War Story... Inside Mosul (long) (821 hits)
Category: Politics -> IraqRating: 2 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Mario (View user info) at 2005-04-08 13:18:15 EDT
This is very very long, just to warn you. So if you don't have much time, I suggest you go to another post. This was written by a guy who was commissioned last year. It gives a very personal description of some of the things going on in the sandbox. I've edited some things out for security reasons, but 99% of it is left intact.
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All,
This past week has been insane. I wish I could have written sooner but unfortunately, the patrol plan and my tired body just hasn't let me. This is going to be a long email because I have so much to tell you so give yourself a little bit of time to read.
Let me start off first with the last night of my first set of night patrols. We had already completed 2 night patrols that went off without a hitch and we were on our last night patrol last week. We had gotten word that an IED went off in the morning the day before. The odd thing about this particular IED was that it went off in the middle of the road. Most IEDs occur on the side of the road where the AIF can hide it in the curb of the dirt and trash on the side. This one exploded in the middle of the road underneath the pavement. We went to investigate and I already had some theories about how the AIF did it...most likely through a sewer tunnel or pipe. We just had to figure out how. We approached the site on the opposite traffic lane and I dismounted the squad on my Stryker and we all went to investigate while the rest of my platoon pulled security.
I didn't go straight to the site first...the squad leader and I saw some people awake and looking at us from their h ouse and since it was past curfew we were a little wary about their activities. After talking with them and telling them to go back to their house, I started checking out where the sewer entrance might be. While Doc and I checked the sidewalks, the rest of the squad checked the hole of the IED and they found the detonator. Or at least they thought it was the detonator to the first IED. Unfortunately, it was a detonator to a second IED that the AIF emplaced in the rubble of the first IED. All I remember was turning to ask Doc something and all of a sudden I see the entire squad just take off...I don't think I even heard them yell out "MINE!" I have never run that fast before in my entire life. Granted I was only about 20 feet away compared to the 5 feet that the rest of the squad was from the land mine but that still would have sucked. When the engineers came to blow it, they discovered that it was a mine, wired to explosives, which in turn was wired to another mine....so rt of a "mine and explosive sandwich". No one's seen anything like it before. But that night would pale in comparison to what happened the next day.
The next 3 days were to be an 80% operational offensive surge and the CO had planned for dismounted patrol through specific parts of the city. We were to work in conjunction with the IIF (mostly Kurds...not much weapon discipline but highly effective against the Iraqi people). While dismounted, we started hearing multiple gunshots relatively close to us. We took shelter in the courtyards of a few houses while I tried to figure out who was shooting. My squad leaders told me it was probably the IIF and that something just spooked them. After talking to my platoon sergeant to see what he could ascertain on the net, we decided that we'd wait until we got word of what was really happening. Soon after, my platoon sergeant told us we had to mount up because the CO needed us to block certain intersections. After doing so, I got ordered to link up with the American component of the IIF (the Americans that are tasked to help coach the IIF in their operations). I took one sec tion of my vehicles and two of my squads to link up and while I got on the ground I discovered what had happened.
The IIF had received fire from a house while they were conducting their patrol and returned fire. They followed the individual to a house which they raided but immediately backed off when they heard a beeping noise from the front door. More fire was exchanged and finally the IIF cleared the whole house (or so we thought). I asked the American element of the IIF how I could best help his situation and he said he needed an outer cordon so I arranged my vehicles to block his west and south side. The CO would eventually pull the entire company to cordon the neighborhood and that's when the excitement starts. The CO discovered that the entire house was rigged to explode. While the IIF cleared the house the second time, the person that was shooting at them set off his own booby trap and killed himself in the house. Two more people were found on the roof. Inside the house, a cache of RPG launchers, mines, mortars, AK's and a Dragonov sniper rifle were found. But that's just the beginning. The courtyard had old palm trees in it and in those trees were FUGAS (sp?) bombs. From what I'm told, it is homemade napalm rigged to explode when a trigger was pulled. The enemy intent was to have a squad clear the courtyard before entering the house and then blow the FUGAS and set the entire squad on fire. Luckily that never happened. Now here comes the worst part of the house. Stacks of 152mm rounds were found in the living room rigged to also explode. More 152mm rounds were found in an upstairs closet. And upon further investigation, more 152mm rounds were buried in the courtyard. The house, though planned brilliantly, was thankfully executed poorly. There was so much stuff in the house that the regular engineer unit couldn't do the job. A special unit from the FBI was called in and the house attracted attention from "higher". My platoon spent 2 hours stationary in their blocking positions and I had deployed dismounts on roofs for observ ation posts.
