Arthur Kandarian | |
|---|---|
 Kandarian circa mid-2000's | |
| Birth name | Arthur A. Kandarian |
| Nickname(s) | "Art" |
| Born | November 21, 1963 Cumberland, Rhode Island |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1986–2014 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 75th Ranger Regiment |
| Commands held | 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |  Silver Star |
| Alma mater | Washington and Lee University (B.A.) Air War College (M.A.) |
Arthur A. "Art" Kandarian is a retired United States Army officer best known for his role in the War in Afghanistan commanding the main effort element of ISAF for 2010. His 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the "Strike Brigade", spearheaded Operation Dragon Strike, the NATO counterinsurgency effort to defeat the Taliban in its birthplace of Kandahar Province, during the 2010 fighting season.[1] After several months of intense battles, by the end of December the operation's main objectives were accomplished, with the majority of Taliban forces in Kandahar withdrawing from the province, and much of their leadership fractured.
Early life
editAn ethnic Armenian American, Art Kandarian grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and joined the Army in 1986, graduating from the ROTC program at Washington and Lee University in Virginia with a degree in East Asian studies. He later attended the USAF Air War College for a master's in strategic studies.
Military career
editAcross Kandarian's 27 years in the U.S. Army, he deployed on eight combat deployments, to include the 1989 invasion of Panama, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1991, and both Iraq and Afghanistan.[2]
Brigade command
editAwards
editJoint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force 20 at Haditha, Iraq.
Silver Star citation
edit The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Arthur A. Kandarian, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment, assigned to Task Force TWENTY in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM at Haditha, Iraq, on 31 March 2003. His performance continued throughout the duration of the mission where his element was engaged with the most direct and indirect fire in the history of the modern day Rangers. Major Kandarian's gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.[3]
Awarded Legion of Merit.[4] Entitled to wear presidential unit citation.
Ranger Hall of Fame inductee.
Cites
editReferences
edit- ^ Padula, Joe (2013-06-07). "'To tell the Soldier's story, you must fight by their side'". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Board of Directors Archives". Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ a b "Arthur Kandarian - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Hanna, Jeff (2011-08-04). "Legion of Merit for Col. Art Kandarian '86". The Columns. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Victory on Highway 1: Breaking the Taliban's Stranglehold in Kandahar". Docslib. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Strike leadership prepares for Afghanistan". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Malkasian, Carter (2021-09-01), "The Surge in Kandahar", The American War in Afghanistan, Oxford University Press, pp. 273–298, doi:10.1093/oso/9780197550779.003.0013, ISBN 0-19-755077-0, retrieved 2024-06-19
- ^ Lee, Wayne E.; Preston, David L.; Silbey, David; Carlson, Anthony E. (2021). "Makuan/Operation Dragon Strike, September 15–17, 2010". The Other Face of Battle: America's Forgotten Wars and the Experience of Combat. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190920647.003.0006.
- ^ "Live Briefing". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "In this photo provided by ISAF Regional Command , U.S. Army Col..." Getty Images. 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Morgan, Wesley (2010-10-14). "Afghanistan: The Problems With Partnering". At War Blog. Retrieved 2024-06-19.