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December 10, 2004



Reports from Husaybah and Al Qaim

USMC parents and spouses live for news broadcasts where they might - just might - catch a glimpse of their Marine. Some locations are so remote that it just doesn't happen - I have my Google News alerts set for Husaybah and days or weeks go by without a word. It's not that the region is quiet - far from it. But, there are no reporters to chronicle the battle for truth, justice and democracy. However, FOX News reporter Steve Harrigan is my new favorite reporter after filing this slice-of-life report from Husaybah today.

Four of us in a room here, but Marines know how to get along in small spaces. When we came in, the Chief Warrant Officer sat on the floor in a corner and went to sleep sitting up while we got our equipment ready.

"Real eggs today," an officer said to us on our way in to chow.

"I heard they got real eggs today," a corporal said to us on our way out.

I hadn't noticed. I was just a visitor to this world. I had the eggs and a cold biscuit, but passed on the Cheerios because all they had was strawberry, chocolate, or banana flavored milk.

Then I left the table, stood outside, and had a cup of coffee in a paper cup with three non-dairy powdered creamers and two packets of sugar, that were wet from the morning dew and stuck in clumps. I moved so the sun hit me. Another perfect blue morning. I added another sugar, stirred it with a plastic knife and looked out at the camp. Nothing was moving in the mud. Somewhere it was Sunday morning.

Chow gets worse the closer you get to the fighting. The first thing to go is ice cream, then salads, then vegetables. Then you go to A-rats. Then MRE's.

In Homer's "Iliad" the best fighters get the choicest cuts of meat. In the military it's the reverse, the conditions are hardest for those who have the hardest fighting.

Real eggs. Something we take for granted here, but the men of 1/7 Baker Company have been eating MREs for months. Thanks to some very generous donations to Operation Santa, we were able to mail microwaves and electric griddles, with enough pancake mix and syrup for a holiday pancake feed for all Marines and Corpsmen at Camp Gannon.

Harrigan continues:

Sometimes I hear stuff I've never heard before. Sgt. Cress is in charge of keeping me safe so he's always with me. We started to walk towards the live shot position last night, then I broke off from him.

"Piss call?" he said.

"Yeah."

It was a piss call, a new phrase for me, and a trip to the "piss tube." They are three-foot white tubes at about a 45 degree angle in to the ground that you urinate into. I encountered my first tube in Fallujah, and like most men, enjoyed having a target. The tubes here are covered with a mesh screen, which creates minor splashing, hence the process is not so satisfying.

Ordinary things in a war zone are more deliberate. To take a dump here you have to put on your flak jacket and helmet, go outstide and walk a few hundred yards to a wooden stall and sit on boards over a hole. It is not something you do casually.

Marines who have endured Iraqi summers report that head calls result in an experience much like getting their butts sandblasted. Now that temperatures are dropping below freezing, I'm wondering how they'll describe the conditions upon their return.

Proud 1/7 Marine Mom, LouAnn Stark was able to see her son via a video link also from the FOX site - just click on the Video tab and select Barbed-Wire Border Turns to Sand. Sorry, no clickable link.

Harrigan also visited Al Qaim - 12 miles and a lifetime away from Husaybah where he interviewed Corporal Terry Orndoff, also with 1/7. Click on the video link titled Al Qaim: Benefits Outweigh Risks to watch.


Posted by Deb at 01:38 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack



December 09, 2004



Michael Moore, step up!

Via Backcountry Conservative, here's a challenge from one Michael to another:

December 7, 2004


Mr. Michael Moore
XXXXX
New York, NY 10XXX

Dear Mr. Moore,

No doubt about it: The American soldier has done a lot for Michael Moore.

Hundreds of thousands of them are serving right now in Afghanistan and Iraq--two wars you opposed--defending you from a terrorist threat you claim does not exist. As you frequently point out, more than 1,000 of these soldiers and Marines have died, and thousands more of them have been injured.

These soldiers have also made you quite a bit of money. The most powerful scenes in your film Fahrenheit 9/11 feature soldiers and their families, specifically those servicemen who were wounded or killed in battle. Your new book, Will They Ever Trust Us Again--a collection of letters you've received from members of the military who served in Iraq-- will likely gross hundreds of thousands of dollars for you and your publisher.

