Th e De fe nse

of
Jisr AlDore aa

M ich ae lL. Burgoyne

Albe rtJ. M arck w ardt

 PR EFACE

Th is is anoth e r type ofw ar ne w in its inte ns ity, ancie ntin its origins - w ar by gue rrillas , s ubve rs ive s ,

ins urge nts , as s as s ins ;w ar by am bus h ins te ad ofby com bat;by infiltration, ins te ad ofaggre s s ion, s e e k ing

victory by e roding and e xh aus ting th e e ne m y ins te ad ofe ngaging h im … itre q uire s in th os e s ituations

w h e re w e m us tcounte r it… a w h olly diffe re ntk ind offorce , and th e re fore a ne w and w h olly diffe re ntk ind

ofm ilitary training.

-Pre s ide ntJoh n F. K e nne dy 19 62

Th e adve ntof th e W ar on Te rror and th e e volution of gue rilla tactics into a de cis ive form of w arfare in its

urban and ruralform s h ave im pacte d th e w ay w e s te rn force s conductw arfare . Th e US de ploym e nts to

Iraq and Afgh anis tan h ave cre ate d a pleth ora of les s ons learne d and adjus tm e nts to doctrine . H ow e ve r,

h ark ing back to office r training and th e s im ple bute ffe ctive “D e fe ns e of D uffe r’s D rift” by E.D . Sw inton

w e be lie ve th atth is s h orts tory w illbe of value to any young office r or s m allunitleade r e ngage d in th e

com plexitie s of counte rins urge ncy w arfare .

Th e follow ing s tory e m bodie s th e re collection of th ings done and undone in Iraq be tw e e n 2003 and 2008.

W e h ope th atth is fictionale xam ple w illprom ote th e application of th e criticalfundam e ntals of

counte rins urge ncy and pre ve ntth e ir abs e nce due to ignorance , arrogance , or m is unde rs tanding. As th e

force s of libe ralde m ocracy continue to face th e ch allenge of radicale xtre m is ts , itis h ope d th atth is s im ple

te xtw illprovide a bas is for additionals tudy and dis cus s ion on counte rins urge ncy tactics .

Captain M ich ae lL. Burgoyne

Captain Albe rtJ. M arck w ardt

 PR O LO GUE

I h ad jus tcom plete d th e Bas ic O ffice rs Cours e and afte r a brie f m om e ntath om e s tation w as on

m y w ay to m e e tm y unitin K uw aitas itpre pare d to m ove north into Iraq . I de s pis e flying and as th e

ch arte re d fligh tlifte d off from th e Unite d State s I took tw o s lee ping pills and drifte d into an

uncom fortable s lee p. As m y s tory unfolds you w ills e e th atI e ndure d 6 nigh tm aris h dre am s during th e

fligh t. In a s trange circum s tance I w as face d w ith th e s am e m is s ion, troops and te rrain in e ach dre am but

w ith outcontinue d k now ledge of th e s ituation. In th e follow ing page s I h ave s e parate d e ach dre am into a

s e parate ch apte r. In e ach dre am I re ce ive th e s am e m is s ion from m y com m ande r and in e ach dre am I try

m y be s tto s ucce e d. Atth e conclus ion of e ach dre am I w as able to de ve lop criticalles s ons from m y

s ucce s s e s and failure s . Th e s e les s ons w e re th e only re collections I re taine d be tw e e n dre am s and s e rve d to

guide m e on m y ne xtatte m pt. In th e e nd th e s e les s ons produce d s ucce s s and w h e n I aw ok e I re called th e m

allin de tail.

- 2LT Arnold Sm ith

 TH E FIR ST D R EAM

Th us one w h o e xce ls atw arfare firs te s tablis h e s h im s e lfin a pos ition w h e re h e cannotbe de fe ate d w h ile

notlos ing any opportunity to de fe atth e e ne m y.

-Sun Tzu

I w alke d into th e Com m ande r’s room on th e Forw ard O pe rating Bas e and e age rly re ce ive d m y

m is s ion brie fing. Th e com m ande r, Captain Jone s w as a h ard nos e d m an w ith pre vious com battours in

Iraq and Afgh anis tan. H e w as te d no tim e and rattled off th e de tails of m y m is s ion.

“Arnold, you h ave a tough m is s ion. I ne e d you to e s tablis h a com batoutpos tove r-w atch ing th is

pontoon bridge atJis r AlD ore aa.”

 H e pointe d to a s m allline cros s ing a rive r on th e s ate llite im age ry.

“You w illcontrolyour are a of ope rations including th e village ofAlD ore aa from your Com bat

O utpos tand pre ve ntAnti Iraq i Force s from m oving acros s th e bridge from th e Eas tto th e W e s t. Th e

Troop and I w illcontinue our ope rations from th e FO B and s upportm ay be a good dis tance from your

pos ition. I’m going to plus you up w ith th e m ortar m e n as additionaldis m ounts and a couple of guys from

h e adq uarte rs ;I th ink you’llne e d s om e e xtra m anpow e r dow n th e re . D o you h ave any q ue s tions ?”

I w as e xcite d to tak e on th e ch allenge , vis ions of Silve r Stars and Ge ne ralO ffice r adulation

s w irled aboutm y h e ad. “No problem Sir!” I s tate d w ith as m uch bravado as I could m us te r. “I’lls h ow th at

village w h o’s in ch arge and putth os e te rroris ts in th e ir place !” Confide nce h as alw ays s e rve d m e w e ll,and

I w as re ady afte r m y R O TC and O ffice r Bas ic.

Th e Com m ande r s m iled s om e w h atune as ily I th ink , and as k e d “do you ne e d anyth ing e lse for th e

ope ration?”

I m e ntally ran th rough m y as s e ts . I h ad a daunting array of fire pow e r and pe rs onne l;five M 1114

arm ore d H igh ly M obile M ulti-W h e e led Ve h icles w ith .50 Calibe r M ach ine guns and M K 19 autom atic

gre nade launch e rs , th re e M 3 Cavalry Figh ting Ve h icles w ith th e ir 25m m ch ain guns , countles s M 4 rifles ,

and a couple of M 240 m ach ine guns . I h ad th irty h igh ly traine d cavalry s couts and Non-Com m is s ione d

O ffice rs . I couldn’tth ink of anyth ing e lse w orth bringing, be s ide s itw ould tak e s om e tim e to ge tpack e d

up and m oving. “No Sir, w e ’re good to go.”

“O k ay, w h e n can you be re ady to m ove ” h e as k e d.

“W e w illbe on th e m ove w ith in 3 h ours ” I calm ly s tate d.

Th e Com m ande r h ande d m e th e re ce ntinte llige nce s um m arie s from th e are a and s om e s ate llite

im age ry w ith graph ics .

W h ile th e Platoon pre pare d to m ove I look e d ove r th e inte llige nce and itappe are d th atAlD ore aa

w as notparticularly dange rous w ith th e typicalIm provis e d Explos ive D e vice attack s and s m allarm s

am bus h e s along m ajor route s . Italso appe are d th atUS pre s e nce in th e are a h ad be e n e xtre m e ly lim ite d as
of th e las tye ar s o de tailed re ce ntinform ation w as large ly lack ing. Th e s urrounding population w as s m all,

around 500 pe ople and pre dom inantly Sunni M us lim . “No m ajor th re ats th e re ;s h ould be a cak e w alk” I

th ough t.

Th e s ate llite im age ry de line ate d m y zone w ith a blue line th atcutacros s th e ruralvillage and th e

s urrounding farm s . A blue triangle w as place d ove r a s m allgove rnm e ntbuilding ne ar th e bridge th atw as

to be m y outpos t. Its e e m e d lik e a good s potand I m ove d outto m y ve h icle to finis h pre parations .

I grabbe d up m y s e ction s e rge ants and brie fe d a q uick orde r be fore th e Pre -Com batIns pe ctions . I

w as proud of m ys e lf for w ork ing th rough th e troop leading proce dure s jus tlik e I h ad learne d in s ch ool.

W e re h e ars e d th e m ove m e ntand occupation plan and th e n line d up for SP.

As w e m ove d into zone I took th e opportunity to obs e rve th e lay of th e land from th e h atch of m y
Cavalry Figh ting Ve h icle. Along th e rive r de ns e foliage and re e ds s e ve re ly re s tricte d obs e rvations and

fie lds of fire ;outs ide of th e rive r bank s fie lds of crops s tre tch e d outalong th e h orizon brok e n by m ore

re e ds s h ooting up from canals th atch aotically cuta w e b of im pas s ible tre nch e s into th e ground. AlD ore aa

w as a large clus te r of h om e s s urrounde d by farm s . Th e buildings w e re large ly m ud brick h uts of poor

cons truction w ith s om e m ore s turdy concre te and re bar h om e s and s h ops . Ch ildre n initially s e e m e d e age r

to look atour CFVs and truck s butw e re q uick ly w h is k e d ins ide by th e ir m oth e rs . A num be r of m ales gave

us h ard s tare s as w e rolled by. “Go ah e ad tak e a s h ot, tough guy” I th ough t. I w as e age r to ge tin a figh t

and e arn m y Com batAction Badge . As I w ar-gam e d a valiantfire figh tin m y h e ad I w as brough tback to

th e tas k ath and by R e d 2 m y s e nior s cout.

“R e d 1, R e d 2, w e ’re atth e CO P” th e radio crack led.

“R oge r, O ccupy”

W e s toppe d th e track and I dis m ounte d to ch e ck outour ne w h om e . Th e m ain building w as e ith e r

an old police ch e ck pointor arm y pos ition;ith ad be e n gutte d by loote rs and graffiti cove re d th e w alls;it
w ould do jus tfine . Th e building w as concre te w ith a flatroof typicalof th e re gion. A tallconcre te block

w alls urrounde d th e yard and its tre tch e d back to th e bank of th e rive r w h e re th e yard ove r-w atch e d th e

bridge . Th e re w e re th re e large room s th atw e could us e for s lee ping and th e concre te block cons truction

offe re d good cove r from s m allarm s fire . Th e s un w as be ginning to s e ton th e W e s ts ide of th e rive r and I

re alize d th atith ad be e n a long day jum ping th rough our as s e s to ge tdow n h e re . I trie d to th ink of m y ne xt

m ove . M y leade r book from th e ScoutLe ade rs Cours e w as fullof old h igh -inte ns ity conflictdoctrine and

ch e ck lis ts . “Th e y’d be of no us e h e re … th is w as a ne w k ind of w ar th e old rules don’tapply. Th e days of a

dug in tank de fe ns e w e re ove r. Be s ide s w h atk ind of ins urge ntforce w ould tak e on a couple of Bradleys

and a bunch ofAm e rican troops ?” I th ough t. Ye p, I de cide d th atI w ould tak e care of Soldie rs and ge tas

m uch re s tas pos s ible, th e y h ad w ork e d h ard to pack th e ir ge ar and m ove outh e re . I called ove r th e

Platoon Se rge antand ins tructe d h im

“Se rge ant, w e ’llm an tw o Brads tonigh t, tw o m e n pe r Bradley, h ave th e m ove rw atch th e roads and

th e bridge . Go ah e ad and m ak e th e re s tplan, w e ’llge th ottom orrow on th e m is s ion.”

“R oge r Sir” h e re plie d and h e m ove d outto organize th e m e n.

Th e cots w e re s e tup and th e M R Es cam e out. I s atdow n w ith m y s e ction s e rge ants in th e cool

nigh tair and w e be gan a gam e of s pade s on a table of M R E boxe s . R e d 5 and I w e re trouncing th e Platoon

Se rge antand R e d 2 w h e n a callcam e ove r th e h and h e ld M BTR radio

“R e d 1 th is is R e d 4 golf… I’ve gottw o locals h e re and I th ink th e y w antto talk to you.”

I th re w on m y ge ar and w e ntoutto th e road w h e re tw o pe ople w e re s tanding in th e h e adligh ts of

th e Bradley. As I gotclos e r I m ade outtw o m e n w e aring “m an-dre s s e s .” “I’llne ve r unde rs tand w h y th e y

w e ar th os e th ings ” I m urm ure d to m ys e lf as I approach e d th e m . O ne m an w as talland th in and th e oth e r

w as s om e w h ats h ortand fairly fat. W h e n th e y s aw m e th e y be gan frantically ge s turing and babbling in

Arabic. I couldn’tunde rs tand a w ord th e y w e re s aying. I trie d to catch on to w h atth e y w e re s igning it

look e d im portantth e s tum py m an w as clearly s care d and k e ptpointing atm y rifle and w aving h is h ands

ye lling “BO O M , BO O M , BO O M .” Th e m an s tarte d crying and th e be an pole s tarte d look ing atm e
angrily as k ing “M utarge m ?M utarge m ?”

Afte r aboutfifte e n m inute s I h ad h ad e nough and told th e m to leave w ith a s h us h ing m otion of

th e h and. W h e n th e y didn’tm ove and k e pttalking I rais e d m y voice and ye lled.

“ENO UGH ! GET O UT O F H ER E!”

I grabbe d m y rifle pulling itto th e low re ady. Th e y took th e h intand w alke d back tow ard th e village

q uick ly dis appe aring into th e s h adow s .

By th e tim e I gotback ins ide th e gam e w as brok e n up and m os tof th e guys w e re alre ady as lee p. I

w as s urpris e d to s e e th atm os tof th e m w e re outs ide on th e ir cots or on th e roof. I gue s s th e h ous e h ad

trappe d th e h otair ins ide and guys figure d itw as m ore com fortable to s lee p outs ide in th e coolnigh tair.

I agre e d w ith th e ir as s e s s m e nt, s trippe d off m y ge ar and laid dow n on m y cot. I drifte d off to s lee p

s taring atth e s tars and im agining th e glorie s of com batah e ad.

I aw ok e w h e n m y body h itth e ground;de bris s tillflying th rough th e air. M y e ars w e re ringing

and e ve ryth ing s e e m e d to be m oving in s low m otion. D irt, rock s , s and, concre te and as h w e re pe lting

m e . I s traine d to focus and s low ly re gaine d m y s e ns e s , I look e d tow ard th e road and allI could s e e w as a

billow ing and grow ing cloud of black s m ok e obs curing th e e arly m orning s un. I look e d around and th e

re s tof th e m e n w e re as s tunne d as I w as s taring blank ly atth e s m ok e and de bris ;m os tof th e m h alf

nak e d from th e ir s lum be r. O ne of th e m e n ran to m e from th e gate and ye lpe d outh is contactre port.

“Sir, a car… w as h auling as s ...drove righ tby us … and blew up ne xtto 18… it’s on fire s ir and 14’s

turre tw as dam age d.”

I grabbe d h im by th e s h oulde rs “calm dow n m an. D o w e h ave any cas ualt… ” I w as inte rrupte d by

a blas tof air and s te e lth atth re w m e off m y fe e t.

Pain s h otth rough m y arm as I look e d up from th e ground. I w atch e d as five m ore m ortar rounds

cras h e d into our pos ition. Th e m e n s cram bled to don th e ir body arm or and s e e k cove r butm any w e re

torn to pie ce s by th e s h ards of m e talth ats ung th rough th e com pound. Th e barrage s toppe d and I gotto

m y fe e t, blood w as s tre am ing dow n m y arm as I s lung m y arm or on and m ove d outto h e lp m y Platoon. I
ran to th e gate firs tonly to find 18 on fire w ith 25m m rounds cook ing off in th e back . Th e ch arre d

re m ains of a s e dan bare ly re cognizable as a car fram e lay ne xtto th e Bradley. 14 w as in bad s h ape , th e

e ngine block h ad im pacte d th e gun barre land th e ISU s igh t. “I w ould ne e d to m an th e oth e r ve h icles to

ge ts om e s e curity out” I th ough t. Jus tas I be gan to ge ta h andle on th e s ituation I h e ard th e ch atte r of

m ach ine gun fire on th e W e s ts ide of th e com pound follow e d by th e popping of M 4s .

As I w alke d back ins ide I s aw th e platoon firing into th e s outh w e s ts ide of th e com pound. Gre e n

trace rs w e re rak ing th e com pound from th e corne r and I s aw m as k e d m e n pouring th rough a gap in th e

w allw h e re itm e tth e w ate r. I h e ard th e loud crack and zing of rounds and fe ltch ips of th e w allbe h ind m e

bounce off m y h e lm e t. I q uick ly duck e d and ran tow ard th e building. Th e yard w as filled w ith w ounde d

or de ad Soldie rs . Blood and pie ce s of fles h w e re e ve ryw h e re and th e s m ok e from th e burning ve h icles by

th e gate m ade ith ard to bre ath e . Th e re m ainde r of th e Platoon w as falling back to th e h ous e and w as

s e tting in th e re . I dove ins ide th e frontdoor of th e ce m e ntbuilding ch as e d by a h ailofAK 47 fire .

Ins ide , th e m e dic w as w ork ing on five w ounde d m e n;one w as m is s ing a leg. I gota h old of th e m anpack

w e h ad be e n us ing for radio ch e ck s and called for h e lp. I could only h ope th atth e ante nna w ire h adn’t

be e n cutin th e attack .

“Any s tation th is ne t, any s tation th is ne t, th is is R e d 1 w e ’re unde r attack ! W e ’re unde r attack !”

An uninte lligible blas tof s q ue lch w as allth atcam e back acros s . I h ope d th atth e m e s s age gotth rough but

I couldn’tbe s ure . I counte d te n m e n leftins ide th e building alls h ooting from th e w indow s and doors ,

s om e of th e m w e re w ounde d.

W e be gan to run low on am m unition w h e n th e s h ooting s udde nly s toppe d and th e AIF be gan to

bre ak contactand m ove back outof th e com pound. I h e ard th e s te ady w h om ping s ounds of th e Apach e s

be fore I s aw th e m com e into vie w , circling th e com pound. Th e m e dic be gan w ork ing on m y arm and

w h ile I w aite d for th e M ED EVAC I conte m plate d th is m os tunfortunate s ituation.

