An Numaniyah all the way to As Suwayrah. First LAR Battalion ('Highlander') led the RCT (-)

attack along Powerline Road. First Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) followed in trace of Highlander,

with orders to seize the pontoon bridge at the town of Az Zubadiyah. The battalion cleared

through the town with two companies on-line, meeting no enemy resistance and confirming that

the bridge located in the vicinity had been destroyed by aviation fires. The Marines quickly

assessed the bridge, evaluating its potential for repair and use as an alternate crossing site.

Following 1/5, 2/5 continued the advance to Al Aziziyah, where the battalions on the south side

of the Tigris intended to cross and link up with the battalions on the north side of the river.

The Iraqis fired rocket-propelled grenades from behind a taxi parked along a distant canal.

One grenade zipped across the nose of an armored amphibious vehicle and ex1loded in the

dirt. That angered Major Andrew Bianca, executive officer of the Marines' 2 Tank Battalion.

Sheathed in aluminum plate, the tracked amphibious vehicles known as AA Vs can withstand

rifle fire, but not rocket grenades. And Major Bianca's support team was in AA Vs. He

ordered his tank crew to fire a round at the Iraqis. The 120 mm cannon barrel dropped

slightly, then erupted with smoke andflame. The noise ripped the air so violently that

Marines standing in an AA V behind the tank were knocked off balance. A cloud of dirt

appeared behind the taxi. The shell had gone through the taxi's open windows. But shrapnel

from the round finished the Iraqis, and afinger of black smoke and flame soon rose from the

taxi.

The tank column resumed its march to Baghdad. For Marines and Army soldiers fighting

throughout southern Iraq, this was their war. armored columns blasting through urban

ambushes. The 2" Tank Battalion started several fights with these urban opponents. Speed

mattered more than body counts or seized ground. Using tanks to punch through enemy

ambushes put the Marines closer to Baghdad and Saddam Hussein's regime. Lieutenant

Colonel Mike Oehl, the battalion's commanding officer, put it to his officers this way: "Speed

is the essence of this endeavor." He was talking about a planned raid, but the remark held

true for the battalion's mission in the war. "It's hard to know what our part was in the overall

war, but I'd like to think we made it a shorter war because we got here so quickly," Colonel

Oehl said when his unit reached Baghdad.

Yet several analysts agreed that the battalion exemplf led the strategy and tactics that

toppled Mr. Hussein in just three weeks of warfare. Colonel Oehl's crew named its tank

"Deadly Mariah" and animated the name with an angry cloud blowing swords from its mouth.

Major Bianca's tank crew reached back to Greek mythology for the name "Two Furies" -

anger and vengeance, minus the third fury, jealousy, which seemed out of place in Iraq. The

2" battalion spent most of the war at the tip of the Marines' spear. It came within three miles

of Baghdad on April 4, after three days that destroyed what was left of the Al Nida Division of

the Republican Guards. They cleared the way to Baghdad for the Ft Marine Division and

killed a large number ofArab Muslim volunteers who heeded Osama bin Laden's call to come

to Iraq to kill Americans.

By Jim Landers in the Dallas Morning News, 18 May 2003.

265
On Powerline Road, RCT-5's advance proceeded without challenge, at first. Passing

through dilapidated farming villages, the Marines were amazed to find themselves welcomed

with surprising hospitality. Despite living in what was obviously desperate poverty, the smiling

villagers offered sweet tea, flat bread, and dates to the Marines. Meanwhile, inquisitive children

touched the Marines' camouflage uniforms without fear. These farmers, members of an

oppressed Shiite Muslim religious community, had no love for Saddam and the Iraqi Regime.

This response from the Iraqi people would soon become routine, characterizing the population's

relief at their liberation.

First contact was reported by Highlander as its lead company advanced on the south bank of

the river. Observing a pickup truck speeding toward them, a platoon of Delta Company

identified a heavy machinegun mounted on the vehicle as it turned south along a canal. One

section engaged the pickup truck with 25mm high explosive rounds, destroying the truck and

killing the occupants. Soon after, 'Highlander Three' called for Delta Company to form a screen

line along an aqueduct leading south from the river for about 10 km . Two batteries of 2/11

moved up behind the screen line and were soon providing artillery fires in support of 2d Tanks

and 3/5 in their fight on the north side of the Tigris. By then, 1/5 had moved up as well, and the

near side of the aqueduct had become crowded with tanks and AAVs.