As I said, America's soldiers have been very good to you. Most of them don't like you, but they're prepared to die attempting to protect you from terrorism so that you can continue to crank out your profitable propaganda.

They’ve done all this for you. I’m writing to give you the opportunity to do something for them.

My radio station, 630 WMAL, is leading a fundraising effort on behalf of the Fisher Houses here in the Washington, DC area and the Fisher House Foundation. Given your obsession with the costs of the War on Terror, you are no doubt familiar with the magnificent work done by the Fisher House on behalf of wounded soldiers and their families.

These families are struggling with the emotional consequences of a battlefield injury and its treatment. Fisher House helps solve some of the short-term financial and logistical challenges for the wives, children and parents who have wounded loved ones receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital or Malcolm Grow Medical at Andrews Air Force base.

The message of your books and films is that the American soldier is a victim. The soldiers I’ve spoken with at Fisher House vehemently disagree with you, as do the majority of my active-duty military listeners. However, we all agree that the soldiers who have been the victims of Iraqi terrorist violence (I think you call them “the true patriots, the Minute Men”) deserve our support.

Therefore, I am writing to challenge you to give back just a small portion of the money you have earned as a critic of their mission. Your film Fahrenheit 9/11 has grossed around $150 million. Our entire goal for the Fisher House this holiday season is a tiny percentage of that amount.

Though I am a confirmed right-winger, I believe there should be no partisan divide when it comes to standing by our troops. My fellow WMAL employees and I are dedicating our time, efforts and money to that proposition. The question, Mr. Moore, is whether or not you will do the same.

Many Americans feel that you have exploited the injuries of our soldiers for partisan purposes but have no real concern for them or their families. On behalf of the Fisher House, I would be thrilled to receive your generous donation as evidence that we are wrong.

If you feel, however, that the money can be better spent on yet another trip to France, nobody will be surprised.

You can send your check made out to the Fisher House Foundation, care of 630 WMAL, 4400 Jenifer Street NW, Washington, DC 20015.

Thank you for your time.

Michael Graham
630 WMAL
Washington, DC

Posted by Deb at 10:47 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack





A P.O.G. pays tribute to 1/3 Charlie infantry Marines

Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook, combat correspondent with 1st Marine Division, wrote this candid and compelling account of his experience with 1/3 Charlie during the Battle of Fallujah.

On Nov. 8, I was cramped inside an Amtrac with 28 Marines in full combat gear when two mortar rounds landed next to our position. The flash lit the inside of the vehicle and the Marines who were standing fell. Several screamed they had been hit. As sparks floated to the floor, and as blood from the Marine standing next to me ran down the side of my flak jacket, all I could think was “What had I gotten myself into?”

Four months ago, my life was different. I worked in the Community Relations office at the Pentagon, which I refer to as the concrete jungle; one wrong turn and you’re lost. I wore service Charlies every day and only broke out my cammies for field day. An average day for me consisted of answering phone calls, faxes and e-mails from people who had questions about the Marine Corps. My main job was handling Marine Corps band requests from all around the U.S. It was an administrative job, but it wasn’t too bad. Stress for me was waiting around for the shuttle bus to go back to Henderson Hall when it didn’t show up on time. When a quota came out requesting combat correspondents to deploy for Iraq, I raised my hand. It’s hard to explain why now, but I just wanted to be a part of what was going on over here. Six months later, I was working at the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, traveling around the country writing stories on all of the services stationed in Iraq. I saw my fair share of mortar attacks and convoy patrols, but never any real combat. A week before we entered Fallujah, I was assigned to the I Marine Expeditionary Force to report on the 1st Marine Division’s Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen during the impending Operation Al Fajr.

A few days after arriving to Camp Fallujah, I was attached to Charlie’s third platoon, in 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. Running around with a camera the size of a football doesn’t really allow you to blend. I heard jokes as soon as my boots hit the ground. First they asked if I’m a photographer, then came the lines from “Full Metal Jacket.” “Seen any combat?” Nothing I’m not used to though, it goes with the territory.

