RCT-7 made adjustments to the battalion sectors within its zone. In the first days after the

arrival of the Marines, widespread looting in the city was all too common. Third battalion, 4th

Marines was called on to provide security for a Red Cross warehouse, and also got involved in

stopping bank robberies. One such 'bust' resulted in the securing of $3.6 million US dollars that

Lieutenant Colonel McCoy personally delivered to RCT-7 for protection and forwarding to

Baghdad was divided into Areas of Responsibility for all four of the Division s

regiments. Eleventh Marines also operated the CMOC.

higher headquarters. First Tanks secured a suspected Regime SSO site in a school and uploaded

three MTVR trucks full of documents and communications equipment to be transported to the

rear for document exploitation. Still, the Marines' focus remained cleaning out all remaining

pockets of resistance spread across the city.

The people of the city took the opportunity to take their vengeance out on the buildings and

property of the former Iraqi government. Looters streamed out to pick clean these areas. Too

often, as they would finish clearing out a building, they would set fire to it. Smoke pillars were

common sites throughout the city from numerous buildings on fire. The Marines saw this

growing problem, and had many complaints from civilians, who repeatedly asked for security for

their neighborhoods. In response, Colonel Hummer established an embryonic Civil-Military

Operations Center (CMOC) at the centrally located Palestine Hotel. The CMOC immediately

began to grow with the reinforcement of the Division Civil Military Operations (CMO) team, led

by Lieutenant Colonel Pete Zarconi (a reservist whose civilian duties as a Los Angeles police

318
sergeant made him singularly qualified for restoring order to Eastern Baghdad.) The Division's

Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Captain Joe Plenzler, also arrived to take advantage of the

significant media presence at the Palestine Hotel.

In sector, all Regiments began setting up meetings with local leaders, establishing local

patrols, and gaining the trust of local contacts in the neighborhoods. The Marines found that

local civilians were more than willing to point them in the direction of any Iraqi force holdouts

or Fedeyeen fighters. Even though the needs of a city with millions of residents in a tightly

packed urban center were well beyond the abilities of any single division to meet, places like the

CMOC offered a place where some of the problems and solutions could start to find each other

in a systematic way. Because of its central location, the CMOC at the Palestine Hotel was soon

expanded and placed under the control of Marines, using the manpower and systems of the

Division Fire Support Coordination network as the 'backbone'. Representatives of 1 1th Marines,

the 3(1 and 4th Civil Affairs Groups participated. The CMOC soon became the hub of civil

military interaction, and a magnet for Iraqis wishing to practice their newly discovered right of

free speech.

Through constant vehicle and foot patrols, the regiments cleared objectives throughout the

city. Government Ministry Buildings, key electrical facilities, water distribution facilities, and

key road intersections all required coordinated effort, but soon all of eastern Baghdad was under

the control of the Marines. In addition to these objectives, it seemed that virtually every block in

Baghdad had a weapons cache. Some of these caches were monstrous, containing every

conceivable type of weapon and ammunition, to include tanks, mortars, artillery pieces, and even

FROG surface-to-surface rockets. For the remainder of its time in Baghdad, the Division had its

hands full trying to dispose of these huge stockpiles.

The liberated people also had a million stories to tell, and the Marines were the closest

sympathetic ears. Major Mike Samarov related one of the more interesting cases from 3/7:

A man of Iraqi descent approached Weapons Company. He was accompanied by two

children, a thirteen-year old girl, and a nine-year old boy. He presented a new US Passport as

proof of his identity. He claimed that he and his brother, both American citizens, were spies

working with the Central Intelligence Agency. Nine years agj, they were betrayed, his brother

killed, and he thrown in jail. He escaped yesterday, went to his old neighborhood, gathered up

some few possessions and his children, and found the first US unit that he could. Captain

Schmitt escorts the three civilians to the Battalion firm base. HET interviewed the gentleman

and crosschecked his information. The information was legitimate. Headquarters and Services

Company provided the family with a tent and sleeping bags. The following morning, a Militaiy

Police escort arrived at Battalion to escort the Iraqi man and his children to a flight that took

them to the United States.

319
10 April

Battle of the Mosque

The fight for Baghdad was far from over. In one of the last but most fierce battles to secure

objectives in Baghdad, RCT-5 attacked into the northwestern side of east Baghdad as the

Division's main effort. First Battalion,

5th Marines was tasked with the seizure

of the Azimiyah Palace, one of

Saddam's palaces in eastern Baghdad.

