When Colonel Holder was asked about General Franks’ orders to advance cautiously, he replied, “We’re all scouts.”

Following is an excerpt from The Gulf War Chronicles, detailing Captain H.R. McMaster's participation in one of the largest armored battles of all time:

With one hundred forty soldiers in nine M1A1 tanks, twelve Bradley Fighting Vehicles, two 4.2" mortar carriers, and other armored support vehicles, Captain H.R. McMaster’s Eagle Troop headed east searching for the enemy. At 1525 Eagle Troop was ordered to advance toward the 70th Easting and find the Republican Guard.

As the troopers approached the 60th Easting, the concentration of Iraqi forces
began to increase. By 1530, Eagle Troop had come under fire from Iraqis occupying a group of buildings at the 69th Easting. The troopers returned fire and kept moving forward. Artillery rounds began falling on Eagle Troop. They continued to “hit the leather and ride” forward.

At 1556, Eagle Troop approached an Iraqi bunker that lie directly in its path of advance. As the cavalry troopers closed in, the defenders dropped their weapons, came out, and surrendered. The troopers ignored the surrendering Iraqis and continued to grind forward. At 1607, Eagle Troop encountered dug-in T-72 tanks. McMaster had found the Republican Guard. The Troop’s tank platoons moved forward and attacked through a minefield. At 1618 McMaster’s gunner fired on and destroyed a T-72 tank. By 1622 Eagle Troop tankers had destroyed eight more Iraqi T-72s. The Troopers continued to plow forward. By 1636, they had destroyed many Iraqi tanks and were attacking into the bulk of the Iraqi defenses. McMaster had advanced far beyond the 70th Easting.

His orders had been to stop the Troop’s forward progress at that point. This was no time to stop the attack and become sitting ducks for the Iraqi gunners! McMaster told First Lieutenant John Gifford (who was in radio contact from the command post), “I can’t stop. We’re still in contact. Tell them I’m sorry.” Eagle Troop pushed forward, destroying more tanks ahead. At 1640 McMaster’s Troop finally reached a point that was just out of range of seventeen T-72 tanks coiled on the edge of the next defensive perimeter. Eagle Troop stopped its advance. They had arrived at the 73rd Easting.

Captain H.R. McMaster led the charge into the Republican Guard. His engagement was one of the first in the battle of the 73rd Easting. Within hours, the 1st Infantry Division would pass through the Cavalrymen and engulf the Tawakalna Republican Guard Division. Old Ironside would attack the Republican Guard head on and the 3rd Armored Division would engulf the enemy in the north. You can read the entire story of the battle of the 73rd Easting in "The Gulf War Chronicles."

Colonel H.R. Mcmaster's official biography reads:

Lieutenant Colonel H. R. McMaster was commissioned in the United States Army upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984. His military education includes the Airborne and Ranger Schools, the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Cavalry Leader’s Course, the U.S. Army Combined Armed Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and as an Army War College Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

In 1994, McMaster completed his M.A. in history at the University of North Carolina. He taught history at the United States Military Academy from 1994 to 1996, and was awarded his Ph.D. in American History in 1996. His book, Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam, was published in May, 1997. He has published numerous articles on historical and national security affairs topics in edited volumes, newspapers, magazines, and professional journals.

Lieutenant Colonel McMaster has served in numerous command and staff positions in Armor and Cavalry units in the U.S., Germany, and at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. He commanded Eagle Troop, Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in Bamberg, Germany and Southwest Asia during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and the occupation of Southern Iraq. He commanded the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany from October, 1999 until June of 2002. LTC McMaster is currently serving with United States Central Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. His military decorations include the Silver Star Medal.

But, he is much, much more. McMaster was the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment's commanding officer when they turned around the city of Tal Afar, Iraq. He used classic counterinsurgent techniques which would later be employed in Baghdad in 2007. Colonel McMaster had one of the few counter-insurgent successes in 2005. He was so successful, that he was summoned to Baghdad in 2007 to assist in General Petraeus' Baghdad security planning.

Tomorrow I will post part II of this story. H.R. McMaster's military story goes much farther back than OIF. Tune in tomorrow to hear about his Desert Storm exploits. Suffice it to say, this man needs to get a star.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

Before sunrise on the 23rd of March 2003, thirty-three soldiers, traveling in eighteen trucks, stumbled into the dusty desert city of An Nasiriyah. It wasn’t until they had driven all the way through the city that they realized that they were hopelessly lost. As soon as they turned around and tried to retrace their path, every Iraqi with a gun started shooting at the beleaguered convoy. The lead three vehicles managed to run the gauntlet and get back to the U.S. Marines’ front lines.

Five vehicles broke down and ten soldiers scrambled for cover in a nearby ditch. Surrounded, they each vowed to go down fighting. They had fought to hold off the enemy for nearly an hour, when Major Bill Peeples and the Marine tankers of Alpha Company, 8th Tanks arrived to save the day. The Marines beat back the enemy and rushed the ten soldiers to safety.

The remaining seventeen soldiers were not so fortunate. Eleven were killed and six captured. Specialists Jamaal Addison and James Kiehl both died when their vehicle careened through an intersection and rolled over on its top. Private First Class Howard Johnson II and Private Ruben Estrella-Soto’s truck crashed at the same intersection. Sergeant Donald Walters was lost north of An Nasiriyah when his vehicle broke down. He leapt from his disabled vehicle behind enemy lines and laid down covering fire so that the rest of his unit could turn their vehicles and get out of a horrific ambush. Private Brandon Sloan was shot and killed while the vehicle he was in was racing south. Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Mata’s truck shuddered to a stop atop a railroad overpass and burst into flames. Mata was killed, but his driver, Specialist Hudson, survived.

Near the end to the doomed convoy, First Sergeant Robert Dowdy tried to shepherd his soldiers to safety. Private First Class Lori Piestewa was driving Dowdy’s HMMWV. Specialist Edward Anguiano, Sergeant George Buggs and Private First Class Jessica Lynch were riding in the back. Piestewa managed to maneuver around obstacles and raced all the way back through Nasiriyah when the flatbed in front of her jackknifed. Lori was unable to avoid the back of the skidding truck. She plowed into the rear of the flatbed, instantly killing Dowdy.

