013 |date=1 October 2007 |url=http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11376|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302010940/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11376|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2010}}

In October 2008, the CBS news program 60 Minutes aired a report by Lara Logan from FB Wilderness titled "Afghanistan: Fighting In A "'Hornet's Nest'".{{cite news|title=Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-fighting-in-a-hornets-nest/|access-date=11 November 2013|work=CBS News|date=3 Sep 2009}}

Since its establishment in December 2006, U.S. Army units have assumed control of Wilderness, including:

• 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division
• 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division{{cite news|last=Clare|first=Micah|title=Second unit in 82nd history wins coveted award|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/15859/second-unit-82nd-history-wins-coveted-award#.UoCUBJFaRVg|access-date=11 November 2013|newspaper=U.S. Army News Release|date=28 Jan 2008}}
• 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
• 4th BCT, 25th Infantry Division
• 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division{{cite press release|last=Pinnington|first=Abram|title=In the darkness of Wilderness, Rakkasans maintain readiness|url=http://www.army.mil/media/276545|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924003650/http://www.army.mil/media/276545|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|access-date=11 November 2013|publisher=U.S. Army |date=20 Dec 2012}}
• C Troop 1-61 Cavalry
• B Troop, and D Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
• A Battery 1st platoon 1st Battalion 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
• A Battery, 1st Platoon, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Divisionhttps://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/Avallone_0608.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-fighting-in-a-hornets-nest/ CBS News: Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"]

• List of ISAF installations in Afghanistan

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-fighting-in-a-hornets-nest/ CBS News: Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"]

{{War on Terrorism|state=collapsed}}

{{War in Afghanistan|state=collapsed}}

Category:Military installations of the United States in Afghanistan

Category:Fire support bases