Lieutenant Colonel Padilla's 1/5

began moving from their positions near

the Diyala River, heading north out of

Baghdad on Highway 5 late on the

evening of 9 April. As the evening

progressed into night, the battalion

headed west and then finally turned

back south on the east side of the Tigris

River along Highway 2. In the predawn hours of 10 April, 1/5 conducted a

passage of lines with 2/5. The night

was suddenly brightened with red

Intern ational press vehicles staged near the Grand Mosque tracers fired in the direction of the in downtown Baghdad. column as 1/5 pressed into the heart of

the city. Every street brought RPG,

heavy machinegun, and small arms fire. The tanks and tracks responded with .50-caliber, Mk19, and 7.62mm machinegun fire as they continued to press toward the palace as quickly as

possible.

The rate of incoming small arms and RPG fire continued to increase as 1/5 progressed further

into the narrow streets and alleys of Baghdad. Navigating along the maze of Baghdad streets

was extremely challenging. The maps that existed for the area did not show the level of detail

required to navigate through the tightly constricted alleyways of an older section of the city.

After making an exit off the main route and onto another highway, Alpha Company, in the lead,

found itself on the wrong road, made a U-turn, and headed back along its original route. In the

dark streets, the battalion pressed on to the objective, at times passing parallel to friendly units.

"Don't fire to the left!" yelled Marines in the AAV's as they warned against possible friendly fire.

Under the hailstorm of machinegun and RPG fire, Alpha Company's command AAV threw a

track. The company halted and crewmembers hastily put the track back on. Bravo Company,

led by Captain Jason E. Smith, seized the initiative, took the lead, and pushed on toward the

palace. Visibility increased with the rising sun, and enemy fire became more desperate as they

attempted to halt the Marines' advance.

While the battalion was still making its way toward the palace, they received an additional

FragO, tasking them with the search of two possible American POW holding sites. This portion

of the mission was given to Charlie Company. Near simultaneously, the Battalion was given yet

a third mission, to proceed to the Imam Abu Hanifah Mosque where Saddam Hussein had

320
reportedly been sighted only hours before. This portion of the mission was given to Alpha

Company.

On the tactical radio nets, reports could be heard listing Marines wounded from incoming

enemy fire, as well as reports of enemy locations and activity. The fires continued to hit the

entire battalion convoy; including headquarters and logistics vehicles to the rear of the attacking

armor. Marines stayed the course, calmly continuing the attack and returning fire. The calm

disciplined leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla and the other leaders of the Battalion

kept the Marines on an even keel in the confusing and dangerous firefight.

Bravo Company finally reached the palace and attacked to seize the entire compound. They

were supported by the 81mm mortar platoon and the counter-mechanized platoon. They met

fierce resistance surrounding the palace, but quickly secured the eleven buildings inside the wall.

Though the palace was secured, Bravo Company continued to receive fire from enemy forces

outside the complex. They quickly established defensive positions around the compound and

cleared an LZ to evacuate casualties and to receive needed resupply of ammunition. Under

enemy fire, Bravo Company Marines were able to evacuate 12 casualties wounded early in the

fighting. Charlie Company, simultaneously, moved towards the two suspected enemy POW sites

they had been ordered to investigate, meeting moderate resistance but finding no signs of POWs.

The A zimiyah Palace after it was secured by 1/5 in a fiercely contested action. This battle marked the

end of conventional combat operations for 1st Marine Division. The Division was to find that

security and stabilization operations could be just as deadly.

321
Second Lieutenant Joshua Glover of C/115 recalled his attack to the POW sites:

"Our company was sent two km out into the downtown area to search for POWs. The stiff

resistance that met us in the streets included small arms and many RPG shots. As my platoon

dismounted the tracks and hastily began preparing to move out for the search, we were taking

fire from several directions. As we moved out, fire teams placed suppression down the streets to

cover movement across these danger areas. My radio operator, Private First Class Hahn, and I

approached one of the cross streets and one at a time bumped across behind the Marines

providing suppression. As we each darted across, three or four enemy fired AK-47s at us from

down the street. The rounds they fired at us as we crossed impacted uncomfortably close to each

of us, sending chunks of walls flying. After we both got across the cross street, I turned and saw

PFC Hahn standing there with wide eyes. He looked at me solemnly and said, "Sir, that

hundred fifty bucks a month of combat pay sure don 't make me feel too much better right now!"

