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Operation Spartan.
January 7th 2007, 0400 hours, I was boarding a UH-60 Black Hawk at the flight line at LSA Anaconda Iraq with 11
other soldiers. We were the Aerial QRF (Quick Reaction Force) for 2 other squads in my company that was conducting
a raid on the Jabouri Peninnsula. At 0430 hours we lifted off and our job was to fly around until needed.. if needed
at all. We were all thinking this was just gonna be a boring mission where all we do is fly around, but that came to
a complete turn around after 15 minutes in the air. We recieved a call that 3 squirters (runners) were spotted and we
needed to capture them. The birds landed us in the designated LZ (Landing Zone). We exited the birds with a 2 step drop
awaited while they took off.
Once the birds were gone and all the debree had cleared, we got accountability of everyone that was part of our QRF. We
picked up and began sweeping the woodline for the squirters. We found nothing and began searching the nearest houses. BINGO,
we found all three individuals inside the house, in the bed sweating with their shoes still on, pretending to be sleeping.
We detained all three of them aswell as 5 other males that came from the houses close by.
Once we secured any weapons, cash, or IED materials we got the word to move north about 500 meters to the house designated
as the mission rally point. Then we split up into small teams to have security on the ground with the detainee's aswell as
the roof top. During our security halt.. we found grenades, rpg's, ammo belts, and rifles at the rally point.
"CRACK" "CRACK"
We recieved 2 shots from the south east but we could not identify a specific location. Then a loud explosion and small arms
fire could be heard from the north east because our 3rd platoon came into contact at H5 (Hotel 5). After about an hour of
searching the local houses for more weapons cache's the company commander finally decided it was time to exfil (leave). All
security elements were called down and were prepared to move out. We handed the detainee's over to the local Iraqi Army and
they left the area like a bat out of hell. I then got a bad feeling that something was about to go down. Since our squad
was the QRF we were in the lead.
There was a canal to our left and a small dirt road leading out to the north and spidering trails to the east, everything
else was houses surrounded by mass vegetation. The only way we could get out was by foot or by birds. The birds for some odd
reason could not come to get us.. so one foot in front of the other we were walking.
On the way out pulling tight security, I counted 3 small boats that were not on the canal ealier. As I counted the 3rd boat
small arms fire opened up on us as we were crossing the mouth of a road leading to the east. 4 other soldiers and myself had
no where to go except over a small bank to get cover and return fire. We had been ambushed! The rounds from the enemy were
impacting the dirt literally 12 inches from my face. My adrenaline was through the roof and my vision had narrowed to that
small road leading east, searching for the enemy as we returned fire to keep them from shooting at us, but the bullets kept
coming.
Finally able to suppress the enemy a few seconds to get out of the area we were pinned down at, we rushed to the wall just
north of the road. We needed to get a strong hold to engage effective fire at the enemy and kill them. I kicked open the door
to the house just behind the wall. As we were moving to the house we heard "MAN DOWN, MAN DOWN". With precision we cleared
the house and moved every person into one room only to be told to move back across the road. So we exited the building while
rounds were still coming from the enemy. We rushed back to the house just south of the road where the other 2 and half squads
had secured and were engaging the enemy.
I ran into the first house and immediatly in the hallway was the medic and company commander working on our wounded soldier.
All I heard was "Aaaahh, Huuuuuu" as the soldier lay there bleeding. I was told to move to the next building because I didn't
need to see that. I ran to the next building and took up a fighting position on the second story outside wall. Machine guns,
grenades, and rifle fire were blazing down the enemy, "the mad minute". The enemy was catching all of hell's fury from us, even
the cows in the back yard were getting some. 25 enemies later, we got the green light to pick up and move out again. 4 men were
carrying our wounded as we used speed and vigilance during the exfil for the second time. 800 meters is a long way when you have
enemy fire coming your way but we had killed them and were on high alert until we were able to make it to the highway. Once
we made it to the highway, a sigh of relief came from all of us as we seen our Bradley Fighting vehicles there awaiting our
arrival.
I was wanting to make it back to eat a hot meal for lunch.. so much for that.
And that is a true story! |