We know that Lori and Jessica survived the collision. It is not clear what happened to Buggs and Anguiano. When Patrick Miller approached the crash scene, he glanced in and thought everyone was dead. Hudson, Hernandez, Lynch, Miller, Piestewa, Riley, and Shoshana Johnson were all taken prisoner. Lynch and Piestewa were separated from the others and eventually ended up in the Tykar Military Hospital. Lori died while being treated, leaving Lynch alone and near death.

The soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company that were killed that day were from all walks of life and every corner of this nation. They were a swatch cut from the American fabric and the first to die in this protracted war. Lori Piestewa was an American Indian and single mother. Brandon Sloan and Robert Dowdy were both from Cleveland Ohio. Brandon, 19, had left high school early to join the Army, while Dowdy, 38, was a career soldier. James Kiehl, 22, was a friendly computer technician who left behind a pregnant wife. Buggs and Anguiano were not even members of the 507th. Dowdy had convinced them to take one of their vehicles in tow two nights before. Their tow truck ran out of gas north of An Nasiriyah and Dowdy, Piestewa and Lynch had picked them up.

By noon, the Marines were pressing north to secure two vital bridges in An Nasiriyah. The fighting started long before they reached the Euphrates River but it wasn’t until they moved into downtown Nasiriyah that all hell broke loose. Alpha Company secured the Euphrates River Bridge while Bravo Company swung out to the east side of town. Charlie Company raced over the Euphrates River Bridge and charged through “Ambush Alley” to the Saddam Canal Bridge.

Eighteen Marines died in Charlie Company’s battle for that northern bridge. Donald Cline was a twenty-one year old husband and father of two young boys. Patrick Nixon loved history and wanted to eventually be a teacher. Phillip Jordan was a career Marine and loving husband and father. Fred Pokorney was a giant of a man who had just been promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Sergeant Michael Bitz was the father of two young boys and one-month old twins. David Fribley and Brian Buesing were both Florida natives. Fribley joind the Corps after 9/11 and Buesing had been in the Marines since he graduated from high school. Brendon Reiss was the son of a decorated Vietnam Veteran and Randal Rosacker was the son of a Navy Master Chief submarine sailor. Jose Garibay and Jorge Gonzalez were both from Southern California. Thomas Slocum was a 22 year old from Colorado and Nolen Hutchings was from South Carolina. They were both troubled teens who had worked to turn their lives around in the Corps.

Tamario Burkett was a young Marine from upstate New York. Kemaphoom Chanawongse was born in Thailand and came to the United States at nine years old. He was the first to have a Buddhist funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Johnathan Gifford wanted to be a Marine since he was a little boy. Michael Williams joined the Corps late in life. At 31, he was just a Lance Corporal but older than most of the young officers he worked for. On his trip over to Iraq, he emailed his girlfriend and asked her to marry him. Thomas Blair was not a member of Charlie Company. He was part of an anti-aircraft unit that had been assigned to Charlie Company. He too, went directly into the Marine Corps after high school graduation.

Twenty-nine lives ended too soon on that clear Sunday in March. Twenty-nine families grieve to this day. These soldiers and Marines died before there was a daily box score in the newspapers of America. They have been buried under 4000 more stories. Donald Cline and Michael Williams died because they chose to help their wounded comrades.
Many more soldiers and Marines would have died that day had it not been for the Herculean efforts of men like, Private First Class Patrick Miller, Sergeant Michael Bitz, Gunnery Sergeant Jason Doran, Lieutenant Mike Seely, Captain Eric Garcia, and Major Bill Peeples. These men are true American heroes.

Read about these brave young men and women in the only book to tell the entire story of America’s first major battle in Operation Iraqi Freedom – “Marines in the Garden of Eden,” Berkley, New York, 2006.

We had been talking in his Washington D.C. office for nearly an hour. We had already covered the preparations for battle and RCT-1's initial thrust into the northwest section of Fallujah, when the subject of the Iraqi forces came up. In April, 2004, Iraqi forces broke and ran before they ever reached the fight in Fallujah.

The November fight would be different. This would be the first time the new Iraqi Army would fight alongside American forces against the thugs and insurgents who were bringing chaos to their country. The interview picks up here with Colonel Shupp speaking:

As we brought the Iraqi forces into the city along HENRY, I could tell they were scared. Our regimental staff went to the lead of the formation and greeted them and marched them into the city. I wanted them to see that we were all going to be together. Their brigade commander was with me. We walked them into their position.

With Jim Rainey's Bradley's there, it was the perfect mission for them. They put up barriers, concertina. They put up tetrahedrons and they blocked HENRY - that whole eastern side of the city. Nothing could come across. It was isolating my flank for me. They did a magnificent job. I couldn't have been happier with them.

The Bradleys gave them the courage they needed...They had been given two weeks of training in Baghdad, before they were sent to us. What would I do to those young people, if I were to have put them out there in a fight like that? I would have been just putting them out for the slaughter. I couldn't do it. So, I gave them a mission they could do with their abilities.

Me: And something you actually needed?

Right.

Now, here is a true leader. He was concerned about his Marines, his soldiers and the Iraqi soldiers under his command. He worked diligently to give all his units assignments for which they were suited - then he led them from the front.

You will hear much, much more about Colonel Michael Shupp in my book. For now, I wanted to give you all some insight into the fantastic leadership during Operation al Fajr. Colonel Shupp was not alone. Later, I will introduce LtCol Pat Malay, Major Todd Desgrosseilliers, Captain Dan Wirttnam, Lt. Edward Iwan and many, many more.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.343.8790

Press Release 080314a
March 14, 2008

Transcript of General Petraeus Interview with the Washington Post on Government of Iraq Progress

Today's Washington Post inaccurately characterized the discussions General Petraeus and their reporters had yesterday. During the one-hour interview General Petraeus never intimated or stated that Iraqi leaders have "failed to take advantage of a reduction in violence to make adequate progress toward resolving their political differences."