Upon reaching and setting a perimeter outside the palace, 1/5's tank platoon and AAVs

continued to fire on enemy targets in houses, down streets, and even inside mosques after

receiving fire from them. Alpha Company arrived at the palace and prepared to attack to the

mosque. While Marines began resupplying the company, word was passed that the Alpha

Company Gunnery Sergeant, Jeffrey E. Bohr, had been shot and killed. The expression of

numbness could be seen on the faces of the Marines as they fought to maintain their composure.

Gunnery Sergeant Bohr had been a battalion stalwart, a fine example of the highest standards of

Staff Non-Commissioned Officer leadership. How could this seemingly 'untouchable' Marine be

killed? The shock and grief had to be momentarily put aside, however, as the embattled force

made ready to reenter the maelstrom. The earlier report that Saddam Hussein was hiding out in a

mosque just to the north of the palace was time-sensitive information, and time was short.

Gunnery Sergeant Bohr was killed just prior to entering the palace:

"Approximately an hour prior to crossing the line of departure, the battalion commander

directed that all non-critical vehicles and soft-skin vehicles be moved to the logistics trains to

link up with the battalion at a later date. The precedence during the operation to date was there

could be up to several days before we could link-up with our company logistical train. The

Company Commander discussed the issue with the Company Gunnery Sergeant over the radio

and said that going on the mission would be on a voluntary basis. The company water and

ammunition supply could become critical f cut offfrom the log trains for an extended period of

time. Shortly after the offer, Gunnery Sergeant Bohr responded that he would be moving with

the mechanized column in his two high-back HMMWV's.

During the movement, the battalion was attacked from both sides of the roads, at all

intersections and overpasses. Gunnery Sergeant Bohr personally affected suppressive fires

against the dismounted enemy with his M-16. He was personally responsible for no less than two

confirmed killed enemy soldiers during the initial contact. The company was receiving heavy

small arms and machine gunfire, as well as numerous RPG shots.

After the Company Commander's track was immobilized, and the company had to stop

temporarily to effect repairs, Gunnery Sergeant Bohr moved his two HMMWV's behind the

Company Commander's track and performed an administrative halt to confirm the vehicle 's

322
status, and he also checked his Marines to ensure they were not wounded. He gave words of

encouragement and assisted in keeping his Marines calm and determined to achieve mission

accomplishment.

On the move again to the palace, the company passed through a killsack from an enemy

reinforced company. Alpha Company passed through the position to a dead end (a bridge that

led into 3" ID zone), which left the logistical vehicles exposed in the killsack as the company

finally began to turn around. At this time, Gunnery Sergeant Bohr had the company logistical

vehicles continue moving into the middle of the column, bypassing AA V's for protection from the

intense RPG and small arms fire.

Gunnery Sergeant Bohr killed an unknown number of enemy soldiers while providing

suppression and protection to his driver and the company log train. The company vehicles were

riddled with small arms fire during the action and no less than two RPGs passed through the

canvas of the Company Gunnery Sergeant's high-back. At no time on the radio with the

Company Commander was there anything other than "we are good to go ".

Gunnery Sergeant Bohr continued to deliver accurate r?fle fire at the numerous enemy

soldiers in his vicinity. When he was informed by squad radio that one of the headquarters

Marines was wounded with a bullet through the wrist, he quickly called in a CASE VAC while

still providing cover fire from his vehicle. During this attempt to save another Marines life,

Gunnery Sergeant Bohr was killed instantly by small arms fire.

The support provided by Gunnery Sergeant Bohr was critical, as the battalion logistical

trains did not arrive until two days later at the presidential palace the battalion defended.

Gunny Bohr's moral and physical courage were inspirational to his Marines, in the logistics

train and the men of the company. His volunteering to go on the mission was above and beyond

the call of duty. His sound decision making under the most extreme fighting kept his subordinates

alive and achieved mission accomplishment of combat re-supply for the company."

As Alpha Company pushed out through the gates of the palace, Marines aggressively

engaged any suspected enemy positions, in an attempt to suppress RPGs prior to being fired.

