Posted on 04/24/2005 8:47:15 PM PDT by topher
Michelle Malkin:
Cassandra has a moving tribute.
Then from Villainous Company:
Hearts of Fire
From atop his lookout post on the Iraqi-Syria border that day, Corporal Joshua Butler must have wondered briefly if he'd been transported to Hell.
A white dump truck came careening towards him, bursting through a raft of wired-together abandoned vehicles. But that was only the beginning of what most people would call a bad day:
[Continued from: Military.Com]
Butler, 21 and an Altoona, Pa., native, fired through the windshield of the first suicide bomber as he rammed a white dump truck through a barrier of abandoned vehicles the Marines had improvised. Barreling toward the camp's wall, the truck veered off at the last moment under volleys of Butler's gunfire."I shot 20 or 30 rounds before he detonated," he says.Knocked down by that blast, with bricks and sandbags collapsing on top of him, Butler struggled to his feet only to hear a large diesel engine roar amid the clatter of gunfire. It was a red fire engine, carrying a second suicide bomber and passenger. Butler says both were wearing black turbans and robes, often worn by religious martyrs.
... Amid the chaos of that first bomb blast, supported by gunfire from an estimated 30 dismounted insurgents, the fire engine passed largely undetected on a small road that leads from town directly past the camp wall, according a Marine report.
(Excerpt) Read more at villainouscompany.com ...
Basically, a three-pronged attack from Syria was launched against a Marine Base just inside the Iraq border with Syria.
Could Syria be aiding the terrorists who attacked India Company.
Why is there no outcry against Syria?
Basically, the terrorists had literally hundreds of pounds of explosives to put in a white dump truck, a fire-engine, and finally a third vehicle.
The Terrorists took over 35+ casualties from the attack, so the force attacking could have been close to 50 terrorists -- as there was at least four terroists in three vehicles.
The blog article is the best collection of facts, but this info needs to make it to the media.
More importantly, the question needs to be raised as to the aid the Syrian Government is giving such terrorists -- as the attack came from Syria of at least 40 or more terrorists.
Ping -- concern about Syria aiding the terrorists/insurgents...
Awsome account of awsome warriors.
There is also a reference to another web site that this action takes what Clint Eastwood said in the movie Heartbreak Ridge and acts on it.
"You adapt and overcome".
Also, there is a reference to another website that in 1999, General Krulak observed that the "strategic Corporal" would be crucial to the future of the Marine Corps:
In many cases, the individual Marine will be the most conspicuous symbol of American foreign policy and will potentially influence not only the immediate tactical situation, but the operational and strategic levels as well. His actions, therefore, will directly impact the outcome of the larger operation; and he will become, as the title of this article suggests -- the Strategic Corporal.
Not only reading the original blog article, but following up on these links are well worth it...
May I suggest that the future is now.
Nam Vet
" "Butler — that day, that Marine — that's the critical error the insurgents made," Capt. Frank Diorio says. "They thought they could keep the Marines' heads down. But he gets back up."
We stand smartly at attention and salute these Marines. Now as more and more Iraqi Army are trained by our Marines and Army Special Forces units, things will rub off. I sense over time the new Iraqi Army will take on many of the attributes of our guys and will win back their country.
As for who did tha attack. It is so close to the Syrian border it could be assumed that a some where able to embed, but do realize, we have a number of Marine Battalions stationed in the north/western desert from Al Qa'im westward to the airfield at H3 some fifty miles south of Syria, forty miles east of the Jordanian boarder. The Marines units such as the 2nd LAR (light armored recon Bn) patrol 24/7 with the aid of aircover. All the towns in the northwestern desert can expect visits from them on a weekly or so basis. Our Intel continues to improve. So it is almost natural that this type attacked took place. The foreign terrorist/insurgents are getting rather desperate at this point in my opinion. We continue to kill em, and capture em, and find their weapon caches.
If only stories such as these were in the MSM there just might be more people in this country giving thanks for our brave soldiers.
I have great admiration for those who served in Nam as well as those serving now. God bless who also served in the past!
I hope you are right that Syria does not want any trouble.
I just don't want our troops in danger because the Syrian Government is deliberating aiding these terrorists
They may not be, but even if it is that the terrorists are using Syrian territory to prepare these attacks, Syria must do everything to prevent the illegal use of their soveign space as a place to attack US Troops from.
My point is not to put US Troops lives in danger because Syria is stupid enough to support these terrorists.
I agree.
Our guys did the right thing,
they made the enemy die for his cause, in great numbers!
What a great story of bravery, superb instincts and gutsy resolve.
From the article, there were 21 dead and 15 wounded, not counting drivers/passengers of the 3 vehicles.
But my concern is that our troops may be put in harm's way by Syria. Are there safe-havens in Iraq for the terrorists to sit back quietly and order 3 inch bullet proof glass for the fire truck before coordinating an attack? Let's not put our troops in vulnerable positions if possible. Our Marines did their job, now let our state department and other services do theirs.
Who could have provided bullet-proof glass for the firetruck and how was it imported to the terrorists.
I can believe the terrorists could find such a place in Syria, but not Iraq -- based on the fact that the terrorists could equip a firetruck with 3 inch bullet proof glass.
It is now apparent that the best play is not up the middle.
Ping.
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