Global Special Operations Featured Web Site: Thank You Soldier |
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail message from Dave 19NOV04 Dear Dad, Just came out of the city and I honestly do not know where to start. I am afraid that whatever I send you will not do sufficient honor to the men who fought and took Fallujah. Shortly before the attack, Task Force Fallujah was built. It consisted of Regimental Combat Team 1 built around 1st Marine Regiment and Regimental Combat Team 7 built around 7th Marine Regiment. Each Regiment consisted of two Marine Rifle Battalions reinforced and one Army mechanized infantry battalion. Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT-1) consisted of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd LAR), 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5); 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1)and 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry (2/7). RCT-7 was slightly less weighted but still a formidable force. Cutting a swath around the city was an Army Brigade known as Blackjack. The Marine RCT's were to assault the city while Blackjack kept the enemy off of the backs of the assault force. The night prior to the actual invasion, we all moved out into the desert just north of the city. It was something to see. You could just feel the intensity in the Marines and Soldiers. It was all business. As the day cleared, the Task Force began striking targets and moving into final attack positions. As the invasion force commenced its movement into attack positions, 3rd LAR led off RCT-1's offensive with an attack up a peninsula formed by the Euphrates River on the west side of the city. Their mission was to secure the Fallujah Hospital and the two bridges leading out of the city. They executed there tasks like clockwork and smashed the enemy resistance holding the bridges. Simultaneous to all of this, Blackjack sealed the escape routes to the south of the city. As invasion day dawned, the net was around the city and the Marines and Soldiers knew that the enemy that failed to escape was now sealed. 3/5 began the actual attack on the city by taking an apartment complex on the northwest corner of the city. It was key terrain as the elevated positions allowed the command to look down into the attack lanes. The Marines took the apartments quickly and moved to the rooftops and began engaging enemy that were trying to move into their fighting positions. The scene on the rooftop was surreal. Machine gun teams were running boxes of ammo up 8 flights of stairs in full body armor and carrying up machine guns while snipers engaged enemy shooters. The whole time the enemy was firing mortars and rockets at the apartments. Honest to God, I don't think I saw a single Marine even distracted by the enemy fire. Their squad leaders, and platoon commanders had them prepared and they were executing their assigned tasks. As mentioned, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry joined the Regiment just prior to the fight. In fact, they started showing up for planning a couple of weeks in advance. There is always a professional rivalry between the Army and the Marine Corps but it was obvious from the outset that these guys were the real deal. They had fought in Najaf and were eager to fight with the Regiment in Fallujah. They are exceptionally well led and supremely confident. 2/7 became our wedge. In short, they worked with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. We were limited in the amount of prep fires that we were allowed to fire on the city prior to the invasion. This was a point of some consternation to the forces actually taking the city. Our compensation was to turn to 2/7 and ask them to slash into the city and create as much turbulence as possible for 3/1 to follow. Because of the political reality, the Marine Corps was also under pressure to "get it done quickly." For this reason, 2/7 and 3/1 became the penetration force into the city. Immediately following 3/5's attack on the apartment buildings, 3/1 took the train station on the north end of the city. While the engineers blew a breach through the train trestle, the Cavalry soldiers poured through with their tanks and Bradley's and chewed an opening in the enemy defense. 3/1 followed them through until they reached a phase[line deep into the northern half of the city. The Marine infantry along with a few tanks then turned to the right and attacked the heart of the enemy defense. The fighting was tough as the enemy had the area dialed in with mortars. 