Marines kept a vigilant eye as they moved through the narrow alleyways. Every Marine kept a

careful watch on windows, doors, and rooftops as they passed; covering high, low, front and

back to reduce vulnerability in the tight urban environment. The tank platoon began receiving

sporadic small arms fire as soon as they exited the palace gates. It intensified with each block, as

RPG teams fired from streets and alleyways. An RPG hit platoon commander First Lieutenant

Ashley Patrick's tank in the rear compartment, rendering the M1A1 a mobility kill. Staff

Sergeant Johnnie Hughes in the number two tank and Master Sergeant Stephen Eisel in the

number four tank pulled into the intersection to provide covering fire as Sergeant Daniel

Belgrader pulled in to swap tanks with Patrick. Hughes' tank immediately took two RPG direct

hits but continued to fight and suppress along with Eisel's. Lieutenant Patrick directed

suppression into the source of the fires coming from houses and down streets.

323
The tight, restrictive streets and alleyways allowed only a single tank at a time, acting as the

lead element and navigator. As intense enemy fire poured in from two and three story structures

and alleyways no more than five meters wide, Master Sergeant Eisel skillfully navigated and

simultaneously fought the lead tank. Upon reaching the mosque, the tank platoon maneuvered

into an intersection and began providing main gun and machinegun suppression. The

mechanized infantry company moved into position for the assault.

Alpha Company's Marines heard, saw, and felt AK-47 fire as they moved into the open town

square adjacent to the mosque. Tank main guns, AAV up-guns (.50 cal and Mk-19), and M-16's

all answered back with a deafening clatter and boom. Several Marines dismounted their AAV to

set into a cold position for a SMAW shot. As they did, a loud explosion rocked the engineer's

track and it lurched to a stop. Marines exited the damaged AAV to jump in the back of adjacent

AAV's. The remaining engineers climbed into the bucket of an Armored Combat Earthmover

(ACE) that was following in trace of the now useless AAV. As they did, others fired at the

buildings, suppressing the fires that had interrupted their movement.

With significant enemy contact in several locations along Alpha Company's axis of advance

and in the objective area, Grizzly 6 committed the RCT Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in support

of 1t Battalion. First Lieutenant Keith Montgomery was leading the QRF into 1/5's zone when

an RPG struck his tank. Undeterred he continued the attack as the company's lead element.

Two more RPGs slammed into his tank while crossing an intersection en route to the eastern

Presidential Palace. One RPG penetrated the tank, causing minor injuries to him, his loader and

his driver. This one-in-a-million shot struck the tank in just the right spot between the heavy

turret armor and the hull. Despite the shock and surprise it caused, Montgomery concealed his

injuries from his crew and continued to lead the attack to clear a route through the city. At that

point, the only functional weapon system was the coaxial machinegun, which could only be

aimed by pivot steering the tank. Lieutenant Montgomery maintained his tank in the fight,

although he was reduced primarily to battle command of his platoon and moral support. The

QRF moved into position to support Alpha Company.

Lieutenant Patrick's tanks engaged the top and bottom story of every structure in the square

as well as every alleyway with 120mm main gunfire in an attempt to suppress the enemy fire.

Captain Blair Sokol the Alpha Company Commander, moved the company into a perimeter

around the mosque and then coolly directed dismounted infantry to move in and clear the

compound. The QRF completed the cordon by establishing positions on the roads leading to the

mosque from the south. Alpha Company was facing a platoon size force from inside the mosque

and a company size force surrounding it. The company was receiving intense fire from three

sides, and the company's FAC, Captain Ray Lawler provided close and accurate CAS to relieve

the pressure. The CAS included Air Force A-b 'Warthogs' firing within 65 meters with their

30mm cannon, and F-14's delivering 1000 lb bombs at 'danger close' range. The tank platoon

and infantry company continued to engage RPG teams, enemy machine gun positions and troops

for the next 4 hours. Staff Sergeant Avon Paul attempted to kill a sniper firing from a building

with machinegun fire from his tank. When that proved ineffective, he received permission to use

a Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank main gun round. The round silenced the sniper but started a fire in

the building (which proved to be a Fedeyeen ammunition storage facility.) Soon after, the area

was rocked by secondary explosions as ammunition stored in the building cooked off.