W e h ad los t15 m e n k illed in action, one m an die d of w ounds , and four s e rious ly w ounde d. W e

los ttw o M 3s and th e m ajority of our oth e r ve h icles w e re dam age d. Th e AIF h ad only tw o k illed.
 Afte r m uch de libe ration I de te rm ine d th e follow ing les s ons from th e de bacle, w h ich w e re

th e n burne d into m y m e m ory by th e s e aring pain of m y injury.

1. Se cu rity is th e nu m be r one priority. Units m u s tm aintain 360 de gre e s e cu rity no m atte r w h at

th e s itu ation.

2. Th e fu ndam e ntals s tillapply. Cou nte r-ins u rge ncy ope rations and low inte ns ity conflictdo

notne gate th e valu e of s ys te m s th atare tim e te s te d in cou ntles s conflicts . Em ploying th e

fu ndam e ntals of de fe ns e , th e s e ve n s te ps of e ngage m e ntare a de ve lopm e nt, and prioritie s of

w ork are criticalto e s tablis h ing an ou tpos t.

As th e s e les s ons w e re e tch e d into m y s oulI found m ys e lf s om e h ow drifting into anoth e r dre am .
 TH E SECO ND D R EAM

Ne ve r pick a figh tw ith pe ople w h o buy ink by th e barre l.

- Pre s ide ntW illiam J. Clinton

Adaptyours e lfto th e th ings am ong w h ich your loth as be e n cas tand love s ince re ly th e fe llow cre ature s

w ith w h om de s tiny h as ordaine d th atyou s h alllive .

- M arcus Aure lius

I again found m ys e lf back in th e Com m ande r’s room re ce iving m y brie f. I lis te ne d inte ntly

focus e d on corre cting m y gros s failure s of th e las tdre am and applying th e les s ons I de rive d from m y

m is tak e s . I is s ue d anoth e r w arning orde r and as be fore I did m y pre -com batins pe ctions . Th is tim e

h ow e ve r, I w e ntand re vie w e d m y leade r-book . I e xam ine d th e de fe ns ive prioritie s of w ork th atI h ad built

during th e Bas ic Cours e . Atfirs tI w as a little confus e d ath ow m y SO P w ould w ork , I m e an itw as

de s igne d for a line ar arm or de fe ns e agains tth e Sovie th oard. Butas I look e d itove r I found th atitw as
applicable to m y curre ntproblem ;itjus tne e de d to be adjus te d to th e m is s ion and te rrain.

I adjus te d th e e ne m y e ffe cts as I w ould ne e d to focus on m ortar attack s rath e r th an ch e m ical,air,

or fie ld artillery;th e ins urge nts didn’th ave th os e capabilitie s . Th e e ngine e rs and obs tacles m ade no s e ns e

w h e n I picture d th e M aginotline butas I look e d atth e s ate llite im age ry I re alize d th atI w ould ne e d

obs tacle m ate rialto re inforce th e outpos tand our pos itions around it. O bs tacle m ate rialw ould also be

us e fulto s low dow n ve h icle borne im provis e d e xplos ive de vice s trying to ge tto th e Bradleys . I m ade s ure

to focus notjus ton battle pos itions or ve h icle figh ting pos itions butalso on our dis m ounte d pos itions as

th is w ould be a pe rim e te r de fe ns e . I k ne w th atth e rules of e ngage m e ntlim ite d m y indire ctfire as s e ts s o I

couldn’te xpe ctto ge t155m m artillery s upportw ith outth e D ivis ion Com m ande r’s approval;I focus e d

ins te ad on h ow I could us e air to s upportm e .

Arm e d w ith th is analys is I w e ntback to th e Com m ande r and m ade s om e re q ue s ts . Afte r s om e

dis cus s ion and a couple calls to Sq uadron, I m anage d to ge tone H EM TT cargo truck w ith 5000 s andbags ,

4 s h ortconcre te je rs e y barrie rs , and 100 rolls of conce rtina w ire . In addition, I learne d th atattack aviation

w as s e tfor troops in contactand w ould be on a 15 m inute s tring if w e ne e de d th e m . Th e Com m ande r also

re com m e nde d th atI pas s on any graph ics to th e XO for th e pilots .

Arm e d w ith m y trus ty SO P and a H EM TT fullof Clas s IVI leftth e gate bound for th e outpos t

w ith th e s am e am ple force s as th e firs tdre am . W h e n w e arrive d atth e outpos tI re ach e d into m y bag and

pulled outm y leade r-book and be gan tick ing off th e prioritie s of w ork . I look e d atth e te rrain and q uick ly

s k e tch e d outth e lik e ly e ne m y ave nue s of approach . I h ad th e obvious roads R oute Adam s m ove d from

th e South -Eas tto th e North -W e s tto th e North of th e outpos tand R oute Trum an cros s e d th e bridge and

inte rs e cte d R oute Adam s atth e corne r of th e outpos t. Additionally, I ide ntifie d s om e dis m ounte d

approach e s us ing th e cove r from th e de ns e foliage by th e rive r. I also goton th e ground and de te rm ine d

th e be s tw ay for AIF to attack th e outpos tw as w ith a dis m ounte d attack along th e rive r or a VBIED s trik e

along th e roads . Th e y w ould ne e d a s upportby fire to cros s th e roads or to fix us w h ile th e y bre ach e d th e

w all;th e y could e ve n do th is from acros s th e rive r.

 Bas e d on m y re con of th e e ne m y’s options and th e lay of th e land I laid outth e platoon dire ctfire

plan. I figure d th e be s tplace to k illth e bad guys w as as th e y cros s e d th e roads or in our obs tacles . I

s h ow e d th e platoon s e rge antw h e re th e obs tacles w e re going to be e m place d. W e w ould ne e d to re inforce

th e oute r w allw ith conce rtina w ire and pullw ire allth e w ay dow n to th e rive r. In addition w e w ould ne e d

w ire outs ide th e pe rim e te r on th e oth e r s ide of th e roads and th e canalto th e North to fix th e e ne m y for

our dire ctfire s . Th e ce m e ntbarricade s w ould be place d atth e inte rs e ction and along ave nue of approach

tw o. Finally w e w ould us e our s andbags to re inforce th e building and cove r th e w indow s as w e llas build

bunk e rs for our m ach ine gun pos itions .

 W h ile th e obs tacles w e re be ing e m place d I e ns ure d th atw e m anne d our Bradleys pulling s e curity

th e e ntire tim e . I th e n finalize d th e pos itions . Tw o dug in and s andbagge d bunk e rs w ould cove r th e

South e rn approach e s and th e oppos ite s ide of th e rive r. O ne m ach ine gun pos ition w ould be e m place d on

th e roof to cove r th e north -w e s t. Tw o Bradleys w ould s e ton th e m ain road and one Bradley w ould

s im ultane ous ly block th e m ain gate and cove r th e Eas te rn approach e s . Th e com m o s e rge antran w ire to

allof th e pos itions and e s tablis h e d a com m and and controlnode in th e m ain building w ith both FM and

w ire com m unication be tw e e n allpos itions .

As th e day be gan to w ane into th e e ve ning I w e ntoutone las ttim e to ch e ck th e de fe ns e s from th e

e ne m y’s pe rs pe ctive . Its e e m e d pre tty im pos ing to m e and I called on th e radio as I m ove d to e ns ure th at

w e h ad obtaine d ove rlapping fire s th rough outth e pe rim e te r. Th e Platoon Se rge antk e ptth e m e n w ork ing

allnigh tfilling s andbags and im proving pos itions ;th e guard rotation w as de m anding butw as w ork able. I

finally allow e d m ys e lf to driftoff to s lee p confide ntth atI h ad done e ve ryth ing I could to e s tablis h th e

de fe ns e and th atw e w ould continue to im prove th e pos ition.

Stand To w as at0530 and th e e ntire platoon w as up and m anning th e pe rim e te r. I re m e m be r m y

grizzly NCO ins tructor atR O TC te lling m e “th e Indians attack atdaw n… th at’s w h y w e do Stand To.”

W e llby 0600 th e y h adn’tattack e d s o I s h ave d h ad a q uick bre ak fas tand troope d th e line . I w alke d e ach

pos ition and q uizze d th e Soldie rs on th e ir s e ctors and th e ir TR Ps . W h e n I re ach e d th e Bradleys I h ad an

inte re s ting conve rs ation w ith one of th e ve h icle com m ande rs .

H e as k e d “H e y s ir, w h e n can w e s h ootatve h icles ?W e ’ve be e n letting ‘e m rollby s o far.”

I w as m ore th an a little frus trate d I didn’tw anta VBIED ge tting th rough th e pe rim e te r.

“Look , noth ing ge ts th rough h e re , noth ing, jus tturn th e m around and if th e y don’ts top e ngage

th e m , re m e m be r th os e VBIED s are de adly!” I s aid.

“R oge r s ir”
 Th e day w ore on and th e m e n cutdow n re e ds and foliage to clear fie lds of fire . W e finis h e d up th e

bunk e rs and th e re inforce m e ntof th e building. Nigh tfe lland th e guard s h ifts flow e d th rough th e nigh t.

Th e only s h ots fire d w e re from th e Bradleys s h ooing off s om e cars trying to m ove dow n R oute Adam s or

acros s th e bridge . W h e n m orning cam e again w ith anoth e r une ve ntfulStand To I w as confide ntth atw e

w e re one nutth atw as too tough to crack .

“I gue s s th e AIF k now w h o notto m e s s w ith … and I th ough tth is w ould be a figh tdow n h e re ” I

boas te d to th e platoon s e rge ant.

W h ile w alking th e line I h e ard a s h otand initially I th ough titw as th e Bradleys again, butit

s ounde d loude r and m ore dis tant… th e n th e s cre am ing s tarte d.

“M ED IC! M ED IC!”

I ran to th e crie s and w as s tartled by a burs tfrom th e M 240 on top of th e building. As I re ach e d

th e building I found th e m e dic s taring ove r th e body of one of m y private s . H e w as pale and atfirs t

s e e m e d to be s lee ping or uncons cious . Th e n on clos e r ins pe ction I notice d a s m allh ole jus tunde r h is e ar

and a poolof blood and m atte r th atw as gath e ring on th e oppos ite s ide of h is K e vlar. Th e m e dic jus tk ne lt

be s ide h im in s ilence and s aid a praye r. Eve ryone ins ide th e h ous e ran outand w as s h ock e d atth e s igh tof

th e ir frie nd. Th e Platoon Se rge anttook controland cove re d h is body w ith a ponch o line r.

“M an your pos itions !” h e grow led.

Th e y s catte re d. I grabbe d th e clos e s tm an and as k e d w h ath ad h appe ne d.

“H e w as going up on th e roof for h is s h iftw h e n h e goth it” h e blurte d out.

I ne e de d to ge ta h andle on th e s ituation s o I te pidly clim be d up to th e roof. M y h e artw as

th um ping loudly in m y e ars as I m ade m y w ay up. I dove into th e bunk e r h appy to be alive and as k e d th e

m e n w h atth e y w e re s h ooting at. Th e y s aid th atth e y th ough tth e s h otcam e from TR P 2 a farm h ous e to

th e North -W e s t. Itdidn’tm ak e m uch s e ns e to m e be caus e h is w ound look e d lik e th e s h oth ad com e from

th e South -Eas t. I h ad h e ard s torie s abouts nipe rs be fore and I w as n’taboutto letm y Soldie r die for

noth ing. “ Be tte r to be s ure ” I th ough t. I called ove r th e ne tto th e oth e r pos itions .
 “Engage allpos s ible s nipe r locations !”

R e d 2 cam e back “Sir, including th e farm h ous e s ?”

“Ye p, ALLpos s ible s nipe r h ide s ite s !” I blas te d back .

Th e roar of th e m ach ine guns e ch oe d acros s th e farm land as 7.62 rounds s ung th rough th e flim s y

farm h ous e s and s k ippe d th rough th e s urrounding fie lds in a “m ad m inute ” th atre m inde d m e of th e

Arnold Sch w arze ne gge r m ovie Pre dator. W h e n I w as s atis fie d I called “Ce as e Fire ” ove r th e ne t. Afte r

th e s h ooting I s pok e to th e m ach ine gunne r again.

“So w h ate lse did you s e e ?”

H e re plie d th ath e h ad s e e n a guy run outof th e building tow ard tow n butth atw h e n h is frie nd h ad

be e n s h oth e droppe d th e gun and trie d to h e lp h im . Th e re w as no one outto cuth im off s o I gue s s th at

guy gotaw ay… or m aybe w e w e re luck y and goth im in one of th e h ous e s . Th e n th e crie s s tarte d again;

th is tim e th e y w e re Iraq i and fe m ale, th e y w e re com ing from th e farm h ous e to th e Eas t. I s lid dow n th e

ladde r to th e ground and organize d a five m an patrolto go to th e farm h ous e . I brough tth e m e dic jus tin

cas e w e h ad cas ualtie s . As w e pus h e d outth e m ain gate I im m e diate ly s aw w h ath ad h appe ne d. A young

w om e n and w as clutch ing h e r young s on aboutfive or s ix ye ars old in h e r arm s . H is leftarm w as a

s h re dde d s tum p from th e e lbow dow n. H is ch e s tw as m angled and dre nch e d in blood, bits of s h atte re d

bone ris ing up from gaping e xitw ounds caus e d by 7.62 bullets . H e r e ntire body w as dre nch e d in blood,

h e r crie s w e re notre ally crie s ;th atw ouldn’tdo itjus tice . Th e y w e re anim alnois e s gutturaland pie rcing

filled w ith anguis h and dis be lie f. Th e m e dic trie d to look atth e ch ild, w h y I’m nots ure , h e w as clearly

de ad. Sh e droppe d h e r s h e llof a boy and s cre am e d s trik ing outatth e m e dic and th e n collaps ing ath e r

s on’s corps e . W e m ove d on into h e r h ous e and found th e re s tof th e fam ily. H e r h us band, tw o daugh te rs ,

and an old w om an alltorn to pie ce s by our m ach ine gun fire . Th e re w as no rifle, no s h e llcas ing, no s ign

of th e AIF. I re turne d to th e w om an and trie d to s pe ak to h e r buts h e could only w e e p and ye llin Arabic. I

w as trying to de ciph e r w h ats h e w as s aying w h e n a flurry of s h ots rang outfrom th e road follow e d by

s cre e ch ing tire s and a loud cras h .

 M y patroland I abandone d th e w om an and ran tow ard th e s tre e t.

R e d 5 s q uaw k e d ove r th e radio;“Th is is R e d 5, e ngage d one civilian ve h icle trying to run th e

pos ition.”

As w e m ove d up tow ard th e ve h icle w e s aw one m an in th e drive r s e atclearly de ad, h is h e ad

canoe d by a 5.56 round th rough th e fore h e ad. W ith in th e bulletridde n ve h icle, anoth e r m an w as m oaning

in th e pas s e nge r s e at. W e cautious ly s talke d up to th e ve h icle look ing for s igns of e xplos ive s . I m ade m y

w ay to th e pas s e nge r s ide and found a m iddle age d m an w e aring a s uitgripping h is leftarm w h ich w as

blee ding profus e ly. W e pulled h im from th e car and th e m e dic be gan w ork ing on h im . O ne of m y Soldie rs

brough tm e th e de ad m an’s w allet, ins ide w e re s e ve ralide ntification cards . Th e one I q uick ly focus e d on

w as th e one in Englis h and Arabic, its aid

MEMBER PROVINCIALCOUNSEL

Atth is pointm y day re ally s tarte d to ge tdifficult.

“R e d 1 th is is R e d 2, I‘ve gota group of pe ople com ing from tow n and s om e of th e m h ave

cam e ras . I th ink th e y m ay be m e dia.”

“Jus tw h atI ne e de d m e dia atth is m e s s ” I th ough t. As th e y cam e up I m e tth e m atth e barricade s .

Th e ir cam e ras w e re alre ady rolling itw as a CNN cre w w ith a w om an w h o I k ne w I h ad s e e n on TV

be fore in Africa or s om e oth e r h ots pot. I introduce d m ys e lf and th e q ue s tions s tarte d.

“W h ath appe ne d h e re Lie ute nant?”

“Look I h ave no tim e for th is righ tnow ;I’m in th e m iddle of a s ituation!” I w as notgoing to be

intim idate d and I w as bus y.

“W h o w as s h oth e re today?W as s om e one s h ot?”

“Ye s M a’am , w e h ave be e n in a fire figh tw ith s om e e ne m y s nipe rs today” I q uippe d.

Sh e and h e r cre w m ove d to th e pe ppe re d ve h icle and to m y s urpris e be gan s pe ak ing to th e m an w h o w as

w ounde d. Sh e s pok e flue ntArabic and w as able to ge tth e fulls tory from h im . Sh e re late d to m e th atth e

m an w as th e as s is tantto a provincialcouns e lm e m be r;th e y h ad be e n driving to Bagh dad and cam e upon

th e ch e ck pointw h e re th e y w e re e ngage d w ith outw arning.

“D o you h ave s igns to w arn pe ople of an approach ing ch e ck point?” Sh e as k e d.

“No.”

“W h ataboutw arning s h ots , w e re th e y fire d?”

“No, butI can te llyou th atI h ave tak e n e ve ry m e as ure to prote ctm y Soldie rs , th e s e m e n could

h ave be e n s uicide bom be rs ” I s m artly s tate d. “Th e s e m e n s h ould h ave be e n m ore care ful.”

Atth is pointth e bloods oak e d w om an cam e onto th e road and s cre am e d atth e cam e ras . Anoth e r

conve rs ation in Arabic and th e ne w s cre w w as atth e farm h ous e . I continue d to follow s h e e pis h ly be h ind.

“W h ataboutth is !?W h atdid th e s e pe ople do?” Th e re porte r w as alm os tcrying h e rs e lf as s h e as k e d

th e q ue s tions .

“I don’tk now ” I s tam m e re d “w e th ough tth e y m igh tbe s nipe rs s o w e e ngage d th e h ous e . I los ta

s oldie r today butI gue s s no one care s ! Th is m is s ion is h ope les s ! I h ate th is place as m uch as anyone e lse .”

