Posted on 11/06/2004 11:28:50 AM PST by Former Military Chick
The number of dead and wounded from the expected battle to retake insurgent-controlled Fallujah probably will reach levels not seen since Vietnam, a senior surgeon at the Marine camp outside Fallujah said Thursday.
Navy Cmdr. Lach Noyes said the hospital here is preparing to handle 25 severely injured soldiers a day, not counting walking wounded and the dead. The hospital has added two operating rooms, doubled its supplies, added a mortuary and stocked up on blood reserves. Doctors have set up a system of ambulance vehicles that will rush to the camp's gate to receive the dead and wounded so units can return to battle quickly.
The plans underscore the ferocity of the fight the U.S. military expects in Fallujah, a Sunni Muslim city about 35 miles west of Baghdad which has been under insurgent control since April. More than 1,120 U.S. soldiers and Marines have died in Iraq since the war began, more than 860 of those from hostile fire.
The deadliest month was April when fierce fighting killed 126 U.S. troops largely at Fallujah and Ramadi before a cease-fire virtually turned Fallujah over to the insurgents. Even then, the death toll was far below the worst month of Vietnam, April 1969, when the U.S. death toll was 543 at the height of American involvement there.
U.S. forces have been building up outside Fallujah for weeks in preparation for taking the city back, and many here believe the assault is likely to come soon.
Military officials say they expect U.S. troops will encounter not just fighters wielding AK-47s assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, but also heavy concentrations of mines, roadside bombs and possibly car bombs.
"We'll probably just see those in a lot better concentration in the city," said Maj. Jim West, an intelligence officer with 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
West said he thinks there are some 4,000 to 5,000 fighters between Fallujah and nearby Ramadi, and they may try to draw troops into cramped urban areas in Fallujah that have been booby-trapped.
The toll in human suffering has already been grave.
Staff Sgt. Jason Benedict was on a convoy heading to the Fallujah camp last Saturday when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into the truck Benedict and his platoon mates were traveling on. A few minutes later, mortars and rifle fire rained down on the survivors. As he rolled toward the safety of a ditch, Benedict saw one of his friends crawling on all fours, with blood pouring from his face.
"You've got to expect casualties," said Benedict, 28. The fight for Fallujah, he said, "is overdue."
Eight Marines were killed in the bombing. Benedict is now recuperating in the field hospital with burns to his left hand and the side of his head.
In the six weeks Noyes has worked at the Fallujah camp, his team has operated on Marines with eyes gouged by shrapnel and limbs torn by explosion. A rocket strike outside the hospital killed two staff members and left deep pockmarks across the white concrete walls.
Noyes said some bodies have been so badly mangled that they had to be shipped home for DNA identification.
As Noyes was speaking Thursday, two Marines and a female American photojournalist were rushed into the hospital. A roadside bomb had hit their vehicle. The Marines had shrapnel cuts and burns, and the photographer's teeth had been pushed back into her mouth. The bomb was attached to a tank of gasoline, meant to create a fireball that didn't ignite.
Capt. Melissa Kaime, another Navy surgeon at the hospital, said that seeing trauma wounds in medical school is one thing; seeing them come off the battlefield is something altogether different.
"To treat a patient when (his) brain is coming out... ," she said, before her voice trailed off. "There are things that I will never understand. It's beyond my comprehension; a higher power will have to explain why these things have happened."
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.
Copyright 2004 Biloxi Sun Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
No arguments here.
mc
Roadside bombs injuries are not combat injuries.
The Marines are going to kick ass in combat as they do every single time.
This Doctor and this reporter are being irresponsible with this stuff.
On the other hand simply remotely leveling the area a block at a time makes a lot of sense to me if it keeps our Troops safer.
Actually the B-1 Carries more ordinance than the B-52...
JJ - God's Speed and to Andy his dad a retired paratrooper from the 82d. He was my Ops NCO in Japan. Jumpmaster's lead the way - and from the Army - Go USMC Combined Arms Team! God Bless all our troops, contractors and support - even the State Dept weenies like myself!
"Just level the city with B-52's then you will have 0 Marines killed or injured..."
I think they may well do exactly that. The US was urging civilians to leave Fallujah, so the only ones left inside are the terrorists. Drop a few Daisy Cutters.
Let's see a lot of TERRORIST casualties.
I think that is what's most likely to happen.
Low radar cross-section to make detection considerably more difficult.
Ability to fly lower and faster while carrying a larger payload.
Advanced electronic countermeasures to enhance survivability.
Source B1-B
Rolling thunder. Just walk lines of bombs and arty across the city at a walking pace. Rubble-ize it. It will be cheaper in the long run.
Build housing for the survivors elsewhere.
US Marines of the 1st Division dressed as gladiators stage a chariot race reminiscent of the Charlton Heston movie-complete with confiscated Iraqi horses at their base outside Fallujah, Iraq Saturday, Nov. 6 , 2004.
For U.S. Marines tapped to lead an expected attack on insurgent-held Fallujah, the bags have been packed, trucks have been loaded and final letters have been sent, leaving one final task - the 'Ben-Hur.'
Leveling the city is what I would do as well. Since when is financial expedience more important than the lives of our soldiers. MOAB time.
The PC MUST end...someday...oh well we can always pray. Our survival depends upon it.
Reporter scum will interview 100 troops to get a few anti-war sounding bites.
Which are usually misquoted as well, or pulled out of context.
B52's would be my weapon of choice followed by daisy cutters. Level it.
The B-1 is actually able to carry more bombs, so I guess you could say it’s the other way around.
I think this comes down to full on combat, no gay rules of engagement, use of all weapons in overwhelming proportion and who the heck cares about civilian casualties. You will save lives in the long run when you crush this terrorist bastion.
It's very simple, take what the allies would do if they were attacking a city in WWII and just do that.
And to heck with what the traitorous/communist media and rats have to say about it!
Relax PhotoFixer3. This old Airman has a special place in my heart for BUFF. I know He's Old and the B-1 has newer equipment, but Buff is over fifty years old and I worked on him in the seventies and he was around a long time before that. He's still here and that is outstanding. Please remember that as old as he is He's still here. Let the old Bird go on the Mission and he won't let you down. God Bless America and all her people in uniform protecting us. I'm glad you came back to me.
Dude that is just WRONG on soooo many levels!
Relax demecleze. This old Airman has a special place in my heart for BUFF. I know He's Old and the B-1 has newer equipment, but Buff is over fifty years old and I worked on him in the seventies and he was around a long time before that. He's still here and that is outstanding. Please remember that as old as he is He's still here. Let the old Bird go on the Mission and he won't let you down. God Bless America and all her people in uniform protecting us. I'm glad you came back to me.
Semper Fi
We need to pray hard for all our Marines but I don't think this pessimistic prediction will come to pass. Air support will be a big help in this battle.
I'm not trying to minimize the danger, but this hospital will be treating US, Allied and enemy casualties.
Also, if history is any lesson, military hospitals always prepare for the worst-case senario, so they will be ready for any eventuality. It is always better to have more surgeons, more medicine and more hospital beds than necessary.
glad to hear all these preparations are being made but wish the media would quit talking about them as they are making our medical facilities and personnel a big target for terrorists.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.