324
The dismounted Marines moved in to clear the mosque and capture any Regime figures who

might be inside:

"As the company began isolating the mosque, the amount of enemy fire reached its peak,

with RPG and small arms fire coming from both a platoon size element inside the mosque and a

company size element in the surrounding buildings. The company received at least 90 shots from

RPGs, 33 of which were confirmed hits on the AA Vs. The platoon commander's AA V took a

direct hit from an RPG, wounding four Marines. Staff Sergeant Coleman Kinzer dismounted his

vehicle in the middle of the worst part of the fighting and moved to the platoon commander's

vehicle in order to ensure face-to-face coordination prior to conducting a breach into the

mosque.

The platoon moved to the southern side of the mosque and began dismounting in the vicinity

of a gate in the wall surrounding the mosque. Staff Sergeant Kinzer was the first Marine at the

gate, and exposing himself to RPK machine gun fire, coordinated the breach on the western

building of the complex to include a SMA WNovel Explosive shot that killed an RPK gunner. He

then took a squad up to the building, threw a grenade through the breach site, and gained a

foothold. Once the foothold was gained, Staff Sergeant Kinzer remained at the lead of the

platoon while conducting high-intensity MOUT room clearing with more hand grenades. The

squad thoroughly cleared the building and ensured that proper security was posted.

At this time, coordination was made for the movement across a courtyard and into the main

temple. Second platoon had now entered the complex and while his platoon commander was

coordinating with them, Staff Sergeant Kinzer continued to press the attack. He led the attack

across the courtyard and gained a foothold in the temple. Upon making entry into the temple, he

came under small arms fire from the north side of a long corridor inside the building. The

enemy fired several rounds before they fled out of the north exit. Recognizing that he did not yet

have enough forces in the building to pursue, Staff Sergeant Kinzer held the team in place until

he had enough forces to clear the large cavernous spaces of the main temple. He continued to

coordinate the attack until the platoon commander arrived.

During consolidation, it became apparent that there were several weapons caches hidden on

the north side of the mosque. After several attempts to gather the weapons failed under heavy

sniper fire, the platoon commander tasked Staff Sergeant Kinzer with gathering the weapons.

Staff Sergeant Kinzer coordinated the use of smoke and suppressive fires and successfully

gathered the weapons. Stciff Sergeant Kinzer was the last Marine out of the mosque and the last

Marine to load into the AA Vs, ensuring accountability for all his Marines."

With the assault on the last enemy hiding in the mosque underway, First Lieutenant Douglas

Finn, the Company Executive Officer for the QRF, began to direct recovery operations for the

numerous immobilized vehicles. Second Lieutenant Dennis Doyle dismounted his platoon and

maneuvered through the alleys to establish perimeter security around Lieutenant Patrick's

abandoned tank. Clearing the buildings around the company battle position, Doyle's platoon

encountered several terrified Iraqi civilians caught up in the battle. The platoon detained an SUV

containing several thousand dollars, Iraqi military uniforms, and documents. Another family

325
they met voluntarily cooked for the Marines during the fight. For Lieutenant Doyle's platoon,

the battle was known as 'The Battle for Macaroni Alley'.

Alpha Company did not capture any Regime leadership figures at the mosque, but the

vigorous delaying tactics used by the fighters here may have given them time to escape through

the maze of winding Baghdad streets. Once the mosque was secure, Alpha Company began the

movement out of the square through the route cleared by the QRF. The tank platoon provided

rear security. The platoon continued to take fire and engage enemy positions until completely

out of the square and into the small cleared alleyway. The narrow alley had built for pedestrians

and donkey carts, and could barely accommodate the behemoth M1A1s. As the tanks squeezed

through the route, the main turrets could not traverse, and several of the buildings' external air

conditioner units were ripped out of second-story windows. The tank commanders and loaders

were eye level with the second level of the homes and looking up to the third and fourth stories.

As they moved down the alleyway they were given one last task, to destroy an immobilized

Amtrak. As rear security, Master Sergeant Eisel dropped a thermite grenade into the AAV

commander's weapon station and destroyed the vehicle.

In securing their assigned objectives, 1st Battalion suffered 1 killed and 60 wounded Marines.

They defeated the suspected enemy battalion in zone and killed several hundred Special

Republican Guard and Saddam Fedeyeen fighters. Following 1/5's swift and decisive attack,

thousands of Iraqis spontaneously took to the streets of Baghdad to cheer and thank the Marines

and Sailors. Once again, destroying the last vestiges of the Saddam Regime earned the Division

Marines the grateful thanks of the Iraqi people.

