The Longest Morning (paratroopers tell tale of ambush in Samarra -- cover of AmSpectator)

American Spectator ^ | 11/1/2007 | Jeff Emanuel

[Uncledave]

THE DAY OF AUGUST 26, 2007, began like any other for the soldiers of Charlie Company, 2-505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (from the 82nd Airborne Division) -- with a mission in the city. Over a year into its deployment to Samarra, Iraq, and now working on the three-month extension announced by Secretary of Defense Gates in the spring, the company knew the city like the back of its collective hands and had its operational routine down to a science, whatever the mission it might be tasked with.

On this morning, that mission was to establish a defensive perimeter around a block in central Samarra, so that Charlie Company's 3rd ("Blue") Platoon, led by Lieutenant Scott Young, could search a shop where it had information that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were being manufactured.

Due to the insurgents' penchant for placing IEDs along the routes used by Charlie Company's vehicles in order to ambush them on their way back, two separate rooftop observation points (OPs) would be established, one to the north and one to the south of the shop, to watch for enemy activity on the roads that were serving as Blue Platoon's infiltration and exfiltration routes. The southern OP, led by Staff Sergeant Jason Wheeler, was manned with paratroopers from Charlie Company's 1st ("Red") Platoon. "Reaper Two," one of the sniper teams from 2nd Battalion's scout platoon, would man the second OP, almost a kilometer to the north. Reaper would be overwatching the area from the roof of a large four-story apartment building, which was laid out with the long axis facing north-south, and which was bordered -- across the surrounding streets and alleys -- by several other buildings.

[PurpleMan]

Not to found in the Early Bird.

Not important to DoD senior leadership

[GregB]

God Bless those soldiers,dead and alive.I would love to read this story to all of Congress especially the enemy of the State Obama who will not say the Pledge Of Allegiance or put his hand over his heart.

[shove_it]

PRESENT ARMS!!

[Enterprise]

"There would be no trophy, no public relations victory to thrust in the face of those in America and around the world whose attention would in the next few weeks be focused again on Iraq. Instead, there would only be death or capture, as the ISI members responsible were hunted down, one by one"

Al Qaeda and their Democrat allies were denied the victory they were praying for.

[SampleMan]

An incredible story. Everyone should read this.

[Mr. Lucky]

Wow. Just wow.

[reagan_fanatic]

Amazing - what a riveting read.

God bless our fighting men and women. They are truly the best in the world.

[Vineyard]

Ping to the top.

Great story!!!

Our fighting men (and women) are the greatest!!!

Mike

[xone]

bttt

[Chgogal]

This is a humbling read! God Bless our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen! All, this article is worth your while. Jeff Emanuel about our Soldiers the way I feel about them.

[MNJohnnie]

Thanks for the ping. Great post.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

God Bless the Troops...

[padre35]

A tight spot, they did well on that rooftop.

[dighton]

What you said, Chgogal.

Thanks for posting this, Uncledave.

[Marine_Uncle]

Honor, Duty, Country.

[CDB]

Wow.

Some GOP Senator should read this on the floor of the US Senate.

[Marine_Uncle]

What should be noted is:
As I write, the city of Samarra is quickly become a quiet well governed town. Iraqi are on the streets, food markets and other small business are opening up. Most probably 95% or more of al Qaeda and support groups have been purged from the city at this point.
The few pockets of Satan's boys that are left will now be found and jailed or killed off by newly formed and ever increasing effecient Iraqi police, along with the willing Iraqi neighborhood crime walk groups.
None of this would have been possible if these brave American soldiers where not willing to carry out their routine missions over a two year period of time.
What was until recently deemed the capital of al Qaeda, after Fallujah had been tamed is now becoming another model Sunni city based on local fair goverance, wanting nothing less then total peace and future prosperity to come to past.

[prognostigaator]

ditto

[dighton]

Shoulda pinged you above, so here it is.