W h e n s h e did h e r s tand up itw as w ith th e pe rforate d car be h ind h e r s h e s tarte d by s aying “outof

controlUS force s h ave ye tagain us e d unre s traine d force in Iraq and th e Iraq is continue to pay th e price .

Th is tim e a provincialcouns e lm e m be r is de ad, h is as s is tantw ounde d w h e n ne gotiating one of th e m os t

dange rous th ings in Iraq … a US ch e ck point. Atne arly th e s am e tim e a fam ily is de vas tate d by US m ach ine

gun fire . Allw h ile th e leade r of US force s on th e s ce ne acts w ith outcons cie nce or prude nce .”

W h ile conte m plating h ow th is w ould look on m y office r e valuation re portI w as called by a guy at

th e gate .

“H e y s ir, CO w ants you on th e radio and I th ink h e ’s pis s e d!”

I w alke d ins ide and goton th e radio, th e CO w as alre ady on th e road I could te llfrom th e s ound of

th e h and m ik e .

“R e d 1 th is is Apach e 6, I am on m y w ay dow n th e re now ! W h y h ave n’tyou be e n up on th e ne t!”

“R oge r s ir, I’ve h ad s om e problem s dow n h e re .”

“Ye ah roge r! Look guy jus ts ittigh tI’m com ing into your zone now … ” and h e cutoff.
 A loud boom s h ook th e air around th e outpos tand th e m ach ine gun pos ition on th e roof ye lled out.

“Look s lik e a convoy jus th itan IED to th e North -W e s t!”

I frantically called ove r th e ne t“Apach e 6 th is is R e d 1… Apach e 6 th is is R e d 1 ove r.”

Finally h e cam e back acros s . “R e d 1 th is is Apach e 6, you are done ! Sittigh tyou are re lie ve d as

s oon as I ge tto your pos ition.”

As I s unk dow n in m y ch air by th e radio aw aiting m y re lie f for caus e I th ough taboutw h atI h ad

done th is tim e to fail.Th e de fe ns e of th e outpos ts e e m e d pe rfe ctbuts om e h ow oth e r e ve nts h ad gotte n out

of control.I arrive d atth e follow ing les s ons as te ars be gan to run dow n m y ch e e k s firs tfor m y de ad

s oldie r and th e n for th e civilians w e h ad k illed.

3. Providing good s e cu rity is a m u s tbu th aving a fortre s s m e ntality w ith ou tpatrolling ou ts ide

leave s you ope n to attack . You can’tfu lfillth e m is s ion from ins ide a fortifie d pos ition.

4. Th e e ne m y w illch ange h is s trate gy bas e d on you r capabilitie s . Be pre pare d for h ow th e

e ne m y w illadaptto you r actions .

5. Cou nte r-s nipe r cons ide rations m u s tbe tak e n into accou ntw h e n e s tablis h ing an ou tpos t.

Snipe r s cre e ns , cou nte r s nipe r te am s , and cou nte r-s nipe r battle drills m u s tbe im plem e nte d.

6. Es calation of force and ru les of e ngage m e ntprote ctSoldie rs by allow ing th e m to e ngage

q u ick ly w h e n it’s ne ce s s ary and to avoid w ou nding or k illing innoce ntcivilians . Brie fing and

e nforcing ru les of e ngage m e ntis criticalto m is s ion accom plis h m e nt.

7. Th e m e dia provide s an opportu nity to s pre ad a pos itive m e s s age or to dis play a te rrible

e xam ple to th e w orld. Soldie rs and leade rs m u s tbe pre pare d to te lla pos itive s tory to th e pre s s

or pu tth e be s tm os tre s pe ctfu lface on a bad s tory.

As th e CO pulled up and be gan to ye ll,h is profanity blende d into colors and a s w irling m ix of

s ounds as I be gan m y th ird dre am arm e d w ith ne w les s ons .

 TH E TH IR D D R EAM

“Itis ne ve r w is e to letth e e ne m y ge tus e d to a ce rtain form ofw arfare ;itis ne ce s s ary to vary cons tantly

th e place s , th e h ours , and th e form s ofope rations .”

- Erne s to Ch e Gue vara

Gue rilla W arfare 19 61

O nce again I re ce ive d m y orde rs brie fing and conducte d m y pre paration inte ntth is tim e to

accom plis h m y m is s ion. Th is tim e h ow e ve r, I took th e tim e to re re ad m y e s calation of force and rules of

e ngage m e nt. Th e principles outline d in th e SO P w e re

1. Soldie rs alw ays h ave th e righ tto de fe nd th e m s e lve s

2. Ifth e s ituation allow s us e graduate d force including non-leth alm e ans be fore us ing leth alforce

3. You don’th ave to go th rough allth e s te ps ifde adly force is de e m e d ne ce s s ary.

Th e graduate d re s pons e follow e d s om e s im ple and e as y to re m e m be r s te ps th atI th e n brie fe d m y Soldie rs

on prior to leaving th e FO B.

Sh out- A ve rbalw arning or ge s ture

Sh ow - D is play your w e apon and inte ntto us e it

Sh ove - Ph ys ically de tain or re s train

Sh oot- W arning s h otfirs tth e n s h ots to k ill

Afte r th e brie fing I th ough tabouth ow I could apply th e R O E to m y Bradley pos itions on th e road.

I w e ntback to th e SO P and found th e traffic controlpointdiagram .

Bas e d on th e diagram I m ade a q uick lis tfor th e XO including las e r pointe rs , s potligh ts , w arning s igns

and orange cone s w h ich h e w as able to is s ue to m e jus tprior to m ove m e nt.

M ove m e ntto th e outpos tw as une ve ntfuland I e s tablis h e d m y de fe ns e as I h ad be fore , m e ticulous ly

going th rough m y prioritie s of w ork . Th e Soldie rs w ork e d to fortify th e ir pos itions and th e guard ros te r

w as im plem e nte d. I adde d additionalde fe ns ive m e as ure s to prote ctth e outpos tfrom s nipe r activity. W e
e m place d our cam ouflage ne tting ove r allof th e pos itions including th e Bradley turre ts . I h ad m y s q uad

de s ignate d m ark s m an e s tablis h a counte r s nipe r pos ition on th e roof of th e outpos tw ith h is upgrade d

M 16A4 w ith ACO G optic. I also w e ntth rough th e pos itions and de te rm ine d th e m os tlik e ly s nipe r h ide

s ite s ;th os e s ite s w e re th e n brie fe d to th e Soldie rs on duty and adde d to th e range cards for cons tant

obs e rvation.

O utfronton th e route I ins pe cte d our ne w rules of e ngage m e ntfrie ndly TCP. R e d 5 back brie fe d

m e on h is EO F s te ps .

“Sir, outaround 350 m e te rs I’ve gotth e s igns s e tup. Nots ure e xactly w h atth e y s ay butI th ink

th e y w illletth e H ajis k now th e re is a ch e ck pointah e ad. Afte r th atw e h ave an orange cone for th e

w arning line w ith a ye llow flag and ye llow ch e m ligh t. If th e y are s tillm oving fas tw e h ave th e s potligh ts

you gave us and th e las e r pointe rs .”

H e s h ine d th e gre e n las e r dow n th e s tre e t, itw as s urpris ingly vis ible e ve n in th e e arly dus k . “At

th atpointSir, if th e y’re s tillcom ing th e y w illh itth e je rs e y barrie rs and w e w illfire w arning s h ots

follow e d by s h ots to dis able. And if th e y h itth is cone ” h e pointe d to th e orange cone w ith a re d flag and
ch e m ligh t“w e w illtak e th e m out.”

Itw as pre tty clos e to th e diagram and I w as h appy w ith th e s e tup.

“R e m e m be r Se rge antyou ne e d to de te rm ine h os tile inte ntit’s notjus taboutth e s te ps ” I re m inde d

h im . “If you de te rm ine a VBIED is com ing atyour alertline you’ve gotto e ngage . Butatth e s am e tim e if

a s ch oolbus fullof nuns is failing to s top, don’tvaporize itw ith th e 25.”

“R oge r Sir, I brie fe d m y guys . Follow th e s te ps and h os tile inte nt. Noth ing to w orry abouth e re

Sir, w e ’llpas s iton to th e ne xts h ifts as th e y com e on.”

Finally, I de ve lope d a dis m ounte d patrols ch e dule from th e outpos tto clear pote ntials nipe r

pos itions and pre ve ntIED s from be ing e m place d on our route . Th e patrols w ould leave e ve ry four h ours

and w ould rotate be tw e e n s q uads additionally, to s im plify th e ope ration I gave th e patrols th e s am e

de tailed route and ins tructions . Th e y w ould firs tm ove North and ch e ck th e road for IED s and th e n m ove

th rough th e South s ide of th e village follow e d by a ch e ck of pos s ible s nipe r s ite s on th e Eas ts ide of th e

outpos t. “Th e re w on’tbe any s nipe r or IED activity on m y w atch ” I th ough t. Th e Platoon Se rge ant

adjus te d th e guard ros te r and patrols be gan as nigh tfallcam e . As I drifte d off to s lee p I w as confide ntin

m y w e llfortifie d pos ition and m y ne w patrols ch e m e no doubtth is tim e I w ould be s ucce s s ful.

Th e ne xtday th e prioritie s of w ork continue d and th e outpos tcontinue d to s olidify into a s trong

point. Th e RTO brie fe d m e on th e nigh t’s activitie s . Appare ntly one patrolat0200 h ad com e up on th re e

pe rs onne lby th e road and th e n los tcontactw ith th e m running into th e tow n. O n th e s ide of th e road th e y

h ad found a s h ove land a s m allh ole.

“Th at’s one IED th atw on’tbe going off today” I boas te d.

Confide ntth atI w as on th e righ ttrack I de cide d to lead from th e frontand go outon th e ne xt

patrol.W e s te ppe d off from th e outpos tat09 00 and m ove d outon m y route . W e trave rs e d th e W e s ts ide

of th e outpos tfirs tm oving ata five m e te r inte rval.Th e w e igh tof m y ve s tpulled on m y s h oulde rs , it

w e igh e d about40 pounds . I w as proud of m y k itI h ad tw o large am m o pouch e s in th e frontw ith s ix 30

round m agazine s , a couple of frag gre nade s in s m allpouch e s , a large firs taid pouch on m y lefts ide w ith
a ne w Is rae libandage , a civilian GPS on m y lefts h oulde r, and a big Silve r Tride ntk nife on m y righ th ip.

I k e ptm y righ ts h oulde r clear s o I could e as ily bring m y M 4 rifle to be ar on any ins urge nts . M y rifle w as

cove re d in acce s s orie s w ith a PEQ15 las e r s igh t, ACO G s igh t, and a s ure fire flas h ligh t. As th e s w e at

be gan to pour dow n m y ne ck I w as th ank fulto be w e aring th e ne w ACH k e vlar h e lm e t, th e pads w e re

m uch m ore com fortable th an th e old h e lm e tband.

I w as de licate ly m oving th rough th e re e ds w h e n w e cam e upon th e farm h ous e to th e W e s tof th e

outpos t. Th e farm h ous e w as a tw o s tory concre te fram e d h ous e w ith brick and m ortar w alls, its w indow s

w e re e ith e r brok e n or m is s ing and its s tucco w as s poradically pre s e nt, m os tof itch ippe d off and w orn by

tim e .

An old Iraq i m an w as s tanding outfront, h is e ye s w e re a w rink led m as s of s k in s w ollen ne arly

s h utby th e s un, h is w e ath e re d face and gnarled h ands m ade clear to anyone th ats aw h im th ath e w as no

s trange r to w ork ing outs ide . As w e approach e d I s aw a s m allgirlpe e ring outfrom one of th e low e r

w indow s of th e h ous e w h o w as w h is k e d aw ay by th e black form of a w om an in a fullch ador.

I w alke d up and w ave d to th e m an m ak ing s ure to k e e p m y righ th and on m y w e apon;I re m e m be re d from

R O TC th ath and and arm s ignals s h ould be done w ith your non-firing h and.

“Good m orning, h ow are you?” I ch e e rfully as k e d.

H e s m iled and nodde d.

“H ave you s e e n any te rroris ts ?” I as k e d inte ntly.

H e continue d to s m ile and nod. I look e d back atm y RTO and h e gave m e a s h rug. Th e n th e old

m an took m e by th e h and and babbling s om e th ing in Arabic pulled m e tow ard th e s ide of h is h ous e to a

h ole in th e ground. I w as e cs tatic, “finally a cach e s ite , th e com m ande r w illbe h appy aboutth is ” I

im agine d. Butonce I look e d ins ide I s aw s om e k ind of irrigation pum p in a s ad s tate of dis re pair. Th e old

m an look e d atm e and clappe d h is h ands toge th e r s liding th e m apartove r and ove r s ignaling w h atI th ink

w as th atth e pum p w as brok e n.

“Sorry, can’th e lp w ith th ats ir, butdo you k now w h e re th e bad guys are ?”
 H e jus tlook e d atm e w ith an e m pty s tare .

“W e ll,th ank s for your tim e , letus k now if you s e e anyth ing” I s aid running outof patie nce .

W e continue d our patrolas th e day be gan to h e atup. W e s k irte d th e m ain road dilige ntly look ing

for s igns of IED e m place rs , and th e n m ove d into th e village . I could s m e llth e goats and s h e e p in ne arby

pe ns and th e s te nch of raw s e w age draining dow n s h allow tre nch e s on th e s ide s of th e s m alldirtroad.

M os tof th e buildings w e re m ud brick w ith th atch roofs , m os tw e re augm e nte d w ith random pie ce s of tin

m e tals h e e ts , plas tic, and oth e r building m ate rials. Pe ople m ove d be tw e e n h ous e s and s e e m e d notto pay

any atte ntion to us ;a couple of young m e n, about16 or 17 ye ars old, ata s m alls h op gave us a h ard s tare

as w e pas s e d.

As w e m ade our w ay tow ard our turn back South tw o m e n cam e outof th e courtyard of one of th e

nice r h om e s in th e tow n. O ne m an w as w e aring a flow ing w h ite robe w ith a w h ite h e addre s s and th e oth e r

w as w e aring a pair of gre y s lack s and a w h ite s h irt. Th e y approach e d our patrolw ith s m iles on th e ir face s .

I m e tth e m in th e road and th e y gras pe d m y h and e age rly s h ak ing itand s aying s om e th ing in Arabic.

“Good m orning, h ow are you ge ntlem e n, I’m Lie ute nantSm ith I am h e re to h e lp.”

Th e y look e d atm e and q uick ly blurte d s om e th ing in Arabic. I again w as los t, m aybe th e y h ad

s om e th ing to te llm e butI h ad no ide a w h atitw as . M indfulof s nipe rs I ge s ture d to th e m to m ove back

ins ide th e courtyard and w e m ove d ins ide . O nce ins ide th e y both produce d ide ntification, th e m an in th e

w h ite robe ’s w as in Arabic s o th atdidn’th e lp butth e oth e r m an’s s aid

MAYOR ALDOREAA TOW N

I nodde d and s aid “M ayor?M ayor?” pointing ath im .

H e s m iled and ye lpe d “Naam , naam .”

I look e d atth e oth e r m an and s h rugge d m y s h oulde rs “no Arabic” I s h e e pis h ly s aid. H e look e d aboutand

th e n pointe d be h ind m e in th e air. I look e d and s aw th e m inare tof th e village m os q ue .

“O h , you’re th e im am ?” I s aid.

H e nodde d and s m iled. Atth is pointth e m ayor w h is pe re d to m e in Arabic and allI could do is nod.
 H e look e d atm e in frus tration and be gan m ak ing h and ge s ture s I couldn’tm ak e out. I k ne w th e s e

m e n h ad s om e th ing im portantto te llm e butth is w as h ope les s . Afte r aboutte n m inute s th e y gre w as

frus trate d as I did w ith th e gam e of ch arade s w e w e re playing.

“I m us tbe going, ith as be e n nice s pe ak ing w ith you ge ntlem e n” I s aid and w e continue d our

m ove . Th e y w atch e d us w alk off and re turne d to th e h ous e . As w e leftth e village th e afte rnoon callto

praye r e ch oe d acros s th e tow n from th e m os q ue .

W e finis h e d up th e patroland I w as h appy to drop m y s w e ats taine d ge ar onto th e floor. Th e ins ide

of th e outpos tw as h otte r th an th e outs ide butI h ad m ade itm andatory th atpe rs onne ls lee p unde r cove r

and only re m ove th e ir ge ar ins ide . Itw as w orth th e s tagnantair to ge toutof th e body arm or. I lay dow n

on m y cotand th ough tth rough th e day I w onde re d w h atth e m e n in th e village h ad w ante d to s ay to m e .

Th e e ve ning w e ntby w ith outincide nt, patrols continue d e ve ry four h ours along m y de s ignate d

route and itappe are d th atI h ad crack e d th e code on controlling th e zone w ith no IED s or attack s for

tw e nty four h ours . As I w alke d th e line be fore be d I w as im pre s s e d w ith our pos itions ;range cards at

e ve ry pos t, h arde ne d w ith s andbags and cove re d w ith cam o ne tting. Th e Bradley pos itions look e d gre at

and th e TCPs w e re w e llm ark e d w ith ch e m ligh ts . As I approach e d th e firs tBradley I w as able to obs e rve

th e m go th rough th e proce dure s on a civilian ve h icle. Th e ve h icle approach e d and th e n s low e d afte r th e

s ign. Th e ve h icle com m ande r s h one th e las e r atth e w inds h ie ld and th e ve h icle s toppe d and turne d

around, w ith outa s h otfire d. I w e ntback to m y rack and fe llas lee p w ith h appy vis ions of q uick

prom otions in m y future . “Counte r-ins urge ncy w as n’tth ath ard afte r all” I th ough t.

I w as ge tting re ady for Stand To th e follow ing m orning;w h e n I h e ard an e xplos ion in th e dis tance

follow e d by burs ts of autom atic fire . O ve r th e radio I h e ard R e d 6 com e acros s “CO NTACT!

CO NTACT!” w ith th e BR R R AP of m ach ine gun fire and pop of M 4s in th e back ground.