RCT-5 experienced another enemy tactic on the 10 April. As the Marines of 3/5 were

establishing a checkpoint in the city, a suicide bomber attempted to kill as many of them as he

could. First Lieutenant Timms from Lima Company 3/5 remembered the incident:

On 10 April we arrived in Baghdad. Second Platoon was tasked with manning a control

point that was the border between three different units. The CP was located at a busy

intersection between a main street, two side streets, a bridge over a highway, and an on-ramp.

Second Platoon was reinforced by Machine guns, SMA WS, and a section of CAAT. Once we

arrived we established security, which was challenging, as the crowds numbered in the hundreds

and would not disperse. We set up on the right side of the end of the main street, 100 meters in

front of the bridge. In the middle of the road on a median was an old Iraqi post made of sand

bags. We set up a working party to move the sand bags over to our side of the road to block off

the on-ramp and set up a post of our own. While this was being done an individual walked up

through the crowd to the working party. Civilians shouted warnings as they ran away. The

individual had an explosive device, and he detonated it near the Marines. Fortunately, The

bomber's body absorbed much of the blast, but four Marines were severely wounded.

The heroes of RCT-5 responded with discipline and efficiency, as they evacuated the

casualties, and restored the checkpoint.

326
Transition to Security Operations

No one was immune to the looting in Baghdad. A rare photograph of an Iraqifamily. The smiles

on their faces reflect their joy in newfound

The 'Battle of the Mosque' marked the end

of major combat operations in eastern Baghdad, although the violence continued. Resistance

remained, but the enemy encountered from here on was poorly organized and less capable than

that encountered before. The Division did not have full control of all city sectors in zone, but

anticipated having full control of the remaining sectors by the end of the day on the 11 April,

thus securing the eastern half of Baghdad in its entirety. The Division's logistics posture was

also steadily improving thanks to the heroic efforts of the 3d MAW and CSSG-11.

Upon entering Baghdad, 11th Marines was given two additional tasks that are not typically

assigned to an artillery regiment; to establish its own sector for security operations, and to man

and operate the 1st Marine Division CMOC. The 11th Marines approached these new tasks with

the same gusto and professionalism that they had when providing artillery support for the last 22

days. The regimental headquarters immediately established two command posts, one in the 1 1th

Marin&s sector (for security and stabilization operations) and a second at the Palestine Hotel in

downtown Baghdad (where the CMOC would operate.) At the CMOC, 11th Marines began

building on the excellent groundwork laid by RCT-7.

In their sector, the regiment's task was to restore order and help ease the suffering. Within

24 hours the sector around Rasheed was greatly improved. Both 1/11 and 3/11 worked

throughout the community conducting patrols, removing weapons caches, detaining looters, and

showing the Iraqi people that Americans were not conquerors, but liberators. Through it all, 11th

Marines maintained a firing capability to support counterbattery missions and calls for fire

anywhere in the city.

Colonel Marletto was assigned as the Civil-Military Operations Coordinator for the 1st

Marine Division, and he set the tone for accomplishing the daunting challenges in Baghdad.

Through daily meetings with the RCT commanders, the 3d Civil Affairs Group liaison

detachment, civic leaders, non-governmental organizations, and former Iraqi government

officials, he organized the CMOC into functional departments to focus the humanitarian efforts

327
throughout the 1st Marine Division's area of responsibility. Each day the CMOC accomplished

more, achieving small 'victories' to improve the situation in Baghdad.

The rest of the Blue Diamond Marines

continued to work at improving the security

situation. During support to other clandestine

operations in the Division's zone, elements of

the Division were routinely tasked with clearing

a temporary area of operations for raids. One

mission in 3/4's zone was planned to hit an

objective very early in the morning, not far from

the Palestine Hotel. Throughout the night, the

RCT-7 watch officer tracked the movement of

the forces that were conducting the raid. He

noted traffic on the raid force's tactical radio net Abandoned Iraqi missiles are found throughout

indicating that there were bright lights shining Baghdad.

on them from a building off to their right. Just

then, the Division watch officer called to say that Dan Rather was doing a live feed from the

Palestine Hotel where he reported heavy armor driving by. The international media was filming

every minute of the 'clandestine' operation as they snuck through the urban area. The raid force

operations officer called on the radio to report their current position. The RCT-7 watch officer

responded, "I know right where you are. Dan Rather has got you on the news right now!" This

successful mission resulted in the capture of an internationally known terrorist.