3/5 then attacked into the northwest corner of the city. This fight continued as both Marine rifle battalions clawed their way into the city on different axis. There is an image burned into my brain that I hope I never forget. We came up behind 3/5 one day as the lead squads were working down the Byzantine streets of the Jolan area. An assault team of two Marines ran out from behind cover and put a rocket into a wall of an enemy strongpoint. Before the smoke cleared the squad behind them was up and moving through the hole and clearing the house. Just down the block another squad was doing the same thing. The house was cleared quickly and the Marines were running down the street to the next contact. Even in the midst of that mayhem, it was an awesome site. The fighting has been incredibly close inside the city. The enemy is willing to die and is literally waiting until they see the whites of the eyes of the Marines before they open up. Just two days ago, as a firefight raged in close quarters, one of the interpreters yelled for the enemy in the house to surrender. The enemy yelled back that it was better to die and go to heaven than to surrender to infidels. This exchange is a graphic window into the world that the Marines and Soldiers have been fighting in these last 10 days. I could go on and on about how the city was taken but one of the most amazing aspects to the fighting was that we saw virtually no civilians during the battle. Only after the fighting had passed did a few come out of their homes. They were provided food and water and most were evacuated out of the city. At least 90-95% of the people were gone from the city when we attacked. I will end with a couple of stories of individual heroism that you may not have heard yet. I was told about both of these incidents shortly after they occurred. No doubt some of the facts will change slightly but I am confident that the meat is correct. The first is a Marine from 3/5. His name is Corporal Yeager (Chuck Yeager's grandson). As the Marines cleared and apartment building, they got to the top floor and the point man kicked in the door. As he did so, an enemy grenade and a burst of gunfire came out. The explosion and enemy fire took off the point man's leg. He was then immediately shot in the arm as he lay in the doorway. Corporal Yeager tossed a grenade in the room and ran into the doorway and into the enemy fire in order to pull his buddy back to cover. As he was dragging the wounded Marine to cover, his own grenade came back through the doorway. Without pausing, he reached down and threw the grenade back through the door while he heaved his buddy to safety. The grenade went off inside the room and Cpl Yeager threw another in. He immediately entered the room following the second explosion. He gunned down three enemy all within three feet of where he stood and then let fly a third grenade as he backed out of the room to complete the evacuation of the wounded Marine. You have to understand that a grenade goes off within 5 seconds of having the pin pulled. Marines usually let them "cook off" for a second or two before tossing them in. Therefore, this entire episode took place in less than 30 seconds. The second example comes from 3/1. Cpl Mitchell is a squad leader. He was wounded as his squad was clearing a house when some enemy threw pineapple grenades down on top of them. As he was getting triaged, the doctor told him that he had been shot through the arm. Cpl Mitchell told the doctor that he had actually been shot "a couple of days ago" and had given himself self aide on the wound. When the doctor got on him about not coming off the line, he firmly told the doctor that he was a squad leader and did not have time to get treated as his men were still fighting. There are a number of Marines who have been wounded multiple times but refuse to leave their fellow Marines. It is incredibly humbling to walk among such men. They fought as hard as any Marines in history and deserve to be remembered as such. The enemy they fought burrowed into houses and fired through mouse holes cut in walls, lured them into houses rigged with explosives and detonated the houses on pursuing Marines, and actually hid behind surrender flags only to engage the Marines with small arms fire once they perceived that the Marines had let their guard down. I know of several instances where near dead enemy rolled grenades out on Marines who were preparing to render them aid. It was a fight to the finish in every sense and the Marines delivered. I have called the enemy cowards many times in the past because they have never really held their ground and fought but these guys in the city did. We can call them many things but they were not cowards. My whole life I have read about the greatest generation and sat in wonder at their accomplishments. For the first time, as I watch these Marines and Soldiers, I am eager for the future as this is just the beginning for them. Perhaps the most amazing characteristic of all is that the morale of the men is sky high. They hurt for the wounded and the dead but they are eager to continue to attack. Further, not one of them would be comfortable with being called a hero even though they clearly are. By now the Marines and Soldiers have killed well over a thousand enemy. These were not peasants or rabble. They were reasonably well trained and entirely fanatical. Most of the enemy we have seen have chest rigs full of ammunition and are well armed are willing to fight to the death. The Marines and Soldiers are eager to close with them and the fighting at the end is inevitably close. I will write you more the next time I come in about what we have found inside the city. All I can say is that even with everything that I knew and expected from the