approximately 10 minutes after the rangers took control of the hill, they began to receive more frequent enemy mortar and automatic weapons fire. although combat air support prevailed, the enemy wounded an army medic and fatally wounded airman cunningham. at that point the quick reaction force had 11 wounded and seven dead. after 17 hours on the mountaintop, a nighttime rescue took place and the ordeal was over. operation anaconda continued for another 19 days.