And if ever there was a validation of that, it occurred in Fallujah, where young lance corporals and corporals and sergeants were leading fire teams and squads and doing incredibly heroic things. Anyone suspected of being an insurgent was arrested at checkpoints. A. Meanwhile, Col Brandl strode around like a Hollywood version of what a Marine Corps officer should be, cigar stuck between his teeth as he dished out orders. Sgt. Marine Corps commandant Gen. Michael Hagee told the House Armed Services Committee that their training had drawn on procedures used by the Los Angeles Police Department for neighborhood patrolling in gang-dominated areas, as well as best practices from other small wars and peacekeeping operations. a Soldier. We would sporadically get news from command of the casualties they sustained and friends we would never see again. An official website of the United States government, New Extended Battlefield - Multi-Domain Operations, France 44: The Wet Gap Crossings at Nancy, Battles of the Korean War Virtual Staff Rides, https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/31/international/worldspecial/enraged-mob-in-falluja-kills-4-american.html, https://history.army.mil/html/books/iraq/TotS/index.html, https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/bellavia/, https://www.army.mil/article/178601/november_2004_into_the_hot_zone_at_the_second_battle_of_fallujah, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Some of that was rewarding, he said. For about 10 minutes, everything stopped. These actions meant Death Platoon was once again on the move across Iraq. Retired Lt. Gen. John Sattler and Kent, who led I Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, will also speak. Though the Marine Corps' birthday has landed on many the days of battles over time, Fallujah is the most recent and was called, "the biggest urban battle since the battle of Hue City in Vietnam.". Helicopters crashed in mountains, fair weather, Army says, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. U.S. Marine forces launched Operation Vigilant Resolve to take the city back from insurgents. The interesting thing here is that my squad leader and I crossfired and shot the insurgent diagonal from our respective positions we were more concerned with saving each other rather than protecting ourselves. His family found him in time to stop it. He was also nominated for the Medal of Honor. The details were so vivid, he said. In early November, as the battalions two sniper teams met up in the evening at a six-story building in Fallujah dubbed the flower factory Sgt. Commemoration of the Second Battle of Fallujah, Operation AL FAJR, Early career airmen will soon have an easier time finding a new job, Meet 12M+, the new community app for military spouses, Kansas man upset he cant buy mini Toyotas like the Taliban and ISIS. Walter Jackson: Second Lieutenant: Distinguished Service Cross: 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment: September 27, 2006: Ramadi (Second Battle) He was 25. "If you don't come together and gather, and then healing is limited -- especially with those you bled with.". According to Mardan, as the rest of the snipers prepared to take some well-deserved rest, he and two other Marines looked out over the city from their vantage point. They closed the highway to Baghdad, sealed the most dangerous Fallujah neighborhoods. I wanted to be that leader that I promised I would be," he said. Sporadic fighting continued until Dec. 23. Yet, over the past couple of weeks, this is precisely what the Marines have been doing: calling in air power, killing (unavoidably) innocent people, blowing up peoples houses. On March 27, the commanders took the offensive. Seeing that Smith was being crushed under the incredible weight of the up-armored Humvee, 1st Sgt. This is what I want for my young Soldiers now: So as the sun rose a couple of days later, the US forces in the city centre buildings found themselves under fire from all sides. And in November of 2004, the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War took place: The Second Battle of Fallujah. Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. learned from combat. That was the crucial difference with the first battle of Falluja. When another insurgent began firing from a floor above, Bellavia returned fire and killed him. Gone was the need for self-preservation, and in its place was a desire to protect the Soldiers on our left and right. It would take the strength of our close-knit bond to press forward and keep attacking after such heavy losses. CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. It has been a decade since Marines fought for their lives and their brothers-in-arms in Iraq's bloodiest battles, which would spark a turning point in the eight-year war. The marines were ordered to retreat. It may well be that this destructionand the prospect of moreaccelerated negotiations, which were also proceeding, between some insurgents and tribal elders. "You never, ever forget thepeople that you fought with," said retired Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent, who served as I Marine Expeditionary Force's top-enlisted leader during the battle. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.". On Sept. 14, 2004, Maj. Gen. Larry Nicholson, then a colonel, was medevaced from the city that had become an al-Qaida stronghold after he was wounded in a rocket attack the day after taking command of 1st Marine Regiment. The American military said that by Tuesday evening, at least 10 American service members and two Iraqi soldiers had been killed in the assault on Fallujah. In September 2010, the book was selected as one of the top five best Iraq War memoirs by journalist Thomas Ricks (author of Fiasco). That surpasses the number of Marines the unit lost during the Second Battle of Fallujah, serving as a stark. The situation was indicative of the challenge troops faced in Fallujah, where enemy fighters -- with caches of weapons -- hid among civilians. But this day felt different from any other day of the battle. Leading cooks, clerks, and candlestick makers, the combat judge, as he came to be known, was severely wounded during the battle, losing his ring finger with his wedding band still on it. After a week of combat, the marines had taken back Falluja. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Death Platoon's sleeping arrangements in the desert of Iraq, 2004. They're forever linked by gritty combat and heroism -- as well as terrible memories and loss. The stories that emerged from that battle are the kind that legends are built on. A Marine Corp major showing us around stood embarrassed as a woman in black niqab screamed at him that her husband had been shot dead at a checkpoint. "They were down, but I said, 'We've got an enemy that's desperate right now. "I just told them to stay focused, you know, that I saw that everybody's hurting because they were," the former top-enlisted Marine said. Falluja was never going to welcome the Americans as crowds of Shia Muslims did when US forces arrived in Iraq, in March 2003. As insurgent activity increased throughout Iraq, we received orders to move to an undisclosed location to prevent potential uprisings. He went back because of a desperate call from another lieutenant, Elliot Ackerman, whose platoon was coming under friendly fire. That force was fear. Additionally, more than 250 awards. Of that number, 23 were killed and 275 were wounded during 12 days of intense and unrelenting combat as the Marines fought to take Fallujah from enemy hands. The Marines are inherently oriented to lighter, lither modes of combat: In Vietnam, their combined-action platoonswhich lived among the people and trained them in self-defensewere widely considered more successful than the Armys search and destroy tactics. From the vehicles vantage point, the gunner likely saw the three infrared silhouettes of men in beanies and buffalo jackets poking their heads over a window ledge and assumed they were enemy insurgents, and not in fact, Marines. Its mission was to eradicate the insurgent infestation (Villa, 2019). The impetus for the battle began in March when four American private military contractors from Blackwater USA were ambushed and killed in Fallujah. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Of course, there were two battles there was one in April that didn't end the way we wanted. Alternatively, if you are still experiencing problems please copy and paste this email address usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-aup-nco-journal@mail.mil into the To: line of your email. When we came back with the 5th Marine Regiment in 2006, we started to see a lot of dramatic change in terms of Iraqis taking responsibility for their own security. Staff Sgt. Also known as Operation Phantom Fury, the operation was a joint effort by American, Iraqi and British forces to drive out the Iraqi insurgency in the city. 2023 BBC. The death of a leader can be devastating to a unit. Pell was hit 11 times and fell two stories onto a nearby rooftop. Right there!" To make sure, small boys brought jugs of petrol and a crowd set the bodies alight. The only civilians we saw were on the first day, from the roof of the building where Lt Malcolm was killed. That was Lt Dan Malcolm. As we found out later, the Iraqi Army, not the Americans, had killed him. The city became the scene of brutal urban combat when American, Iraqi, and British forces launched an all out assault on Nov. 7, 2004, to seize it from Iraqi insurgent hands. This bond we built was crucial in the months to come. The insurgents hung their burned bodies from a bridge as a sign of their superiority (Getlleman, 2004). VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. In 2007, he published a memoir, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War, co-written with John R. Bruning. Just then, 1st Lt. Jeff Sommers, their platoon commander, rounded the corner and very cheerfully announced: Happy Birthday, Marines.. Why send in men when a single good Bangalore can do the job? When a Marine was shot between the eyes on Nov. 14, there wasnt enough time to wait for a helicopter to arrive at his location, explained Lt. Col. Patrick Gallogly, who was the battalion air officer at the time and was on the radio calling for a casualty evacuation. The Battle of Fallujah was the biggest battle of the Iraq War yet many don't know about the battle itself, let alone a significant day in this battle. He also wanted to create a landing force for some of the most intense battles in the Revolutionary War. The two also rode their motorcycles through the mountains. By 2009, it was relatively quiet, and we left and turned Fallujah over to the armed forces of Iraq. Group, a Graham Holdings Company. U.S. Marine forces launched Operation Vigilant Resolve to take the city back from insurgents. He shared his thoughts about the battles during an interview here on Nov. 5. "But I think just getting together is going to be powerful for a lot of people.". The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment to which both Kasal and Burger belonged were the operations main effort. "Right there! All of us Marines, sailors, soldiers we build teams, we train as teams, we deploy as teams and we fight as teams. I served in combat with both of my sons. Now a crisis trainer for a Virginia school district, Edwards has been on a mission to bring Phantom Fury vets back together. "They just opened up on us with belt-fed machine guns," Bellavia said. The two battles for the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004 were turning points in Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this battle, joint American, Iraqi, and British forces attacked Islamic insurgents in the Sunni province of Al-Anbar. On Nov. 16, the Marine advance began meeting heavy resistance along phaseline Isabel the city was divided into phase lines with male and female names used to denote direction. But Vietnam was a long time ago; the institutional memory has vanished, as has the necessary training. U.S. Army Soldiers enter a building in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 9, 2004. On March 31, the same day when insurgents mutilated the four American private security guards, they also killed five Marines. Editor's Note: If you or someone you know needs help, the Veterans Crisis Line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-273-8255, press 1. We did