last nine months, the brutality and fanaticism of the enemy surprised me. The beheadings were even more common place than we thought but so were torture and summary executions. Even though it is an exaggeration, it seems as though every block in the northern part of the city has a torture chamber or execution site. There are hundreds of tons of munitions and tens of thousands of weapons that our Regiment alone has recovered. The Marines and Soldiers of the Regiment have also found over 400 IEDs already wired and ready to detonate. No doubt these numbers will grow in the days ahead. In closing, I want to share with you a vignette about when the Marines secured the Old Bridge (the one where the Americans were mutilated and hung on March 31) this week. After the Marines had done all the work and secured the bridge, we walked across to meet up with 3rd LAR on the other side. On the Fallujah side of the bridge where the Americans were hung there is some Arabic writing on the bridge. An interpreter translated it for me as we walked through. It read: "Long Live the Mujahadeen. Fallujah is the Graveyard for Americans and the end of the Marine Corps." As I came back across the bridge there was a squad sitting in their Amtrac smoking and watching the show. The Marines had written their own message below the enemy's. It is not something that Mom would appreciate but it fit the moment to a T. Not far from the vehicle were two dead enemy laying where they died. The Marines were sick of watching the "Dog and Pony show" and wanted to get back to work. Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terrorists are not covered by the Geneva Convention The subject of the young Marine in Fallujah is very near to my heart and emotional for me. See just a year ago there were sleepless nights for me and countless tears. A year ago I was the subject of a military hearing where my fate would be decided, possibly an eight year jail sentence. See, I stand firmly on the side of this Marine as many stood for me a year ago. First, let no person that has never laced up a pair of combat boots, gone on a combat operation, been shot, or shot at offer their "opinion" on this issue. These Brave young Men and Women who volunteer to leave their families to secure the freedoms of others are the best of this Society, not actors and sports figures! Second, Kevin Sites, MSNBC reporter, should, Nationally, apologize to this Marine, his family, and the Marine Corps for his shameful, dishonorable, and borderline treasonous action. He should be removed from the Iraq Theater of operations and forever be prohibited from covering issues of military relevance. I can think of nothing more damaging from an embed reporter other than just blatantly giving away unit operational information. Thirdly, what have we become in America when we prosecute our Warriors and coddle the enemy. Look, they are terrorists, take it from a guy that has been on the opposite end of an AK-47 and discovered countless arms caches. They are not insurgents, they are simply killers. It is time that we stop having our benevolence used against us, shoot at Americans from a Mosque, run and hide behind women, children, dress as women, and now play dead or wounded (actually an old trick, ask the French about German tanks with their guns facing the rear, or any Vet that served in the Pacific or Vietnam). Therefore, what would America rather have? More dead US troops, perhaps that is truly what the liberal media would like to see? Seems to me that they do not want us to hurt any insurgents. And just earlier this month, these were the people that wanted their candidate to be Commander-In-Chief? Fourth, stop talking about Geneva Convention! Terrorists are not signatories to this document. They are not uniformed troops serving under the flag of a recognized Nation or State. We really need to reexamine the so called "Rules of War", there are none especially when you are dealing with an enemy that has a completely different culturalization and religious base than yours! In WWII the Germans took Soldiers that were proficient in English and parachuted them into our rear areas in American uniforms, what happened, when captured they were shot. Boy howdy, what would our current media say to that? Gen William Tecumseh Sherman stated, "War is Hell" and having seen two combat operations and nothing similar to the furnace that was the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, or Vietnam, I would still agree. We need to look at how do we deal with these Terrorists, look you play a certain game, playing possum, well first time shame on us, second time, shame on you! O K, in conclusion, where is the Code of Bushido or the Honor of Sparta in our American society? Here we are on the media condemning a young Marine that was just recently shot while celebrating Officers refusing to return and serve their Nation. I ask, what defines character in America? If they ask me to return, my only question is where? If the episode that I experienced or this Marine was part of a Hollywood action film (check out "The Untouchables" and you will see a clip that parallels my situation) the audience