ING squeak past Raiders 1-0 in soccer challenge
Submitted by: 11th MEU
Story Identification #: 200492415940
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO, Iraq (Sept. 22, 2004) -- The 404th Battalion, 50th Iraqi National Guard Brigade, Desert Dogs squeaked past the Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Raiders 1-0 during a friendly soccer match here at the ING compound, Sept. 22.

"We're trying to get the Iraqi Security Forces in a recreational activity to build camaraderie and team spirit," said Capt. Robert B. Sotire, company commander, Alpha Co., BLT 1/4, 11th MEU (SOC).

A Desert Dogs' forward scored the only goal of the game in the first ten minutes of the match when a shot from the left edge of the penalty box partially deflected off a Raider defender, sending the goalie to the right and the ball to the left and in the net. After that goal, the Raiders' defense tightened up and frustrated the Desert Dogs' further attempts to score.

Lance Cpl. Mark Enrique, the Raiders' first half goalie and a rifleman with 1st Platoon, made several dramatic saves during the first 45-minute half.

The uneven field, pitted with rocks and large dirt mounds, frustrated the Raiders' attempts to control the ball and pass accurately, especially during the first half of the game.

"We took the first half of the game to get acquainted with each other and to get used to the way we each play," said HN Ivan G. Krimker, right forward and corpsman with 5th Platoon. "They had the first half of the game and we had the second."

On the other hand, the Desert Dogs' familiarization with the field, which they built, and their experience playing in a grassless environment allowed them to take control of the ball quite often.

"The ING had a lot of teamwork out the in the field," said Enrique. "They love competition and they fought for each and every ball they got as if it was their last."

Lance Cpl. Anthony Massa, the Raiders' second half goalie and a motor transport operator attached to 3rd Platoon, also made several spectacular saves and further denied the Desert Dogs' many attempts to score.

"Every possession of the ball was very important to them," said Krimker. "If they lost the ball they put forth 110 percent to get it back. They put a lot of effort into every play."
To the ING's dismay, the Raiders determined defense kept the score at 1-0 for the rest of the game.

"The Marines represented the Marine Corps and I think they did really well out there," Sotire said. "The game brought (the ING and Marines) closer together. There were Marines out there cheering for the ING and ING cheering for the Marines, all in all it was a good evolution."

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Photos included with story:

	Gunnery Sgt. Daniel W. Fleming, sweeper and platoon sergeant for 5th Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), watches as an Iraqi National Guard forward heads the ball and Lance Cpl. Aaron J. Doerr, fullback and assaultman with Weapons Platoon, runs forward to assist during a friendly soccer match between the 404th ING Battalion and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Sept. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	HM3 Jonathan Soto, full back with Headquarters Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), dashes forward to prevent a 404th Iraqi National Guard forward from taking a shot on goal during a friendly soccer match between the ING and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Sept. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Marines with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), pose with soldiers of the 404th Iraqi National Guard Battalion after a friendly soccer match between the ING and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Sept. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Corporal James J. Reed, Raiders sweaper and a machine gunner with Weapons Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), blocks a penalty kick as Lance Cpl. Patrick Walton, sweaper and rifleman with 1st Platoon, HM3 Jonathan Soto, full back with Headquarters Platoon, and Cpl. Oscar A. Felix, full back and squadleader with 5th Platoon stand in line with him and HN Cory R. Phillips, full back and 3rd Platoon's corpsman, stands at goal post during a friendly soccer match between the Iraqi National Guard Desert Dogs and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Lance Cpl. Mark Enrique, goalie and fireteam leader with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), prevents an attempt to score by the 404th Iraqi National Guard Battalion during a friendly soccer match between the ING and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Lance Cpl. Patrick Walton, sweeper and rifleman with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), heads the ball from the goal during a friendly soccer match between the 404th ING Battalion and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Lance Cpl. Anthony Massa, the Raiders' second half goalie and a motor transport operator attached to 3rd Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), makes a spectacular save during a friendly soccer match between the 404th ING Battalion and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Gunnery Sgt. Daniel W. Fleming, sweeper and platoon sergeant for 5th Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), tries to prevent a 404th Iraqi National Guard Battalion forward from taking a shot on goal during a friendly soccer match between the ING and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	A Raiders fan raises a sign in the air and cheers for his team during a friendly soccer match between the ING and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

	Lance Cpl. Patrick Walton, sweeper and rifleman with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), takes the ball from a 404th Iraqi National Guard offender during a friendly soccer match between the ING and the Alpha Company Raiders at the ING compound in Forward Operating Base Echo, Iraq, Aug. 22. The ING squeaked by the Raiders with a 1-0 victory. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

ALPHA COMPANY, BATTALION LANDING TEAM 1/4

11^TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT(SOC)

-- We arrived at Camp Echo, Diwaniyah on the 17th of July after a convoy that seemed like it was never going to end (27 hours). Upon our arrival GySgt Synovec and Sgt Phipps, who had driven up a few days prior as our advance party, greeted us. GySgt Synovec, doing what Gunnery Sergeants do, had arranged for Company “A” to move into a very nice place, now known as “Camp Raider”. The end of July saw the company assume command of the guard force at Camp Echo as well as begin training the Iraqi National Guard Battalion located just outside our camp. Things would change very rapidly for us almost as soon as the turn over of authority from the Army was concluded.

