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3 Marines were killed and 7 injured when test firing a new kind of grenade launcher. This happened near the Iraqi city of Al-Kut. The Marines were part of the First MEU.

Southern Fighting Still FierceMarch 26, 2003 Intense fighting continued Wednesday in southern and central Iraq, while Baghdad came under aerial attack again, causing reported civilian deaths. Addressing servicemen and women at the headquarters of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, President Bush hailed the service of American troops in the war against Iraq so far, as U.S. and British troops battled what the president called "the most desperate elements of a dying regime." As he has so far in the six days of war, the president promised victory. "We do not know the duration of...

The bridges into Baghdad are rigged with explosives, and a large convoy of Republican Guard units was heading south toward U.S. troops, wire reports said today. Those reports, quoting intelligence officers with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said at least 1,000 Republican Guard vehicles were advancing toward U.S. Marines in central Iraq. But at a press briefing today, the U.S. military dismissed those reports. "We have not seen any significant movements ... in and around Baghdad. There have been some local positionings. There have been some survival positionings ... but we certainly remain, we believe, well in control of the...

A large contingent of Iraq's elite Republican Guard, including 1,000 vehicles, headed Wednesday toward U.S. Marines in central Iraq - an area that already has seen the heaviest fighting of the war. Intelligence officers with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force said the Iraqi forces were headed south from Baghdad on a route that avoids advancing U.S. Army forces and leads them directly to the Marines who have been fighting in recent days around An Nasiriyah. The intelligence officers said about 3,000 Republican Guard troops were spotted in one town along Highway 7 and 2,000 more at another. In the...

By Paul Reynolds BBC News Online world affairs correspondent While media attention is on trouble spots further south, the main military engagement of this war so far is beginning to get under way south of Baghdad in fighting which will help determine if there is to be a siege of the capital. The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said in the House of Commons that there would be "a crucial moment" when coalition forces encountered the Medina division of the Republican Guard who are defending the route to Baghdad. The Republican Guard (which has two other divisions south of...

This [move] sugests CENTCOM has abandoned an advance up the Tigris River...

Any word on new Marine casualties since the first two who have been shot or the others that have crashed? I have been reading on CNN and FOX that thier have been heavy Marine and other US casualties in recent fighting. Any information? -Mick

William and Frances Rodgers, Beth Taylor (holding 18-month-old Austin Reynolds) and Stephanie Taylor, whose husband Brad is serving in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, salute the troops serving in Iraq during a rally at USA Stadium in Millington. James Dimond, who spent 22 years in the Navy, says the Pledge of Allegiance. "At last, the American public is supporting its troops," said Vietnam veteran Phil Waldon, who also attended the Millington rally. About 6,000 supporters of U.S. troops show colors By Laura Coleman Noeth noeth@gomemphis.com March 23, 2003 The one member of the Pirtle family everyone wished could be...