would shout and cheer. Our kids play ruthless Video games and we do not condemn them, yet a young Warrior of this Nation takes action and we say, "First Degree Murder". Funny, War is murder isn't it? Perhaps we have forgotten that people really do shoot at you, unlike the movies and video games. Have we heard anything from Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, or the Dictatorial Monarchies we call the Middle East condemning the beheading of civilians? Ask yourself, how would TERRORISTS treat a wounded US serviceman or woman? No, I do not say lower yourself to the level of these fiends, however, as we used to say in street ball, "You make it, You Take It!" Regards, LTC Allen B West (USA, Ret) Source:The SOG Publication -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is just one most don't hear: A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives. The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares. This is the story everyone hears: A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insugent can be heard saying, "Mister,mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded. Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face. The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!" The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for commiting a war crime. Unlawful killing. And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wring their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same. For those of you who don't know, we are Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families. For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of you recliner, lace up your boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive. I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other. Sincerely, LCPL Schmidt USMC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends and Families of the 1st Marine Division: 13NOV04 We are entering the 6th day of Operation Al Fajr and I want to report to you that the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Division are performing admirably. The fighting is tough, but the exceptional bravery and courage of the men and women of the Division is carrying the day. We are ahead of schedule, but more work needs to be done. I routinely visit our units engaged with the enemy and I can report that morale is high and there is a determination to finish the task. I am honored and humbled to serve with such outstanding warriors. Our joint, combined arms team is operating seamlessly. The U.S. Army units from the 1st Cavalry Division and the 1st Infantry Division have been invaluable to our mission and their armored punch has provided our infantry battalions with needed protection and firepower. Our supporting arms come from all four services, and the Marines and Soldiers in contact with the enemy are being supported by Air Force F-16s, F-18s from carriers in the Arabian Gulf, Army helicopters and artillery, and our brothers and sisters from the 3d Marine Air Wing and 1st Force Service Support Group. We are also fighting alongside Iraqi soldiers and they are a significant part of our team. They have performed their missions with professionalism and they are a very capable fighting force. We continue to keep you in our thoughts. We remember and honor those who we have lost. Our country owes its freedom to their sacrifice. May God bless the 1st Marine Division and our loved ones. 1st Marine Division Commanding General MG. Richard F. Natonski
By Sgt. Christina Rockhill, USA Special to American Forces Press Service CAMP Al-ISTIQLAL, Iraq, Nov. 17, 2004 The troops crammed into the back of the Bradley fighting vehicle, shoulder to shoulder. It was Veterans Day, Nov. 11. As the hatch closed shutting out the light of midday, the faces of these 1st Cavalry Division soldiers held a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. The Bradley started moving, and Army Spc. Matt Nichols made the sign of the cross. "Do you always do that," Army Staff Sgt. Justin Mallery yelled over the vehicle's loud noise. "Always. Always," Nicholson mouthed. The troops were heading to a relatively quiet area of Haifa Street, in Baghdad where they would be on a reconnaissance mission, checking out the neighborhood for any insurgent activity. "We're just observing today," Mallery said. "We hope if they see us out here, it will disrupt whatever they're doing in sector. We like going on missions like this. It's nice to do these missions because it's a break from the norm." The soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, are more than used to action. They routinely patrol the volatile Haifa Street. Mallery said nearly every one of his soldiers has received a Purple Heart Medal. The Bradley pulled up to a building. This particular building had been the target of many attacks and was vacant except for a few Iraqi workers, who were repairing damage from the last attack. The Bradley's hatch opened, and the soldiers ran inside the building, looking from room to room, climbing floor after floor before finally settling on the roof as a suitable vantage point. "Keep your heads on swivel," Mallery said. "They're