Small Unit Actions Continue on the Baghdad Streets

After the initial push into the city, the RCTs divided their areas of operations into battalion

and company sectors. Tn these zones, Marines established permanent traffic control points, set

up spot check points and ran countless foot and vehicle patrols. Like good beat cops, the

Marines were learning their neighborhoods. Each battalion created a collection matrix to record

The narrow maze of Baghdad streets make One of hundreds of caches of landmines in

security operations dWicult. Baghdad

328
information the companies were generating on the streets. The matrix included locations and

details of significant events, terrorist incidents, power plants, gas stations, hospitals, and

anything else that could help restore stability and get the Iraqis back on their feet.

Even though major combat actions in the city had ceased, Baghdad remained a deadly and

dangerous place. The vast majority of the five million residents welcomed the Marines, but the

city also harbored those who did not. In a 'gun' culture, almost every household was armed, and

the city was awash in automatic weapons and RPGs. The Marines of the Division worked to

restore control during the day, and hunted the remaining Fedeyeen at night. The intensity of the

resistance slowly diminished as the security situation improved, leaving only isolated incidents

by the time the Division turned the Baghdad battlespace over to the US Army.

Kilo Company was tasked with conducting platoon-size urban security patrols in its

area of operations as assigned by the battalion. First platoon conducted its patrol in

the northern part of the company sector during the day without incident. Second

Platoon was launched early on its night patrol to investigate random shooting roughly

700 meters west of the battalion CP. The shooting was random and, upon not being

able to locate any suspects, 2d Platoon continued patrolling towards an intersection 600

meters south of the battalion CP.

It was at that checkpoint that the platoon came under the intense enemy fire of a

near counter-mechanized ambush. Fighting ensued for just afew minutes as the

platoon took automatic and RPG fire from enemy positions located all around the

intersection and from as close as aJèw meters away. Sgt Navarro 's 3d Squad was

unable to effectively fight through the near ambush due to the enemy 's use of natural

obstacles and was ordered to pull out of the kill zone. Sgt Velis' Ft Squad, Sgt Hoover's

2d Squad, and the scout-sniper team quickly gained fire superiority over the enemy

positions. Second Squad was instructed to cover the platoon 'sflank while Ft Squad

bounded by fire team out of the kill zone with 3d Squad in over-watch. Finally, 2d

Squad linked up with the rest of the platoon in consolidation and in securing a nearby

field as an LZ after all enemy combatants fled or were destroyed. The company QRF

was launched (under the command ofLieutenant Edwards) with two CAA T vehicles and

linked up with 2dPlatoon in order to effectively secure the LZfor CH-46s, which

eventually evacuated the dead and wounded. The next morning, despite puddles of

blood in the enemy 's positions, the company discovered that all enemy casualties, shell

casings, and weapons had been removed during the night. The local civilians were

questioned but would not speak of the incident out offear of retribution by the guilty

parties. During the fight, Lance Corporal David Owens and Staff Sergeant Riayan

Tejeda were both mortally wounded. SSgt Tejeda was ultimately recommended for the

Silver Star (posthumously) for his heroic actions.

An example of the intensity of the lingering resistance was an ambush that occurred on 11

April on the northern side of the city. At night, the streets across Baghdad echoed with

automatic weapons fire. It was often hard to tell the direction and target of this fire, but it was

clear that the streets were still very dangerous, especially at night. To contain this threat, 3/5

329
(like other battalions in the city) conducted an aggressive patrolling posture. Only by hunting

down the remaining violent elements that threatened the civilian population, would security be

improved. First Lieutenant Michael Prato, from Kilo Company, 3/5, recounts:

The loss of Staff Sergeant Tejeda and Lance Corporal Owens was difficult for the Marines of

Kilo Company. These Marines had fought heroically, and had died freeing another Iraqi

neighborhood from the last of the Regime oppressors. Staff Sergeant Tejeda had died while

selflessly exposing himself to enemy fire in order to move all of his Marines to safer ground. He

lived long enough to make sure his fellow Marines promised to tell his children how much he

loved them. The commitment of these Marines to the future of all the children of Iraq was

heroic. The streets of Baghdad remained a deadly and violent place, and the loss of these

Marines served as a warning to the rest of the Marines in the Division.