As the fight to the north in

Al Aziziyah drew to a close, 1St

LAR resumed its

reconnaissance in zone along

the south bank of the river. In

the lead of the battalion,

Lieutenant 'Lucky' Cullins'

Third Platoon, Delta Company,

rounded a bend where

Powerline Road ran west right

along the reedy riverbank. All

at once the platoon found itself

in an ambush. With heavy

small arms and RPG fire

emanating from an orchard and

from around a bridge about a

thousand meters down the

road, the platoon returned fire

using all of its organic Eleventh Marines units cross the Tigris River at the Pearl 3 bridge west

ofAn Numaniyah. weapons. Lieutenant Cullins

was ordered to pull back so

that the enemy position could be engaged with supporting arms. Destruction of the ambush force

was a perfect choreography of supporting arms that demonstrated the combined arms killing

power of the MAGTF, and ended in the certain destruction of the Iraqi defenders. The

battalion's 81mm mortars went into action first. Fox Battery, 2/11, shifted trails and was soon

ready to fire in support. Captain Reuel Pietz, the company FAC, arrived and air began to check

on station. Meanwhile, the 1st and 2d Platoons moved up on line and the company attack by fire

266
position was set. As the LAR company began to engage the enemy with direct fire, Lieutenant

Cullins directed mortars and artillery into the orchard and a nearby walled compound into which

some of the ambushers fled. Captain Pietz controlled a division of AH- 1 Cobra gunships and a

section of F/A- 18 Hornet jets, which worked over the ambush area. Fox Battery recorded

Lieutenant Cullins' surveillance as he ended the artillery mission, "Everything is destroyed,

everything is destroyed. The buildings are destroyed. Everything is destroyed."

As 1St LAR was battling the enemy, 2/5 reached the bridge at Al Aziziyah. Engineers from

the Combat Engineer Battalion evaluated the captured pontoon bridge and determined that it

would not support the armor and heavy equipment of the elements of the RCT advancing on the

south side of the River. After a discussion about continuing the attack to a potential crossing site

further west, the Division CG ordered the RCT's elements on the south bank of the Tigris to turn

around and cross the river at An Numaniyah. With 15t LAR and Battery F covering the

withdrawal, 1/5 and 2/5 began the long movement back east down the powerline road, across the

Tigris at An Numaniyah, and then back west on the north bank. There, they prepared for the

planned attack to the outskirts of Baghdad the following day. Initial movement was slowed for

2/5 by difficult terrain near the Tigris, where the marshy ground swallowed up three M1A1s and

an M88, which were left behind for recovery by follow on forces. In the dark while moving to

link-up with the rest of the RCT, three

Marines were severely injured when

their LAV ran into a dump truck

abandoned on the road. The artillery

convoy of 2/11 also came under enemy

indirect fire, causing them to mask up

and drive for several additional km in

MOPP 4. As night fell, the RCT-5 units

on the south side of the Tigris were

spread out on a 90 km road march to the

north side of the Tigris River. Enroute,

they re-armed and re-fueled. They

joined the rest of the RCT early the next Marines get some much-needed sleep nearAlAziziyah. morning, physically tired, but prepared The Division would soon launch the assault on Baghdad.

to press the attack to Baghdad.

The Division noted a number of intelligence indicators that the Regime's control inside

Baghdad was beginning to fracture. Although the military forces remained at least partially

under control, it appeared that the civilian populace was beginning to take to the streets against

the Regime. There were reports of Regime leadership figures abandoning Baghdad and

attempting to head to Syria. Additional intelligence hits indicated that the large number of tanks

and BMPs in the vicinity of the Al Nida Division's garrisons had been abandoned. The Division

CG was eager to exploit this situation, and reiterated the importance of speed in getting to

Baghdad. There, it was likely that conditions would allow a continued attack right into the

Baghdad urban area. The Division Forward CP was ordered to Al Aziziyah to collocate with

RCT-5 and be in a position to let the Division Main CP leapfrog to the outskirts of Baghdad.

267
Logistics would provide the fuel, ammo, water, and food that would allow the Division to

move into the city. The importance of KC-130 strips in keeping the Division's momentum

forward was already proven. By the end of the day, An Numaniyah Airfield (RRP- 19) was clear

of unexploded ordnance and made

operational. To enable speed against

Baghdad, Al Kut could not be allowed to

draw off combat power in the defense of

this airfield and the very important RRP.

