Destroying a Baath Party House ~ a Defend America Photo Essay

Defend America ^ | May 20, 2004

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Destroying a Baath Party House

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hoglune, left, and Sgt. Erickson, both of the 141st Engineering Battalion tape C-4 plastic explosive to the columns of the Ramadan 14 building near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. The Ramadan 14 building is a former Baath party house being demolished by the 748th Explosive Ordinance Detachment and the 141st Engineers Battalion. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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U.S. Army Sgt. Andy Erickson of the 141st Engineering Battalion places blocks of C-4 plastic explosive into holes in the columns of the Ramadan 14 building near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jessen, right, with the 748th Explosive Ordinance Detachment, inspects a 2,000-pound rocket to determine the size of hole needed to maneuver it into the basement of the Ramadan 14 building near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jessen with the 748th Explosive Ordnance Detachment, supervises the insertion of a 2,000-pound rocket into the basement of the Ramadan 14 building, a former Ba'ath party house located outside of Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. The missile is being used to help demolish the building. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dobitz with the 141st Engineering Battalion uses a bulldozer to push a 2,000-pound rocket into the basement of the Ramadan 14 building in the building near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jessen with the 748th Explosive Ordinance Detachment, supervises the insertion of a 2,000-pound rocket into the basement of the Ramadan 14 building near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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Smoke billows from the Ramadan 14 building near Ad Dujayl, Iraq, May 6, 2004. The Ramadan 14 building is a former Baath party house demolished by the 748th Explosive Ordinance Detachment and the 141st Engineers Battalion. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

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[Maigrey]

I just love a big KABOOM!

[AndRock238]

I got to say, I was completely surprised to come across this page. That is me in the first two photos, SGT Erickson. I got to tell you, seeing those pictures really brought back some memories. I wanted to tell everybody on this page thanks for all your comments, it really made me feel good reading them all and hearing something positive for a change about the war and to hear that there are still people out there supporting our troops.

Again, thanks for all the comments, if anybody would ever like to see a video of the explosion, I could probably arrange to get the video posted online. You can drop me a line at andrew.c.erickson@gmail.com if you want to see it. Take care, and God bless the United States of America.