The Washington Post has been asked to make a correction on this statement and we are awaiting their decision.

The following transcript is from an interview with the Washington Post’s Sudarsan Raghavan, Joshua Partlow and Cameron Barr of Gen. Petraeus’ comments on the Government of Iraq’s economic and political progress.

GENERAL PETRAEUS: ...The government does have to achieve legitimacy in the eyes of many in the Sunni Arab community, if not most. There’s no question. Actually, it has to achieve legitimacy in the eye of all Iraqis…... and that can only come by improving the level of services, again -- some of which are going to take some time, but some of which they can do in a…

WP: But they have political power. Anbar wants political power.

GENERAL PETRAEUS: And they will get it. But again, that’s why they want provincial elections. That’s why the provincial powers law and the subsequent provincial election laws are so important. I mean that’s why Ambassador Crocker and I have repeatedly noted that, you know, it’s crucial that the Iraqis exploit the opportunity that we and our Iraqi counterparts have fought so hard to provide them. And they did start down that road. They have made a start down that road. And, you know, the laws that were passed, some of them are steps toward the kind of progress that is needed to begin to cement the gains that have been achieved in the security arena.

WP: Do you think enough has been done? I mean last year, you know, you’ve even said it…

GENERAL PETRAEUS: Sure.

WP: …a lot of commanders have said it that the key goal of the surge…

GENERAL PETRAEUS: Sure.

WP: …is to foster political reconciliation.

GENERAL PETRAEUS: No. -- Let me take that again—don’t say that……let me just answer that one.

WP: Yeah.

GENERAL PETRAEUS: No one…no one in the government or US…or even in the government of Iraq feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation, legislation to cement the gains, and so on. They are all keenly aware. And the same with respect to basic services. I mean I actually…today I was invited by the prime minister after we had our weekly meeting with him, the ambassador and I, he said, “Will you stay around and sit in on the meeting with the ministers of oil and electricity?” And so I said, “Okay. I guess so.” I mean after three and one-half years of monitoring daily exports, towers up or down, you know, 400KV, 132KV, 11KV, the different oil lines, the different generators, and everything else, it’s actually helpful. And in fact, I just got a commitment from, you know, an enormous, maybe the biggest, electrical production company in the world to renew its efforts here after some pretty frustrating years, frankly. So…

WP: So you’re going to have…The surge is going to be gone by July. Are you…do you think the government has lost an opportunity to…

GENERAL PETRAEUS: No. I think…no. I think the opportunity is very much still there.

WP: You’re going to have less…you’re going to have the surge troops gone. One of the key goals of the surge troops is not…won’t be achieved by July.

GENERAL PETRAEUS: Well, again, the security progress, again, we certainly will do all that we can. I mean we’re going to fight like the dickens to maintain the progress and where we can to try to build on it. I mean we are really just embarking on the effort in Mosul which is of enormous importance to al-Qaeda and the related groups. It’s just very, very significant because of geography, politics, money.

WP: Yeah.

- 30 -

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It had only been a few months since his departure and already 3rd Squad had accomplished so much. On the morning of December 12th they had moved from the western part of the city known as the Jolan District to the eastern part of the city known as east Manhattan to the Marines. This was not just any city; it was known as Iraq’s most dangerous city and quickly became a major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency, Al Fallujah. Arellano was part of the offensive, better known as Operation Phantom Fury, which had begun just one month earlier in a maze of houses and alleys. At this point, Third Battalion of the Fighting Fifth had already suffered ten Marines who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. The next eleven days of fierce battle would almost double that number.

Third Squad had reached a house in east Manhattan just north of highway 10, which is the same highway that four American contractors from a Blackwater Security Consulting Company had been brutally murdered. Two of these contractors mutilated, charred bodies were later hung from a bridge that crossed the Euphrates on the west side of town. Shortly after noon, the squad received word that they were done clearing houses for now and were to set up a defensive position in a school less than 300-400 meters to the north. Third Platoon was still clearing in zone just to 2nd Platoon’s left from south to north. The Marines had done this many times before, setting up positions in various locations. Surrounded by his closest friends, Arellano and his fellow Marines patrolled the street heading west; hit the corner, and proceeded northward. As soon as the group arrived at the school, Arellano along with Sergeant Coduto, Corporal Herren, and the platoon commander Lieutenant Moulder went to the roof to get orientated. The days had been warm but the nights were very cold, so the Marines moved south to gather some blankets. Arellano and his fellow Marines hadn’t been at the school for five minutes when gunfire erupted nearby.

The gunfire started to escalate. Arellano told the guys, “that’s our Marines in contact” and ran straight to the fight. He ran past Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV’s) and CAAT HMMWVs, pointing and yelling for them to turn around. As he got to the corner, he saw Lance Corporal Layer being pulled out from a courtyard. As Arellano approached, Layer informed him that he had been shot and said that there were more guys inside the house; friendly and foe. This is the house where Corporal Ian W. Stewart was mortally wounded. By now, Arellano was pumped. Marines to his north were shooting down from their rooftop positions. He caught the attention of Corporal Clairday by yelling at the top of his lungs, “Where are they at, Clairday?” Clairday pointed downward and continued to fire onto the rooftop and into the alley bellow, Arellano would later find out his good friend Corporal Jason S. Clairday was killed in action along with Lance Corporal Hilario F. Lopez.

So, for Sergeant Arellano this it were it began. After teaming up with other Leathernecks to clear a couple of houses, passing dead insurgents and wounded Marines, the Kilo Marines continued in the attack. Arellano ran out of one courtyard into the street. He quickly moved along the wall to enter the gate. He saw a Marine laying on the ground and wondered why there was no Corpsman aiding him. Gunfire continued to erupt and Arellano realized that Sergeant Jeffry L. Kirk was already gone.