I had one of my squads dismount to help the IIF clear more houses and after doing so, the squad started handing out IO(information operations a.k.a. public advertising for U.S. troops) to people and kids. My platoon sergeants vehicle was located approximately 50 m in front of my own vehicle and he was blocking a major intersection while we covered a side street. My dismounted squad was near my platoon sergeant's vehicle and he had amassed a large following of kids around him. We had all joked about how the Generals were coming to see the house and soon the President himself was coming soon also and that's why we waited so long. And then it happened....
I decided to go back down in my hatch and lay down for a little bit and as soon as I closed my eyes I heard and felt a loud explosion. My immediate thought was "those bastards didn't even warn us about blowing the house". Then I realized that it was protocol to give us a warning so I assumed the worst about the engineers and the "higher" elements located near the house. You have to understand though that I thought all of that in about half a second because almost immediately after I heard and felt the explosion my driver yelled out, "That was right next to 7's vehicle!" I jumped back out of my hatch and witnessed the worst thing I had ever seen in my life (soon to be followed up by worse and worse things the next 30 min) I saw a 40 foot mushroom cloud coming from the side of my platoon sergeant's (a.k.a. 7 or xxxxxxxxxxx 47) Stryker. When I looked at the corner where I had just seen my dismounted squad about 5 min ago, I saw nothing but debris and charred ground. Imm ediately I called up 7 to see if he and his crew were alright but I got nothing. My heart sank to my stomach and went up into my throat at the same time. I yelled to Doc to drop ramp and we both ran over to the scene. As I was running, ash, dust, debris and bloody guts were still falling from the sky. I feared the worst for my squad. I got to 7 and amazingly enough his entire crew was alright...no scratch. I moved quickly to the corner to fine my dismounts and thank God I found them at the opposite corner. My heart sank deeper when I realized that they were kneeling down administering first aid to someone. I ran over to find that one of my soldiers was on the ground with blood on his face and a bloody leg. From that point on I felt like I was a robot. I had Doc work on him while I checked out the rest of the squad. Some suffered partial hearing loss and others had small scratches. My first response was to set up security so I grabbed them all and led them across the street where they could pull security for the medics and others helping the wounded. While doing so, I ran in to another worst thing I've ever seen....the mangled body of a little boy. Luckily, another medic had seen him before me and got to the boy the same time I did. I looked around to see if any other kids were hurt and I saw another boy about 10 years old huddled in a bus stop corner with the most scared look I've ever seen in my life.
I went over to him immediately to try and comfort him and he stood up. When I placed my hand on the back of his shoulder to guide him around the debris, his white shirt instantly turned red. He had gotten shrapnel or a piece of glass in his back. I took him to the medic and then went back to my squad. With company strykers in the area, I directed them to put themselves on a roof and my own Strykers had taken their own initiative to arrange themselves around 7's Stryker to protect them. I went back to see how Doc was doing with my o ne hurt soldier and I discovered they had already MEDEVACed him. I took Doc and ran to my dismounted squad on the roof and he treated them as well. We discovered that another one of my guys took shrapnel in the ankle and we put him in his Stryker to pull air guard security. While running around, I found myself amazed that no one had been killed from my platoon. I noticed body bags already on the street but they were civilians across the street from my squad. The blast from the car bomb had been directed in the opposite direction of my dismounts and had killed civilians instead. Located next 7's Stryker was one piece of indiscernible material from the car. Next to that was the suicide bomber's leg and located about 150 m north of the site, right underneath the building of my other dismounted observation post was half of his face. You'd think that gory factor of the area would sicken me but I found myself too worried about my guys to think about that. We secured everyt hing and then exfilled to the FOB.
I was up late that night at the CSH(the combat hospital) waiting on my guys to get surgery. I found that my two guys would be just fine. One had shrapnel to the face and in his thigh but he'd be alright. The one that had shrapnel in his ankle I stayed with because his was a quick operation. Seeing the doctors cut a little hole in his skin and stick instruments into his ankle gave me the grossed out feeling that some of you may be feeling right now. Kind of ironic that compared to all of the things I saw on the street a few hours before...this tiny operation was creeping me out. The day was finally over though and both of my guys were gonna be fine.
A few nights ago we got back on the night patrolling and we actually finish tonight.
This last week has been the most intense it's been for me and I can't imagine how it was for my guys when they fought in Fallujah. I've heard of something called the Jasper model being used to describe our situation. Moments of intense combat concentration changed into extreme compassion in the blink of an eye. I feel like I'm a police man with no need for warrants sometimes, a politician running for office when I hand out newspapers and candy, and a detective when I'm trying to figure out where "Ali Baba" is and where he keeps his weapons. I actually found myself thinking of xxxx xxxxx again. Oh what I wouldn't give for a Saturday morning parade and the ability to go back to my room right after, take off the Full Dress uniform and just lounge around in my room. The AIF, I've discovered, are intelligently stupid. I know that doesn't make sense but we found files and documents in that booby trapped house that no one has seen before. I obviously can't get into specifi cs but they are getting creative and changing what bombs they use and how they hide it. Their techniques are also changing and while all of this sounds so much more dangerous...it is the fact that they can't execute with the lethality we are trained to that makes us lucky. They are stupid when it comes to pulling the trigger or targeting who to kill. But at the same time their dangerous ways of thinking need all of the respect the lives of your subordinates deserve.
