Reunion revives Marines' memories of Fallujah fight

CAMP PENDLETON – It was the first time the four had all been together again since that day in Fallujah, Iraq, nearly 2½ years ago – the day they stepped into a “meat grinder” now known in Marine Corps lore as the “House of Hell.”

For their actions and courage that day, Nov. 13, 2004, Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal and former Sgt. Robert “R.J.” Mitchell would later receive the Navy Cross, the military's second-highest medal of valor.

“My part was I went in the house, got shot first, came out of the house, told Kasal and everybody else what went down in the house,” said Staff Sgt. Chris Pruitt, shot in the wrist and leg.

“I ran in there and I got behind the first sergeant and he shot somebody and said, 'That was a close one, Nicoll,' ” said then-Pfc. Alexander Nicoll, who was rescued by Kasal and Mitchell. “That's when we all got shot. I got shot six times in the leg and once in the chest.”

All three were eventually evacuated from the house. A photograph of a bloody Kasal being helped from the house by two Marines is one of the more lasting images of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Kasal spoke to hundreds of Marines and later signed copies of his new book, “My Men Are My Heroes – The Brad Kasal Story,” which was released earlier this week.

My Men Are My Heroes: The Brad Kasal Story, by Brad Kasal as told to Nathaniel R. Helms

Des Moines, IA: Meredith Books. Pp. 286. Illus., map, table, glossary. $24.95. ISBN:0-696-23236-7.

http://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/318.asp

One of the iconic images of the Battle of Fallujah in November, 2004, was that of a Marine being assisted as he left a house, still holding a nine-millimeter pistol in his right hand. The story behind this picture is an amazing tale of heroism under fire, on par with past Marine heroes like Hector Cafferata during the Korean War or Jacklyn H. Lucas during World War II. The Marine in that photo was First Sergeant Brad Kasal (since promoted to Sergeant Major), who received the Navy Cross for his actions.

My Men Are My Heroes tells the story behind the photo, and starts at the beginning. Kasal’s story is told – including growing up in Afton, Iowa. Kasal doesn’t go into many details about boot camp. When it comes to his career in the Marine Corps, the book tells much more, and even provides details of how Kasal started out as a Dragon gunner, his experience in Desert Storm, and the details of his stint as a recruiter in the 1990s (during which he earned two medals).

Kasal’s book detours slightly to discuss an incident involving a terrorist attacks on Marines training in Kuwait. Then, it turns to discussing his participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the fighting in An Nasariyah. Kasal’s return to Iraq in 2004 is then discussed, and he sets the stage for the Battle of Fallujah.

The Battle of Fallujah, including Kasal’s heroic actions, is described in detail over several chapters. One gets the sense of just what the street fighting in Fallujah was like. One of the more notable details in this account is the discovery of stuff that Chechens were known to wear. Finally, the events of November 13, 2004, are discussed. Kasal’s account of what he did that day is modest – almost in keeping with the title of this book.

That said, the reviewer must, with all due respect, disagree with Sergeant Major Kasal. Yes, the Marines who ultimately helped evacuate him and the other wounded Marines were heroes, but Sergeant Major Kasal is a hero, too. Based on this book, his conduct was in line with countless acts of heroism in the annals of the Marine Corps. Sergeant Major Kasal deserves every accolade he receives and more.

Kasal himself mentions the media coverage of the war. The reviewer cannot echo his sentiments more strongly. What is most appalling is that this is a story that many outlets of the mainstream media could have run, but didn’t – often preferring to focus on flimsy allegations of torture at Guantanamo Bay, the misbehavior of a small number of MPs at Abu Ghraib, or other negative aspects, including “milestone” casualties (the media held a watch for the 3,000th casualty). It is even worse when reports that an embedded reporter’s account was heavily re-written by editors because it made American troops appear too heroic. There seems to be a pattern of ignoring the heroes that pervades the mainstream media in favor of death and disaster – and reports of the latter may be greatly exaggerated.

Ultimately, My Men Are My Heroes is a book well worth reading. It shows that the American military still has heroes – ones that are as worthy as those who fought in the wars of the past. It is also a fine read, and should be in the library of anyone who wants to see a view of Fallujah from one of those who fought there.

Reviewer: Harold C. Hutchison

Have you seen this ?

Injured Marine Settles Into New Job...

A year ago, doctors told an Iowa Marine who was injured in Iraq that he might never walk again.

Now, he’s back on the job.

Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal’s road to recovery has been agonizing at times , he said .

A year and a half ago, he had pins in his shattered leg.

He’s now working with Iowa recruits, running and dreaming of a return trip to the Middle East.

Marines rarely relish office jobs. For Kasal, it’s progress.

“I wouldn’t wish the last year and a half on anyone. The recovery process — there’s nothing I can really say, it was just brutal — emotionally, mentally, physically,” Kasal said.

The native of Afton, Iowa, was shot seven times and shielded another Marine from a grenade. His leg was shattered while he protected others.

“I still have good days and bad days,” he said.

Kasal has since been promoted, honored by Iowa lawmakers and awarded the prestigious Navy Cross.

He said he’s also proud of walking down the hall at his new job in a Des Moines recruiting station.

At one point, doctors wanted to amputate his leg.

http://www.kcci.com/news/9418934/detail.html

Do yourself a BIG favor

WE WERE ONE by Patrick K. O’Donnell

A riveting first-hand account of the fierce battle for Fallujah and the Marines who fought there — a story of brotherhood and sacrifice in a platoon of Heroes

http://www.wewereone.com/

The platoon included four sets of best friends. Each of the four would lose a best friend forever.

Five months after being deployed to Iraq, Lima Company’s 1st Platoon found itself in Fallujah, embroiled in some of the most intense house-to-house, hand-to-hand combat since World War II. Civilians were used as human shields or as bait to lure soldiers into buildings rigged with explosives; suicide bombers approached from every corner hoping to die and take Americans with them; radical insurgents, high on adrenaline, fought to the death.

The Marines of the 1st Platoon (part of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment) were among the first to fight in Fallujah, and they bore the brunt of this epic battle. When it was over, the platoon had suffered thirty-five casualties, including four dead.

This is their story.

Award-winning author and historian Patrick O’Donnell stood shoulder-to-shoulder with this modern band of brothers as they marched and fought through the streets of Fallujah, and he stayed with them as the casualties mounted. O’Donnell captures not only the sights, sounds, and smells of the gritty street combat, but also the human drama of young men in a close-knit platoon fighting for their their lives—and the lives of their buddies.

We Were One chronicles the 1st Platoon’s story, from its formation at Camp Pendleton in California to its near destruction in the smoldering ruins of Fallujah.

We Were One is an unforgettable portrait of the new “Greatest Generation.”

I had a lump in the throat while walking amoung returning Marines from Iraq, talking with them, shaking their hands, patiently listening to the commodation awards some received, in short meeting PFC grunts through majors. Made me feel like twenty again.
And just about every day I remember to thank almight God for allowing my nephew to return safe and sound of body and mind after two deploys.
Sort of humbling to admit. Like many others here, I have had a personal stake in this GWOT. I have two family members that both have two tours in Iraq under their belts. They and all their Soldier and Marine cohorts are sharp as razors, as General Patton may have expressed. And I surely have sensed through contact with many of them during visits to their bases, so many of them simply are honor bound. It enough to make a tear slip out of my eye.

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