Arellano continued to the roof to link up with his platoon commander. Moulder ordered him into the house next door where there were more insurgents. Arellano understood what had to be done, but he was concerned about his men. The Sergeant took a moment to scan the scene, searching for his squad. Lt. Moulder, thinking Arellano had not heard his order, told him again to get into that house. Marines were everywhere. Arellano turned, “You, you, you and you, come with me.”

The Marines hurried down the stairs to assault the neighboring house. By now, one of the CAAT HMMWV’s had turned and was parked in the street. Arellano checked to make sure that no Marines were inside the house, and then he told the CAAT gunner to pepper the house with 40mm grenades. The gunner opened fire with his MK19 automatic grenade launcher. Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk. The grenades slammed into the building.

Arellano and his Marines followed the grenades into the courtyard. It was just after three o’clock. Lance Corporal William “red neck” Lenard and Arellano made their entry to the house and both threw grenades into opposite rooms. Realizing there were only four Marines present, the two yelled for more support. Arellano was first to approach the stairs when another Sergeant told him that he had seen an insurgent on the second floor through a window. Arellano moved toward the stairwell on which Staff Sergeant Melvin L. Blazer, husband and father of two, had just been mortally wounded. M16 pointed up, Arellano began to climb the stairs – backwards. Another Marine followed and threw a grenade up top. As soon as that grenade went off, Arellano went up and toward the path of least resistance. Another Marine followed directly behind Arellano.

***
December 12, 2004 in Kansas City was a crisp cool day. It had been a little over a week since there had been contact with Jason, which at this point was normal. Lindsey carried the phone in her pocket 24/7 and was hopeful to hear from him today. It was Sunday and if he called it was almost always on a Sunday. It was a blessing that they had communicated this much. She had feared it would be like Jason’s last deployment. During his first tour in Iraq, hand written letters were the only way to stay in touch. It took weeks to receive them. This time was different, not only was he able to call more often but email was accessible as well. It was much easier to work through the thought of eight months apart one week at a time. And each day was one day closer to seeing him again. Today began just like every day, in prayer for Jason. Reading through Psalms, Lindsey received renewed strength and faith that God was sovereign. But today, her heart was heavy. Extra heavy and she spent extra time in prayer and journaling. Throughout the day she could not get Jason off of her mind.

***
On the other side of the world, Jason and the other Marine pressed forward, moving past a doorway on their right and toward the room straight ahead. The two men moved swiftly. Smoke filled the house from the previous grenades and rounds chipping at the walls, but objects were still visible. Once the pair made entry, Arellano shot areas where the insurgent could be hiding. Bullets ripped into each corner of the room, through a bed, and splintered a row of standup wooden dressers. The Marines shouted “Clear left! Clear Right! Room Clear!” Nada!

Arellano grabbed a grenade to throw into the room the two men had just run past. He shouted to the Marines making their way up the stairway what he was about to do, however another Marine shouted back that he was coming into Arellano’s room. Arellano, grenade in hand, made way for him. As the Marine rushed past the open room, he threw his own grenade into the other room.

“Frag out!”

Arellano’s pin was already pulled from his grenade. Once the other Marine was safely in his room, Arellano tossed his grenade into the back of the other room. Arellano screamed “Frag out!” only 2 to 3 seconds after the first grenade.

Arellano was sure that the guys outside were unaware that two grenades had been thrown into the room. The three Marines scrambled for cover and backed away from the doorway. Once a grenade detonates, the Marines are trained to rush into the smoke filled room to finish off their adversaries. Arellano feared that the Marines on the stairwell would charge the room after the first grenade went off. With only a split second remaining, Arellano had to take action. “BOOM!” As soon as the first grenade went off these well trained Marines did just what Arellano predicted. They started for the door. Sergeant Arellano ran to the doorway, to stop them. Glancing over, he saw the grenade in the room.

“How could this be?” Jason thought. “Did the insurgents toss his grenade back toward the door? Had it bounced off something in the room or had the first explosion blown his grenade into the open? No time now to wonde… “BOOM!”

Arellano saw everything clearly, the curtains rose in the room from the concussion. Smoke came through each crevice in the bricks joined by sparks from the flesh tearing fragmentation coming through the wall that separated them. The loud boom seemed to continue to echo and everything became slow motion. The explosion spun Arellano onto his hands and knees in his own world. He was certain he was deaf. Had he saved his Marines? He had, he had kept them from the door and taken the brunt of the blast.

“I’m hit, I’m hit!” A Marine approached and told him that he was okay. Arellano tried to move around and his palms slipped in a pool of his own blood. Dazed, breathing hard, and feeling weak, Arellano told the Marine “What do you mean I am good, can’t you see I am bleeding to death?” Arellano felt the blood coming from his neck and others rushed to try to help him to his feet. Arellano crumpled like a rag doll, as he lost feeling in his legs. It was as though he was being electrocuted, the pain was excruciating, but he tried to remain as calm as possible. He tried to help as other Marines removed his flak jacket.

Arellano, bleeding, needed to be taken out for medical attention. But, the house was not yet clear. The fight raged on. You got to love these Marines, it was straight organized confusion, but they got the job done! They cleared the house and hoisted their wounded sergeant to carry him to safety. He was dead weight. Arellano couldn’t do much to help as he was dragged down the stairs. Moaning in pain, Arellano watched the wall, then the ceiling, more Marines rushing into the house and finally the dingy grey sky.

He could still hear gunfire and the Corpsman came to him as he was laid near the street. It was beautiful to be outside. Arellano reached up and held on to “rednecks” hand as they checked him out. Lenard told him of some of the injuries and joked that they were going to have to put a tourniquet on his neck. Arellano managed to joke back and tell him that it better be done as tight as possible. He tried to keep his attention on “redneck” as the Corpsman cut away the trousers to assess the damage. Despite the heat, Arellano felt cold. The Marines carried his half naked bleeding body to the AAV which would carry him off to Bravo, a surgical unit outside of Fallujah. Lying on a center bench, Arellano looked into the sky and asked the Lord if this was it. He reached to his chest were his dog tags and cross were and grabbed them. He pictured his family, what they were doing at that moment, and Lindsey’s beautiful face. He wondered if he would ever get to see that beautiful face again. He knew in his heart that he did not have to die for his friends and family to be proud of him, he knew that they already were.

