Echo Co. recounts tragic battle

North County Times ^ | April 26, 2004 | Darrin Mortenson

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FALLUJAH, Iraq ---- Two Marines were killed and at least 13 more wounded in Fallujah on Monday in a bloody street battle fought close enough that the combatants tossed grenades and fired pistols at each other, officials said.

"It was total chaos," said Navy Corpsman Jason Duty, 20, of New Concord, Ohio, one of the medics who pulled wounded men out of buildings and streets during the worst of the fighting. "It was just gunshots everywhere."

The midday fighting quickly escalated from an isolated ambush into a full-scale battle in which Marine Cobra helicopters raked a mostly abandoned Fallujah neighborhood with missile and machine-gun fire and a tank brought the towering minaret of a prominent mosque crashing to the ground.

The battle began as several recent battles have: after Marines left their lines to move deeper into the city.

According to 1st Sgt. Bill Skiles, the senior noncommissioned officer of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, a platoon of about 40 Marines advanced about 200 yards beyond their lines before dawn Monday to clear buildings of snipers.

After the troops sneaked into their positions, the insurgents surrounded them on three sides, Skiles said, and opened fire on the houses in which the Marines were hiding, getting close enough to toss grenades through the windows.

He said the Marines were also pinned down by rebel snipers shooting from several buildings, including a nearby mosque that was later demolished by tank fire.

"They waited a few hours after we went in and then they attacked," said a stunned and angry Skiles several hours after the fighting Monday, staring off and shaking his head slowly from side to side as he repeated his words: "They waited, and then they attacked."

Duty and Skiles said most of the Marines killed or wounded Monday were hit with shrapnel from grenades tossed by rebels into open windows. At least two of the Marines were also shot, said Duty, whose boots were black with the blood of his comrades as he recounted the fight.

Duty said he had to fire his pistol at gunmen just to get into the building where Marines lay bleeding, still fighting off insurgents, some of whom were only 10 yards away.

"I walk into a place like that ---- everyone's down ---- and you just don't know where to start," he said. "You just have to calm down and think, and then it all comes to you."

Skiles said Duty saved several of the Marines, and worked to save a fatally wounded Marine by continuing CPR in the back of a Humvee as it sped through enemy fire over a jarring ride to a field hospital.

Marines cited the bravery of a lance corporal who was wounded in a rebel mortar attack nearly two weeks ago in which two other Echo Company Marines were killed, and was wounded again by shrapnel in Monday's fighting.

In both incidents, they said, he ignored his own wounds to help other wounded Marines. In Monday's battle, he fought off insurgents and ran back to the Marines' lines even while wounded in three places.

Skiles said the day brought the number of Marines wounded to 40 in the 140-man infantry company since they arrived in Fallujah in March. Four have been killed.

"The Marines fought bravely," Skiles said. "It's tragic when we lose another of our own because we're like a family here. I'm just a 1st sergeant who cares about my boys."

In a televised briefing a few hours after the fighting, U.S. military officials in Baghdad justified the Marines' move beyond their lines and denied that they had breached the so-called cease-fire in Fallujah.

The Marines have "an inherent right to self-defense," which includes the right to move further into the city to take out snipers, said Coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt.

"When fired upon, they will respond," Kimmitt said. "They have a responsibility to respond to save their fellow Marines from getting killed by insurgents."

Skiles said the politicians and military planners should let the Marines take the town.

After saying that during the cease-fire his men have been "shot at, sniped, and mortared" every day, Skiles said the only solution was to "terminate them (the rebels)."

"Let us finish it," he said, adding that the peace talks and cease-fire are only giving the insurgents time to get stronger.

"The insurgents are absolutely not going to learn any other way," he said. "It's all they understand. We're ready for a fight. And when we're comin', we're comin hard."

Staff writer Darrin Mortenson and staff photographer Hayne Palmour are reporting from Iraq, where they are with Camp Pendleton Marines. Their coverage is collected at www.nctimes.com/military/iraq.

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Lance Cpl. Jonathan Quintero, 19, of Tulare, Calif., a member of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, keeps watch while on post in Fallujah, Iraq, on Thursday. (This photo is a few days old, I believe a current photo would show that the mosque is shy one minarette.) Photo by M. Scott Mahaskey.

An AC-130 Spector Gunship destroys a building early Tuesday where Marines of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, fought insurgents on Monday in northwest Fallujah, Iraq. Photo by Hayne Palmour IV.

Photo by Oleg Popov

U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Dwayne Farr from Detroit Michigan plays 'America the Beautiful' on the bagpipes for fellow Marines in Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites) Monday, April 26, 2004. Farr brought the Scottish wind instrument on deployment to Iraq to bolster the morale of his troops from the 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, currently in Fallujah. Photo by John Moore.

Two US marines sit on a armoured amphibious vehicle as they arrive at the military base of Camp Fallujah. Photo by Nicolas Asfouri.