shooting from all over today." The soldiers set up hasty firing positions using old metal bookshelves that had seen better days. Small-arms fire echoed in the distance. "Keep your heads down," Mallery ordered. "They could just be trying to get our heads up." The soldiers remained intent on their sectors, scanning for sniper pockets or anything out of the ordinary. Even a slight disruption in traffic around the area could mean an attack was imminent, Mallery said. The soldiers are aware of the danger. And even though this is a less volatile area of Haifa Street, it is far from safe. "This is one of the quieter areas of Haifa Street," Mallery said. "It's normal for us to only take one or two grenades on a mission out here. It's a shock if it doesn't happen." The long drawn-out whistle of a mortar is heard nearby. The soldiers freeze in place. "Get down! Get down!" Mallery shouted. The soldiers crouched close to the walls of the roof and tucked their chins to their chests. "Boom!" The mortar impacted the center of the roof about 15 feet from the troops. "Stay down!" Mallery yelled. The soldiers stayed crouched, expecting another round to follow. After it was apparent that a second mortar was not going to impact, the soldiers scrambled to their feet and rushed toward the stairwell, hugging the walls and staying low. "They had eyes on us," Mallery said. "They knew we were here. They even had time to aim." The soldiers rushed down the stairs and rested against a safe piece of wall. Small-arms fire erupted closer this time. The soldiers joined the rest of their group to provide security throughout the building. Miraculously, no one was injured in the attack. Army Pfc. William Jones, who has only been in Iraq for two weeks, was standing right where the mortar had hit only moments before the impact. "I wouldn't still be here if you didn't tell me to move," he said to Mallery. "At least it was only one." The soldiers maintained security of the building waiting for signs of an ambush or a secondary mortar attack. Mallery radioed down to the waiting Bradleys as the soldiers prepared to evacuate the building. Maintaining security was vital, they were not sure if there were snipers in the area waiting for the kill or if they would face another mortar attack. Shots rang from nearby, and the soldiers rushed from the building and climbed into their vehicles. The hatches closed behind the troops, and they sighed with relief, finally able to catch their breath. As his Bradley roared away, and Nichols made the sign of the cross. His prayer had worked again, and the troops smiled, ready to be home after a "quiet" mission. (Army Sgt. Christina Rockhill is assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division.)
On Veterans Day this Thursday, November 11th we will honor all those service members and their families that have served and sacrificed before us. We deeply respect and admire the dedication and selfless service of all combat veterans. Task Force 185th Aviation would like to dedicate our success here in Iraq to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots that developed the basics of our modern day Army Aviation doctrine. Thanks to our predecessors we have the most modern high tech aircraft, we have tried and true tactics, techniques and procedures and we have the proven skills to accomplish our mission. When we arrived in Iraq we were more than prepared for the challenge. In contrast the helicopter pilots of Vietnam were young men that went from high school to flight school and then straight to Vietnam. The average age of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam was in their early 20's and the concept of helicopters in combat was a novelty. 35 years later, the average age of TF 185th pilots is 34 and the average flight experience is almost 3,000 hours. Despite their inexperience, the Vietnam era pilots were fearless and innovative as they adapted and developed ways to utilize the helicopter in combat. The 185th is mostly a National Guard and Reserve task force. While most Vietnam Veterans have long been retired, 10% of our pilots are Vietnam "old timers" in their mid 50's. Over the years these veterans along with many others have been our mentors and role models as we trained and prepared for combat. The enemy in Vietnam was more ferocious, smarter, and dedicated. Iraqi insurgents are cowards, picking on the innocent, or using hit and run tactics to avoid a fight. The Viet Cong may have used hit and run tactics, but they were deliberate in their prosecution of the war. When in a situation they couldn't back out of, they fought fiercely. Shoulder fired man portable anti-aircraft missiles appeared at the end of the Vietnam War, so the aviators did not have to contend with them for long. What they learned about these new, small heat seeking missiles was critical to our tactics today. The greatest threat to our aircraft in Iraq is encountering new versions of this man portable anti-aircraft missile. Due to the enemy threat and dense airspace usage here in Iraq detailed and time consuming mission planning is a way of life. Fortunately we have the computers, software and internet