In America's Response Monument, how is the Initial attack against the Taliban of the Background elucidated?
On October 21, the Northern Alliance led by General Dostum prepared to attack the fortified village of Bishqab, defended by the Taliban and equipped with several T-54/55 tanks, a number of BMPs (armored personnel carriers) armed with cannons and machine guns, and several ZSU-23 anti-aircraft artillery pieces. The Northern Alliance totaled about 1,500 cavalry and 1,500 light infantry. They were assisted by the 12-member U.S. Special Forces team and American air power. To reach the enemy, they crossed a mile-wide open plain cut by seven ridges that would leave them completely exposed to enemy fire. To the U.S. Special Forces, it looked like the Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Fredericksburg, and Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, all at the same time. Supported by American air power and  precision-guided munitions, they successfully attacked the Taliban, many of whom threw away their weapons and ran.
The next day, the Northern Alliance prepared to attack Cōbaki, in Balkh Province, 121 kilometres (75 mi) south of Mazar-i-Sharif. The U.S. Special Ops teams used SOFLAM Laser Target Designators to identify targets for air strikes on the enemy armor and artillery. The Northern Alliance followed this with a cavalry charge. When it looked like Dostum's cavalry charge would fail, several members of ODA 595 rode into action and helped win the battle. "It was like something out of the Old Testament," commented Lt. Col. Max Bowers, former commander of three Special Forces horseback teams. "You expected Cecil B. DeMille to be filming and Charlton Heston to walk out."
Charlton Heston Dostum Battle of Fredericksburg light infantry BMPs Charge of the Light Brigade Northern Alliance SOFLAM Laser Target Designators Old Testament Pickett's Charge precision-guided munition Mazar-i-Sharif Gettysburg Cecil B. DeMille armored personnel carrier General Dostum cavalry ZSU-23 Balkh Province T-54/55 Taliban