On the fourth of August Company “A” received an urgent call form our Battalion Commander, LtCol Mayer to immediately leave Diwaniyah and head to Najaf, 60 miles to our west. Ninety minutes later with little more than the clothes on our backs and our necessary combat gear we were in route to the uncertain situation in Najaf. Unknown to most of us was that we were heading directly into a hornets nest of enemy activity that had flared up earlier in the day. Outside of the city we paused so Capt Sotire could communicate with higher and receive our mission and an update on the situation. We were told that essentially combat had broken out across the city with the Mahdi Militia and that we were attack to destroy the militia in a portion of the Najaf Cemetery that had never been entered by Coalition troops. It was believed that the entire cemetery was fortified and defended by members of the militia

The An Najaf Cemetary location of the first sustained combat for Company “A”

Upon receiving our orders we re-embarked our vehicles and headed towards the fighting, we could see fires burning and hear explosions in the distance. As we approached the cemetery our convoy was ambushed by militia-men, LCpl Medina- Pedrazolli was the first to spot the attackers and immediately engaged them, firing the first rounds of the battle from his machine gun. We arrived at our destination shortly after the ambush having suffered no friendly casualties. The battle for the cemetery was long and hard. We spent the next two and half days fighting and suffered only one casualty, a broken ankle. The fighting in the cemetery was as intense as anything that had been seen during the actual war in Iraq. By the 6th of August Company “A” had been pulled out of the cemetery, having cleared 1200 meters of tombs, mausoleums and crypts of enemy. The rest of the month would follow the same pattern; we would receive a mission and in have to very quickly execute it. We conducted numerous raids and patrols. Including a raid on an enemy occupied Iraqi Police station the lead to 29 prisoners being captured. The final assault on the “Old City” that surrounded the Imam Ali Mosque began on the 24th of August. Late that night Company “A” was again called upon to execute an attack this time it was to go in to the Old City, and ultimately to advance all the way to the walls of the shrine.

The attack into the Old City witnessed great acts of heroism and selflessness as well as the ultimate sacrifice from two of our Marines. The battle for the Old City was as tough as any battle that has been fought in the history of our Corps and the Marines of Company “A’ should be proud of their performance. The attack commenced with an assault on several buildings that were to serve as observation posts on the Imam Ali Shrine as well as to increase pressure on the militia to abandon their posts and surrender their weapons. As the attack continued and several buildings were seized our casualties began to accumulate, after the first nights fighting six Marines were wounded, one seriously. On the first full day of fighting Company “A” suffered its greatest loss of two of our finest Marines in the deaths of LCpl Alexander Arredondo and PFC Nick Skinner. These Marines died heroically and in an effort to defend their fellow Marines. We will forever be grateful for their sacrifice and we will never forget them or their legacy. On the 27th of August with Marines and Soldiers surrounding the shrine and his militia suffering heavy losses, it was announced that Muqtada Al Sadr had agreed to disband his militia and lay down their arms. Later that day we were ordered to establish a checkpoint near the shrine and we were able to watch the final turnover as Iraqi police and Iraqi National Guard rushed in to the Old City to reclaim the shrine for the people of Iraq. The battle for the Old City and the rest of the fighting in Najaf will go down in the history of our Marine Corps as some of the toughest urban combat Marines have ever seen.

The Marines of Company “A” acquitted themselves well throughout the battle. Never losing their nerve despite being under constant attack by snipers, rocket propelled grenades and the ever-present mortar fire. Many awards are currently pending for Marines for superior performance and heroism in the face of the enemy. All the Marines of Company “A” deserve recognition and they all deserve to be treated as heroes. As combat in Najaf concluded Company “A” returned to Diwaniyah to continue our mission of training the Iraqi National Guard. On the 4th of September we held a field memorial service to honor our fallen brothers and remember and praise their lives. The six best friends of the Marines were chosen to serve as the honor guard as well as speak about their lives. The ceremony was a touching tribute to those brave Marines who sacrificed everything for their fellow Marines. We are currently returning to normal life here in Diwaniyah and returning to our routine at Forward Operating Base Echo. The Marines of Company “A” would like to send out their heartfelt condolences to the families of LCpl Alexander Arredondo and PFC Nick Skinner. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. You can rest assured that the memories of your beloved sons will forever remain in our hearts. God Bless.

~*

Mailing address:

Rank, Last Name, First Name MI, USMC
¼ Alpha Company
UIC 40255
FPO AP 96610-0255

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