transmitted airspace coordination means to create computer generated maps and mission data for each flight. We also have GPS navigation systems, long range radios and complete flight instruments. For protection we only fly in pairs here, while in Vietnam they many times flew single ship with minimal pre- planning time using only a map and compass. Today in Iraq, safety is paramount to everything we do. We even say our biggest enemy is ourselves in the form of an accident. We are required to conduct thorough risk analysis and track our duty time to prevent fatigue. In contrast, Vietnam Vets developed safety procedures only after frequent accidents or shoot-downs. In Iraq we also enjoy the tactical advantage of flying "blacked out" at night with Night Vision Goggles that were not invented back then. But, perhaps the greatest difference between Iraq and Vietnam is the support at home. Today we enjoy widespread support on the home front. Even those who can't see why we are fighting rarely slander soldiers when they protest the war. This may be in partly due to 9/11, but it is also because our nation remembers the nature of 1960s war protesters, and their actions toward returning Vietnam Vets. Such conduct is no longer acceptable in mainstream American society. This quote by Vietnam Veteran CW4 Ronnie Wells makes it clear: "When comparing Vietnam to Iraq, there were a few things that were painful. First, we went as individuals, not as units. We came and went at different times. We often left in the middle of the night, coming home to a town that may or may not have known you even left. We were cursed, called baby killers, and completely disrespected for many years. You, however, are seen as heroes and should receive the accolades you deserve." We in Task Force 185th have a lot to thank the Aviators of Vietnam for, from their pioneering tactics in Air Mobile Warfare; to the way they proved what was needed in the way of future aircraft. The burdens they bore both at war and at home have made our success in Iraq possible. We could write a book about this issue, but not at this time. We ask that you forward this email to a Vietnam aviator, crewmember or mechanic and thank them. On this Veterans Day we also want to give a special thanks to our family members for their sacrifices this year while we serve in Iraq. Your thoughts, support and prayers are literally a God send. Our families are now veterans too and they are our heroes!!! Catfish 6 Bradly MacNealy TF 185th Aviation "In the Sunni Triangle" Commanding Source:SOG Publication
Life is a basket of peaches over here - full of pits.
Actually the day to day living is not to bad, since the temps are now down around a 100. Chow has sucked lately, but that is to be expected. After three months ashore, you have eaten every meal on the menu multiple times. Unlike some of the more posh Army or Air Force bases, we do not have Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, etc... Yes they have those at all the other service bases. Makes you wonder what Marines are doing 300 miles from the nearest salt water. Flying is at a pace that would make your head spin. We are pushing triple peace time utilization on all mission sorties every month. Take your best three months at home and I do that in a month here. Planes are doing great and the Marines are phenomenal. Work 14 to 18 hour days 7 days a week with no breaks. Pilots and crew are running 14 hour crew days. It is not unusual to put eight plus in the saddle four or five days in a row. If you have a high side account, I will send you the stats - amazing stuff. Morale is the highest I have ever seen in the Corps. We know what we are doing is the right thing. We bust our tails to make sure it is done correctly. We do it 24/7. Time goes fast and you lose track of the days. The only way I can tell what day of the week we are on is to look at my watch. Threat issues are another other story. One thing you can take from a dirt poge - make sure all the Aircraft sensors and survival equipment works in the simulators. It works in the aircraft 100% or you don't go. Full Mission Capable is the requirement. Compound Emergency Procedures are another thing we have not done a good job of in the peace time world. You live them out here. I will shoot you something on an incident we had. It will give you gray hair. (see after action report at end of this e-mail below) The simulators must be able to properly depict compound emergencies. Tough. Last plug - Night Vision Goggles have to work in the simulators. 90% plus of all hours are on the goggles. I do not have a single pilot with only double digit goggles time anymore. I had a couple fly 70+ in one month and they were only copilots - that is the norm. Enough business. Drink a beer or three for me. No alcohol in this fight. It makes you hard and pissed off, so probably not a bad thing. Drop me a line with the latest goings on. More later Ozzie LtCol Roy A "Ozzie" Osborn HMM-263(REIN) "Thunder Chickens"