As the days went by, I tried to attend every brief and training exercise the platoon conducted. I wanted to know exactly where I’d be placed when we got into the thick of things. I’m a P.O.G. (person other than grunt) and proud of it, but I didn’t want to do anything stupid when rounds were going down range.

Three days before we left , I was assigned to first squad, third fire team. I would be the fourth man. They were a tight group of guys who did everything together and understand why the higher ups wanted me along for this mission. They answered every question I had about their role in the squad. Even after the platoon had finished its training each day, they spent countless hours with me going over tactics to make sure I would know what to do and how to react when thrown into certain situations. However, none of the extra training prepared me for that first night in the Fallujah.

When the Amtrac doors opened and everyone ran out, I didn’t even think of trying to take pictures. I ran right behind someone and jumped down right next to him. All I wanted to do was find cover. Two members of my fire team were extracted by medevac right then and there. I was left to fend for myself, and so was the other Marine left from my fire team. I just looked to the guys beside me and did what they did.

When we loaded up again to head for the breech point, my legs started shaking uncontrollably. I tried to hide it, but I know whoever was sitting next to me felt it. I grabbed a railing in the opening of the Amtrac to steady myself and put my hand in a pool of blood. I knew exactly what it was and tried to wipe it off right away. I didn’t want to think about what had just happened.

When we arrived at the breech point a few hundred meters from the city, there were no fires or explosions to light our way. It was a moonless night, and I could barely make out the Marines who were running in front of me. We trekked through ankle-deep mud, stumbling over the holes and ditches hidden in the shadows of our night-vision goggles. We were trying to find our way to the point where we were supposed to infiltrate the city. I was still shaken up, but I pushed forward.

When we arrived at the edge of the city, all was quiet except for the rumbling prayers emanating from a mosque that was held by insurgents. We were the first platoon from 1/3 to enter Fallujah, and the enemy was unaware of our presence.

We sneaked as quiet as possible down the first street of broken-down buildings looking for a place to establish a foothold – our first objective. While part of the platoon looked for a house to base our operations, the rest of us bounded in fire teams to the first intersection. As I lay in the prone behind a mound of dirt alongside two other Marines, I could make out our second objective: a mosque held by insurgents.

We only laid there for a minute or two when I started hearing shouts in Arabic that seemed to be coming from right around the corner: “Ensha Allah! (God willing) Allahhoo akbar! (God is great).”

I couldn’t see anyone, but I knew they were out there waiting. Then it happened. Barrel flashes from AK-47s sprayed tracer rounds over our heads at once in every direction. Our battle for Fallujah had started, and I was nowhere near ready for it.

When there was a lull in gun fire, we pulled back to a safer position. Not being able to see everything and having rounds bearing down on my position – plus the mortar incident earlier – was too much. I thought I was going to die right then and there. I’m a P.O.G. What am I doing here on the front lines? I don’t belong here. Thoughts like that echoed in my mind as each second passed and I made them well known. I didn’t care. I wanted out of there and back in the rear. To my surprise, I wasn’t laughed at or mocked. They told me it’ll be all right and not to worry; they were going to watch my back. The Marines I talked to said they were just as scared. While they said they were afraid, I didn’t see their fear. None of them faltered or hesitated while doing their jobs. I watched as they ran through a hail of bullets diving behind a makeshift wall of cinder blocks to lay down cover and suppressing fire as other members of their squad ran to other positions down the street. I have respect for all Marines no matter what their occupation because they earned the title just as I did, but that night, I gained a newfound respect for “O3’s,” – infantrymen – different from the respect I gave everyone else.

For some reason, when the sun rose, my fear melted away with the night sky. Everything that had occurred only hours before seemed unreal like I was watching a movie. During the weeks that followed, I fed off the strength of the Marines around me and the patrols and fire fights hardly bothered me. Don’t get me wrong, I was still nervous every time we went in to clear a house, but I felt different somehow in a way that I can’t even describe. I hope the history books depict Fallujah as it should, describing the heroic acts and sacrifices of the Marines who took part in the operation. In time, some of my memories might fade only to be remembered when I scan over the images I captured on film, but I will never forget the Marines of Charlie Company who fought beside me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. They are the reason I can tell this story today.