There were a handful of Marines in the vehicle with various injuries. He could hear the loud engine and would occasionally catch eye of the wounded. First Sergeant Knox was at his side and gave comforting words to the cold Marine. Arellano told the Corpsman to stop giving him morphine; he wanted to feel some pain so that he did not slip away. He needed to be able to fight for his life. Moans and groans followed every bump in the road. Arellano heard the men radio ahead that he was to be the first off and that medical staff was waiting on standby.

After all of the hard work of those who fought by his side, those who evacuated him, aided him, and operated on him, he was now waking up from the first of a half dozen surgeries. Looking up he saw Lieutenant Colonel Malay and Sergeant Major Resto checking the wounded. They told Arellano and the other wounded Marines that they had fought a good fight but that not all had made it out alive. Then the Sergeant Major read the names of those who had fallen. Arellano closed his eyes and wept.

***
Lindsey had been extremely busy at work with Christmas just around the corner. Constant emails and phone calls added to the jam packed workload. Monday was a day full of computer work, correspondence and chaos. Sorting through emails, she ignored the ring of her cell phone. Now was not the time to talk if she wanted to get through her list for the day. Everyone knew she couldn’t talk when she was at work anyways. Except her parents, who often called to chit chat in the morning. Today was not the day for chit chatting. They had already missed the deadline for the internet and now there was a lot of pressure to work as quickly as possible. The ring was loud and annoying. Just to be sure that it was in fact her family; she glanced into her purse to check the caller ID. Odd, the area code was different, vaguely familiar, but different. Who in the world would be calling her from a strange area code? She had been a hermit recently, often working 12 hour days, which diminished friendships. With just enough time to turn her attention back to the computer, the phone rang again. Peeking down she saw the same area code but a different number. What in the world? Who was calling her? Well, maybe they would leave a message. Ignoring the ring she continued to type. Today was just not the day for extra interruptions.

She shoved the phone into her desk drawer to muffle the sound. However, the narrow drawer only echoed the vibration indicating that there was in fact a voicemail. Getting up to use the restroom, she felt the dog tags clink around her neck. She gently rested her hand upon them and grinned wondering where he was today. “Lord, please be with him today and strengthen him, send your angels to protect him!” The tags had been a reminder to pray. Throughout the day whenever she heard or felt them, she smiled and went to the Lord to ask for protection and strength. She returned to her desk to hear that familiar ring tone. This was the third time in a row and it was beginning to get a little creepy. Nobody called her this often. The fifth time around fear struck.

Lindsey flung the desk drawer open. Lit up in bright blue letters she read the name that put it all into perspective – Jaime. Suddenly it all made sense. All this time, how could she have been so ignorant? Fear slapped her and she paused in hesitation. All of the numbers were from New Mexico – Jason’s family.

It was the moment she had prayed against obsessively. Silence followed along with the shock. Thirty seconds may have passed but her heart stood still as the realization sank in. Staring at the phone wide eyed, she nervously bit at her fingers. No. Not now. How could this be happening?

The fear of the unknown was paralyzing. She didn’t want to find out, didn’t want to know. Why did this have to be happening? She inhaled deeply. This couldn’t happen. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. It was never supposed to happen this way.

What was she talking about? Nobody ever promised a perfect ending. She never knew how it was going to end and more than ever she needed to know what was going on. She had to know what happened! She grabbed the phone so quickly it slipped between her hands and fell to the ground. The tags around her jingled and she wrapped her fingers around them tightly. She had to know everything, no matter how hard it might be and Jaime would tell her everything. She dialed Jaime as quickly as she could.

Pressing the phone against her ear, her heart raced. Jaime’s voice was calm and collected as she answered the phone with a simple question. “Have you heard?”

The lump crawling up her throat almost gagged her. “No. Tell me.”

There was a slight pause and she knew it had to be hard for Jaime to break such horrible news to one of her best friends. Jaime and Lindsey had been friends for years. Both of the girls were from the same town and attended the same church and youth group in high school. However, it wasn’t until the girls ended up at the same private University that they grew to be best friends. The two had been through a lot together and when Jaime married Isaac two years ago, Lindsey had stood in their wedding. Isaac and Jason were cousins, he too stood in the wedding, and Lindsey would actually stand next to the man that would change her life. It was at that altar on October 26 that Lindsey met Jason.

The chemistry had been obvious and after the wedding they spent the entire evening talking and telling stories about their personal lives before he had to fly back to the Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton. Lindsey had presumed that would be the end of the spark. Fortunately, she was wrong. Jason began writing letters right away and the relationship developed.

“Jason has been shot.”

Silence followed the striking statement. The shock of that single phrase crippled her body. “I don’t know the details; just that he has been shot.”

Lindsey’s heart dropped into her stomach as she lost all words and lost all reason. Her words were jumbled as she stuttered and stumbled through them before quickly hanging up the phone with the promise to relay important information. Fingers shaking, she dialed his mother. Two rings, three rings, no answer. She tried his brother. Three rings, four rings, no answer. These were the people that had just been calling her. Why weren’t they answering their phones? Where were they? She dialed his father. Four rings, five rings, no answer. This was not possible. How could she receive this critical information and not be able to find anything else out. Surely some one knew something. Someone had to know. Justin would tell her. She dialed his brother again. Five rings, six rings, no answer. She couldn’t be left hanging like this. What was she supposed to do? Sit and wait? She could barely sit still with her knees and hands shaking. She pressed against the tags and tried to breath. What was his mother doing? Why wasn’t her phone on her? This was all crazy! She dialed his mother one more time. Ring after ring and still no answer. This was insane. Was she losing her mind? Was she dialing the wrong numbers? Lord, please let someone answer! Again, she dialed his father and decided to leave a message. “Danny, this is Lindsey. I just got a phone call and I would love to talk to you and find out more about what’s going on.” She hung up the phone and sat alone in this bare small office staring at the wall.

