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Black Rifle Coffee Sept. 11, 2001 — Nineteen al-Qaida hijackers seized four airliners. Two planes struck the World Trade Center towers, a third hit the Pentagon, and the fourth went down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers forced their way toward the cockpit. Both towers collapsed within 102 minutes. 2,977 people were killed, including 343 New York City firefighters.Oct. 19-20, 2001 — Operation Rhino — Approximately 200 U.S. Army Rangers seized a desert airstrip southwest of Kandahar in the first conventional U.S. ground assault of the war.Nov. 2001 — Battle of Mazar-i-Sharif/Kunduz — U.S. air support backed Northern Alliance advances that collapsed Taliban control of the north.Dec. 2001 — Battle of Tora Bora — U.S. special operations forces and air assets hit bin Laden’s mountain complex, but he escaped into Pakistan.Starting March 1, 2002 — Operation Anaconda — Roughly 1,700 U.S. troops plus Afghan allies fought entrenched al-Qaida/Taliban forces in the Shah-i-Kot Valley, including the costly Battle of Roberts Ridge. Eight U.S. deaths and the largest U.S. ground engagement of the war’s early years.July 13, 2008 — Battle of Wanat — Taliban forces overran a remote U.S. outpost in Nuristan; nine U.S. soldiers were killed. Staff Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts received the Medal of Honor after single-handedly defending an exposed observation position throughout the height of the assault.Oct. 3, 2009 — Battle of Kamdesh/COP Keating — Roughly 300 Taliban fighters assaulted an isolated U.S. base in Nuristan. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed, and it was among the deadliest single battles of the war for U.S. forces.The stand at Keating became one of the most decorated engagements of the war; two Medals of Honor, nine Silver Stars, 21 Bronze Stars (18 with Valor devices), 37 Army Commendation Medals for heroism, 27 Purple Hearts, and eight Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded.Feb. 2010 — Battle of Marjah — Major U.S. Marine-led offensive to clear Taliban from Marjah, Helmand. Executing the largest helicopter-borne insertion since the Vietnam War, elements of the 6th Marine Regiment descended under cover of night to secure a major insurgent strongh