Posted by Deb at 12:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack



December 08, 2004



1/10 update from Camp Fallujah

More news from the front, this time from 1/10 Charlie, via Laurie Want. Note the props for Op Santa volunteers - my records show that Laurie Want, Cheryl LePage, Karen and Tom, Hawthorne School from Sweet Home, Oregon, and Deb Thane coordinated stockings and gifts for the 5 platoons of Charlie Company.

Friends and Families of Charlie Battery happy holidays from your Marines defending freedom and democracy from Camp Fallujah, With OPERATION PHANTOM FURY, otherwise known as the battle of Fallujah, drawing to an end life aboard the camp is returning to almost normal. The Marines have seen the population of the camp double, the chow hall serve only two meals a day and a nightly light show over the city as the assault commenced. Life for the Marines changed very little other than an increased sense of awareness. In preparation for the offensive, some of the resident units on the camp and some soldiers from a nearby camp augmented us. We worked side by side and made new friends along the way and in some cases learned from each other.

Your Marines continued to man towers, work the gates and defend the pump house, the only water supply for the camp. During the onslaught of the battle for the city we encountered an increased frequency of incoming rocket and mortar fire, that has since subsided and the last few days have been relatively quiet. I am pleased to say that we have yet to encounter our first casualty or serious injury. Of the engagements we have seen, in every incident your Marines have reacted as they were trained and been successful and without injury. I can assure you all of your Marines are safe and in good health.

As Thanksgiving approached the Staff Non-Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers and Officers of the battery and MEF HQ Group volunteered to man the posts for the Marines to afford them the opportunity to have the holiday meal in a warm chow hall. The holiday meal was a feast of ham, turkey, prime rib, shrimp and all the trimmings. It was quite entertaining to see Master Sergeants, Senior Chiefs, Majors and a Lieutenant Colonel relieve the Marines on the post. Thank goodness the bad guys didn’t know, because if they had attacked it would have been a significant emotional event for all involved. In the end, I think the replacements enjoyed their time on the wall. If nothing else, it gave them a taste of what your Marines do on a daily basis, which is always good to know. We have seen a drop in temperatures here and in the next few days freezing temperatures are expected. We are doing what we can to keep the Marines comfortable, the thought of someday going home safe to families and friends is enough to keep most of them warm in the mean time.

I would like to thank all those that have sent Thanksgiving and Christmas mail to us. We receive about 200 lbs of mail a day and have filled a couple of storage containers with Christmas packages. These packages are filled with stockings, letters and holiday spirit from home. Soon we’ll put up the Christmas tree and surround it with the packages and gifts from home. Happy holidays and thanks again for the your support of the Marines of Charlie Battery.

and

October was an interesting month. We have completed the “changing of the guard” and assumed the areas of responsibility, which our counterparts have left for us. In the midst of getting adjusted to our new surroundings and activities, we have successfully reenlisted the following Marines: Cpl Ellis, Cpl Glover, Sgt Woodard, and Sgt Mondloch. To the family and friends of these warriors, thank you for your support and dedication to stay in the Marine Corps family.

Creativity has been apparent this month as when Halloween came it was quite shocking to see a Marine with his face totally painted in the scheme of a circus clown, with the hair to boot. I don’t know who he was, but it was done up pretty good. You could tell by the decorations within the hallways of the barracks, we still had the Halloween spirit. I cannot count the times I had to duck around the hanging spiders on the strings as I walked the corridors. It was GREAT!!

November is closing out and we have gorged ourselves with a well-planned and deserved Thanksgiving meal at the mess hall. We are shifting gears, much like all of you at home, in regards to the change in weather. If you had any doubts about the desert getting cold, well let me tell you for the record, “YES” it does.

Special Thanks, to all of the “Operation Santa All Stars”. Your boxes have been arriving by the tons and our lonely little mail clerk LCpl Cheung, can now compete against Arnold Schwarzenegger (OORAH). We are just about set for Christmas, I wonder if there is a Santa suit for the CO, Hhmmm?

We are Charlie Battery!!!
“ If you aren’t on the edge…you are taking up too much space”
1stSgt Wilson
“THE SYMBOL”

Okay, I'm putting Santa Suits on the list for OpSanta 2005! I can't wait to see those pictures.

