Now Alpha Company is ready for home

The Times ^ | April 15, 2003 | Stephen Farrell

[MadIvan]

THEY were there at the beginning, and they were there at the end. The men sitting in the centre of Tikrit, the final Iraqi stronghold to fall to US forces, claim that, as the spearhead of the 1st Marine Division, their unit was first into Iraq and the first to fire a shot in the ground war.

“This company, this platoon was the first to engage the enemy in the whole war, on the night of March 18 before the ground forces rolled in,” said Steven Mazzuchelli, 24, of Alpha Company, 3rd Light Armoured Reconnaissance.

“And that man over there is the one you should be talking to, he fired the first shot in the ground war, man.”

Silhouetted against the Tikrit skyline was Corporal Matthew Bywater, 21, from Yucca Valley, California, sitting atop his Marine Light Armoured Vehicle.

Corporal Bywater confirmed that he opened up with the vehicle’s 25mm gun two days before the war began, on March 18 at 4pm on the northern berm between Kuwait and Iraq, in the neutral zone.

“There was an enemy border post. We spotted movement, we got the order to fire and we got to take it out,” he said. “Luck of the draw, just fate, but probably one of the most important things I will have to talk about for the rest of my life.

Other units will no doubt claim the same honour, and US Central Command in Qatar last night said it would not disclose such information.

For Alpha Company there were only two regrets, that they missed the big one — Baghdad — and that the Iraqis did not resist more.

“We weren’t allowed into Baghdad, the streets were too tight for our vehicles,” Mazzuchelli said. Looking around, and realising there were no more cities to invade, he added: “I’m just ready to go home. It’s time on the clock now.”

[MadIvan]

A salute to the brave men and women who made this operation a success.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

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[Carolina]

Silhouetted against the Tikrit skyline was Corporal Matthew Bywater, 21, from Yucca Valley, California, sitting atop his Marine Light Armoured Vehicle.

So can we call him an Alpha male?

[Dog]

We can call him an American hero!

[Happygal]

Brave boys. God bless them all.

[Grampa Dave]

These young US Marines are incredible: For Alpha Company there were only two regrets, that they missed the big one — Baghdad — and that the Iraqis did not resist more.

[patricia]

bttt

[Travis McGee]

BIG TIME!!!

I hope these guys get a nice slow easy trip home, and are not just dropped off. Some of them will have a tough time adjusting to dealing with life's little problems the peaceful way.

[river rat]

Amen..

It will take months to get out of the mode of greeting every unexpected sound with.....

"What the fu*k was that?"

NCOs/Officers will slap their leg, looking for a piece - everytime they hear unexpected noise....

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Those that lost brothers...will forever see his face at times of joy and times of sadness.., and forever question themselves if there was anything they could have done to prevent his death...

Their women and familes should not be startled to see the tears that will come more easily -- at the most unexpected times and circumstances...
These men will carry a pain and a bloodless wound that will never fully heal...

Semper Fi

[Dutchy]

A Semper Fi and job well done to Alpha Co.,!!!