There was complete silence and shock. Was this even real? Was it a dream? How could this be happening? Breathe Lindsey, breathe. Blood was coursing through her body and heat began to rise up her neck. Small beads of sweat broke on her forehead. There was nothing to do but sit and wait. Her heart began to race faster and faster and it echoed in her ears as the room was still silent.

The startling ring briefly stopped her heart. It was his stepmother, Trudy, whom she had never met. Trudy returned the call and verified Jaime’s news. He had in fact been shot, probably in the leg but that was all they knew. No other word, but he had been shot. Nobody knew if he was alive, dead, or dying, but he had been shot. Lindsey could only imagine the graphic details. Slamming the phone shut and tossing it onto her desk, she dropped her head into her hands. From the depths of her soul tears erupted and flooded her flushed face. With the lack of detail, much was left to the imagination. How? Where? When? Would he survive? Would he lose any limbs? Would he be paralyzed? Was he being taken care of? Was he in pain? Was he conscious? Minutes went by with no movement and barely any breath. Muted moaning was all that broke through the tears as Lindsey clasped her hand over her mouth.

The ring of her cell phone startled her. “We just found out he wasn’t shot. He was actually hit with a grenade. They are taking him to Germany and that is all that I know.” Conversation trailed off and she tossed her phone into her purse.

In complete haste and shock she grabbed her keys. The large dark sunglasses couldn’t hide the black streaks running down her cheek and neck. Without a word to anyone she jumped into her car and began driving, with tears and mascara clouding her sight. Hy-Vee grocery store was just across the street and she raced around the corner into the lot and threw the car into park. All alone with nobody in sight, she wept. The truth was too much to handle. From deep within her soul, she mourned.

They had talked about this for the past year. They knew that there was a good possibility of injury or death and still nothing could have prepared her for the news today. The last conversation that they had face-to-face was in the airport terminal, as Jason waited for his flight three days before departing to Iraq. With tear strung eyes he embraced her and drew her in close. “Whatever happens over there, just know that I will always be with you, watching over you.”

The words replayed in her mind and she hit the steering wheel. Overcome with grief she sat alone in her car and cried out to God at the top of her lungs, “Jesus!” “Lord we need you!!!” All else was silent above her gasps for breath. “Lord God, Please!” Her head dropped to the steering wheel as the burdened heart grew weak. It was just so much to take in at once. “Jesus!” It was the only words she could form, the name of the Lord. “Jesus.”

An hour went by and still no word. Rolling the windows down, the cool December air felt fresh on her red hot face. She needed to start a prayer chain. When there was a need there was one person she knew to call who would drop everything go before the Lord – her mother. Quickly she dialed the phone.

“Mom.” Her mother immediately recognized the panic in her daughter’s voice.

“What?”

“I need you to pray.” Tears exploded and the words seemed jumbled but somehow she managed to convey the news. “It’s Jason…He’s been hit with a grenade.” Immediately her mother began to call on the name of the Lord asking for healing and peace.

The rest of the evening was a blur. She had left work and gone home early only to pace the room in a fog. Continually she tried to get a hold of his family and around 10 in the evening she finally spoke with his mother. The two cried together and promised to pray and stay in touch if there was any news. The entire evening was spent on her knees and as she finally fell asleep after midnight, there still had been no word on the status of Jason. Millions of questions and concerns had danced through her mind. Obviously with no facts, Lindsey presumed the worse. Wherever he was, she was prepared to hop on a plane the next day. If she had to fly to Germany, she would. It was a desperate time of fighting for the life of the man that she loved. Exhausted and emotionally drained, she fell asleep trusting that the Lord was sovereign.

At 6:00 am the phone startled her. Immediately she knew it had to be important information. Good or bad, she had to know. She flipped the light on… “hello?” It was the sweetest sound she could have possibly imagined. Somehow on the other side of the world Jason whispered back, “Hello.”

Sweet relief came flooding. He was alive. That was all that mattered. She knew they could work out anything else. He was alive and he was able to talk and she immediately thanked the Lord.

It would be three weeks, several surgeries and many plane flights before the two would see each other face-to-face. Only by the pure grace of God, they both survived the emotional trauma. Jason was hit by a grenade receiving shrapnel throughout his body, some barely missing his jugular artery. He had also been shot in the groin. The bullet barely missed his femoral artery, bones and joints. It was their faith, determination, and the hand of the Lord that has brought Jason through with no permanent injuries. Despite the fears and rumors, Jason is able to walk and surprised Doctor’s by his miraculous recovery.

He is often told how lucky he is to have survived, Jason is quick to say that luck had nothing to do with it, he is blessed. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways, “He has a plan for each and every one of you.”

Through the pain and suffering, so much has come to pass for Lindsey and Jason. They continue to seek the Lord in their decision making and pray for the Lord to use them in ways they never dreamed. The events of December 12, 2004 have forever changed their lives and their perspectives. The Corps lost five awesome Marines that day and those who continue to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor continue to fight and risk their lives for American freedoms. Let us never forget our fallen.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

With the insurgents on the run, the Division will continue to focus on the transition from security to stability operations and to work to increase the capacity of the Iraqi government and the local economy. They will continue to provide Iraqis with sustainable employment. They will continue the work to repair irrigation pumps and the treatment plants that deliver potable water to the Iraqi people. They will continue to provide security to the Ministry of Electricity as they repair power lines. They will continue their work with local agriculture unions and to develop women’s initiatives to improve the lives of Iraqi women and children. As security continues to improve, Rick Lynch’s soldiers are taking on jobs no solder has ever undertaken. "These soldiers know they are part of a winning team.They feel really good about the progress they are making, here in Iraq." Lynch said.

In November 2007, al-Qaeda launched their last well-coordinated offensives into Hawr Rajab, killing a total of 12 members of the Sons of Iraq (SoI) and wounding eight. In the same firefight, two Iraqi Army Soldiers were killed and another nine wounded; four U.S. Soldiers were injured in the attacks.