Posted by Deb at 11:31 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack



December 07, 2004



Operation Santa arrives in Camp Al Qaim


We've heard reports that Operation Santa stockings are arriving all over Iraq. Here's a picture of a few good men from 1/7 Supply - the stockings are machine embroidered works of art and I'm sure they'll come home with the men in their sea bags. Gail Loffler coordinated H&S Company for 1/7 and did an awesome job. Thanks again to the hundreds of volunteers across the country who made this happen for over 6,000 Marines. Connie and I are still finishing up the remnants of the program, but will get notes out to each of you very soon.

Posted by Deb at 05:17 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack





Historical Parallels

Occasionally, one of our readers submits a compelling editorial and we're happy to reprint. Sam Pender, author of Iraq's Smoking Gun submitted this in tribute to this anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Why did the United States go to war with Germany in WWII? Those certainly weren't German Stukas and NAZI pilots over Pearl Harbor on December 7th. It was because Hitler supported Japan-not because they ever attacked us or had plans to do so. Pearl Harbor was specifically the result of a US oil embargo placed upon Japan as a result of the Japanese occupation of formerly French Indochina.an occupation permitted by the Germans who had recently conquered France and controlled its holdings-but the embargo was place upon Japan-not Germany. So, how did the United States interpret the 12/7 attacks as a final step into war with both Japan AND with Germany if Germany had nothing to do with 12/7?

"It is difficult to find a parallel to the unwisdom of the British and the weakness of the French Governments, who none the less reflected the opinion of their Parliaments in this disastrous period. Nor can the United States escape the censure of history. Absorbed in their own affairs and all the abounding interests, activities, and accidents of a free community, they simply gaped at the vast changes which were taking place in Europe and imagined they were none of their concern."
-Winston Churchill, Memoirs of the Second World War

"By the autumn of 1933 it was plain that neither by precept nor still less by example would the British effort for disarmament succeed. The pacifism of the Labour and Liberal Parties was not effected even by the grave event of the German withdrawl from the League of Nations. Both continued in the name of peace to urge British disarmament, and anyone who differed was called "warmonger" and "scaremonger." It appeared that their feeling was endorsed by the people, who of course did not understand what was unfolding."
-Winston Churchill, Memoirs of the Second World War

True, America's allies were in trouble and asking the U.S. to help them, and a handful of Americans privately did before 1942 (see also Flying Tigers, Eagle Squadron, Hemmingway in Spain etc.). Another interesting aspect is to try and find a smoking gun in pre-Aunschlus Germany. It can't be done. There were violations, but nothing individually causing a war. Even Pearl Harbor was not the single reason for America's entry into WWII. No war should ever start for a single causus beli, and few do (including WWII, 911, and the war in Iraq).

"There was no moment in these sixteen years when the three former allies, or even Britain and France with their associates in Europe, could not in the name of the League of Nations and under its moral and international shield have controlled by mere effort of the will of armed strength of Germany."
-Winston Churchill, Memoirs of the Second World War

"Until the middle of 1934 control of the events was still largely in the hands of His Majesty's Government without the risk of war. They could at any time, in concert with France and through the League of Nations, have brought an overwhelming power to bear upon the Hitler Movement, about which Germany was profoundly divided."
-Winston Churchill, Memoirs of the Second World War

The United States went to war with Germany because Hitler declared war on the US (as had Saddam and Bin Laden both throughout the 1990's), because Germany and Japan were allies (as were Saddam and Al Queda...see also 1998 indictment of UBL and the 1993 non-aggression agreement between them), and because there were repeated, close, high level TIES between Hitler and Japan (just as there were repeated, close, high level TIES between Saddam and Al Queda). Al Queda is not Japan, but it is a nation without borders (just not a nation-state after the fall of the Taliban).

"Don't believe that anyone in the world will hinder me in my decisions [to invade Austria and Czechoslovakia]! Italy? I am quite clear that they are with Mussolini: with Italy I am on the closest of terms. England? England will not lift a finger for Austria.And France? Well, two years ago when we marched into the Rhineland with a handful of battalions [breaking the 1991 Treaty of Versailles]-at that moment I risked a great deal. If France had marched then we should have been forced to withdraw..but for France it is too late!"
-Adolph Hitler, 1938

So, on December 11th, 1941, the United States went to war with Germany because Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. Germany had no knowledge or involvement in the 12/7 attacks, was not involved, but Hitler had a relationship with the Japanese, had declared war on the US, and hadn't followed the terms of the Versailles Treaty (ie, the WWI armistice agreement/cease-fire had been broken repeatedly by Hitler). Hitler didn't have an air force (the WMD of the day), but he had the capacity to build one rapidly-as most of Europe would find out by 1943. Following the declarations of war, the United States acted quickly to strike back at the Japanese with the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, and finally halting Japanese free reign of aggression in at the Battle of Midway just 6 months after Pearl Harbor (note: 6 months after the 9/11/01 attacks, the Taliban were routed, Bin Laden was driven from his safe haven and pinned down in the mts of Pakistan, and Afghanistan was already starting to rebuild).

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
-Edmund Burke

So, where are the historians? Where is the generation that saw the right thing to do, AND had the courage to do it? Half of America has seen the right thing to do (specifically 51%), and has the courage to endure it. The other half prefers to ignore history, seek appeasement and isolationist policies, and to politicize the war on terror. Half the nation sees the history, and has learned from it. The other half continues to replace the cold realities of the 21st Century with political conspiracy theories piled upon each other as their own means of denial.

After a while, the conspiracies get harder and harder to grasp. Pres Bush (a man constantly painted as a moron by his political opponents) apparently stole the 2000 election by controlling 1/3 of the govt, the Supreme Court, and pulled off the greatest conspiracy in American history. THEN, this alleged Happy Meal-without-the-fries managed to pull off the greatest conspiracy in the history of man; he created the 911 attacks with the help of the Pakistanis who actually committed them using Saudi hijackers.

Why? So he could invade Afghanistan to get access for the natural gas pipelines to fund his invasion of Iraq which he used to fund his 2004 theft of the Presidential election. One conspiracy alone is tough to realistically put faith in, but for President Bush (purportedly the dullest knife in the drawer) to have pulled off 4 of the greatest conspiracies in the history of man (each one dependent on its predecessor) is just impossible. With four successive coups the odds become exponentially smaller and smaller; 4 of the greatest in mankind? Millions of people are grasping at straws in denial, and there's another 4 years yet to start. Why do they grasp? What DON'T they grasp?

Given the hundreds of thousands of people who have looked into each one of these conspiracies, the independent, foreign, and bi-partisan investigations that have disproved them, the reason that people still cling to them can only be described as political denial, as historical denial, and as proof positive that those who have ignored the lessons in their history classes truly have been doomed to repeat them.

"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of NAZI rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight in the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air; we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender; and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and liberation of the Old." ie, "Bring em on"
-Winston Churchill, Memoirs of the Second World War


"Let's Remember Pearl Harbor" was America's battle-cry on 12/8/41....maybe it should be once again?


Posted by Deb at 04:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack



December 06, 2004



December 6

It's the halfway point for 1/7 Marines currently deployed - we're counting down from here. Oohrah!!

Posted by Deb at 05:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack





Fighting in Fallujah - 3/5, India Company

Fox News recently published a gripping account of embedded reporter Greg Palkot and cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski's experience during the Battle of Fallujah. Here are day-by-day excerpts from his diary:

November 8:

Tonight there's just a particularly annoying wall to scale and a rooftop to reach. The roof seems like a nice place to relax until the sky above it is filled with whizzing terrorist AK-47 fire and much nastier Marine responses.

This will be the first of many times the phrase "nowhere to run, nowhere to hide" rattles around my head.

November 9:

We watch what would be the beginning of another routine of the week. The enemy hunkers down at night, intimidated by the hi-tech night-vision gear the U.S. military commands. Then, the bad guys get out at first light to make trouble.

What they don't know is that the Marines want the guys to come out. That's what they came for.

November 10:

Later, we find ourselves on yet another roof for an end-of-day officers' meeting with Chontosh. As sniper fire flies overhead, the Marines get word that a group of 15 to 20 militants are roving around a neighborhood a few blocks away.