The following summary of action is compiled from eyewitnesses that were involved in the downed aircraft as well as the rescue aircraft. At approximately 2230 local time on 8 Sept 2004, Sexton 47 and Sexton 50 were tasked with the successful completion of Assault Support Request 066-Alibi. The mission consisted of launching two CH-46Es to transport VIPs from Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq to MEK East runway outside Fallujuah, Iraq. Total flight time, for the leg, was planned to be no more than 45 minutes. After the successful insertion of the VIPs into MEK East the section proceeded on routing to return to Al Taqaddum Air Base. Approximately four minutes later, enroute to TQ, the section received at least three simultaneous enemy rocket propelled grenade attacks followed by small arms fire from multiple fighting positions. A well coordinated, multiple position enemy RPG and small arms aerial ambush had engaged Sexton 47 and flight. Cpl Lewis and LCpl Deboer, from both aircraft, opened fire on the enemy positions with their left door gun mounted 50-caliber heavy automatic weapons as dash two called for a breaking maneuver to the right. As dash two broke right. the pilots and aircrew noticed that Sexton 47 was continuing straight ahead. Sexton 50 observed what was thought to be visible flares being expended by the lead aircraft. After closer examination, the pilots in the second aircraft noticed that the flares were indeed sparks and the left side of lead's tail was on fire. During the initial RPG attacks, Sexton 47's aircrew felt and heard the RPG impact as the tail of the aircraft kicked to the right. The pilots saw a large flash, which was assumed to be the RPG impact. The other two RPGs climbed above dash two missing their intended target. Sexton 47 immediately lost all electrical power to include instrument lights, internal and external communications, automatic flight control systems, as well as losing their number one engine. Both pilots were in a darkened cockpit with no instruments, no ability to talk to each other, with their aircraft on fire and going down over confirmed hostile territory without stabilized flight control inputs. Without verbal communication, Capt Franko and Capt Pawson immediately came on controls together to regain balanced flight. Sexton 47 could not perform the break right command from Sexton 50 because they had inoperable radios. Sexton 47 continued straight ahead attempting to clear the engagement area. With no visibility on engine instruments, Capt Franko heard the rotors "winding down". He immediately pushed the collective down to build rotor speed and prepare for an autorotational profile for landing. With the collective down, both pilots realized the aircraft was single engine and could continue with straight and level flight to clear the engagement area. Fortunately, an autorotational profile with no lights, no communications, and degraded flight controls was not necessary. The pilots remained at 50 feet pressing towards TQ for an emergency landing. Within seconds, Sgt Weischedel climbed forward to the cockpit and yelled to the pilots that the aircraft needed to be landed immediately. The flames from the RPG impact were building and moving up the cabin towards the cockpit. Sgt Weischedel fought the fire while receiving burns to his face and hands. Capt Pawson, with Capt Franko riding controls, set up for a low light desert emergency landing into the wind south of Fallujah. On short final, both pilots could not see outside the aircraft due to the glare from the fire degrading their night vision goggles as well as the dust and sand obscuring visual cues to the ground. Capt Pawson trimmed up the aircraft with minimal rate of descent, level attitude with slight forward airspeed. Sexton 47 impacted the! ground immediately breaking the nose wheel and left main mount. The aircraft rocked to the left causing the rotors to impact the ground. The rotors came apart and stopped quickly. The pilots egressed the aircraft through the cockpit emergency doors and joined up outside the nose of the aircraft. Both pilots immediately started looking for the two remaining crew chiefs. Without regard to their own safety, Capt Fanko inspected the fiery cabin and saw that it was clear while Capt Pawson reached back in the cockpit to pull the Fire T-Handles to shut down the engines and possibly extinguish the fire. Sgt Weischedel and LCpl Deboer had egressed the aircraft safely from the opposite side. In flight, both crew chiefs had moved their way closer to the cockpit as the heat intensified from the rear. During impact Sgt Weischedel suffered a broken arm, bruised ribs, a collapsed lung and burns. LCpl Deboer was thrown into the cockpit during landing where he impacted the center console face first. He suffered lacerations and burns to the face. L/Cpl Deboer stayed on his .50 cal returning fire to suppress further enemy action taken against his and the dash two aircraft. He manned and engaged the door gun all the way to landing despite horrific temperatures from the cabin fire. Once on deck, despite lacerations and burns to his face, L/Cpl Deboer remained calm and began acting as radio operator for the recovery effort. After the recovery and enroute to TQ, L/Cpl Deboer disregarded his own injuries and tended to Sgt Weishadel's injuries keeping him calm and comfortable prior to arriving at the medical facility. Capt Franko received serious burns to his hands and face. Capt Pawson received minor burns to his face, as well. After joining up outside the wreckage, the pilots and L/Cpl Deboer moved Sgt Weischedel farther away from the wreckage as fire engulfed the entire aircraft within minutes. Capt Franko turned on his survival radio and IR strobe to mark their position for pick up! by Sexton 50. Sgt Weischedel now lay on the desert floor being treated for serious injuries to his chest and arm. He mustered the strength to walk to the rescue aircraft when it landed. All four aircrew survived and walked away from Sexton 47. Source: SOG PublicationWeekly Update 15 Oct 04