I ran to th e Bradleys and told th e Platoon Se rge antw h ile in route to re place th e m w ith H M M W Vs , I w as

going to h e lp m y guys . I clim be d up into th e s e cond Bradley and ye lled to R e d 3 to pre pare to m ove .

Luck ily th e Bradleys w e re alre ady R ED CO N 1 for Stand To and w e w e re m oving in les s th an 30 s e conds .
 As w e w e ave d th rough th e je rs e y barrie rs th e firing ce as e d.

“R e d 6 th is is R e d 1!” I ye lled into th e m ik e .

“R e d 6 th is is R e d 1!”

No re s pons e .

Th e re w as s om e black s m ok e com ing from th e s outh s ide of th e tow n and w e rus h e d to th e s ite . As

w e e nte re d th e village I s aw m e n in black s k i m as k s flee ing north w ith AK s and an R PK m ach ine gun. I

s lew e d th e turre trigh tand ye lled.

“TR O O PS R IGH T!”

Th e gunne r h ollere d back “GO T EM !”

“FIR E!”

Th e coax cough e d outa burs tof 7.62, one of th e m e n tum bled e nd ove r e nd lik e a rag dollas th e

bullets rippe d th rough h is tors o. R e d 3 w as s canning to th e W e s tand I w as pulled aw ay from th e contact

by h is voice ove r th e radio.

“R e d 1, R e d 3 I’ve gotfrie ndlie s on th e ground to our frontI th ink w e h ave s om e w ounde d.”

Th e ins urge nts grabbe d th e ir bloody com rade and dis appe are d be h ind a m ud w allm oving de e pe r

into th e north s ide of th e village . I s canne d back leftand s aw w h atR e d 7 w as talking about. O n th e

ground in th e m iddle of th e s tre e tw e re nine Soldie rs , tw o of th e m w e re w rith ing in th e dirtclutch ing at

th e ir w ounds . I de cide d th e ins urge nts w ould h ave to w aitand m ove d to h e lp m y m e n. W e s e tth e

Bradleys on e ith e r s ide of th e carnage I gotoutw ith th e dis m ounts to h e lp. R e d 7 called th e platoon

s e rge antand th e m e dic w as on th e w ay in anoth e r convoy along w ith air s upportfor troops in contact.

W h e n I goton th e ground itw as clear to m e w h ath ad h appe ne d. Th e bodie s of m y nine m e n lay

s tre w n aboutin pools of blood and s taine d brow n e arth . Judging by th e s corch m ark s on th e ground and

th e unide ntifiable re m ains around th e m an R PG s truck th e patrolfirs t. Th e s h e llcas ings lying allaround

m ade itclear th atth e y w e re attack e d from m ultiple dire ctions . Th e y w e re am bus h e d and th e e ne m y h ad

be e n re ady for th e m ,
th e y couldn’th ave pick e d a be tte r s pot;th e y h ad now h e re to go be tw e e n a m ud brick w alland a s e tof

s h ops ;th e s am e s h ops w h e re I s aw th os e tw o k ids s taring m e dow n. I s h udde re d for a m om e ntin s e lfis h

re lie f “th is could h ave be e n m e ” I th ough t. I h ad w alke d dow n th is s am e road nottw e lve h ours ago.

Th at’s w h e n ith itm e th os e s am e k ids h ad s e e n allth e patrols com e by e ve ry four h ours for th e las tday

and a h alf. I w as pulled back to th e tas k ath and by th e s cre am s of th e w ounde d m e n and th e h am m e ring

be atofApach e h e licopte rs com ing onto th e s ce ne . As I tre ate d th e w ounde d and lis te ne d to th e ir crie s th e

follow ing les s ons form e d in m y brain builtupon th e anguis h of m y failure .

8. Do nots e tpatte rns . Vary rou te s , tim e s , and tactics to avoid be ing targe te d by th e e ne m y.

9 . Langu age s k ills are criticalfor gaining inform ation on th e e ne m y and coordinating w ith

h os tnation allie s .

As I w as e ngulfe d by th e blow ing cloud of dus tfrom th e M ED EVAC bird I fe ltth e day s lip aw ay

and found m ys e lf in anoth e r dre am .

 TH E FO URTH D R EAM

Itis only undis cipline d troops w h o m ak e th e pe ople th e ir e ne m ie s and w h o, lik e th e fis h outofits native

e lem e nt, cannotlive .

- M ao Ts e -tung

O n Gue rrilla W arfare 19 37

In th e m ain, h ow e ve r, w e s ough tto carry outope rations in a w ay th atm inim ize d th e ch ance s ofcre ating

m ore e ne m ie s th an w e capture d or k illed. Th e ide a w as to try to e nd e ach day w ith fe w e r e ne m ie s th an w e

h ad w h e n its tarte d.

- Ge ne ralD avid H . Pe trae us

O bs e rvations from Soldie ring in Iraq

M ilitary R e vie w January 2006

M is s ion pre paration w e ntm uch th e s am e as ith ad be fore w ith th e e xce ption of a ne w re q ue s tI

m ade to th e Com m ande r for tw o inte rpre te rs . H e w as able to provide m e w ith tw o contracte d Iraq i

inte rpre te rs and also h ande d m e a s h ortlis tofArabic ph ras e s th atth e Soldie rs s h ould learn and k e e p w ith

th e m . Afte r com pleting m y m is s ion brie f and R O E brie f I leftth e FO B again w ith m y EO F k it, de fe ns ive

barrie r m ate rial,and inte rpre te rs confide ntin m y ability to find s ucce s s th is tim e bolste re d by nine les s ons

from th e pre vious dre am s .

O ccupation of th e outpos tw e ntlik e clock w ork and I m ade an adjus tm e ntto th e patrolplan. I gave

th e patrols nam e d are as of inte re s tto obs e rve butvarie d th e ir SP tim e s and told th e m to alte r th e ir route s

and dire ctions of trave l.I also s h ifte d to s e tting obs e rvation pos tpos itions for s h ortpe riods w h ile on

patrolto bre ak up patte rns and th e look of our m is s ions . Each patrolw ould h ave an inte rpre te r to talk to

th e locals and gain inform ation on th e zone .

 I aw ok e th e ne xtm orning and pre pare d for an afte rnoon patrol.I link e d up w ith th e s e ction and I

m e tour inte rpre te r for th e firs ttim e . H e w as dre s s e d in de s e rtpatte rn fatigue s and w ore Iraq i s tyle body

arm or w ith a bulky s q uare plate . H e h ad a s cruffy face th atw as n’tq uite a be ard, a black bandanna

cove re d h is h e ad, and h e w ore w e igh tlifting glove s w ith no finge rs . H is e ye s w e re cove re d by dark

s unglas s e s us e d to h ide h is ide ntity. H e introduce d h im s e lf in a h e avy acce nt.

“M y nam e is M oh am m e d Sir;I w illbe your inte rpre te r.”

“Gre atM oh am m e d it’s good to be w ork ing w ith you. W e ’llbe talking to th e locals today to try to

ge ts om e inte lon th e ins urge nts in th e are a.”

I gave h im a q uick tour of our com pound and told h im to m e e tback up w ith us afte r lunch to

conductour m is s ion. I as k e d h im w h e re h e w as from and h e told m e h e w as from AlD ore aa. I gave h im

a com plete brie f on our m is s ion;I w ante d h im to unde rs tand e xactly w h atw e w e re doing s o th ath e could

h e lp com m unicate m y m e s s age to th e localpopulace . I w as e xcite d abouth aving an inte rpre te r, I fe lt

confide ntth atw e w ould gain a lotof inte llige nce from th e com m unity, e s pe cially cons ide ring h is alre ady

de ve lope d k now ledge of th e are a.

Th atafte rnoon w e m ove d outand e xite d th e m ain gate on patrol.W e w e ave d our w ay th rough th e

re e ds to th e North w e s tof th e outpos tand cam e upon th e farm h ous e w ith th e w ith e re d Iraq i farm e r. I

approach e d h im w ith M oh am m e d clos e be h ind.

I gave m y be s t“s alaam ‘aleik um ” and h e ld outm y h and to th e farm e r.

H e ans w e re d “alie k um as s alaam ” and s h ook m y h and te ntative ly.

“H ow are you” I inq uire d.

H e tim idly s pok e and M oh am m e d trans late d.

“H e is ve ry w e ll,h e w ould lik e to k now w h y you are h e re .”

“I’m h e re to s e cure th e are a. D o you k now of any bad guys in th e are a?”

“I don’tk now anyth ing… itis nots afe to talk pleas e go aw ay” th e m an s tam m e re d.

“W h y is n’tits afe to talk?”

 “Since you took ove r th e bas e I s e e pe ople atnigh t. I am a s im ple farm e r and I jus tw antto grow

m y ve ge tables ” h e re plie d.

M oh am m e d w h is pe re d to m e “s ir, I th ink th is m an… h e is ve ry poor and afraid. M any Iraq is are

s care d and if th e y s pe ak w ith Am e ricans th e y m ay be k illed.”

“Te llh im I unde rs tand butI w ould lik e to h e ar m ore aboutth e pe ople m oving atnigh t. As k h im if

h e w illte llone of m y patrols ne xttim e h e s e e s s om e one on h is farm .”

M oh am m e d q uick ly s pok e in Arabic and th e m an bow e d h is h e ad for a m om e ntin th ough tbe fore

ans w e ring.

“I w illte llyou… butpleas e do notcom e h e re in th e ope n to talk to m e . If you m us tcom e do s o

afte r dark s o m y ne igh bors w illnotth ink I am w ork ing w ith th e Am e ricans .”

“Sh uk ran” I re plie d in m y be s tArabic and afte r s h ak ing h ands w e m ove d outon our patroltow ard

AlD ore aa.

W e e nte re d th e tow n and m ove d dow n th e dus ty s tre e ts . M oh am m e d s h are d pleas antrie s w ith th e

locals and w ave d to pe ople as w e pas s e d. Atth e corne r, w e w e re m e tby tw o m e n one in a pair of s lack s

w ith a w h ite s h irtand th e oth e r w ith a long w h ite robe and h e addre s s .

“Salaam ‘aleik um ” I confide ntly s tate d and re ach e d to s h ak e th e ir h ands .

Th e m an in th e robe s h ook m y h and de m ure ly and s m iled. Th e m an in th e s lack s s h ook m y h and

and s m iled w ide ly ch anting.

“Ah lan w a s ah lan!” h e s aid loudly. Th e n to m y gre ats urpris e leane d forw ard and k is s e d m y

ch e e k . As h e s w ung h is h e ad around to ge tth e oth e r s ide of m y face I pulled back in re vulsion h ollering

out.

“W H O A!”

Th e m an w as clearly s h ock e d by m y actions and M oh am m e d w h is pe re d to m e q uick ly.

“Sir, s ir, th is is com m on in our culture , m e n k is s e ach oth e rs ch e e k s .”

H e th e n turne d to th e m an h ad a s h ortconve rs ation in Arabic and th e n turne d to m e .

 “Sir, I told h im you m e antno dis re s pe ct. H e is M r. H us s e in th e m ayor of th e village and is a

couns e lm e m be r for th e Qada. Th e oth e r m an is th e tow n Im am . M r. H us s e in h as invite d you into h is

h om e … th is one righ th e re ” h e pointe d to th e concre te fram e d h ous e w ith a h igh m ud brick w allaround

th e pe rim e te r.

“O k ay, abs olute ly let’s s e e if h e k now s w h e re th e te rroris ts are !”

W e w alke d in th e courtyard of th e h ous e . Ins ide w e re a s m allgre e n law n and a s m allbutw e llk e pt

h om e w ith a s m allporch . A K ia m inivan w as park e d unde r an aw ning on th e s ide of th e h om e . W e

follow e d th e m e n ins ide into a large room . Th e room w as plas te re d w ith pos te rs of h e adles s m e n and

angry look ing guys in turbans . I as k e d M uh am m e d “W h o are th e pe ople in th e s e picture s ?”

“ Th is one h e re ” h e pointe d to th e h e adles s m an “is H us ayn Ibn Alith e m artyr of th e Sh ia s e ctof

Is lam . And h e re th is is M uk tada AlSadr h e is a ve ry pow e rfulSh ia cleric.”

“Th ank s ” I s aid and I w onde re d if th atinform ation w as w orth re m e m be ring.

Th e re w as no furniture only a giantrug and s e ve ralpillow s . In th e corne r of th e room a w om an

s tood allcove re d up in black . As w e m ove d into th e room I approach e d h e r trying to ack now ledge h e r

pre s e nce w ith a s alaam ‘aleik um and a h e arty h ands h ak e . Butas I re ach e d to s h ak e h e r h and, s h e

im m e diate ly pulled aw ay. M y inte rpre te r s te ppe d be tw e e n us and s aid, “You are dis h onoring th e ir

w om e n, you cannots pe ak dire ctly to th e m .” M r. H us s e in h as tily us h e re d th e w om an outof th e room and

turne d back to m e w ith a look of dis be lie f. H e re gaine d h is com pos ure , m otione d for us to s itand ye lled

back into th e h ous e .

“Ch ai! Ch ai!”

I told th e patrolto s tay outs ide e xce ptfor a couple guys to w atch m y back and I ploppe d m ys e lf dow n on

a pillow . M y ge ar w as cum be rs om e and difficultto s itin s o I k ick e d outm y legs and laid dow n in an ‘L’

w ith m y back leaning agains tth e w all.I w ante d to tak e m y h e lm e toff butm y radio h e ads e tw as attach e d

to its o I k e ptiton. M oh am m e d s atdow n ne xtto m e and cros s e d h is legs unde rne ath h im . Th e m ayor and

th e Im am s atdow n acros s from us and afte r s e ttling took a brie f look atm e . Th e Im am look e d atm e
s te rnly and pointe d w h ile h e s pok e to M oh am m e d. M oh am m e d look e d s om e w h atcow e d as h e s pok e and

re ach e d ove r to m e .

“Sir, you m us tn’tputth e s oles of your fe e ttow ard an Iraq i th is is ins ulting.”

Sure I th ough tbutth e y w e re n’tw e aring 40 pounds of ge ar. I s h otth e Im am a s arcas tic s m ile and

cros s e d m y legs w ith s om e difficulty.

I w as aboutto as k w h e re th e te rroris ts w e re w h e n a boy cam e into th e room w ith a tray of s m all

glas s e s . I w as initially s urpris e d th atw e w ould be doing s h ots of w h is k e y th is e arly in th e day w h e n th e

boy h ande d m e a glas s . Itw as burning h otand th e re w as a m ound of s ugar atth e bottom . I w atch e d as

M oh am m e d s tirre d h is glas s w ith a dim inutive s poon and th e n s ippe d on th e be ve rage .

I leane d ove r to h im and as k e d “w h atis th is s tuff?It’s boiling h ot… do th e y re alize it’s lik e 100

de gre e s outs ide ?”

M oh am m e d w as confus e d “Sir, th is is ch ai itis w h atIraq is drink .”

I s h rugge d m y s h oulde rs and took a s w ig burning m y tongue . I h ad ne ve r re ally lik e d s w e e ts and

itw as too h otto drink th is s tuff. I putth e glas s dow n. Th e m ayor look e d conce rne d

“You don’tlik e th e Ch ai?”

“No, no it’s too h otouts ide for ch ai” I s aid.

H e frow ne d and q uick ly ch ange d th e s ubje ct“W h atis your nam e , w h e re are you from ?”

“M y nam e is Lie ute nantSm ith . I’m h e re to provide s e curity.” I w as n’taboutto te llh im anyth ing

aboutm ys e lf.

“Ve ry good th e n, I h ave live d h e re m y w h ole life . I h ave tw o daugh te rs and a young s on.” H e s aid.

“Th at’s fas cinating, butI only ne e d to k now aboutth e ins urge nts in th e are a. W h o is planting th e

IED s ?” M oh am m e d look e d conce rne d as h e lis te ne d to m e and th e n trans late d.

Th is caus e d anoth e r flurry ofArabic be tw e e n th e tw o m e n and M oh am m e d. O nce again

M oh am m e d leane d ove r to m e and w h is pe re d.

“Sir, our w ay is to s pe ak firs ttoge th e r as m e n s o w e k now aboutth e pe rs on w e are de aling w ith .

Afte r th is th e n w e s pe ak aboutbus ine s s . H ow can h e trus tyou if you w illnots pe ak w ith h im as a pe rs on

and notjus ta Soldie r?”

I w as ponde ring th is pe arlof w is dom w h e n I notice d th e boy w as bringing in s om e food on a large

platte r.

“W e w e re jus tto h ave lunch , you w illbe our gue s ts ” th e m ayor s aid w ith a s m ile.

I look e d atth e platte r and w as m ore th an jus ta little s urpris e d to s e e h alf of a s h e e p’s h e ad s taring

back atm e w ith w h atw as leftof a boiled e ye ball.Th e re w as s om e k ind of broth as w e llas rice and

flatbre ad. M oh am m e d and th e tw o m e n re ach e d in and be gan grabbing pie ce s of m e atfrom th e ch e e k of

th e s h e e p and m ixing itw ith th e rice and bre ad. I w as s om e w h atdis gus te d w atch ing th e ir finge rs going

from th e plate to th e ir m outh s , th e s lurping and s uck ing s ounds w e re atrocious and anim allik e . I trie d to

h old off on e ating by as k ing a q ue s tion.

“So h ow is th e tow n?D o you ne e d anyth ing h e re ?” Th e m ayor look e d up and grinne d w ith food

s tillin h is te e th .

“You Am e ricans h ave be e n h e re for ye ars now . It’s prom is e afte r prom is e . I ne e d m any

th ings … clean w ate r, pow e r th ats tays on, a w ork ing clinic w ith s upplie s . ButI k now you w illnotgive m e

any of th e s e th ings . M y ow n daugh te r h as be e n ve ry s ick for a w e e k and w e cannottre ath e r be caus e th e re

is no clinic. Le tus jus te ats o you w illnoth ave to lie to m e w ith prom is e s .”

W h ile th e m ayor w as s pe ak ing I re alize d th atI m igh tne e d to tak e s om e note s from th is m e e ting. I

m anage d w ith s om e difficulty to re trie ve m y note book from m y cargo pock e tand w as fum bling w ith th e

pape r and pe ncil.W h e n I finally gotorganize d M oh am m e d ch im e d in “Sir, you m us te atth e y w illbe

offe nde d.”