The SoI were not deterred. Residents began to reclaim their community and insurgents not killed or captured were forced to flee. Stores and schools are reopening and a number of programs are revitalizing a community once on the brink of chaos. As rebuilding of the rural farming area began, community leaders ramped up efforts to re-establish ties with the Government of Iraq.

With the improved security, Marne soldiers faced new responsibilities. “The present challenges we face are maintaining security, promoting economic growth and stability, while helping establish an efficient local government…” said Capt. Gregory Curry II, commander of Troop A, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment. “It will not happen overnight, but it is happening one day at a time.” Soldiers are key players and a driving force behind various programs in Hawr Rajab.

Life is returning to normal in towns like Hawr Rajab, with the improvements, made possible by partnership between Coalition forces, SoI, officials from the GoI and Iraqi Security Forces. Hawr Rajab is becoming a beacon of change and potential for sustainable economic improvements.

***

Marne soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, recently found that the number one concern of the people around their outpost was to reopen the road to Salman Pak. The road had been closed to civilians since May of 2007, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated, killing seven Iraqi National Policemen.

Coalition leaders, local ISF and SoI members, began working together on a plan to restore and improve Checkpoint 600, where the attack had occurred and set the conditions for safe movement of civilians along the road. Local leaders hope the checkpoint and road reopening will bring more people to the area.

Sheik Ali Hussein, the SoI leader for Salman Pak and al Bawi, opened his home for a luncheon attended by the more than 150 guests after the ceremony to reopen the road. “We are finally to the point where we can come to an event and see Sunni and Shia sheiks working together to secure their country,” said the 1-15th Inf. Regt. Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Moore.

***

Colonel Ryan Kuhn, deputy commanding officer for 3rd HBCT, recently implemented an idea to build windmill driven water pumps to draw water from the ground in Iraqi villages. One of the first prototypes is being built in the village of al Zatia.

The idea for a windmill-powered ground water pump came from a joint effort between Kuhn and leaders of the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, from Knoxville, Tenn. Kuhn, from Clarks, Neb., said he grew up not much differently than the Iraqi villagers. “I’m a farm boy from Nebraska,” he said. “If this worked for me in Nebraska where water is hard to come by, there is no reason it wouldn’t work out here.”

The first windmill was finished in early January. Each structure costs approximately $20,000, which includes the well, storage tank and a small pump. Kuhn said he has plans to add solar purification systems to the windmills, bumping their price to $27,000. These windmill driven wells will provide the majority of the drinking water to the villagers who now have to pay to truck water into their community.

This will be the first time the wind and sun have been used together to provide clean drinking water anywhere in Iraq. The windmills pull water from 30-meter-deep ground wells into 200-gallon holding tanks, The pump can produce 200 gallons of water every hour and provide water for up to 150 families.

In addition to water, the windmills will provide villagers jobs, Kuhn said. The contractor in charge of the project is going to hire local people to maintain the structures. “We are hoping to develop businesses from this that will manufacture windmills for Iraq,” Kuhn said. “Right now they are shipping in equipment, but we know for a fact that Iraq can manufacture these.”

Kuhn hopes to be able to provide every rural village with a pump. Security has improved and he believes this goal is achievable. “My dream is to be able to produce enough water so no child will ever have to go long periods of time without water,” he said. “Children can play in the streets now and with the windmills, they can come get a drink of water and go right back out and play.”

***

Many other programs are in the works to strengthen the areas economy and security:

The Microgrant program in Hawr Rajab

More than $50,000 in microgrants has been distributed to approximately 50 stores. The purpose of this program is to reopen businesses, jumpstart the economy and provide employment.

The effects are further-reaching than the local community. To stock and replenish stores, products are brought in from other areas - some as far as India and China - making Hawr Rajab a member of the global community.

The Poultry Revitalization program

The program will provide starter chicks to poultry farms that were shut down due to violence. Two types of chicks will be provided; one type will be raised for the purpose of producing eggs and the other for meat. First Lt. Michael E. Falk, platoon leader, Troop A, 6-8 Cav. Regt., said a processing plant in a neighboring town will process the poultry.

Faulk, a native of Clifton, Va., said the poultry industry of Hawr Rajab has the potential to profit from commerce between itself, surrounding communities and other area markets.

By mid-March 2008, eight chicken coops will be the first to receive a scheduled delivery of approximately 25,000 heads of young poultry.

The Seed Distribution program

The Agricultural Committee of Hawr Rajab coordinated a seed distribution program with Coalition forces in December 2007. It distributed more than 900 starter packets of seed as well as plastic to local farmers. The starter packets contained seeds for cucumbers, eggplants, bell peppers and tomatoes.
At present, success of the seed distribution is being measured by the 2nd BCT and the outlook for the program is positive.

School renovation projects

A girls’ school is currently undergoing extensive renovations to give the facility a much-needed facelift. A similar renovation plan for the boys’ school is currently pending funding. Presently, there is a shortage of school buildings and boys attend classes in two shifts, with the morning reserved for primary school and afternoon for secondary school. Despite overcrowding at the schools, educators make due with their resources and school remains in session.

The Hawr Rajab Medical Clinic

This facility is being repaired and is scheduled for completion mid-March 2008. Medical personnel will be provided by the Iraqi Ministry of Health and will return prior to the completion of the facilities. In the meantime, limited services are provided by a local physician assistant.

Women’s initiatives

Women of the area formed a committee to discuss problems facing women and find solutions. The group formed in February 2008 and has since brought to light a very serious issue. Many men have been killed by insurgents, leaving families without their traditional heads of households. Now a fund exists to care for families left behind by Sons of Iraq who paid the ultimate price for protecting their homes during the fight against al-Qaeda.

“The Village of Hope”

With the revitalization of the area and need for skilled labor, a vocational school was constructed by U.S. Air Force construction engineers, who will also provide the instructors to staff it.

A large number of SoI will be retrained as electricians, carpenters and construction laborers. This vocational school has been dubbed “The Village of Hope.” The program is currently in a final approval stage at 3rd Inf. Div. headquarters.