As I quickly learn, Chontosh (who won an award for bravery in last year’s initial invasion of Iraq) is not one to sit back and let his guys do the dirty work. Moments later we are out on the street, heading for potential trouble.

Make that REAL trouble.

November 11:

Seeing somebody you had been joking with the day before being carried out of a house on a stretcher brings everything into sharp clarity.

Looking at an injured fellow's bloody flak jacket and vest stays with you.

Watching the belongings of someone who has been killed being packed away to be shipped back to family in the States underscores that this is all as serious as it gets.

A few squad members are very shaken and two have to be pulled out of the action. The rest, outwardly at least, seem pretty stoic, ready to press on and get the job done.

When I ask Chontosh what he feels about the day's losses, the captain almost seems annoyed at the question.

"How does it feel to lose a good man?" I ask. Without missing a beat, but also not looking at me, staring at the scene where a sniper cut down one of his commanders, he snaps, "Any man going down."

November 12:

India Company still hasn't cleared out the neighborhood where the militants were first spotted on Wednesday. And the hope to wrap up India's assault early is long forgotten.

Now the Marines are going to level a neighborhood to make sure the bad guys never use it again. It isn't quite the "destroying a village to save it" formula of the Vietnam War, but it comes close.

Air strikes, tank fire and mortar barrages make minced meat out of school buildings and houses. When the dust clears and the rubble stops falling, Chontosh takes us on a tour of the place.

His instincts are pretty good. We go into a room in a schoolhouse knee-deep in insurgent weaponry. There isn't a schoolbook in sight. No school buses in the courtyard ... just a vehicle rocket launcher.

And in the houses all around, Marines pull anti-personnel and tank mines out of one place, rockets out of another, a complete IED factory in the bedroom of a third.

November 13:

More Marines are injured, including Jensen, who is hit by fragments from grenades hurled by insurgents from the roof of the building. Jensen limps away, and within a day claims he's at 95 percent strength. "I can even run on the leg!" he proclaims to me.

Not good enough. Capt. Chontosh takes him out of the fight.

And there's more grousing about the Iraqi security forces who will have to take a major role in making sure Fallujah works in the future. Some of their units are filling in behind other American squads that have done the heavy lifting. Without proper radios or other equipment they are blamed more for getting in the way then helping out, even firing around U.S. military forces.

One of the officers in charge of training the Iraqis tells me the brass wants a full Iraqi Army up and running in six months. "It's not going to happen," he complains.

Sounds like our Marines are going to be sticking around.

November 14:

I'd like to say these guys are fresh and raring to finish the job. But to be frank, our boys look like toast. Some still haven't gotten over the losses of the days before. And all are a lot more careful as they work through every house.

They still have time, though, to go through some mail, which has somehow found its way into the heart of this terror enclave. Lance Cpl. Jelnick reads me his girlfriend's letter. There isn't anything extraordinary in it.

What is extraordinary, however, is that she has written him a letter every day he has been in Iraq.

The 20-year-old Chicago Cubs fan is comforted, but also filled with the feeling that maybe he'll have to get serious about her when he gets out of all this. Eeek ... love! Sometimes trickier than dealing with insurgents.

November 15:

The day starts like most others. We check out mosques that Marines believe have been used by insurgents as terror "bed and breakfasts" — sleeping places and medical stations for use between attacks.

Marines also find plans and propaganda associated with attacks. Right down to some maps.

Then another platoon marches off to check out one last bunch of houses.

India Company literally is just a few blocks from finishing its chunk of the assault. But its Marines are about to walk into a terror hornet's nest as bad as any military unit will find in the operation in Fallujah.

Back at India Company's makeshift headquarters, a fateful word crackled over the radio: "Contact!"

Read the extended entries here.

Posted by Deb at 05:33 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack



December 05, 2004



Voting for best Milblog is going on now

Click here to reach the voting page, select your favorite Milblog (there are many excellent choices) and vote! You can vote once each 24 hours and the polls close on December 12. Thanks to the folks who nominated Marine Corps Moms!

Posted by Deb at 06:44 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack