At nine thirty we rolled out, arrived at our usual destination, and by ten thirty, we were under fire.
Any 'usual destination' is an invitation to disaster.
But RPGs and mortar fire forced us down
The generally appropriate response is to kill those shooting RPGs...not try to hide from them.
a couple tank/hybrid vehicles
I cannot imagine a soldier using the term 'tank/hybrid vehicles'
The enemy sent word that when darkness fell,
Our enemies don't 'send word'
We heard that the whole province was under control, and that Sadr’s representatives had offered a cease fire while they negotiated. No other government building in the province was not under his control. Our little force, outmanned and outgunned, held him off for better than twenty hours, and then slipped out under his nose. He wanted to keep us there, be his bargaining chips while he tightened his fist around the province. And that ****ing governor went along with it. We eventually found out the governor was contacting the command and telling them, no, no Evac behind our backs.
Sadr was no where near this successful, and the military, would not leave leave its troops as negotiating chips like that. Bait, maybe, but not leave them in the lurch. No way a civilian can call of a militarily needed evac.
If I were 11 Bravo, I’d have earned my combat infantrymen’s badge, except of course the fact that I’m a woman means I don’t get stuff like that. The way the Army has it set up, it doesn’t matter if you do the job, if you’re a woman----you’re not supposed to do it, so you don’t get acknowledgement if you do.
I've never served with a female soldier with that attitude. She spent one day doing something that is other soldiers' primary jobs. Most soldiers recognize that...and would never begrudge an infantryman a CIB. Furthermore...there was absolutely no discussion of her own action and perspective. No "I thought I saw something and took a few shots. I don't know if I hit anything...but they didn't reappear there."
My experience has been that ammo resupply has always been pretty good. If she could see a helo pilot's profile...they would have gotten them ammo.