The elimination of enemy fighters in the

urban area took several days longer. Marines

from each of the Division's regiments and

separate battalions were engaged in restoring

order to the streets of Baghdad. Manning

checkpoints, supporting raids, or conducting

security patrols were common tasks to all of the

Division's Marines. The Division continued to

suffer casualties in the execution of these

dangerous missions. Corporal Jesus Gonzalez

was killed on 12 April while manning a security

checkpoint. A tank crewman from 1st Tank

Battalion supporting India Company of 3/4,

Corporal Gonzalez had displayed specific

heroism earlier during the mission to secure the Newly freed Iraqis pour back into the city.

southern bridge over the Diyala River. During that earlier

mission, his company had come under heavy small-arms and RPG

fire. Corporal Gonzalez had immediately identified the location of

the enemy and marked the target by providing fires with his M- 16

from atop the turret until his tank commander could call it in on

the radio. During that fighting, Corporal Gonzalez had displayed

a situational awareness and composure far beyond that expected

from a Marine of his rank and experience. On 12 April, his

platoon was providing security for a hospital compound in East

Baghdad and Corporal Gonzalez managed a security checkpoint,

controlling a frequently unruly crowd. While he was standing this

post, a Fedeyeen gunman opened fire on the Marines at the

checkpoint. Corporal Gonzalez immediately moved to the turret

to assist in returning fire. As he moved to the turret he was struck

by enemy fire and fatally wounded. His immediate response Lieutenant Mutt Danner under fire revealed his dedication to the Marines around him and holding a suicide bomber vest. the mission at hand. Corporal Gonzalez was admired and

respected by everyone who observed him.

330
In addition to combat patrols, the Marines of the Division worked ceaselessly to clear the city

of remaining weapons caches and unexploded ordnance. As the former Regime had used their

schools and mosques to hide weapons, the people were eager to cooperate with the Marines to

have the threat removed. Acting on one tip, Marines from RCT-7 entered a school. Inside, they

found a terrorist bomb production

facility full of black leather 'suicide

vests.' After taking control of the

facility, 3/7 counted 280 of the suicide

vests, two blind-timer briefcase

bombs, and dozens of SA-14 SAMs.

The suicide vests looked brand new,

carefully hung from a dry-cleaning

rack, each individually wrapped in a

plastic bag. Across the city, in each

RCT zone, the engineers and EOD

teams worked around the clock to

disarm, disable, and destroy the

tremendous numbers of weapons, Marines found that being 'No better friend' to the Iraqi

people was rewarded with smiles and trust. ammunition, and explosives that were

uncovered.

The logistics focus also changed when the Division crossed the Diyala and began operations

in Baghdad. In addition to their primary focus on ammunition, food, and fuel; logisticians added

quality of life items. Mail arrived for the first time in weeks. Health and comfort packs were

provided for basic hygiene. Even though the Marines remained busy, the static nature of

operations in Baghdad allowed the Division to get logistically healthy.

11 April

So what Happened to the Enemy?

As operations continued, the Division tried to reconcile pre-battle intelligence reports with

the lack of a conventional military defense of Baghdad. The defense had been rigorous, but had

lacked the coherence and firepower that had been expected. The Division had been told to

expect a 'Chechnya', but had gotten something quite different. There were a number of likely

causes of this apparent disparity. Probably the most significant, but least understood, was the

internal political situation of the Saddam Hussein Regime. As always, it had been easier to count

enemy equipment than it was to judge the enemy's will. The Regime leadership, never coherent

to begin with, and motivated by fear, had begun to fracture even before the war began, and senior

members of the Iraqi Regime had reportedly tried to escape the country to Syria or other

destinations. In a quickly accelerating death-spiral, senior military leadership began to cut their

own deals as they had opportunity. Some chose to deal with the Americans, but most chose to

wring the last wealth they could from their position of power and attempt to go 'underground',

out of the notice of military forces. Some of these individuals would not be captured for some

months after the fighting had ceased. This spiral eventually took its toll on even the tactical

leadership of the military units around Baghdad. With no senior military leadership remaining,

331