Marne soldiers are working tirelessly to return stability to the Iraqi people. The vast majority of Iraqis are peace loving. Now that security is being re-established, they are looking to MND-C Soldiers to help them put their lives back together. And, the Dog Faced Soldiers are doing just that – pumping new life into Iraq at the schools, on the farms and in the markets.

God bless you all. You are bringing hope and prosperity to the people of Iraq, and thus, security to their households, Iraq, the region and the world.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

Most of this post was extracted from news releases at Task Force Marne's website.

Vote Chavez, 2008!

The Comoros, comprising Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli, has endured 19 coups or coup attempts since winning independence from France in 1975.

The union was formed in 2001 by the three autonomous islands to maintain sovereignty in the wake of 1997 secession bids by Anjouan and Moheli.

By the end of the first day of the ground war, Task Force Ripper had Al Jaber Airfield, in Southern Kuwait, under siege and Task Force Papa Bear was protecting the right flank of the 1st Marine Division. General Thomas Draude, the 1st Marine Division’s assistant commander, had led the division’s “Jump” CP forward into Kuwait during the afternoon. He set up the forward command post somewhere between Task Force Ripper and Papa Bear with the burning Burqan Oil Field just east of his site. A young intelligence captain cautioned the general that he believed the Iraqis were massing for a counterattack in the center of the facility. Draude discounted the warning believing that no one could tolerate the heat from the dozens of fires raging throughout the field.

Throughout the night of 24-25 February, 1991, Marines received more and more information indicating that there was an Iraqi armor brigade and mechanized infantry brigade on the 1st Marine Division's right flank in the Burqan Oil Field. So, plans were made to flush these Iraqis out with a massive artillery barrage the next morning.

Prior to the artillery barrage, at 0715, the commanders of Task Force Papa Bear started a morning staff meeting at their field headquarters, just southwest of the Burqan Oil Field. As the Regiment's senior officers were discussing the day’s plans, a single Iraqi tank and a Chinese-built Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) appeared not one hundred yards from the officers. Smoke from the oil fires was so bad on this morning that the Iraqis had wandered unseen through the Marine sentry posts. Fortunately these Iraqis had ventured out to surrender. Their senior officer volunteered that the rest of his brigade was close behind and that they wanted to fight.

Around 0815 the Marines began pounding the suspected Iraqi positions in the Al Burqan Oil Field with five battalions of artillery. Sixty-six howitzers fired two hundred forty-four rounds in the first volley. Three minutes later a second salvo unleashed nearly five hundred more rounds. The young intelligence officer had called it right. The Iraqi 5th Mechanized Division had spent all night massing in the cover of Burqan preparing to counterattack the 1st Marines.

Within fifteen minutes, RCT-1 reported: "T-62s everywhere, scattering like cockroaches from the Burqan Oil Field." Papa Bear’s commanders immediately called for close air support. Captain Randall Hammond responded to the call for help. He brought his four Cobra helicopters in to attack the advancing Iraqis. Smoke still obscured the battlefield, but unlike the night before, the Arabian sun helped the Cobra pilots see through the billowing smoke. Scout Marines on the ground painted targets for the Cobra pilots while they launched their Hellfire missiles at the Iraqi armored vehicles. With the help of Hammond’s Cobras and other pilots, the 1st Tank Battalion beat back the brigade-sized attack on Papa Bear's position after three and a half hours of fighting. The combined air-ground defense destroyed fifty tanks and twenty-five APCs. Papa Bear’s Marines herded three hundred dazed Iraqi soldiers from the battlefield.

Eight miles to the north, General Draude monitored Papa Bear’s battle from the 1st Division's forward command post located on the western edge of the Emir's Farm. The Emir's Farm was a small oasis located directly to the east of the Division's breach head. Only a rifle platoon and a LAV platoon from the 1st LAI Battalion protected the Division forward command post. Captain Eddie Steven Ray had his seven LAV-25s positioned on a screen line, west of the oasis and about a quarter of a mile east of General Draude’s command unit. The rifle platoon was dug in to Ray's north.

Around 0930, Iraqi artillery rounds began falling near the rifle platoon. Ray raced north in his LAV, to find Iraqi Armored Personnel Carriers (BMPs) disgorging troops on the edge of the oasis. The single LAV and the rifle platoon opened fire on the advancing Iraqis. Realizing that his division commander was in immediate danger, Captain Ray called for his platoon to come north and engage the enemy.

Meanwhile, General Draude and his staff watched as an Iraqi mechanized brigade attacked out of the oasis. Draude turned to his aid and said, “If I die today, my wife is going to kill me!” The 1st Marine Division's Operations Officer, Colonel Jerry Humble, immediately called Task Force Ripper for reinforcements (armed with TOW missiles), then called I MEF headquarters.

"We need some help!" he exclaimed. "Send all the Cobras you can."

A MEF staff officer replied that everybody was in a fight. Colonel Humble raised the handset into the air, waited a few seconds, then said: "...we're in a REAL fight at Division Forward."

"Oh, shit, I hear." the staff officer answered.

Meanwhile, Ray began picking off BMPs with his 25-mm cannon fire. Within minutes, Ray's other LAVs were on line. Artillery support was out of the question. The enemy was too close. Within moments, two Cobra gunships swooped in at low level. Ray directed their rocket fire by shooting his 25-mm cannon at Iraqi infantry positions.

Then Ray counterattacked. Supported by the gunships overhead, Ray’s seven LAVs rolled forward toward the oasis. More Cobras arrived and the LAV platoon pressed the attack, destroying everything in sight. Captain Ray and his men swept through the oasis. The Marines halted on the eastern edge of the Emir's Farm. Thirty-eight burning Iraqi armored vehicles lay scattered behind them. Ray had not only protected the command post but his aggressive counterattack completely destroyed the Iraqi brigade. Captain Ray received the Navy Cross for his courage under fire that day.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of "The Gulf War Chronicles" and "Marines in the Garden of Eden."