I w as notaboutto e ata s h e e p h e ad s o I re ach e d outto ge ts om e bre ad and s om e rice . Th e Im am

grim ace d and in a w h ining e xclam ation s tood and pointe d.

M oh am m e d trie d to trans late “s ir, h e is offe nde d. H e as k s w h y you k now noth ing of th e ir culture .

You e atw ith your offe ns ive h and, dis re s pe ctth e m w ith th e s oles of your fe e tand as s aultth e ir w om e n”
Th e Im am ye lled s om e th ing atth e m ayor and s tom pe d outof th e room . Th e m ayor s atand look e d atm e

acros s th e floor.

I s aid “pe rh aps it’s be s tth atw e go.”

“Pe rh aps ” th e m ayor s aid and w ith th ath e us h e re d us outof th e room and outto th e gate .

“Th is m e e ting didn’tgo w e lle ith e r I’m doing s om e th ing w rong or th e s e pe ople jus tare n’t

frie ndly” I th ough t. In any cas e I h ad m ade no progre s s de s pite m y inte rpre te r. “Th e s e dam n Iraq is m us t

allbe h os tile.” As I h ad th e s e th ough ts running th rough m y m ind I h e ard th e s ound of s m allarm s fire in

th e dis tance ne ar th e outpos t.

Th e radio crack led “Contact, s nipe r TR P 2! O P 6, Engaging!”

W e pick e d up a double tim e and rus h e d back tow ard th e outpos t.

“O P 5 contactdis m ounts O P 6 th e y're com ing your w ay”

“I’ve gote m ”

Th e s ound of 25 m m fire rippe d th rough th e air follow e d by th e th uds of th e h igh e xplos ive

rounds .

“Th is is R e d 1, SITR EP!” I ye lled into th e radio.

Th e firing abate d as w e approach e d th e outpos t.

“R e d 1, R e d 4, look s lik e w e h ave e ngage d and de s troye d one s nipe r vicinity TR P 2 and th re e or

four dis m ounts vicinity TR P 3.”

“R oge r m y dis m ounte d s e ction is m oving tow ard TR P 4. I’llm ove to TR P 2 and s e e if I can clear

th e are a. H ave anoth e r patrolclear th e oth e r contact.”

“R oge r th at.”

W e bounde d up to th e farm h ous e m oving in fire te am s .

“O P 6 do you h ave e ye s on us ?” I w h is pe re d into th e radio.

Th e counte r-s nipe r s q uad de s ignate d m ark s m an re s ponde d “R oge r th at1. I’ve gotyou. Be advis e d

I e ngage d one individuals e cond s tory w indow .”

 W e m ove d up to th e h ous e , th e farm e r and h is fam ily w e re now h e re to be found. W e s tack e d up

on th e w alland I pas s e d forw ard a s ignalto bre ach by s q ue e zing th e m an in frontof m e on th e th igh . Th e

four m an rus h e d forw ard and k ick e d ope n th e flim s y m e taldoor. W e rus h e d in clearing th e low e r room in

a m atte r of s e conds . M y h e artpounde d as I s w e ptm y rifle acros s th e room s te pping s m ooth ly th rough th e

room to pos itions of dom inance . I re m e m be r m y old R O TC ins tructor te lling m e “s low is s m ooth and

s m ooth is fas t.” H e w as a de lta ope rator be fore h e cam e to te ach cade ts and h e w as dam n righ t. Th e

s e ction m ove d lik e w ate r notfrantic or ch oppy buts m ooth ly be tw e e n room s m e th odically clearing th e ir

s e ctors for e ne m y. Th e s e ction s plitup and m ove d up th e s tairs leaving tw o m e n to h old th e low e r leve l.

Sh outs of “CLEAR ” e ch oe d th rough th e s e cond floor follow e d by th e s e ction s e rge ant.

“Sir, w e ’ve gotone de ad guy up h e re .”

I w alke d up th e s tairs and im m e diate ly s aw th e m an on th e floor. Blood h ad pooled unde r h im and

h e w as lying acros s a s m alltable, h is rifle an SVD w ith a s cope w as s tillaim e d atth e outpos tw ith h is

h e ad agains tth e s tock . H e m igh tas w e llh ave be e n alive and pre paring to s h oote xce ptfor a s m alldark

h ole jus tto th e ins ide of h is righ te ye and a rath e r large flap of s k in, s k ulland h air h anging grote s q ue ly

from th e back of h is h e ad.

As w e m ark e d th e building w ith a w olf tailI called up th e O P. “O P 6 th is is R e d 1 good s h otyou

gota s nipe r up h e re .”

“R oge r th at” h e re s ponde d.

M y us e of a counte r-s nipe r pos ition h ad w ork e d out. Th e e ne m y s nipe r m igh th ave tak e n one of

m y guys outbutins te ad O P 6 h ad obs e rve d th e glintfrom h is s cope and s e ntone round of m atch grade

5.56 from th e M 16A4 s q uad de s ignate d m ark s m an w e apon into h is s k ulland w on th e e ngage m e nt. W e

bagge d th e de ad AIF in a ponch o and brough tback h is w e apon to th e outpos t. I also took s om e picture s

of th e s ce ne . M aybe th e S2 could us e s om e of th is info I th ough t.

W h e n I re ach e d th e outpos tth e platoon s e rge antbrie fe d m e on th e oth e r e ngage m e nt. Its e e m e d

th atth e Bradley on th e TCP h ad s potte d th e m ove m e ntinitially and th e n pas s e d th e targe tto th e Bradley
atth e gate .

Th e AIF trie d to ge tin pos ition to fire off R PGs and an R PK butafte r jus tcouple rounds th e y w e re

cutto pie ce s by th e 25m m . I w as e xcite d th atallour h ard w ork on counte r s nipe r and de fe ns ive

fortifications h ad w ork e d outbutI w as frus trate d th atde s pite trying to talk to th e locals I w as s tills e e ing

attack s . I w as s ick of be ing s h otatand attack e d by th e s e pe ople. “W h o th e h e lldid th e y th ink th e y w e re ?

W e llif th e y w ouldn’tlis te n to m e th an m aybe w e jus tne e d to rootth e m outh ous e by h ous e ” I th e orize d.

I called ove r th e Platoon Se rge ant“w e ’re going to cordon and s e arch e ve ry h ous e on th e s outh

s ide of th atvillage . I’m going to s h ow th e m w h ath appe ns w h e n th e outpos tge ts attack e d! Figure outa

m inim alm anning plan for th e outpos tand puttoge th e r an e lem e ntfor tonigh tat0200.”

I ye lled for m y inte rpre te r, s o th ath e could pre pare for th e m is s ion, itw as im portantth atallth e

locals unde rs tand m y m e s s age . Afte r a brie f s can around th e m ain building I be gan to w orry. Th e Platoon

Se rge antm ade a lap around th e outpos tand re porte d back to m e . “Sir, one of th e guys s potte d h im

running into tow n w h e n w e gotattack e d.” Appare ntly h e h ad be e n pacing around th e outpos tas if tak ing

m e as ure m e nts of th e outpos te arlie r during th e day and anoth e r Soldie r claim e d th ath e s aw h im pas s a

note to s om e young Iraq i guy on th e s tre e tduring th e patrol.W e h ad be e n luck y be caus e w e avoide d

s e tting patte rns and ch ange d our s w itch outtim e s w h ile h e w as outs ide th e w ire w ith m e . I be cam e

e nrage d w ith th e pos s ibility th atth e inte rpre te r h ad be e n gath e ring inte llige nce on us and as s is ting th e

e ne m y. I s atdow n in th e m ain building re s te d up for th e e ve ning.

At0200 w e s e tout. Th e outpos tw as m inim ally m anne d w ith th e m ortarm e n and a s e ction of

Bradleys . I h ad tw o H M M W Vs trave lw ith th e dis m ounte d e lem e ntfor cre w s e rve d w e apon s upport. M y

plan w as s im ple, w e w ould s tartin th e Eas tand e nd in th e W e s tclearing allof th e h ous e s and h ope fully

catch ing th e bas tards th ath ad be e n s upporting th e attack s from ye s te rday. I gave ins tructions to th e te am

leade rs to m ak e s ure pe ople fe ltth e pinch of w h ath appe ns w h e n th e y h arbor ins urge nts . I w ante d th e s e

h ous e s turne d ups ide dow n.

M y m e n s tarte d on th e firs th ous e w h ich h ad a gate and a w allaround its frontyard. W e us e d th e

H M M W Vto s m as h th e gate in and th e n rus h e d into th e yard to th e h om e . Th e te am us e d th e s h otgun to

do a ballis tic bre ach on th e door. Th e y th e n rus h e d into th e h ous e . I w aite d outs ide for com m and and

controland w atch e d as one of m y NCO s drug a s k inny m iddle age d m an outof th e h ous e in h is nigh ts h irt

w ith h is h ands zip tie d be h ind h is back . H e w as th row n to th e ground and I notice d th ath is nos e w as

blee ding. W h e n I h e ard “CLEAR ” com e back outth e frontdoor I s te ppe d ins ide . In th e firs troom th e re

w e re th re e young girls h uddled in th e corne r w ith th e ir m oth e r;th e y w e re alls cre am ing. M y Soldie rs

w e re in th e proce s s of s e arch ing th e h ous e th e m attre s s e s w e re ove rturne d, draw e rs w e re dum pe d outof

dre s s e rs , and furniture w as s h atte re d. I w e ntouts ide to find th atth e s k inny m an w as be ing q ue s tione d by

one of m y NCO s and our s e cond inte rpre te r.

“W e k now th atyou k now w h o is doing th e s e th ings ! Te llus now !” h e ye lled.

Th e m an w as crying and s tam m e ring;h e h ad los tallh is dignity. For a brie f s e cond I w onde re d

h ow I w ould fe e lif I h ad be e n pulled outof m y h ous e in th e m iddle of th e nigh tand h um iliate d in frontof

m y fam ily. Butitw as a flee ting th ough tbe s ide s h e probable k ne w th e te rroris ts w h o h ad be e n attack ing

us .

W e w e ntth rough te n h ous e s in m uch th e s am e w ay. In our w ak e w e leftbrok e n doors and gate s

w ith h ous e s torn apart. O n th e las th ous e th e bre ach w e ntin again th is tim e w e us e d a de m olition bre ach

and I fe ltth e concus s ion of th e ch arge . Th e m e taldoor blas te d inw ard and s w ung violently on its h inge s .

As w e e nte re d th e h ous e w e found an old m an lying on th e floor by th e door. H e w as blee ding and

cove re d w ith s m allw ounds caus e d by m e tals h ards blas te d into th e room from th e ch arge . I brough tth e

m e dic forw ard and w e tre ate d h im . I s te ppe d back outs ide , th e s igh tof th e blee ding old m an h ad turne d

m y s tom ach . I called for th e platoon s e rge antand w e w e ntove r th e num be rs as th e s un cam e up. W e h ad

s e arch e d 11 h ous e s , found 8 poorly m aintaine d AK 47s one pe r h ous e w h ich w as auth orize d for s e lf

de fe ns e , w e zip cuffe d and q ue s tione d 26 m ilitary age d m e n from 16 to 45 ye ars old, and w e found one

h ous e w ith a picture of Saddam in an old s ch oolte xtbook . As th e s un cam e up I w onde re d if th is

ope ration h ad be e n w orth w h ile. I called itand w e re turne d to th e outpos t.

 Th e ne xtday w as une ve ntfulw ith no s ign of e ne m y activity butth e n its e e m e d th ate ve ryth ing

ch ange d. W e be gan to tak e contacte ve ryday. Patrols be gan tak ing dire ctfire contact, th e outpos tre ce ive d

m ortar fire once or tw ice a nigh t, and w e e ngage d tw o VBIED s atth e ch e ck points . W e ide ntifie d IED s on

th e route and k illed s om e AIF e m placing th e m buts om e IED s m anage d to go off on our re s upply convoys .

W e w e ath e re d th e attack s and pe rform e d w e llbe caus e of m y pre vious les s ons butI couldn’th e lp th ink ing

th ats om e th ing h ad gone w rong.

A fe w w e e k s late r th e Com m ande r arrive d on a vis itand h ad a fairly one s ide d dis cus s ion w ith m e .

“D o you k now th atyou h ave incre as e d attack s dow n h e re by 75% Lie ute nant?”

I gulpe d and fe lta burning in m y gut“no.”

“W e llit’s true and your m e n can’ts us tain th is leve lof contactfore ve r. I’m re placing you w ith

w h ite platoon. Th e Sq uadron Com m ande r is ve ry conce rne d w ith your m e th ods dow n h e re . Th e provincial

gove rnor h as s pe cifically as k e d h im aboutour activitie s in AlD ore aa. Pack up and pre pare to R IP w ith

w h ite by tom orrow m orning” h e orde re d.

I w as crus h e d. H ow could I h ave failed w h e n I h adn’ttak e n a s ingle cas ualty and de fe ate d

countles s e ngage m e nts ?I ponde re d m y actions as I pack e d m y ruck s ack and I de rive d th e follow ing

les s ons .

10. Cu ltu ralaw are ne s s is ne ce s s ary to gain th e tru s tand confide nce of th e localpopu lation.

Ne gotiations m u s tbe planne d and re h e ars e d to e ns u re s u cce s s w ith localleade rs .

11. Do notne e dles s ly divu lge ope rationalinform ation to pe ople w ith ou tprope r clearance s , and

do notm ak e ite as y for th e e ne m y to gath e r inte llige nce on you r ope rations .

12. W in e arly victorie s . H ave a plan to s h ow good faith and au th ority w ith th e popu lation w ith in

you r are a of re s pons ibility.

13. Avoid k ne e je rk re actions and bas e you r actions on good inte llige nce . Strik ing ou tatth e

popu lation blindly is playing into th e ins u rge nt’s plan and can only fu rth e r alie nate th e pe ople.

Th e cou nte r-ins u rge nts h ou ld s e e k to m ak e no ne w e ne m ie s .

 Th e s e e piph anie s poure d into m y h e ad and as I s h ove d m y toiletry k itinto th e top of m y ruck s ack

I found m ys e lf pus h ing ope n th e CO ’s door and into anoth e r dre am .

 TH E FIFTH D R EAM

D o nottry to do too m uch w ith your ow n h ands . Be tte r th e Arabs do ittolerably th an you do itpe rfe ctly. It

is th e ir w ar, and you are to h e lp th e m , notto w in itfor th e m . Actually, also, unde r th e ve ry odd conditions

ofArabia, your practicalw ork w illnotbe as good as , pe rh aps , you th ink itis .

- T.E. Law re nce

Th e Arab Bulletin, Augus t20, 19 17

O nce again I found m ys e lf re ce iving th e m is s ion brie fing. Itw e ntm uch th e s am e as ith ad be fore

and I lefth is office afte r re q ue s ting inte rpre te rs , barrie r m ate rialand EO F k its . Th is tim e I also re q ue s te d

50 h um anitarian aid bags to h and outto th e localpopulation as a s ign of good w ill.I figure d th atw as a

q uick w ay to s h ow our inte ntions w e re good. I took th e tim e to re vie w s om e bas ic culturalinform ation

from m y Iraq Country H andbook in pre paration for m y m e e tings w ith th e population in zone . O nce again

I ins pe cte d th e Platoon, re vie w e d th e R O E and m ade s ure language cards w e re dis tribute d.

W e m ove d dow n to th e outpos tand e s tablis h e d our de fe ns e and patrols. I ins pe cte d allth e

pos itions and th e n took s om e tim e to go ove r m y m e e tings for tom orrow w ith M oh am m e d. Conce rne d

aboutm aintaining good ope rationals e curity, I firs tas k e d M oh am m e d if h e h ad a ce llph one and h e s aid

h e did. I e xplaine d to h im th e m th ath e w ould only be able to us e itonce a day and h e w ould h ave to s ign

for itfrom m y CP e ve ry tim e h e us e d it. I also inform e d h im th ath e w ould alw ays h ave to s tay w ith us at

th e outpos tand w ould notbe allow e d to leave une s corte d. H e s aid h e unde rs tood th e ne e d for th e

m e as ure s and w ith th atw e re h e ars e d bas ic cus tom s and courte s ie s as w e llas th e flow th ats h ould be

follow e d w h e n m e e ting w ith th e localleade rs h ip. I also s e lecte d one of m y Soldie rs , SPC W ilson a s tre e t

s m artguy from Ph ilade lph ia, to actas m y note tak e r and s e cond s e tof e ye s for th e m e e ting. I figure d h e

w ould be able to k e e p be tte r note s s ince h e w ouldn’th ave to talk and h e w ould be able to catch th ings I

m ay m is s .

In th e m orning I e m bark e d outon patrolw ith a s e ction of m e n and M oh am m e d. O ur m e e ting w ith

th e farm e r w e ntm uch th e s am e as ith ad be fore and w e continue d on into AlD ore aa. W e e ncounte re d th e

M ayor and th e Im am outs ide of th e M ayor’s h ous e and I im m e diate ly be gan w h atI h ad re h e ars e d th e

nigh tprior.

“Salaam ‘aleik um ” I s aid and e xte nde d m y h and.

“Alie k um as s alaam ” both m e n re s ponde d and s h ook m y h and.

“Is m i m ulazim Sm ith ” I s aid. Th e y introduce d th e m s e lve s and invite d us ins ide th e h ous e .

O nce ins ide I re m ove d m y h e lm e tand ballis tic glas s e s and told m y RTO to m onitor th e radio and

letm e k now if s om e th ing urge nth appe ne d. Th e m ayor m otione d for m e to s itdow n s o M oh am m e d,

W ilson and I s atdow n in th e large m e e ting room . I paid clos e atte ntion to m y fe e tand m y pos ture .

D e s pite s om e dis com fortI m anage d to k e e p th e s oles of m y fe e tfacing in an inoffe ns ive pos ition.

M oh am m e d h ad re com m e nde d th atI s tartany m e e ting w ith s m alltalk.

