. >> our mike boettcher is the only journalist there as they fought for their lives. and no slack battalion. the incredible story of a fatal engagement in america's longest war in which some got off lucky. others never returned. a special memorial day edition of "nightline." starts right now. >>> good evening. i'm cynthia mcfadden. on this memorial day, we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. here on the home front today, president obama announced he would nominate general martin dempsey to be the new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. and the president laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier at arlington national cemetery. more than 4,400 u.s. soldiers have died in iraq since the war started in 2003. and over 1,500 have died in afghanistan. where our mike boettcher, embedded for a year with the no slack battalion of the 101st airborne. the men were just weeks from coming home when they found themselves in the battle of their lives. tonight, a report that gives meaning to the idea of uncommon valor. >> reporter

for reporting from that weregio we're joined by mike boettcher, from afghanistan this morning. good morning, mike. >> reporter: we received a message within 15 minutes from the spokesman for david petraeus. the international commander here in kabul. let me read that to you. isaf congratulates the u.s. special pop rations and intelligence element that conducted the operation. the operation struck a blow to al qaeda and its affiliates. the head quarters stopped the routine though watch the president's announcement and resumed the normal battle rhythm. and that normal battle rhythm right now is responding to taliban threats to begin their spring offensive. they said it began yesterday, but there hasn't been a lot of activity out there yet. it's quiet on the streets of kabul. the president of afghanistan made a speech to subgovernors about an hour and a half ago in which he said this killing of bin laden in pakistan demonstrates what he said all along, that the war against terror is not centered in afghanistan but elsewhere in the world. american troops, we have had no reaction from

. >> and our mike boettcher knows many of them and he joins us now from kabul, afghanistan. now tell us how the troops are reacting so far. we have to imagine it's very jubilant there. >> reporter: well, peggy, the reaction i've been getting from troops has come online to me. troops are happy to see this happen. they believe their sacrifice means something. and this war that has gone on ten years now. but i have to say that i've just been in contact with a top u.s. officer here who tells me the reaction from afghanistan will be muted. nothing official is planned. after all, a war is still being waged here. and they do not want to ignite any protests from afghans here in this country by showing celebrations of u.s. troops on bases. so they're going to keep it low-key, because this war is going on. as of may 1st, which was yesterday, the taliban announced that they were beginning their spring offensive. this will take the form most likely of many, many suicide bombers around the country. south of the capital yesterday, there was a report of a 12-year-old boy who detonated a su