RCT-7's attack to Al Kut along the

southern bank of the Tigris ensured no

enemy threat existed from this direction.

The G-4 and CSSG-1 1 continued to

work with 3(1 MAW and MWSS as they

expanded aerial re-supply capability in

support of the Division's high tempo

combat operations. In addition to

serving as a FARP, RRP-19 would serve

as the Division's maintenance collection

The CG and his staffplot the Baghdad strategy at the Blue point for damaged vehicles and other

Diamond Forward CP near AlAziziyah. gear, and eventually became home to the

MEF Forward headquarters.

4 April

Pushing to the West

On the morning of 4 April, Ironhorse led the Division's Main Effort, RCT-5's attack to

Baghdad. With signs that the enemy's ability to conduct a conventional defense in Baghdad was

collapsing, rapid progress was expected. Commencing their attack from approximately 10 km to

the west of Al Aziziyah, Ironhorse ran into stiff resistance not far after crossing the LD. It was

clear that the enemy along Highway 6

had not gotten the word that they were

losing the war. The combined arms

power of the MAGTF was brought to

bear. Eleventh Marines brought up

2/11 to support the attack, and the

Battalion opened up to devastating

effect. The Division Forward CP and

the RCT-5 CP were rocked by volley

after volley of outgoing artillery, and

The MEG emplaced Maybey-Johnson bridges over water the sky was filled with friendly aircraft obstacles where a more permanent structure was required. overhead as 31 MAW and JFACC air

entered the fray, demoralizing and

destroying the enemy.

268
RCT-5 began the attack as it had the previous day. Ironhorse (with attached infantry from

2/5) led the movement with a strong push up Highway 6 through numerous small villages and

hamlets. A battery of 2/11 providing close and responsive fire support followed them closely.

Lieutenant Colonel Sam Mundy's well-oiled 3/5 machine came next, with the remainder of 2/11

and 5/1 1 in hot pursuit.

As 2d Tanks moved through a

stretch of Highway 6 north of Salman

Pak, a hail of rifle, machinegun and RPG

fire ripped into the battalion from both

sides of the road. The fiercest resistance

came along Highway 6 between the 61

and 66 east grid lines (absent significant

terrain features, battles were often noted

simply by map grid references.) The

battalion saw small arms, machine gun

fire and RPG teams near the highway,

launching attacks against the entire

column. Numerous enemy fighters were

spotted throughout the area along

Highway 6 in abandoned buildings,

man-made bunkers, fighting holes, and

behind vehicles. The enemy was a mix

of regular Al Nida Division units as well

as irregulars clad in black uniforms and

non-military attire. These were not just

Iraqi soldiers, but Fedeyeen fighters and

jihad extremists imported from as far

away as Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon,

and the Sudan. Their sole motive may

have been to kill Americans, but these

jihadis seemed committed to die for the

Saddam Hussein regime. The Marines

of Ironhorse efficiently complied with

their wishes, killing many with air

strikes and tank main guns. As with the

day prior, fixed and rotary wing aircraft

provided accurate and effective close air

support in conjunction with the RCT's

maneuver.

Iraqi Artillery (like this D-30) was found abandoned all

along Highway 6. Artillery pieces were often found in

schoolyards, mosques, and urban areas.

An MJAJ destroyed by a fire during a Fedeyeen ambush

on Highway 6. This burned out hulk was a sharp

reminder of the dangers that remained in the fight for

Baghdad.

Second Tanks continued the attack along Highway 6 with the Scout Platoon in the lead. In

the vicinity of the 65 easting, the scouts uncovered another enemy ambush. In the process of

engaging the enemy, the new Scout Platoon Commander, First Lieutenant Brian M. McPhillips,

was killed by an enemy sniper. Lieutenant McPhillips had taken over the platoon from the

seriously wounded Lieutenant Zummo when he had been evacuated. Knowing the dangers of his

269
position but still leading from the front, Lieutenant McPhillips led the Division's attack in the

face of a determined enemy. Despite the loss of their Lieutenant, the scouts accomplished their

mission of identifying the enemy, then fell back to allow Company C to continue the attack west

and north. As the lead elements of RCT-5 approached to within a few km of Baghdad, the

enemy set fire trenches adjacent to the road ablaze, making visibility extremely difficult. At this

point in the battle the fog of war began to thicken for the battalion. The intersection of Highway

6 and Route Green (the route leading north to the battalion's objective) was known as the 'Diyala

Crossroads'. The intersection was to play a significant role throughout the coming fight. Upon

approaching this key crossroads, the lead tank was hit with multiple RPGs, instantly killing

Corporal Bernard G. Gooden, the lead tank's loader. Corporal Gooden's loss was indicative of

the ferocity of the enemy's defense, and the bravery of the Marines, like him, that were willing to

meet the enemy in combat.