“Itis an h onor to m e e tyou ge ntlem e n. You h ave a love ly village .” M oh am m e d trans late d and I

continue d “I h ave a rive r lik e th is back h om e . I us e d to fis h e ve ry s um m e r w h e n I w as a k id.”

Th e m ayor s m iled w ide ly and re s ponde d “itis glorious th atyou are h e re . Th ank you for allth at

you do. Ye s th e village is ve ry nice I h ave live d h e re m y w h ole life . H ave you e ve r h ad Iraq i fis h ?”

“No, I h ave ne ve r h ad th e pleas ure .”

“O ne day you w illcom e h e re and I w illh ave th is fis h for you.”

Atth is pointa boy cam e from th e back room w ith a plate of ch ai. I pluck e d a h otglas s from th e

tray and place d itin frontof m e on th e floor. I s tirre d th e m ound of s ugar atth e bottom into th e liq uid. For

a m om e ntI w onde re d if th e y us e d rive r w ate r to m ak e th e te a butre m e m be ring m y pre paration w ith

M oh am m e d I s aid “s h uk ran” and took a s ip of th e ch ai. Itre ally w as n’tth atbad alth ough I w ould h ave

pre fe rre d an ice d cappuccino give n th e 100 de gre e w e ath e r.

I s ippe d th e ch ai and th e Im am as k e d m e “do you h ave ch ildre n Lie ute nant.”

I re fraine d from a jok e aboutillegitim ate ch ildre n and ans w e re d “I do not, I am notye tm arrie d

butI h ope to one day h ave a fam ily. M y s is te r h as tw o ch ildre n and I care for th e m ofte n.”
 W ith th atI pulled outa picture of m y nie ce and ne ph e w . Th e m ayor and th e im am s e e m e d e xcite d

to s e e th e picture .

“I h ave four ch ildre n” th e m ayor s aid “one boy and tw o girls.”

“Th atis ve ry good.” I paus e d to tak e a s ip of ch ai. “H ow is th e village ?Is its afe h e re for your

fam ily?”

“Th e village is in ve ry bad condition w e h ave no running w ate r and e lectricity goe s on and off. W e

h ave no clinic h e re and I cannote ve n care for m y ow n fam ily. M y younge s tdaugh te r h as be e n s ick for a

w e e k butitis dange rous to go to Bagh dad for th e h os pital.”

Th e Im am s im ply nodde d h is h e ad in agre e m e nt.

“Lis te n, you Am e ricans h ave com e h e re w ith m any prom is e s and I h ave s e e n noth ing.”

I w as aboutto te llh im abouth ow I w as going to be diffe re ntw h e n th e food cam e in. Th e ch ai boy

and a te e nage boy brough tin a large tin platte r and place d itin th e ce nte r of th e floor. A laye r of rice

cove re d th e plate and cuts of lam b s tillon th e bone lay on top of it;th e m e ats e e m e d gre e nis h or a gray

w h ite in place s from be ing boiled ins te ad of grilled. In th e ce nte r of th e plate w as a s plitlam b’s h e ad w ith

both e ye s boiled to a w h ite h aze . I s h udde re d atth e s igh tof th e s h e e p h e ad s taring atm e butI re ach e d out

w ith m y righ th and and ate e nough of th e vile cre ature to appe as e m y h os ts . Th e m e atw as ch e w y and

s om e w h ats lim y be caus e of th e m e th od of cook ing butitw as n’ttoo bad. O nce th e food w as finis h e d I

e xcus e d m ys e lf.

“Th ank you ge ntlem e n, I’m afraid th atI h ave to ge tback to th e outpos t.”

Eve ryone ros e and I s h ook h ands as I m ade m y w ay to th e door. Th e m ayor dove in for a pair of

k is s e s butI w as re ady for itand m e th im w ith a couple of m y ow n. “W h e n in R om e ” I th ough tto m ys e lf.

As I fe lth is uns h ave n ch e e k brus h agains tm ine w ith th e s m e llof ch e ap cologne I re alize d I could “w in

an e arly victory.”

“Is your daugh te r h e re s ir?I as k e d.

“Sh e is in th e h ous e … w h y do you as k ?”

 I called for th e m e dic;h e h ad be e n rotating onto a couple of patrols and h e h appe ne d to be w ith

th is s e ction. D oc cam e up to th e door and I told h im th atth e m ayor’s daugh te r w as s ick and any h e lp w e

could provide w ould s e tus up for s ucce s s in th e tow n.

“I h ave a m e dic w ith m e . Can w e look atyour daugh te r and s e e if w e can h e lp h e r?”

Th e m ayor’s face litup ad h e q uick ly ran into th e h ous e . Afte r a s h orttim e h e re turne d w ith a

s m allgirlw alking be h ind h im . Sh e w as w e aring a blue nigh ts h irtw ith a ligh tblue s carf cove ring h e r

h e ad.

Th e m e dic approach e d h e r and I as k e d th e m ayor “h e w illne e d to touch h e r is th is ok ay?”

“O f cours e , h e is a doctor ye s ?”

“H e is a m e dic.”

D oc as k e d w h atth e problem w as and M oh am m e d as k e d th e girl.Sh e s h ow e d doc tw o large boils

abouth alf th e s ize of a golf ballon h e r leg. D oc took h e r te m pe rature and ch e ck e d h e r vitals. H e

w h is pe re d to m e th ath e w ould ne e d to drain th e boils and th ats h e w ould ne e d antibiotics for h e r fe ve r. I

told M oh am m e d to e xplain to th e m ayor w h atw ould be ne ce s s ary and th e m ayor agre e d. H e h e ld dow n

h is daugh te r on th e floor of th e m ain room as doc w ipe d dow n th e boils w ith alcoh ol.H e th e n pulled outa

s calpe land m ade a s m allincis ion in th e firs tboil.H e s q ue e ze d itfirm ly and ye llow and w h ite fluid

draine d outfrom th e w ound. Th e little girlw as brave ly e nduring th e proce dure butw as now crying

ope nly. D oc m ove d on to th e s e cond boiland re pe ate d th e incis ion and drainage . Finally doc cove re d th e

w ounds w ith antis e ptic cre am and bandage d th e m .

“Th e y w illne e d to ch ange th e s e bandage s e ve ry nigh t” doc s aid as h e h ande d a s m alls tack of

bandage s and tape to th e m ayor. “I’llne e d to ch e ck up on h e r in a couple of days .”

I inform e d th e m ayor “w e ’llcom e back s oon to ch e ck on h e r. I e njoye d our m e e ting today.”

“Th ank you, th ank you s o m uch !”

W ith th atw e m ade our w ay outof th e h ous e and back tow ard th e outpos t. As w e m ove d w e cam e

upon a group of SUVs ne ar th e s ch ool.Th e SUVs appe are d to be arm ore d and look e d lik e th e one s VIPs
us e to trave laround in Bagh dad. W e approach e d th e m to inve s tigate and s potte d a group ofAm e rican

civilians and a couple of Soldie rs . Th e civilians w e re w e aring s lende r body arm or and h ad ve s ts th at

look e d m ore appropriate for fis h ing. Tw o of th e m e n h ad pads of pape r and w e re tak ing note s . Th e y

turne d to us as w e re ach e d th e ir pos ition.

“Afte rnoon ge ntlem e n, I’m Lie ute nantSm ith I’m in ch arge of th is are a.”

Th e olde s tm an in th e group w ith s altand pe ppe r gray h air ans w e re d for th e group. “I’m Bill

W h ite , w e w ork w ith USAID . W e ’re h e re to look atth e s ch ools and th e tow n’s w ate r s ys te m s .”

“W e llI didn’tk now anyth ing aboutth at. D o you h ave any s e curity?” I didn’ts e e m uch . Th e y w e re

e ith e r cow boys or m orons trave ling around lik e th at.

“W e h ave a couple of rifles in th e truck s . Is th is are a th atdange rous I w as told itw as unde r

control?”

“It’s unde r controlallrigh t;be caus e w e ’re h e re controlling it. But, I w ouldn’tgo tooling around

w ith outs e curity in AlD ore aa.” I proudly lecture d.

“W e ’llw e ne e d to com plete th is w ork h e re . Can you s e cure us untilw e ’re com plete ?”

I th ough titove r. Th e guys w e re tire d and th e re s tplan w as atm ax e fficie ncy to m aintain s e curity

atth e outpos tand run patrols. Th e s e yah oos h ad com e h e re unannounce d and unafraid e xpe cting us to

provide th e m w ith s e curity… forge tit.

“Sorry, no can do, I’m m axe d outrigh tnow and don’th ave th e com batpow e r to s upportyou. I

re com m e nd you guys rolloutof h e re and com e back w ith a s e curity pack age ne xttim e .”

“O k ay, w e llI gue s s w e ’llh ave to but, th e s e proje cts w on’tbe re ady for s ubm is s ion and w e w ont’

m ak e itback outh e re for anoth e r m onth .”

“No s w e at, I’ve gotth is place unde r controland I’m w ork ing proje cts w ith m y Sq uadron.” I s aid

s uccinctly.

M r. W h ite s ignaled to h is group to m ountback up and th e y q uick ly m ove d s outh dow n to th e

h ardballroad and th e n tow ards Bagh dad. W e also m ove d out, w alking back to our outpos t.
 Th ate ve ning I s atdow n w ith M oh am m e d, W ilson and th e patrolleade rs to go ove r th e patrols

from th e day.

“I th ink itw e ntw e lltoday w ith th e tow n leade rs h ip” I s tarte d.

“Sir, I th ink you m ade an im pact. I can’tbe lie ve you ate th atgoath e ad!” W ilson adde d.

“If H us s e in is re ally in ch arge h e cannotbe trus te d. H e m us tk now w h o is conducting attack s ne ar

th is village . I th ink h e k now s ” s aid M oh am m e d.

“Th at’s righ t. And th at’s e xactly w h y I ne e d h im on m y s ide . If h e k now s th e ins urge nts th e n

m aybe h e can controlth e m . W e ’llgo back and ch e ck on h is daugh te r tom orrow .”

R e d 2 ch im e d in “Th e H A bags w ork e d gre atSir, I w as pre tty popular w alking th rough th e village .

I us e d th e oth e r te rp to talk to a couple of old guys ne ar th e ce nte r of tow n. Th e y told m e th atth e tow n

us e d to be ve ry pe ace fulbutpe ople com e into tow n from outs ide and conductattack s .”
 “I h ad th e s am e k ind of th ing s ir” s aid R e d 5. “I h ad a guy te llm e th atth e s outh s ide of tow n is

dange rous atnigh t.”

Itw as allpre tty vague butitw as a s tart. I w as conte m plating our ne xtm ove w h e n th e blas tof th e

m ortars dis turbe d m y th ough ts . Th e w iz and cras h of th e 60 m m rounds im pacting around th e outpos tw as

tre m e ndous . W e h ad re h e ars e d th e actions on m ortar attack s o th e platoon took cove r and m ove d to th e

clos e s tpos ition to pre pare for a com plex attack . Th e RTO on duty contacte d Troop and putin an

im m e diate re q ue s tfor troops in contactAH -64 s upport.

Th e platoon dove into th e ir h arde ne d pos itions or into ve h icles according to plan butPVT Jone s

w as n’ts o luck y. H e w as running to h e lp m an th e s outh w e s tm ach ine gun w h e n th e round lande d jus tto

h is righ ts ide . H e dis appe are d into a cloud of flying dirtand a flas h of ligh t. I ran to h im w ith anoth e r m an

and found h im lying on th e ground. W e e ach grabbe d a s h oulde r and dragge d h im back to th e cove r of th e

m ain building. I w atch e d in h orror as h is legs s taye d be h ind w h ile w e pulled h im , h is tw o bloody torn

s tum ps dragging on th e dirt. Th e jagge d s h rapne lh ad tak e n both of h is legs above th e k ne e s . W h e n w e

re ach e d th e ins ide of th e building be h ind cove r I be gan applying a tourniq ue tto h is leftleg and th e n to h is

righ t.

Th e n th e m an th atw as w ith m e jus ts lum pe d ove r on th e ground ne xtto m e w ith h is h e ad in h is

h ands s h ak ing back and forth in ge ntle s obs . I look e d up and turne d to Jone s ’ face . H e w as life les s w ith

h is e ye s ope n butnots e e ing. A black fe e ling h ove re d ove r th e w h ole room ;th e fe e ling of one ’s ow n

m ortality in th e ve ry obvious e xam ple of anoth e r. Th e las th um iliation, a dis gus ting e nd to th e be autiful

th ing called life . Th e e xplos ions s toppe d and th e dus tbe gan to s e ttle. I look e d atm ys e lf in th e dim ly lit

room . I w as cove re d in dus tand blood m y h ands s tripe d w ith dirtand dark re d s tains from Jone s ’ w ounds .

M y lungs w e re h e aving in and outtrying to e xh ale th e s m e lls of dirt, carnage and cordite . I w as s orry for

Jone s butm ore th an th atI w as be com ing angry.

I fe lta burning, frantic alm os tanim alange r. I w ante d to k illth e m alland I could do it. M y m ind

w as racing “Th atdam n village k ne w e xactly w h o w as conducting attack s in th is zone . Th e y k ne w w h o

w as conducting attack s in th is zone . Th e y k ne w w h o k illed Jone s ! Th e y w e re probably ce lebrating lik e

ch ildre n w h o h ad gotte n ove r on th e ir pare nts . W e llI w ould s h ow th e m w h o w as I ch arge !” Jus tth e n I

re m e m be re d s om e th ing “ 's trik ing outatth e population blindly is playing into th e ins urge nt’s plan' if I te ar

th rough th attow n I w illh ave done w h atth e y w antand I w illcre ate m ore e ne m ie s .” As I proce s s e d th is

paradox th e re s tof th e platoon w as be ginning to com e by th e body.

O ne m an s aid “w e s h ould k ille m all.Jus tunload th e 25m m into th e tow n.”

Anoth e r “Fuck th e s e pe ople, God dam n anim als.”

I k ne w th is w as going to be tough . I w e ntto m y ruck and pulled outa tow e lto w as h off m y face . I

told th e platoon s e rge antto bring allth e s e ction s e rge ants in.

Th is is w h atI told th e m . “Alrigh tguys s o you allk now w e los tJone s tonigh t. No one did anyth ing

w rong h e w as jus tunluck y and th at’s w h ath appe ns . Now th e m e n are going to w antblood. I w antblood.

Butw e can’tgive in to it;w e cannotblindly go afte r e ve ry Iraq i in zone . W e w illge tth e m e n w h o did th is

butitw illtak e patie nce and de te rm ination. If w e h urtth e w rong pe ople w e w illh ave cre ate d m ore

e ne m ie s . Te lle ve ryone th atw e w illfollow th e R O E and w e w illtre atth e locals w ith re s pe ctand te llth e m

th atI prom is e w e w illfind th e s e m e n and m ak e th e m pay.” Th e y didn’tlik e w h atI s aid butth e y re s pe cte d

itand th e y unde rs tood it.

Th atnigh ta Black h aw k w as dis patch e d w ith an Apach e in s upport. A group of us carrie d th e body

in a black body bag from th e outpos tto th e LZ . H e w as loade d into th e h e licopte r and as th e y took Jone s ’

body aw ay th e platoon s alute d from th e ir pos itions . I s truggled to k e e p s te ady in th e rotor w as h as th e bird

lifte d off and dis appe are d into th e nigh ts k y.

Th e ne xtday I w e ntto s e e M r. H us s e in again. W e w alke d in and D oc ch e ck e d on h is little girl

again. I s atdow n and h e s atacros s from m e .

“I cannotth ank you e nough for tak ing care of m y daugh te r” h e s aid th rough M oh am m e d.

“I w ould lik e to h e lp th e tow n lik e I h ave h e lpe d you daugh te r, butrigh tnow itis ve ry dange rous

h e re .”
 H e m ove d clos e r to m e “I h e ard aboutth e attack las tnigh t. I am ve ry s orry. W as s om e one h urt?”

“I los ta Soldie r las tnigh t.”

Now h e w h is pe re d “I only w antpe ace for th is are a. I lik e you jus tw antto fis h and s pe nd tim e w ith

m y fam ily. I k now you h ave a good h e artand you h ave care d for m y fam ily. I prom is e you th atno one

from th is village did th is th ing las tnigh t.”

“Th e n w h o did it?” I as k e d trying to controlm y ange r.

“Som e young m e n in th is village do noth ave jobs and can be pe rs uade d to do th ings by outs ide rs .

Itis pos s ible th ats om e outs ide rs h ave com e h e re to caus e trouble.”

“W h e re can I find th e s e m e n?”

H e dre w in e ve n clos e r “ne ar th e m ain road th e re is a h ous e w ith a blue gate ne ar th e e nd of th e

village ” h e pointe d W e s t.

“Can you s h ow m e w h ich h ous e e xactly?” I as k e d.

H e s h ook h is h e ad w ildly “no,no,no. I h ave s aid e nough th is is ve ry dange rous .”

W e finis h e d anoth e r round of ch ai and I re turne d to th e outpos t. W e took th e long w ay and found th re e

h ous e s w ith blue gate s by th e road.

Th atnigh tI s atdow n w ith th e patrolleade rs again. R e d 2 s tarte d off.

“W e didn’tfind m uch butI talke d to th e old guys again and th e y s aid bad guys m ove around at

nigh tafte r m idnigh tne ar th e road. Sorry th atdoe s n’th e lp m uch .”

R e d 5 jum pe d in “w e llI’m nots ure if th is h e lps buta guy cam e up to us w h ile w e w e re on patrol

today and s aid th atm e n in one of th e h ous e s w e re s toring w e apons . H e pointe d outth e th ird h ous e from

th e e nd on th e W e s ts ide by th e road.”

“D id ith ave a blue gate ?”

“Ye ah , ye ah I th ink itdid, now th atI th ink aboutit. Butw e look e d around and pe e k e d ove r th e

fe nce . D idn’ts e e anyth ing outof th e ordinary and itdidn’tlook lik e anyone w as h om e .”

“Th e m ayor m e ntione d pos s ible outs ide rs in a h ous e on th e W e s ts ide w ith a blue gate . Le t’s
e s tablis h an O P tonigh tove r-w atch ing th ats ide of tow n. I w antto k now if w e ge tany m ove m e ntaround

th is h ous e . I w antAlph a and Bravo s e ction re ady to h itth e h ous e if w e ge tconfirm ation tonigh t.”

Th e RTO w ok e m e around m idnigh t.

“Sir th e O P is re porting s om e th ing on th e s outh w e s ts ide of tow n.”

I jum pe d up to th e radio. “Th is is R e d 1. O ve r”

“R oge r, th is is R e d 7 I’ve gotone s e dan w ith 5 m ales e nte ring building 3. Th e y appe ar to be

trans fe rring ite m s outof th e trunk of th e ve h icle. Can’tconfirm if its w e apons or not” cam e th e w h is pe re d

re ply.

Itw as go tim e , th atw as th re e s ource s and I h ad th e h ous e now .

“Ge te ve ryone up w e ’re going to h itth e h ous e .”

W e s talke d in unde r nigh tvis ion goggles from th e s outh . I w as w ith th e as s aultte am and th e

Platoon Se rge antw as w ith th e inne r cordon. Th e inne r cordon s crolled acros s th e road and m ove d into

pos ition to th e w e s t. W e m ove d from s h adow to s h adow as w e s printe d along th e s outh s ide of th e

buildings tow ard th e targe tbuilding. I s potte d th e blue gate unde r th e h azy ye llow glow of an outdoor

ligh t. R e d 7 called up as I litup th e door w ith an IR ligh t

“R oge r, th at’s it!”

I gave R e d 2 th e th um bs up and h e blitze d to th e door w ith h is 4 m an s tack . Th e RTO called back

to th e Bradleys and th e y be gan roaring dow n from th e outpos tto th e targe th ous e . Th e bre ach m an cut

th e lock on th e gate and R e d 2’s te am s m ooth ly m ove d ins ide . I m ove d to th e e dge of th e gate and h e ard

th e blas tof th e s h otgun on th e frontdoor h inge s . I m ove d into th e courtyard as R e d 2 pus h e d th rough th e

building. Th at’s w h e n th e s h ooting s tarte d. I h e ard a burs tofAK fire follow e d by a flurry of M 4 fire . I

s aw one m an w ith an AK 47 clim b outof one of th e w indow s and race tow ard th e back of th e courtyard

tow ard a w alking gate w h ich led to th e dirts tre e tbe h ind th e h ous e . I took a s h otath im butm is s e d. H e

burs tth rough th e gate and w as in th e s tre e tbe h ind th e h ous e . I took aim again only to s e e h im je rk

unnaturally from h is h e ad to h is fe e tas ch unk s of fles h flew off of h is s lende r body. Th e Platoon Se rge ant
h ad ope ne d up on h im w ith th e M 240 and h e w as now life les s lying on th e dirt.

I called for R e d 2 on th e radio and gotno re s pons e . Th e Bradleys w e re now righ tin pos ition s e aling off

th e s ite . I m ove d into th e h ous e atth e low re ady

“TW O M EN CO M ING IN!” I ye lled. “R ED 2 W H AT’S GO ING O N?!”

“W e ’ve gotits ir. Jus ta little trouble w ith th e radio.”

Th e h andh e ld M BTR radio h ad be e n s m as h e d by an AK round. Ins ide th re e Iraq i m e n w e re

s praw led on th e floor w ith num e rous puncture w ounds from 5.56. O ne m an s e e m e d to be uninjure d and

w as zip tie d in th e corne r.

“Tak e a look atth is s ir”

H e ope ne d th e door to an adjace ntroom . Ins ide w as a 60m m m ortar tube , rounds , an R PG

launch e r and a PK C.

“Look s lik e w e got‘e m Sir.”

Afte r th e raid, s ucce s s s e e m e d to follow q uick ly. Th e days w e ntby and our m is s ion continue d. I

w ork e d w ith th e Com m ande r to ge ta m e dicalte am dow n to th e village and w e tre ate d m os tof th e pe ople.

Th e m ayor and I h ad dinne r e ve ry w e e k and m ade plans for future im prove m e nts . I coordinate d for clean

drink ing w ate r to be de live re d e ve ry oth e r day and w e w e re w e lllik e d in th e village . I h ad ach ie ve d

s ucce s s . Th e village and th e are a w e re s e cure and th e pe ople w e re conducting th e ir live s in s afe ty and

s e curity. Itw as aboutth is tim e th atI gotth e callon th e radio.

“R e d 1 th is is 6. You’ve done gre atw ork dow n th e re and I ne e d your com batpow e r up North .

Th atare a h as cooled dow n and w e ne e d th e h e lp up h e re . H ave th e platoon up h e re on th e FO B by

tom orrow .”

O f cours e I w as a little caugh toff guard butI figure d h e w as righ t. W e w e re n’tge tting any contact

and its e e m e d lik e th e m is s ion dow n h e re w as accom plis h e d. I m e tw ith th e m ayor and leth im k now w e

w e re leaving. H is face s e e m e d lik e itlos tits color and h e alm os tlook e d th rough m e . H e ’d be fine I

th ough tand w ith th atw e rolled back to th e FO B for our ne xtm is s ion.
 Se ve raldays late r, I w as w atch ing TVin th e ch ow h allw h e n I s aw th e footage on th e ne w s . I

re cognize d th e buildings and th e bridge as th e ne w s cas te r q uick ly s um m arize d th e s ce ne .

“A s m allvillage on th e outs k irts of Bagh dad w as s e ize d e arly th is m orning according to footage

found on a radicalIs lam ic w e bs ite . Vide o on th e s ite s h ow s m as k e d m e n m oving fre e ly th rough th e tow n

and th e public e xe cution of s e ve ralm e n.”

Th e im age s flas h e d in frontof m e . M e n in m as k s w ith Ak -47s w e re w alking th e s tre e ts and firing

in th e air in trium ph . I s aw th e m ayor and allth e locals th atw e h ad de ve lope d as inform ants , th e ir h ands

and fe e ttie d be h ind th e ir back s , on th e s tre e tin frontof h is h ous e w ith tw o m as k e d m e n s tanding be h ind

th e m . Eve ryone w h o h e lpe d us de fe atth e ins urge nts and im prove s e curity w as line d up in a h e lples s

path e tic h e ap be fore th e boas ting crim inals. O ne m an carrie d a pis toland putitagains tth e m ayor’s

h e ad… th e n th e s cre e n fade d back to th e ne w s cas te r. I turne d back to m y bow lof luck y ch arm s and

w onde re d h ow th is could h ave h appe ne d. I h ad com plete controlof th atare a and e ve ryth ing h ad gone s o

w e ll.I s atth e re in th e air conditione d dining facility on th e FO B for s om e tim e and th e n re alize d th atI

h ad m is s e d a k e y e lem e ntto e ns ure long las ting victory.

14. Cou nte rins u rge ncy re q u ire s u nity of e ffortbe tw e e n th e m ilitary, non-gove rnm e ntalorganizations ,

h os tnation gove rnm e nt, and oth e r e lem e nts of nationalpow e r. M ilitary e fforts on th e ir ow n cannot

cre ate e ndu ring s u cce s s .

15. Prote cting e s tablis h e d inform ants pre ve nts th e m from be ing pe rs e cu te d and e ns u re s th e y can

continu e to pos itive ly im pactth e ir ne igh borh oods e ve n afte r coalition force s leave .

16. Trans ition is prim ary! In orde r to ach ie ve las ting s u cce s s th e s e cu rity and gove rnm e ntfu nctions of

you r are a of ope rations m u s tbe trans fe rre d to locals e cu rity force s and localgove rnm e ntofficials.

Th e bits of ce re als w irled aboutin th e m ilk and I found m ys e lf s w irling into ye tanoth e r dre am .
 TH E SIXTH D R EAM

“You can alw ays counton Am e ricans to do th e righ tth ing- afte r th e y’ve trie d e ve ryth ing e lse .”

- W ins ton Ch urch ill

I e nte re d th e Com m ande r’s office for a s ixth tim e , arm e d w ith 16 les s ons e tch e d into m y m ind. I

re ce ive d th e m is s ion.

“D o you h ave any q ue s tions ?” h e as k e d.

“Sir, I h ave a fe w is s ue s … I am conce rne d w ith th e de fe ns e of th e s ite . I w ould lik e additional

barrie r m ate rial,s nipe r s cre e ns , s andbags , w ire , trip flare s , and a couple of EO F k its to s e cure it.”

“No problem , talk to th e XO h e ’llge tyou th e m ate rials be fore you role.”

“Also Sir, if I am to s e cure th is w h ole are a including th e tow n I w illne e d inte rpre te rs to ge tinte l

from th e locals. And, if I could ge ts om e additionalm e dicals upplie s and h um anitarian aid bags th atm igh t

s tartth ings outon th e righ tfootdow n th e re .”

“I’llcallSq uadron and coordinate for tw o te rps for your e lem e nt. Pick up th e H A bags from th e

FSO .” th e com m ande r re plie d.

“Sorry to s e e m ne e dy Sir, butw h atis th e s ituation w ith Iraq i Se curity Force s in th e are a?”

“Th e Iraq i 2nd Brigade h as a Com pany th atis paire d w ith our Sq uadron’s battles pace . Th e y are

s uppos e d to e ve ntually tak e ove r th e zone butrigh tnow th e y can bare ly tie th e ir s h oe s .”

“W h atare th e odds of ge tting s om e ISF h e lp in m y AO ?”

Th e CO paus e d “I’lls e e w h atI can do. I h ave a m e e ting w ith Ge ne ralJas s im late r th is w e e k to

coordinate patrols. Butdon’tge tyour h ope s up.”

“Th ank s s ir, I’llge tth e platoon m oving.” I re s ponde d and leftth e office .

I s pe nts om e e xtra tim e on m y orde r and pulled th e platoon in for th e ope rations orde r. I cove re d

allth e s tandard inform ation and adde d s om e criticale lem e nts de rive d from m y pre vious dre am s . I

de s cribe d th e rules of e ngage m e ntand th e e s calation of force proce dure s in de tailand tas k e d th e s e ctions
to re h e ars e th e s te ps be fore w e SPe d. Additionally, I provide d de tails on th e s pe cific tribe s and cultural

norm s in th e AO . I e nde d th e brie fing w ith a re m inde r.

“Ge ntlem e n, w e M UST gain th e trus tand confide nce of th e localpopulation in orde r to w in. Th e

bad guys can’ts urvive w ith outth e ir active or pas s ive s upport. Se parating th e ins urge nts from th e

population w illbe a frus trating and difficulttas k butitcan be done . O ur goalw illbe to m ak e no e ne m ie s

and e nd th e day w ith fe w e r ins urge nts th an w e s tarte d w ith .”

W e h e ade d outof th e FO B and e s tablis h e d th e outpos tfor th e s ixth tim e . Th e barrie rs w e re

e m place d;th e cone s , w ire , and s igns s ignaled to th os e on th e roads th e y w e re approach ing a US

ch e ck point. Sandbags w e re filled and th e pos ition w as fortifie d. I w alke d th e line and re fine d th e de fe ns e

clarifying s e ctors of fire and ch e ck ing s e ctor s k e tch e s . Patrols be gan s h ortly afte r th e outpos tw as s e tin

and I pos te d th e platoon fire plan in th e building ne xtto th e radios . I s pe ntth e e ve ning re h e ars ing m y

m e e tings w ith th e localtow n leade rs h ip w ith M oh am m e d th e inte rpre te r.

Th e RTO s h ook m e aw ak e atabout0500.

“Sir, patrolre ports e igh tm e n in m as k s w ith w e apons m oving tow ard th e outpos talong th e rive r to

th e Eas t.”

I rattled m y s e lf aw ak e and s tum bled to th e h and m ik e . “Th is is R e d 1 O ve r.”

“R oge r, th is is R e d 7 I’ve gotdis m ounts m oving tow ard your pos ition along th e rive r in s e ctor B1.

Bre ak . I am curre ntly s e tin O P jus te as tof TR P 3. O ve r” Cam e th e w h is pe re d re ply from th e radio.

“R oge r th atR e d 7. Can you m ak e itback into th e pe rim e te r?O ve r.”

“Ne gative , ne gative . W illbe com prom is e d if w e m ove . O ve r.”

“R oge r th atR e d 7. Go to ground vicinity TR P 3. M ark your pos ition w ith IR s trobe . O ve r.”

“W ilco.”

I turne d to th e RTO “Ge ton th e h orn to Troop w e ’re going to ne e d attack aviation. Te llth e m

troops in contact.”

Th e RTO m ove d to th e oth e r h and m ik e and I addre s s e d th e platoon

 “Alle lem e nts go to 100% s e curity. AIF m oving in B1.”

Th e pos itions re s ponde d in s e q ue nce and I m ove d to th e cots w ak ing up th e m e n w h o w e re

s lee ping. I could fe e lth e k notin m y s tom ach clench ing dow n w ith th e anticipation of com batas I donne d

m y body arm or and K e vlar. I ch e ck e d m y w e apon and lock e d and 30 round m agazine of 5.56. I ch e ck e d

on th e Brad atpos ition 6 and re m inde d th e m aboutR e d 7’s pos ition. Th e y w e re w e apons h old, and w ould

only be allow e d to e ngage on orde r, in B2. I didn’tw antany frie ndly fire incide nts . O nce I w as s ure th e y

unde rs tood I m ove d to pos ition 2. Th e pos ition w as m anne d by tw o of th e m ortarm e n and w as now

re inforce d by 3 m ore s oldie rs w h o h ad be e n s lee ping butw e re now s training in th e dullm orning ligh tto

s e e th e ir adve rs arie s m oving on th e ir pos ition. I w as look ing ove r th e gun w h e n I h e ard gun fire from th e

north .

Th e e xplos ion w as de afe ning and in th e grow ing ligh tI s aw a plum e of s m ok e and dus tris ing

from th e north s ide of th e com pound. I clutch e d th e radio h and m ik e

“Pos ition 4, SITR EP! Pos ition 4, SITR EP!”

“R oge r… one VBIED e ngage d and de s troye d vicinity pos ition 4”

“D o w e h ave any frie ndly BD A ove r?”

“Ne gative , ne gative frie ndly BD A. W e gotitatth e trigge r line . No frie ndly cas ualtie s .”

“R oge r, continue to m aintain s e curity. W e w ille xploitth e s ite afte r w e de alw ith th e s e dis m ounts .”

A h azy m is tw as h anging jus tabove th e rive r and a ligh th aze cove re d th e h igh re e ds on th e e dge

of th e rive r. Th e te am atpos ition 2 w as rive te d to th e ir s e ctors . I h e ld th e buts tock of m y rifle agains tm y

ch e e k and s canne d w ith m y ACO G. I s aw a figure ris e from th e re e ds and gras s . H e w as dre s s e d in black

w ith a black s k i m as k cove ring h is face . H e h ad an R PG launch e r ove r h is righ ts h oulde r and h e brough t

th e s ys te m to be ar on our pos ition. M y finge r m ove d from th e re ady to th e trigge r as th e illum inate d

triangle re ticule of m y ACO G cove re d h is ch e s tth rough th e s igh t. Th e n I s aw h im lurch back ;blood and

bits of fles h e rupte d from h is back . Tw o m ore s h ots rang outand anoth e r ope ning appe are d in h is ch e s t

follow e d by a ch unk of h is h e ad flying apart. Th e SD M on th e roof h ad e ngage d firs t. I adjus te d m y aim

and ide ntifie d th e re s tof th e group.

I fire d a couple rounds as th e re s tof th e pos ition ope ne d up. Th e M 240B rak e d th e e ne m y

pos ition. A brave fe w trie d to re turn fire and a couple of s h ots w izze d pas s e d our h e ads butth e y w e re

q uick ly cutdow n. Unde r h e avy fire four of th e m trie d to bre ak contact;th re e of th e m w e re torn to s h re ds

as s oon as th e y gotup to m ove . Th e forth m an w as able to dive into th e re e ds by th e bank of th e rive r and

dis appe ar to th e Eas t. I w ave d m y h and acros s m y face and ye lled.

“CEASE FIR E! CEASE FIR E!”

I called ove r th e platoon ne t. “Allre d e lem e nts w e are now w e apons h old on th e Eas ts ide , I s ay

again w e apons h old. Bre ak . R e d 7, R e d 1 ove r.”

“Th is is R e d 7” “R oge r R e d 7, w e h ave one AIF m oving from pos ition 2 e as tth rough B1. M ove to

k illor capture ove r.”

“Th is is R e d 7 roge r m oving.”

I s tarte d to ge th andle on th e s ituation and ch e ck for cas ualtie s w h e n th e radio ch im e d in again.

“R e d 1 th is is Blum ax 26 ove r”

“Th is is R e d 1” I re s ponde d

“And roge r Sir, Blum ax 26 w ith a fligh tof tw o AH -64s e nte ring your zone in approxim ate ly 5

m inute s w ith 16 H ELLFIR E, 38 R ock e ts , 1 h our 30 m inute s s tation tim e , re q ue s ting frie ndly s ituation and

tas k purpos e .”

Itw as th e aircraftcom ing on s tation.

“R oge r th atBlum ax I h ave one cavplatoon atth e outpos tvic grid M R 123456 and one te am of

nine pe rs onne lto our e as tw e h ave h ad VBIED and s m allarm s contactfor th e las t30 m inute s .”

I w as going to ve ctor th e m in on our re m aining contactin th e Eas tw h e n I h e ard th e m ortars . Th e

th ud of th e launch w as clearly on th e oth e r s ide of th e rive r.

“INCO M ING!” I ye lled in unis on w ith w h ats e e m e d lik e th e w h ole platoon.

Th e firs tround lande d in th e m iddle of th e com pound.

 I grabbe d th e radio “Blum ax, R e d 1 I h ave m ortar contacts outh s ide of th e rive r, m ortar contact

South s ide of th e rive r!”

“Tally th at. 5 pe rs onne lw ith m ortars on South s ide . Engaging now w ith rock e ts .”