our job and we did it well, despite what's going on there today, or in the past or in the future there's not much we can do about that. There he began a recruitment process to put sharpshooters on Naval vessels to protect them. The Army, with its premium on armor and artillery, has never much tried to be good at it. And we're going to destroy him.". Additionally, more than 250 awards for valor were awarded to the units Marines and sailors for their actions during the operation. The amount of trust and confidence and responsibility put on young lance corporals and corporals was phenomenal. Some houses were even leveled to take out any enemy defenses and personnel who might have been hiding within. The New York Times. A noose was thrown around the city. Fallujah has so many it is known as "the city of mosques". Confronting Satan in a Dark Spanish Castle. Iraq was boiling over. Marines like Workman often had to get danger-close to the enemy when called on to clear rooms. The Vietnam-era vehicle, which was designed to move through contested and rough ground, raced 60 miles an hour through the rubble-strewn streets of Fallujah before arriving at the train station where the battalion was headquartered. Our mission orders stated the city of Fallujah had been overrun by insurgents who fortified the city and its surroundings with minefields and obstacles, making it impossible for the light Marine units to penetrate the city without incurring numerous casualties. Some joined the "resistance". Over 400 Marines received intensive language instruction. Once we entered the city, we turned our focus to urban warfare and house-to-house combat. Seeing the two injured men in the open, Hanks sprung into action and darted across the killzone as enemy fire raked past him. The situation had taken its toll though. "I have had better birthdays, for sure," Bellavia told the Military Channel in 2009. The next day, Gen. Conway told reporters that he still wanted to pursue the soft approach but not until we can work the streets, feeling safe and not risk being attacked.. It facilitated elections in Fallujah, and also in Ramadi and all over Anbar province. They were some of the first Marines to push into Iraq, and now their unit has lost more members to suicide than it did in the war's most ruthless battle. Matthew Mardan and his fellow snipers took an overwatch position on the buildings top floor. They have been for a long time. Two marines were at a window, one firing, one spotting. Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. Years later, that is still one of my most memorable quotes of the Iraq war. Covered in dust, soot, and blood, the Marines stood among the debris and rubble of a city-turned warzone, looking rough and worn, just a few days into the fight. He also served as a squad automatic weapon gunner. I remembered him as a quiet and thoughtful young officer who liked to play chess. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Journal of Military Learning Submission Guide, Future Warfare Writing Program Submission Guidelines, 290 Stimson Ave. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027 Contact Us | 913-684-2127. It is the highest one-day death toll for U.S. forces in Iraq since August. He did not fire his weapon for fear of setting off an explosion and instead engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the insurgent, fatally stabbing him in the neck. U.S. Marines encircled Fallujah on April 5 and have fought an estimated 1,500 guerrillas in repeated battles as cease-fires unraveled, killing hundreds of Iraqis, including many civilians,. They closed the highway to Baghdad, sealed the most dangerous Fallujah neighborhoods with tanks and armored cars, and sent 300 Marines out on foot patrol. Instead, he got attached to another infantry battalion and stayed in the city for months. Bellavia chased the insurgent as he ran upstairs. A. I think it was really a turning point in the war there in the sense that no matter what we were trying to do, the largest city in Anbar province was occupied by al-Qaida, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The outcome: Both sides lost. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. Move!" In the moment that's very much rational.". Love your country and your fellow Soldiers above yourself. They were being used as insurgent bases, the minarets sniper positions. The military translator stood and shouted down to the street. When the call to action rang out, the Marines breach failed because their MCLC would not fire. We were in the city for but a few hours when the war became very real for us. The sound of battle was all around us but the roof seemed awfully still and quiet. The command sergeant major (CSM) of 2-2 Infantry exited his vehicle to help strategically park in front of the new operations house when an enemy sniper killed him, causing a ripple effect in leadership. We crawled off the roof and fell down the stairs, back into the noise and confusion of the building. We moved to a house with one squad. Eventually, he wrote, he tried to take his own life. Falluja was Sunni - and it had done well under Saddam Hussein's Baath party rule. A. A. The weight of the missions success now rested on our ability to successfully breach the citys outer edge and clear a path for entry. While the Americans took fire from various vantage points inside the house, Bellavia called in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle to shell the houses. Thirty-five members of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, have died by suicide since 2003. Bellavia's men were mired in the opening stages of the Second Battle of Fallujah. US Army. Read about our approach to external linking. He currently is president of EMPact America, an American energy resiliency organization based in Elma, New York. A year later, we went back to Falluja. Chris Adlesperger's Navy Cross citation is one I'm very familiar with, having known his family. Conner, who was laying down suppressing fire, watched as Hanks ran forward, leaned down, and in one fluid motion, grabbed the wounded Marine, threw him over his shoulder and darted out of the courtyard, kicking open a side door. 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