INDCJournal: More of the Fight in Fallujah

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November 22, 2004

More of the Fight in Fallujah

Posted by Bill

There is an image burned into my brain that I hope I never forget. We came up behind 3/5 one day as the lead squads were working down the Byzantine streets of the Jolan area. An assault team of two Marines ran out from behind cover and put a rocket into a wall of an enemy strongpoint. Before the smoke cleared the squad behind them was up and moving through the hole and clearing the house. Just down the block another squad was doing the same thing. The house was cleared quickly and the Marines were running down the street to the next contact. Even in the midst of that mayhem, it was an awesome site.
...
The first is a Marine from 3/5. His name is Corporal Yeager (Chuck Yeager's grandson). As the Marines cleared and apartment building, they got to the top floor and the point man kicked in the door. As he did so, an enemy grenade and a burst of gunfire came out. The explosion and enemy fire took off the point man's leg. He was then immediately shot in the arm as he lay in the doorway. Corporal Yeager tossed a grenade in the room and ran into the doorway and into the enemy fire in order to pull his buddy back to cover. As he was dragging the wounded Marine to cover, his own grenade came back through the doorway. Without pausing, he reached down and threw the grenade back through the door while he heaved his buddy to safety. The grenade went off inside the room and Cpl Yeager threw another in. He immediately entered the room following the second explosion. He gunned down three enemy all within three feet of where he stood and then let fly a third grenade as he backed out of the room to complete the evacuation of the wounded Marine. You have to understand that a grenade goes off within 5 seconds of having the pin pulled. Marines usually let them "cook off" for a second or two before tossing them in. Therefore, this entire episode took place in less than 30 seconds.
...
My whole life I have read about the greatest generation and sat in wonder at their accomplishments. For the first time, as I watch these Marines and Soldiers, I am eager for the future as this is just the beginning for them. Perhaps the most amazing characteristic of all is that the morale of the men is sky high. They hurt for the wounded and the dead but they are eager to continue to attack. Further, not one of them would be comfortable with being called a hero even though they clearly are.

There's so much more - read the whole thing.

(Via the Llamas)

Posted by Bill at November 22, 2004 11:00 AM | TrackBack (3)

Comments

America, F*Yeah!

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at November 22, 2004 11:42 AM

Though I respect their accomplishments, I never bought into the "greatest generation" hoopla. This generation (not mine) is better than any of its predecessors. That is the way of the world - and the way it should be. Their children will be better still. Otherwise, what are we busting our humps for?

Where do we find such people? They are our sons and daughters, and they make us proud every day. We should all remember every day to work to earn their respect as well.

Posted by: ACK! at November 22, 2004 12:10 PM

Thanks to good men like that we civilians are able to go about our business and take our liberty for granted. Thank you to all who serve and to all that support them.

Seen on a t-shirt: "You saw what happened to Saddam. Your candy ass is next!" Uncle Sam pointing a finger at at a cartoon Fascist.

Keep up the good work, and don't be shy about sharing accounts like that one with the rest of the world--the normal news outlets have NONE of it.

Dan Patterson

Posted by: Dan Patterson at November 22, 2004 04:36 PM

Wow, that's incredible. Here I am, stuck in college, prattling around with little numbers and symbols, when I could be out there, really making a difference. My generation will have a legacy now, it is a generation that has war heroes, and has done its duty to keep America free. How I wish I could skip college and join the fight!

Posted by: meystingray at November 22, 2004 05:33 PM

I hope to think I would do the same, but fear that if a grenade I threw in came back, I just stand there goggling.

Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds at November 22, 2004 06:37 PM

You know, Bill, we can't keep meeting like this.

I am deeply appreciative of you posting his letters. Dave is a personal friend of ours and I love his passionate, informative, and urgent letters. They are such a contrast from the media. It is our hope that he considers authoring a book detailing the true account of the war.

His family posts his letters on a site The Green Side.

Posted by: Rae at November 22, 2004 10:49 PM

We can add Fallujah to the halls of Montezuma and shores of Tripoli.

Posted by: exguru at November 25, 2004 02:42 PM

I love the smell of propaganda in the morning...

I haven't proven it yet, but there's no way this letter is legitimate. This dude must work for public affairs over there or something. It's way too hokey. The dude writes like he wants to drum up support for the way - echos the war party line perfectly. No way a dude who's been in combat could or would do that.

It wouldn't be the first time public affairs tried to sucker us with propaganda. Or the second.

Smells like...bullsh*t...

This garbage just puts a pretty picture on everything over there. The troops who are going through serious sh*t don't have fingers to write and type with. They want armored vehicles and appropriate gear and training, not yellow ribbons.

For a real take on the war, check this. I want the truth, not rainbows...

Posted by: shmooth at November 26, 2004 01:57 AM