Damaged, but moving, the lead tank continued through heavy fire, but soon realized they had

missed the turn on Route Green. Under fire, the battalion executed a counter-column as rear

elements waited just prior to the turn north. Not far behind, Charlie Company's Commanding

Officer had taken fire and his tank was immobilized. Captain Jeffrey S. Houston dismounted his

tank in order take over another tank within his Company. While moving to the other tank, an

enemy sniper found his mark and Captain Houston was severely injured with a gunshot wound to

the jaw. Captain Houston's immobilized tank became an instant target for Iraqi gunners. In the

fusillade of fire that followed, an RPG pierced the rubber flexcell fuel bladder strapped to the

side of the tank, and the leaking fuel set the entire tank ablaze. This burned out M1A1 hulk was

a sobering sight to follow-on units and drove home the bitter fighting in the area. There were

dangers beyond bullets and RPGs too. A truck bomb mixed in with the mass of civilian traffic

on Highway 6 maneuvered next to another tank of Charlie Company and was detonated.

Fortunately, the injuries to the crew were minor and the tank continued in the attack.

With plenty of aggressive enemy still anxious to fight (2' Tanks had passed), Colonel

Dunford ordered 3/5 to clear both roadsides in the vicinity of the 61 easting and provide security

for the burning M1A1. The battalion's lead tank and CAAT section moved to support the

damaged tank. Lima Company also halted, dismounted, and prepared to conduct a hasty attack.

Ordered to clear a large, fenced military complex on the north side of the road, Captain Scott

Meredith quickly organized his platoons and sought to lay down some indirect fire suppression.

Unfortunately, due to the density of the urban structures and vegetation lining the road, he was

unable to observe the fires. Unwilling to cause civilian casualties, Lima resorted to entering the

compound using direct fire suppression only. As Lima moved into the assault, Lieutenant

Colonel Mundy ordered India Company to move forward, dismount and clear the south side of

the road:

"Because 2a' Tanks had already moved through and we were unable to conduct face-to-face

coordination, I wasn 't exactly sure where the enemy was located. Looking at the map, I guessed

that they must have been defending from the apparent military compound on our right flank, and

so I ordered Lima to clear it. I pulled India Company up mainly to protect Lima 's flank and to

provide some flexibility during the attack. The lefi side of the road was dominated by a large

canal giving way to a huge open field running south and southwest. The ground was broken and

had some scrub vegetation on it. My Battalion Gunner and I were discussing the fact that it

270
didn 't look or feel right to leave that flank unguarded. I'm glad he planted that seed because it

turned out the open ground was hiding a hornet's nest ofjihadis."

India Company began its movement along the left side of the road and all seemed well.

Without much warning several Marines flushed pockets of well-camouflaged jihadis. These

clustered groups maintained a steady and willing defense of their respective areas. The attitude

they displayed was fatalistic, "kill me or I'll kill you." The Marines of India willingly obliged

them. During the next several hours, a raging, close quarters battle ensued where India Marines,

operating by platoons and squads, closed in on scores of defending jihadis. Though not

particularly good marksmen, these jihadis fought tenaciously. During this intense battle,

Corporal Erik Silva was shot and killed by a Syrian fighter hiding underwater in a canal. The

presence of these foreign fighters, eager to fight to the death in their misguided cause, reinforced

the larger purpose of the Division's mission. The Marines had come to Iraq to liberate the

innocent Iraqi people from just this sort of brutal repression, and the loss of fine Marines like

Corporal Silva was a painful reminder of the lengths these terrorists would go to retain their grip

on power. Silva's squad members reacted violently to the loss of their friend and comrade,

bayoneting and shooting the attacker before he fell dead. After the fight, several Marines

mentioned that the small caliber 5.56mm round failed to stop the Iraqi fighters even when hit,

spawning conjecture of possible jihadi drug use and causing many discussions among the

Marines about having a larger caliber bullet to shoot. Initially, the fighting was too close for

artillery. India's artillery FO called in several missions but the enemy were in too close to have

much effect. India Company resorted to employing a division of AH- 1W Cobras to root out the

defenders. As usual, and even in clear danger from ground fire, 3( MAW's killers closed in on

the enemy alongside their infantry brothers. In one case Staff Sergeant Gonzalez, commanding a

Marines advance near the Diyala Crossroads, while Iraqis begin to return to their homes.

271
rifle platoon, popped smoke in front of his position so the Cobras could run a 20mm strafing run

only 30 feet off the ground into a stubborn group of 15-20 terrorists. It was a spectacular display

of combined arms fighting and when Gonzalez swept through the trench shortly thereafter he

found nothing but body parts.

While India continued to pursue the jihadis deep into the open field, the rest of 3/5

experienced sporadic, small arms attacks up and down the battalion column. Most were beaten

back by aggressive small unit actions on the parts of sergeants and lieutenants. Lima continued

to clear the compound, killing an estimated 25 Iraqi soldiers and capturing approximately 40

more who lacked the courage of their convictions. When the lead platoon of India Company

encountered stiffening resistance 500 meters deeper in the open field, Lieutenant Colonel Mundy

ordered the platoon to return, then directed the FSC, Captain Robert Piddock, to unleash a fury

of artillery fire. The display that followed was a sight to behold. Back to back battalion volleys

that lasted for 10 minutes or more caused the earth to shake and lifted a pall of smoke that lasted

for several hours. Because the Marines had pulled back to a covered position, 3/5 was able to

direct this devastating fire within danger close ranges and right on top of the enemy positions.

Afterward, India Company reported that the effects of the fires had left the jihadis shattered and

bloody. In this fighting, 3/5 had sustained fallen comrades, as well. Along with the loss of

Corporal Erik Silva, the battalion also experienced four seriously wounded Marines, including

Staff Sergeant Anderson, a platoon sergeant in Lima Company, leading from the front in the

finest tradition of infantry platoon sergeants.

As 3/5 fought furiously along Highway 6, 2d Tanks turned north on a narrow hard surface

road to seize the intersection of Route Green and an east-west hard surface road that provided

access into and out of Baghdad. Ironhorse, still led by their Scout and TOW platoons, rumbled

to the intersection under sporadic gunfire. The last block of buildings near the intersection

proved to be another ambush site, and the column came under intense machinegun and RPG fire.

Trucks full of enemy ammunition began to explode, causing numerous secondary explosions.

The sector designated for Fox Company, 2/5 (attached to 2d Tank Battalion), turned out to be an

enemy ammunition supply point (ASP), now exploding out of control, sending shrapnel, debris,

and RPG rounds into the air. During the fighting, First Sergeant Edward Smith, the Fox

Company First Sergeant, was wounded in the head. Several Marines from the company

heroically tried to evacuate their beloved leader under enemy fire, but he died of his wounds

shortly thereafter. His loss was keenly felt throughout the entire battalion.

Once the intersection had been secured and the sun began to set, the Marines of Ironhorse

faced the challenge of trying to sort panicked civilian traffic from fleeing or attacking military

personnel approaching this critical intersection. At one point, shortly after 2' Tanks arrived on

the objective, a small white car raced towards the intersection from the east, headed towards

Baghdad. Staff Sergeant Efrain Torres' TOW section was blocking the road and engaged the

vehicle after it ignored warning shots, killing both occupants. Upon searching the vehicle it was

obvious one of the occupants was a very high-ranking general officer. Upon closer inspection, it

was determined that the general was the Chief of Staff of the Special Republican Guard, and his

vehicle was filled with important documents and large amounts of cash. The Division had

moved so quickly, and the Iraqi's command and control systems had been so completely

272
disrupted, that even this senior general was unaware that RCT-5 was between him and his capitol

city. From that time, the intersection was referred to as 'Dead General's Crossroads.'

As 2d Tank Battalion and 3/5 led the attack, the rest of RCT-5 moved up behind them on

Highway 6, facing sporadic enemy resistance from remnants of enemy forces who had been

bypassed by the lead assault battalions. Highway 6 remained a dangerous place on the

battlefield, as the jihadis who had escaped the wrath of the initial Blue Diamond assault

occasionally returned to the Highway to reengage the Americans. One such attack took the life

of Sergeant Duane Rios, who was

killed by an enemy sniper as he

stood exposed in the turret of his

advancing AAV. Sergeant Rios,

an engineer squad leader

supporting 1/5, had molded his

Marines into a tight, cohesive unit,

and had been a defining influence

on many of his junior Marine's

lives. He had led his squad

through battles in the Rumaylah

oilfields, Al Aziziyah, and An

Numaniyah. His loss weighed

heavily on his Marines, who had

enjoyed a special bond with a

LA Vs roll past an abandoned T-72 near the Di.vala Crossroads. leader they respected and admired.