US marines armored amphibious vehicles carrying marines arrive at the military base of Camp Fallujah. Photo by Nicolas Asfouri.

Pfc. Todd Tviede from Huntington Beach, CA, center, and other members of the 1st Battalion 5th Marines relax at their camp in Fallujah. Photo by John Moore.

U.S. Marine Pfc. Brandon Grove from Folsom, CA. provides security so that medics could medivac an injured Marine near the entrance to Fallujah. Photo by John Moore.

[Prince Charles]

Skiles said the day brought the number of Marines wounded to 40 in the 140-man infantry company since they arrived in Fallujah in March. Four have been killed.

Yeah, but we're fixin' to win the renegades' hearts and minds.

< /sarcasm>

[Travis McGee]

Just DAMN! Look at how these laid back California surfer dudes fight!

I love the line about "I believe that mosque is shy one minarette."

[vbmoneyspender]

Skiles said the politicians and military planners should let the Marines take the town.

After saying that during the cease-fire his men have been "shot at, sniped, and mortared" every day, Skiles said the only solution was to "terminate them (the rebels)."

"Let us finish it," he said, adding that the peace talks and cease-fire are only giving the insurgents time to get stronger.

This is just incredible. Stop the attempts at diplomacy and in, the words of Sgt. Skiles, "Finish it!"

[Travis McGee]

Oh, and Major Props, a tip o the cover, and a Hand Salute to Darrin Mortenson
of the North County Times, the BEST DAMN WAR CORRESPONDANT in Iraq!

[vbmoneyspender]

Travis, what do you make of what Sgt. Skiles is saying in the quotes that I highlighted in post 4.

[archy]

Oh, and Major Props, a tip o the cover, and a Hand Salute to Darrin Mortenson of the North County Times, the BEST DAMN WAR CORRESPONDANT in Iraq!

That's a bit of a stretch. But this is his second time in the sandbox, he covered the Navy's grief over the target range at Vieques, and he not surprisingl;y is very familiar with the Camp Pendleton Marines he's covering.

Yep. he's probably in the top ten, and certainly an up-and-comer. But *best* is some mighty big boots to fill around Marines.

[Sauce]

That last picture says it all.

[Squantos]

Surfer dudes ain't fraid of nothing !

Stay safe !

[river rat]

Let me assure you, if this is still the Corps I believe it to be --- the assault will be a "red flag" affair...

No quarter asked, and none given...
Lots of Jihadists will achieve their ultimate desire....

NO CAMERAS on the assault....

Semper Fi

[Travis McGee]

Shoot all the men who don't come out with their hands up.

[Travis McGee]

At least he's up where he can hear the snap, he knows which end the round comes out, and he's pro-Marine. All three of them are rare today in a reporter.

[Travis McGee]

Yep, no quarter.

[Travis McGee]

That could get your attention. I think it's a dolphin, but I could be wrong. Flukes look more horizontal than vertical, and they just don't look sharky. But they do get sharks, including Makos and Great Whites, right offshore in SoCal.

[sgt.k-bar]

Yep, this IS the same Corps as the Old Corps-only problem is the politicians getting involved! Let these brave Marines do their jobs! U.S. Marines are trained killers,not
policemen! Gen. Kimmit needs to take care of the Army-let Gen. Mattis call the shots! He says this so called ceasefire is B.S.! It's time now to eliminate the insurgents-No Quarter! Anyone with a weapon should be killed! No more Americans should be placed in this position. It's time to bomb these bad guys and then let the Marines mop them up!

Semper Fi~

[sgt.k-bar]

I am in complete agreement with Sgt. Skiles-let the Marines do their job! No time to be PC, that only applied before the war. This is full fledged war and everyone needs to realize this! These young brave Marine heroes need our support and our prayers too! Let the politicians know that GrassRoot America means business! Let Gen. Mattis call the shots and then these insurgents will be eliminated! It's time to call in air strikes and then send in the Marines! Let's not place anymore American troops lives in more danger. It is now time to completely eliminate these bad guys!

Semper Fi~

[sgt.k-bar]

I am in complete agreement with Sgt. Skiles-let the Marines do their job! No time to be PC, that only applied before the war. This is full fledged war and everyone needs to realize this! These young brave Marine heroes need our support and our prayers too! Let the politicians know that GrassRoot America means business! Let Gen. Mattis call the shots and then these insurgents will be eliminated! It's time to call in air strikes and then send in the Marines! Let's not place anymore American troops lives in more danger. It is now time to completely eliminate these bad guys!

Semper Fi~

[vbmoneyspender]

Here's the story on that picture -- it was a dolphin. See Link. BTW, if you surf, check out my home page -- nice overhead day at El Porto.

[Travis McGee]

Sweet! That's a way overhead glassy day! I live 2 miles from the beach, but I'm sorry to say I haven't been in since last fall.

[vbmoneyspender]

You haven't missed much -- not too much swell this winter.