Th e firs tApach e roare d dow n th e line of th e rive r attre e leve land bank e d h ard leftove r our

pos ition. A s e cond Apach e cam e ata h igh e r angle. W us h h h h a w us h h h a w us s s s s h a. A th in line of h azy

s m ok e re ach e d outfrom th e aircraftto th e ground. Th e th uds of th e im pacts caus e d th e platoon to ch e e r

w ildly as w e s tood up from our pos itions to w atch th e action.

“3 e ne m y de s troye d, going in for s e cond run.”

Th e firs tApach e h ad com e back around from th e North and th e s te ady th rap th rap th rap of th e

ch ain gun filled th e air follow e d by e xplos ions from th e 30m m H E rounds on th e m ortar s ite .

“R e d 1 th is is Blum ax 26 I h ave BD A 5 e ne m y pe rs onne land one m ortar s ys te m de s troye d, w h at

e lse do you h ave for us ?”

 “R oge r th atBlum ax. Gre atw ork . Can you ch e ck our pe rim e te r for any additionalAIF. Be advis e d

I h ave one nine m an te am look ing for one AIF to th e Eas talong th e rive r.”

“R oge r th atR e d 1 ch e ck ing your pe rim e te r now .”

I ran to th e building and m e tup w ith th e Platoon Se rge ant. W e h ad ze ro cas ualtie s as of now and

h e alre ady h ad a te am pre paring to re con th e m ortar s ite . I called R e d 7 for a s itre p.

“R e d 7 th is is R e d 1 SITR EP ove r.”

“R oge r R e d 1, w e h ave one de taine e . Standby.”

I w as h appy aboutth atand I w e nttow ard th e Bradleys to ch e ck outth e VBIED . I w alke d outs ide

th e com pound and s aw a burning h ulk ne xtto th e orange cone m ark ing th e EO F trigge r line for th e

Bradleys . I w as aboutto congratulate th e cre w s w h e n th e radio s q ue lch e d again.

“R e d 1 th is is R e d 7 w e h ave one de taine e w ith one AK 47. W e are m oving back to th e outpos t

now .”

Th e Apach e s cam e back up “R e d 1 th is is Blum ax 26 w e h ave ne gative contactalong your

pe rim e te r. W e h ave e ye s on your e lem e ntw ith th e de taine e . O ve r”

“R oge r th atI’m m oving a te am acros s th e bridge to e xploitth e m ortar s ite . Prote ctth ate lem e ntto

e nable s ite e xploitation ove r.”

“Th is is Blum ax 26 W ILCO .”

I s potte d R e d 7 and h is te am cros s ing th e road and e nte ring th e com pound from th e Eas t. I w e nt

back ins ide to tak e a look atth e de taine e . H e w as cove re d in m ud and th e blood of h is frie nds s tillcove re d

h is s h irtand face . H e w as young m aybe 20 ye ars old w ith a baby face . H is h ands w e re zipcuffe d be h ind

h is back and h e look e d m ore lik e a curfe w violator th an a te rroris t. I h ad R e d 7’s s e ction drop th e re ge ar

in th e building and th e m ortarm e n took ove r de taine e w atch . W e cleane d off h is face and w ork e d on th e

de taine e proce dure s . W e took h is picture , re tinals can, and finge rprints us ing our biom e tric de vice th e n

M oh am m e d and I s tarte d to as k h im q ue s tions .

“W h atis your nam e ?”

 “M oh am m e d AlJabori” h e ans w e re d s oftly.

“H ow m any w e re w ith you?”

“Six” h e s aid.

“W h e re are you from ?”

“AlD ore aa”

“W h y did you attack us ?”

H e didn’tans w e r.

“D o you h ave a job?”

“No”

“W h o told you to attack ?W h o is in ch arge of you?”

“K as s im … K as s im .”

“W h o is K as s im ?”

No ans w e r.

“W h o is K as s im ?”

M oh am m e d jum pe d in “Sir, I don’tth ink th is guy h e w illte llyou anyth ing h e k now s h e is in

trouble. Th is guy is jus ta k id.”

“I unde rs tand M oh am m e d.” I s aid and w ith th atI h ad th e m ortarm e n tak e h im outto th e s ite of

th e attack . Th e y took h is picture w ith h is AK 47 in frontof th e de ad bodie s of h is fe llow ins urge nts w ith

th e R PG and oth e r w e apons s tilllying on th e ground. I figure d th is “m one y s h ot” w ould h e lp w ith

pros e cution.

W e com plete d s ite e xploitation atboth s ite s . Th e Sq uadron QR F com pos e d of a platoon of four

gun truck s and EO D arrive d to h e lp w ith th e e ffort. W e h ande d off th e de taine e and th e data to th e QR F

for proce s s ing by th e S2 s h op. EO D ch e ck e d outth e VBIED and took picture s and s h rapne l;w e us e d a

Bradley to pus h th e VBIED carcas s off th e road. O nce th ings w e re unde r controlI figure d th is w as a good

opportunity to ge tback on m y originalplan and vis itth e localpopulation. “M aybe s om e inte lcould
pre ve ntm ore attack s in th e future ” I th ough t. I w as pre paring for th e dis m ounte d patrolw h e n four Toyota

pick ups fullof Iraq i Soldie rs pulled up to th e outpos t.

Th e Iraq i s oldie rs w ore de s e rttan uniform s w ith th e old ch ocolate ch ip patte rn from de s e rts torm .

M os tof th e m h ad body arm or of one k ind or anoth e r. Th e y allcarrie d AK s e xce ptfor th e m an w h o

w alke d up to m e w h o only carrie d a pis tolh olste re d on h is h ip.

“H e llo, I am Lie ute nantH abir I h ave be e n as s igne d to th is pos t. Are you Lie ute nantSm ith ?” h e

s aid in h e avily acce nte d Englis h .

“Ye s , I am . And I’m glad to s e e you.”

W ith th atw e s atdow n in th e h ous e and h e gave m e h is units tatus . H e arrive d w ith four Toyota

truck s and 20 pe rs onne lallarm e d w ith AK -47s w ith 4 PK Cs . H e h ad a bas ic load of am m unition for h is

w e apons and food w as s uppos e d to be pick e d up daily from a tow n north of our pos ition. I brough tH abir

up to s pe e d on th e e ve nts of th e m orning and w e de s ignate d an are a for h is force s to s e tup th e ir ge ar and

park th e ir ve h icles . W e also de cide d to inte grate th e m into th e de fe ns e afte r th e y h ad e s tablis h e d

th e m s e lve s .

“I w as aboutto go into tow n and m e e tth e localleade rs . W ould you lik e to go w ith m e ?”

“Sure , s ure , th is is a good ide a.” H e re plie d.

W e link e d back in w ith m y patroland h e grabbe d tw o of h is m e n and w e w alke d outof th e outpos t

tow ard AlD ore aa.

As w e w alke d th rough tow n th e Iraq i s oldie rs s e e m e d ate as e and s pok e w ith th e locals as w e

pas s e d th e m ne ar th e s m allfood s tands . H abir w as approach e d by a s h ortm an in a dirty dis h das h a w ith a

th ick m us tach e , th e y s h ook h ands h e artily and k is s e d on th e ch e e k s . H abir brok e off h is conve rs ation and

turne d to m e .

“Th is is m y cous in Ah m e d, h e live s in th is tow n.”

Ah m e d re ach e d outh is h and to m e as H abir introduce d m e in Arabic. Ah m e d invite d us to h is

h om e for ch ai and H abir acce pte d. Th e patrolm ove d North follow ing Ah m e d to h is s m allh ous e . W e

m ove d th rough th e rus te d m e talgate and into th e courtyard. W e e nte re d th e frontroom of h is h ous e w h ich

w as ope n w ith pillow s and a large rug on th e floor. W e s atdow n and Ah m e d w e ntback to s tartth e ch ai.

M oh am m e d s atne xtto m e and trans late d for m e as H abir and Ah m e d s pok e to e ach oth e r.

“H ow is your fath e r?” H abir as k e d.

“H e is w e ll.And h ow is your fam ily, th e y are w e ll?” R e s ponde d Ah m e d.

“Ye s fine .”

“I didn’te xpe ctto find you h e re , I th ough tyou w e re in Bagh dad. AlD ore aa is nota s afe place .”

Ah m e d now addre s s e d us as w e ll“I love th e Am e ricans , buts om e h e re in tow n h ave fough tth e

occupation. M any h ave allow e d th is butnow fore igne rs and crim inals h ave m ade th is place uns afe . Pe ople

are tire d of th e violence and w antpe ace .”

“I unde rs tand Ah m e d and I am h e re to h e lp. I am truly h e re to h e lp H abir bring s afe ty to th e tow n”

I pulled outm y w alletw ith picture s of m y Sis te r, nie ce , and ne ph e w . “Th is is m y fam ily, I w antnoth ing
m ore th an to m ak e th is village s afe and allow Iraq is to gove rn Iraq is .”

Ah m e d nodde d and th e n look e d to th e door. A m an w alke d into th e room Ah m e d ros e to gre e th im .

Th e m an introduce d h im s e lf as M r. H us s e in th e m ayor of th e village . H abir rattled off s om e s m alltalk and

th e dis cus s ion turne d to th e s tate of th e tow n.

M r H us s e in s aid “th e tow n is in de s pe rate ne e d of m e dicalcare w e ne e d im m unizations and a

clinic;itis too h ard to re ach a h os pitalin Bagh dad.”

“I m ay be able to h e lp” I re s ponde d. “I h ave s om e m e dicals upplie s . D o you h ave a tow n doctor?”

“No w e do not, th is is a big problem ”

“I w illtry to h e lp.”

“I w illbe lie ve itw h e n ith appe ns . I h ave h ad four ye ars of prom is e s .”

W e finis h e d our ch ai and ros e to leave . H abir s taye d ins ide w ith h is cous in for s e ve ralm inute s as

w e m ove d outs ide . W h e n h e re turne d h e pulled m e as ide

“Arnold, m y cous in told m e of big bad guy in tow n. H e is w illing to h e lp us , tonigh tif w e are

re ady.”

“Le t’s look atw h atw e h ave w h e n w e ge tback to th e outpos t” I re s ponde d.

W e com plete d our patrol,Soldie rs h ande d outH A bags and th e IA s pok e fre e ly w ith th e

population.

Upon re turn to th e outpos tI h ad tw o pre s s ing prioritie s : one w as to find outh ow to ge tm e dical

tre atm e ntto th e tow n and th e oth e r w as to cons olidate th e inte lfrom today’s patrols. I th ough tth rough th e

m e dicalre q ue s t, I could us e m y m e dics and s m allpack age of m e dicals upplie s to tre atth e population or I

could ge tSq uadron to cough up a bigge r te am w ith th e PA and D oc. Ne ith e r option m e tth e les s ons th at

w e re running th rough m y h e ad… I w onde re d h ow could I e m pow e r th e localgove rnm e ntand s e curity

force s as w e llas focus on trans ition. ButI also h ad a ne e d to w in an e arly victory! I e s tablis h e d a

com prom is e and I w as de te rm ine d to putitinto action. I tas k e d th e RTO to w ork s om e de tails w ith th e

Sq uadron and brie fe d th e m e dics .

 Ne xtI took on th e inte lis s ue s . I pulled in th e Sq uad leade rs and brough tin H abir to re vie w th e

actions during th e day.

Th e Platoon Se rge ants tarte d “Sir, w e re ce ive d s om e inte lfrom h igh e r w h ile you w e re on patrol.It

s e e m s th atw h e n EO D w e ntth rough th e VBIED from th is m orning th e y found th atth e VIN w as link e d to

a group of ve h icles purch as e d in Syria and link e d to oth e r bom bings . Th e y gave us th e nam e K as s im

Fare e d w h o appare ntly is th e leade r of th e localAlQiada faction. Also look s lik e th e guy w e gotth is

m orning is s inging and s ays K as s im live s ne ar th e Sunni m os q ue in AlD ore aa w ith a fe w body guards .

Sq uadron h as m ade h im an H VT.”

H abir jum pe d in “m y cous in also m e ntione d th is nam e h e s ays th is ‘K as s im ’ m ove d into th e

village tw o w e e k s ago and k illed s e ve ralvillage rs . H e told m e th ath e w ould s h ow us th e h ous e tonigh t.”

“Look s lik e w e h ave a date w ith K as s im tonigh t.”

“M y e lem e ntm us te xe cute th is ope ration” s tate d H abir. “Itis our country and w e w illcapture th is

te rroris t.”

“O k ay, s ounds good butw e w illprovide your oute r cordon and s om e additionalfire pow e r w ith th e

M 3s .”

W ith th atH abir and I com plete d our plan and s e ta 0400 h ittim e on th e h ous e .

At0330 H abir and h is m e n leftth e outpos tand w alke d into tow n. Th e y m e tw ith h is cous in and

q uick ly m ove d to a s m allh ous e on th e s outh s ide of tow n. I h ad a dis m ountte am on th e s outh s ide of th e

road and an M 3 s e ction m oving into pos ition to s upportw h e n th e y e nte re d th e building. By 0405 th e y

w e re e xiting th e building w ith four m e n in zip cuffs . Ins ide th e h ous e w as a s m allcach e of rifles and IED

m ak ing m ate rial.I m ove d onto th e s ite w ith th e e xploitation te am and did th e e vide nce collection on th e

s ite . O ne of th e m e n w as ide ntifie d by Ah m e d as K as s im Fare e d. H e and h is m e n w e re th e n pick e d up by

th e Sq uadron QR F and m ove d back to th e FO B for inte rrogation. Th e Iraq is h ad com plete d th e raid

s ucce s s fully on th e ir ow n and K as s im w as off th e s tre e t.

Th e day w as n’tove r th ough and afte r a brie f re cove ry w e w e re back in tow n to m e e tw ith th e
m ayor. W e k nock e d on h is gate and s atdow n in h is h om e . I h ad re h e ars e d th e m e e ting w ith H abir ah e ad

of tim e and h e be gan.

“I w as able to w ork w ith th e Am e ricans to as s is tyour village today. As you k now w e capture d a

m ajor crim inalin your village th is m orning butw e k now th atyou h ave be e n in e vil’s grip and th is is not

your fault. Th e Am e ricans h ave s om e s upplie s to tre at30 village rs today ch ildre n and e lde rly only. But

th is w illnottruly h e lp th e tow n. I unde rs tand you do noth ave a doctor?”

“Th is is true w e h ave no doctor.”

“I w illne e d you to s e lectone m an from th e tow n to be traine d by th e Am e rican m e dics . H e w illactas

your tow n doctor. Also I h ave coordinate d w ith th e H e alth M inis try to h ave your tow n and pos s ible clinic

locations ins pe cte d.”

Th e m ayor w as e cs tatic “th ank you th is is w onde rful.”

“Finally I w illne e d th re e nam e s of m e n w illing to be traine d as police to k e e p th e tow n s afe . Initially w e

w illtrain th e m and th e n th e y w illatte nd th e police acade m y.”

“You w illh ave th e m today.”

W e tre ate d a s m allnum be r of th e population and w e re m e tw ith s m iles and h appine s s from th e

village rs . Th e m ayor pe rs onally s e lecte d th os e to be tre ate d and th e m an w h o w ould be traine d in m e dical

care . Th e Iraq is h andled th e crow d controland e as ily m anage d th e s ituation.

As tim e progre s s e d w e continue d to as s is tH abir w ith proje cts and additionalas s e ts . H e and h is

m e n de ve lope d a gre atre lations h ip w ith th e population and gaine d controlof th e te rrain. Th e IP

candidate s re ce ive d bas ic s k ills training atth e outpos tand w e re late r s e ntto th e acade m y. Th e m ayor w as

link e d in w ith th e h e alth m inis try and w as able to s pe ak w ith h is provincialleade rs above h im to

coordinate for s upplie s . AlD ore aa h ad turne d a corne r. Iraq is conducte d m os tof th e patrolling w ith th e

platoon focus e d on nigh tpatrols and O Ps . Itw as atth is pointth atth e CO cam e dow n to vis it.

“You’ve done a gre atjob h e re Sm ith . Butit’s tim e to pack itup. W e are h e ade d to H adith a to

s upportope rations th e re . Th e IA are be ing give n controlof th is AO .”

 Afte r w e pack e d our ge ar and line d up to leave I s pok e to H abir for th e las ttim e .

“D on’tw orry aboutus . Th is is our figh tand only w e can w in it. Th ank you for your h e lp w e can

tak e itfrom h e re .”

I s m iled and clim be d into m y H M M W Vith ad be e n a s ucce s s atleas tas m uch of a s ucce s s as you

can h ave in counte r-ins urge ncy. As w e drove off I th ough tabouth ow good th e Silve r Star w ould look on

m y uniform .

Th e th ud of th e w h e e ls h itting th e runw ay w ok e m e from m y s lum be r and as I s h ook off th e

ungodly e ffe cts of th e s lee ping pills I re alize d th atI w as only jus tnow arriving in K uw ait.
 ACR O NY M LIST

AIF- Anti-Iraq i Force s

Bradley- Bradley Figh ting Ve h icle also M 3 or CFV

CFV- Cavalry Figh ting Ve h icle

CO - Com m anding O ffice r

CO P- Com batO utpos t

EO F- Es calation of Force

FO B- Forw ard O pe rating Bas e

H A- H um anitarian As s is tance

H EM TT- H e avy Eq uipm e ntM e dium Truck Trans port

H IC- H igh Inte ns ity Conflict

H M M W VH igh ly M obile M ulti-W h e e led Ve h icle

IED - Im provis e d Explos ive D e vice

NAI- Nam e d Are a of Inte re s t

NCO - Non-Com m is s ione d O ffice r

M ED EVAC- M e dicalEvacuation

M R E- M e alR e ady to Eat

PCC/PCI- Pre -Com batCh e ck s and Ins pe ctions

PSG- Platoon Se rge ant

R O E- R ules of Engage m e nt

RTO - R adio Te leph one O pe rator

SP- StartPoint

TCP- Traffic ControlPoint

VBIED - Ve h icle Borne Im provis e d Explos ive D e vice