Having successfully completed their attack on the Baghdad RG Division the day before,

RCT-7 conducted a movement from Al Kut to the Diyala crossroads, a distance of over 100 km.

They moved up to relieve 3/S's position on the night of 4 April. The following morning, 3/5

moved up to the 'Dead General's Crossroads' to join the rest of RCT-5. RCT-5 immediately

began to aggressively patrol toward their objectives along the Diyala River, searching for

crossing sites.

As the Division worked its way up Highway 6, Lieutenant Colonel Stacy Clardy's 3( LAR

Battalion ('Wolfpack'), as an independent maneuver element, conducted a moving flank screen to

the north. After being relieved of their Hantush Airstrip security duties, Wolfpack had crossed

the Tigris at An Numaniyah and was now operating to the north of Highway 6, paralleling the

Division's attack route. Wolfpack picked its way toward the airfields at Sarabadi and Salman

Pak over a dense network of canal roads and trails. The terrain was extremely limited, giving

even the highly mobile LAR battalion pause. As the Battalion closed on the Sarabadi Airfield, it

engaged with and destroyed several armored vehicles and tanks. Third LAR reports of the

limited trafficability from the flank gave the Division confidence that no sizeable armor force

from the Al Nida Division could attack from this direction. Having transited some of the worst

terrain imaginable, 3" LAR was ordered back to Highway 6 for follow on tasking in the vicinity

of Baghdad.

273
5 April

Pulling the Division Up to the Diyala

The Division was reasonably confident that the enemy had abandoned most of the equipment

belonging to the Al Nida RG Division's 43d Mechanized Brigade in the vicinity of its garrison

east of the Diyala River. A number of intelligence sources reported tanks, artillery, and other

vehicles in the revetment fields around the garrison. Blue Diamond had received multiple

indications that this equipment was abandoned, and agreed with this assessment. In a scene that

was often repeated during the war, however, every time an unfamiliar Coalition pilot or new

theater imagery analyst would observe the site, the Division would receive the alarm that there

was an armored brigade on the Division's eastern flank. Each iteration of this erroneous

reporting would require the commitment of additional intelligence collection assets to confirm

that these were the same abandoned vehicles seen before. Most times, additional fires were also

directed against the potential threat. During the night of 4 April, the Division DASC had once

again scored a series of B-52 strikes, which the Division vectored to the Al Nida garrison (the

garrison was located 20 km to the east of the Diyala River, and had the added benefit

(misfortune) of being away from populated areas, affording a low risk of collateral damage.)

After tiring of these repeated false alarms, the Division dispatched 3d LAR Battalion to establish

a security zone to the east, and to sweep through the area to confirm this equipment it no longer

posed a threat. Echo Company drew the mission of reducing a brigade's worth of abandoned

equipment. After a cautious approach, they came upon the large revetment fields containing

intact and operational T-72 tanks, BMPs, and other vehicles. The Marines happily turned to

rendering this equipment inoperable. Echo Company spent the next 12 hours destroying,

exploding, or calling in air on the gear of the former 43 Mechanized Brigade. For some, it was

the most enjoyable 12 hours of the war, as they reduced one of the most-vaunted enemy units to

scrap. This action removed any possibility of a threat to the Division's rear as the Marines

oriented west into Baghdad.

The north-south running Diyala River now stood between the Division and Baghdad proper.

The ineffective outer defensive cordon of Baghdad had been defeated. Compared to the crossing

of the Euphrates or the Tigris, the Diyala crossing had received less planning attention. Both of

the bridges over the Diyala in the south of the Division's zone remained intact. By the plan,

these southern bridges would support an RCT-7 fixing attack, while RCT-5 would swing wide

and attack into the vicinity of Saddam City. RCT-5 began its reconnaissance up the Diyala to the

north in order to find a suitable crossing site that would support its attack. Crossing the river

there would allow RCT-5 to extend the cordon around Baghdad to the north. That morning, the

Division and 8th ESB planners reviewed the data on the Diyala River, and 'flew' over sections of

it on the Falconview 3D terrain visualization system. A number of sites appeared to offer

relatively easy crossing of the river, and the Engineers worked their way north to check each of

them first hand. By this time, the Iraqis had also figured out that the Americans were looking to

envelop Baghdad to the north, and the Marines soon found themselves receiving mortar fire

along the banks of the river.

The companies of Highlander moved out to reconnoiter their zones. None would locate a

suitable crossing site that day, but all found plenty of trouble. Around noon, a platoon from

Delta Company was the first to make contact when it received fire from a compound on the west

274
bank of the Diyala. The remainder of the company arrived and came under small arms and

mortar fire from enemy forces across the narrow river. Delta Company returned fire and called

for support from artillery and its own organic mortars, destroying the enemy positions. An hour

later, two platoons from Alpha Company also received fire from across the Diyala and returned

it. Shortly after midnight, Charlie Company's screen line encountered a dismounted force of

platoon size, which it engaged with artillery and rotary wing CAS as well as 25-millimeter and

7.62-millimeter fire, destroying the enemy force.

The Division planned to cross the Diyala River in multiple places, including the two

intact bridges near the Rasheed military complex. Attempts to find a crossing further

north were unsuccessfuL

Weapons Company was the busiest that day. After searching throughout the morning, a

promising crossing site was uncovered near a place called Ummal Abid. It appeared that the

Iraqis had prepared this site for the same purpose, and had staged pontoon-bridging trucks on the

west side of the river. The approach on both sides of the river had been prepared and was

suitable for the emplacement of standard bridging and would support the huge amount of traffic

that the Division planned to put across it. The fording report was filled out and sent to higher.

The Company Commander, Captain Dave Hudspeth left one of his LAV-25 platoons to provide

security of the site. Included in this security element was the company's Command and Control

LAV that housed First Lieutenant Jonathan St. John, the company's Fires Support Team (FiST)

leader, and the rest of his crew. As Captain Hudspeth continued north to look for other sites, the

275
security element arrayed itself in a screen line along the east side of the river among sparse trees

and vegetation. Opposite them separated by the steep banks of the Diyala River were several

thick palm groves and a road running parallel to the river and an approach to the potential

crossing site.

At about 1300Z, the company's FAC, Major Randy Nash, noticed a squad-sized element of

iraqi Republican Guardsmen conducting a dismounted patrol just across on the west side of the

river. Although he was perched on top

of the LAV-C2, the trees were providing

concealment and the squad was

oblivious to his presence. He alerted

Lieutenant St. John, who directed his

team to call on the company's organic

mortars for a fire mission to take out the

enemy soldiers. Second Lieutenant

Mark Reinhart, the Fire Support Team

(FiST's) artillery Forward Observer

(FO), did a quick map study and passed

a grid to Corporal Clifford Walker, the

mortar FO. Corporal Walker called in

the fire mission and the accurate fires Rotary Wing CAS was critical to success throughout. immediately dropped five of the Iraqi

soldiers, while the remainder retreated

toward the palm grove returning fire as they ran. Crewmen on the LAV-C2 quickly formed a

fire team and opened fire with their rifles.

Sergeant Clayton Blankenship, the Vehicle Commander, picks up the story from there:

"With the XO's orders I moved to the ledge of the bluff over looking the enemy troops. I was

given an order to only shoot once the mortar mission was complete, and if there was anything

left moving. The troops had moved toward the bend of the river when the mortar rounds jell

exactly where they stood. I thought to myself 'Corporal Walker, you just did some damn good

shooting'. Soon after, several enemy soldiers ran to the top of the bend setting up perfect

silhouettes. I estimated the range at about 320 meters. As I saw them advancing to the main

tree line I didn 't waste anytime before putting rounds down range. I noticed the first three

impacts a bit low and adjusted my aim. As Jfired again I watched one fall down immediately,

then I waited for the next one to pop up. Meanwhile, Corporal Walker had called in another fire

mission and joined me with his M-]6 on the bluff I noticed afew of the soldiers trying to get up,

it looked as though they were injured. We observed fire coming back at us, so we put some more

rounds down range on the enemy soldiers. It seemed we had taken 'em all out when a vehicle

approached on the parallel road across the river. I heard the other LA V-25s light up the three

individuals who had dismounted as well as the truck. While all that went on, we lay there

watching the tree line across the river, but there was no movement. Then the last mortars fell

making sure that no one was left alive."

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