It is with the deepest sadness and most profound grief that I must report to you the loss of Daniel Wyatt, LCpl, Fox Co, 2nd Bn, 24th Marines, USMC. Daniel was killed in the line of duty, while conducting foot patrolling operations in Yusufiyah Iraq. Daniel was killed by a command detonated improvised explosive device. He died instantly, suffered no pain and was immediately recovered by his fellow Marines. My command security element and I personally recovered Daniel's body and escorted him back to the forward operating base, and then onto the helicopter for the beginning of his final ride home. I cannot even begin to express to you the soul touching sight of combat hardened Marines, encrusted with weeks of sweat and dust, who have daily been engaged in combat, coming to complete and utter solemnity and respect in the handling of the body of one of their own. It puts on display a level of brotherly love you just cannot see anywhere else. We conducted a memorial service for Daniel in the battle space owned by his fellow Marines, as well as one the following day at the battalion forward operating base. I have spoken with his fiancée and expressed the sorrow and sympathy of the entire Battalion. If I might for a moment, I hear and see some of the media coverage. I hear the accusations and charges. I hear what could almost be labeled as hysteria over the situation in Iraq. Let me tell you something from ground level. The town of Yusufiyah that Daniel and his fellow Marines seized, had not seen government structure or security forces for over 8 months. FOREIGN FIGHTERS, TERRORIST AND THUGS have had free reign and have routinely murdered people in the market for no reason other than one day they MIGHT support a democratic process and speak for themselves. For nothing more than they MIGHT choose a version of religion even slightly different than the terrorists and foreign fighters. They live in squalor and fear. The Marines of Daniel's unit have not had a shower since seizing the town. They have eaten MREs day in and day out. They live a Spartan existence that few can imagine. And, on all my trips to their position for planning, coordination and command visits, I ask them if they want to be relieved. To a man, they look me in the eye and tell me NO WAY. Why? Well, I am not going to soften it for anyone, the primary reason why is to kill terrorists. Please remember, that is what they are trained and paid to do. But, they also tell me, they want to help the people of Yusufiyah. They want to show all of Iraq that they can stand on their own feet, push back against extremism, and with our help live the life of freedom that all men yearn for. Yes, from the mouths of these young and hardened warriors, this is what they tell me. And then...and then...they ask me how I am doing! Un-freaking believable! They worry about everyone else but themselves. So believe what you want. That is your right as Americans. But I am telling you, there are no heroes on any football fields, basketball courts or halls of government. There are honorable and decent people all over America. However, the heroes are on the battlefields of Iraq. Suffering, killing and DYING that others might live, and live in FREEDOM. Americans free from terror, Iraqis free from oppression and tyranny. I am an under-educated gun toter from Indiana who is just lucky there is an organization like the USMC where a half-wit like myself with some rudimentary combat skills can succeed. But I do know heroes! I am surrounded by over a thousand of them. And I am not the least bit ashamed to tell you I have wept like a baby for Daniel Wyatt. Because when one of these heroes falls, it is if an Angel of God himself has fallen from heaven! I will not profess glory of battle or any other such hype. I will profess duty and sacrifice. Daniel showed us all true duty and ultimate sacrifice. I have no doubt that the instant he died, he was whisked to heaven on the wings of Angels and placed before the unapproachable light of Jesus, who himself said: "greater love hath no man, than a man lay down his life for his friends." GOD BLESS AND KEEP DANIEL WYATT, HIS FAMILY AND FIANCEE AND GOD BLESS AND KEEP ALL THE FAMILIES OF 2/24. Yours in profound sadness Mark A. Smith, LtCol. USMC Commander Task Force 2/24 Mahmudiyah, Iraq (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
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