I know this was long but I hope it sheds some light on what Mosul is going through right now. Even as we speak the enemy is concentrating more on using xxxxxxxx instead of road side bombs and direct fire. They are getting frustrated that their direct fire is useless and that we are finding all of their road side bombs. We backing them into a corner and now we're seeing their frustrated retaliation.
I hope all of you are still ok and doing well in your own respects. I miss all of you without a doubt and not a day goes by when I don't think about the memories we share. Please keep up the prayers. I know it is God to whom I owe the lives of my men that day. I will take a suicide bomb into my Stryker any day to save the dismounts. 7's Stryker, by the way suffered only 6 flat tires....minimal damage to armor and everyone inside was ok. The Stryker has proven itself to me and I am glad I was lucky not to lose anyone.
xxxxxxxxx
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For those that couldn't be arsed to read, here's a photo...I took it while I was out training with the Special Forces last summer. Here they are, starving, wet, tired, and cold. They are, as a group, the smartest, most dedicated, and most honorable people I've ever met.
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User Reviews
Submitted by strider (user info) at 2005-06-23 11:32:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
War Story - Salman Pak update:
http://www.ubersite.com/m/63839#1403914
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-05-03 12:23:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Adjomak (user info) at 2005-04-11 23:14:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Jeez, this had my heart going faster than any movie ever did. Probably because I really feel that I am there. Stay strong
Submitted by Mario (user info) at 2005-04-10 17:11:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Guys, I'm not out over in the sticks just yet. I go there in a few months as an infantry officer. Sorry for the confusion, but I'm stateside right now. Don't thank me just yet. I'll let you know what's going on once I'm over there from my own mouth, but this was an e-mail from a friend.
Submitted by Avals (user info) at 2005-04-10 12:27:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Great story. Say thanks to that guy for me.
This reminds me that I oughta continue the 'Curse Mountain' series before everyone forgets what it's about completely.
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2005-04-09 01:25:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Mario, glad you are doing ok. Man, it takes me back to the smelly sandbox. Those fuckers are malicious and vicious, but thank Christ they suck at the execution... good luck and stay safe, sir. I do my final out on Monday. Five years done, time to pick up my DD214. Good luck, and De Opresso Liber.
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-04-08 21:09:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for your service from one well-fed squid. Stay safe.
Submitted by Feebleattempt (user info) at 2005-04-08 16:45:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
It's good to hear a story that isn't filtered out too much by our bullshit mainstream press. Keep 'em coming. A lot of us want to know what's happening.
Submitted by Chinaski (user info) at 2005-04-08 16:30:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I would have given it a 1 but don't want to break you's streak.
shlongy is a dickhead.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-04-08 16:19:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Can't do that...then, I'd probably just say..."Too fucking long, -2" but I have a lot of respect for our nations' soldiers, fighting in this silly war for a President with his head further up his ass than most Uber posters.
Submitted by Mario (user info) at 2005-04-08 16:01:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks Shlongy, but don't be a dickhead, rate me with the same honesty as you rate everyone else.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-04-08 15:47:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I ain't reading all that but the new kindler, gentler Shlongy gives out auto +2's to all servicemen and women.
Submitted by boomslang (user info) at 2005-04-08 15:36:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-04-08 15:25:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
bitchin
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-04-08 14:49:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-04-08 14:43:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Give that guy our thanks - truly heroes exsist
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-04-08 14:17:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Be safe.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-04-08 14:08:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by strider (user info) at 2005-04-08 13:56:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I was just going to reply with this story:
http://www.ubersite.com/m/63839
but Uber wouldn't let me, guess it was too long. Enjoyed your story, hope you like this one.
Submitted by Mario (user info) at 2005-04-08 13:37:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You would only know WHY I censored certain parts if you saw them. And this won't blow their OpSec, what happened in this story is, unfortunately, commonplace in Iraq. There is nothing in here you wouldn't have already seen or read about in the news, it is because of the first-hand account that I posted it.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-04-08 13:35:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
ass-kickingly good.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-04-08 13:34:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good story, but why did you censor it? You already blew most of their OpSec with the story, that is if it's current.
Caption:
Guy on the right: "This shit sucks."
Guy on the left: "I like the way this shit sucks."
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2005-04-08 13:20:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment