Click pic for touching words...
Posted on 11/07/2004 6:36:26 PM PST by kattracks
NEAR FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Gunfire crackled from a nearby junkyard used by insurgents on Monday when a U.S. Marine tank company and infantry units began moving into a desert staging position for an expected offensive on Falluja. U.S. artillery pounded the rebel-held Sunni Muslim city overnight while tracer rounds and flares lit up the sky.
An electronic tracking device in a rear Humvee vehicle showed U.S. positions on the edge of Falluja, some 30 miles west of Baghdad.
"Shoemaker do you have your neck guard on? Scan the area," Gunnery Sargeant Christopher Garza told his tobacco-chewing machinegunner as 70-tontanks and amphibious transport vehicles traveled along deserted roads.
"If we get hit you just drive and we will do the rest," he told the driver.
The marines had been warned to stay alert for any suicide car bombers ramming American convoys.
Iraq (news - web sites)'s U.S.-backed interim government has vowed to break the back of a raging insurgency, particularly in Falluja, and help stabilize the country before elections scheduled for January.
For many of the marines, it marks the first time they will see major combat.
The U.S. military says 1,000 to 6,000 fighters -- Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) supporters and foreign Islamic militants led by Jordanian al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- are holed up in Falluja's alleyways and on rooftops.
"These insurgents are going to get a lot more than they bargained for," said Garza, 30, from Houston, Texas.
Wearing night vision goggles over their helmets, marines were ready with their M-16 rifles on the two-hour journey to the staging post, where headlights were kept off.
U.S. warplanes screamed overhead and AC-130 gunships with cannons and machineguns that sound like a giant drill pounded Falluja.
After their Humvees parked near M1A1 tanks, marines were told to take turns manning swivel machineguns on the dark green armored vehicles.
"Even though the tanks are positioned in front you still need to keep close watch," said tank company commander Captain Robert Bodisch.
The sound of thunder mixed with the air strikes as lightning illuminated tank cannons pointing toward Falluja.
"If we start getting mortared you need to get in the Humvee and close the door and stay there. And you need to get in and close the swivel hatch," Garza told his men.
God bless.
"These insurgents are going to get a lot more than they bargained for," said Garza, 30, from Houston, Texas.
Go get 'em, Gunny!
My fear is that the insurgents have fled leaving behind only boobytraps for our boys to find after all of the delay. I hope that I'm wrong.
I am so proud of these soldiers, some of them only teenagers. This is what courage is all about. Throwing custard pies and burning effigies of Bush at anti-war protests is what idiotic pussies do.
God bless you, the men and woman of the US armed forces, the Iraqi's fighting on our side, and all the other coalition troops out there.
Its about time they let the Marines (always with a capital 'M') be Marines. The reason we've lost so many of them is they're using them as riot control and thats something we've never trained for.
Semper Fi my brothers. God is watching over you.
30 year old Gunnery Sergeants!!!! Man, do I feel old. God Speed, Gunny Garza, and Semper Fi.
Bles our troops and this mission. May God bring them safely home to their families.
Some quotes from Full Metal Jacket. Ya just gotta love R. Lee Ermey:
"God has a hard on for Marines, because we kill everything we see. He plays His games, we play ours. To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep heaven packed with fresh souls. God was here before the Marine Corps, so you can give your heart to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Corps."
"The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle. It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive in combat. Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. You will become dead Marines and then you will be in a world of shit because Marines are not allowed to die without permission. Do you maggots understand?"
This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my rifle and myself are defenders of my country, we are the masters of my enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.
Semper Fi!
Thanks for the smile.
Semper Fi!
That's what the 50 cal machine gun is for.
FOX News justs reports Marines storming outskirts of city, safeguarding a hospital.
The beginning may be now.
Driver! Track left. Dismounted SQUISHIES in the open!
Only three more shopping days!
Send you favorite Marine a birthday present.
..I am so proud of these soldiers, some of them only teenagers.
They are Marines, you are confused, but your heart is in the right place.
We just called 'em "Road Kill" --- sorta reminded us of hitting amadillos back home in Texas.
God watch and protect our Marines and GIs.
Might I recommend a night long tank barrage. Hell, burn off and use up all those 1980s era Shillelleaghs. Backed by artillery and Apache launched missiles. With a few MOABs and Spectres throwing down on Fallujah LONG before an American soldier sets foot in the city.
Remember, guys. Don't take any chances. If it carries a rifle. It's a target!
Jack.
Riot control is what the M249 S.A.W. is for.
I agree. It twists my shorts... big time. If I were W, I'd tell them to get the fukc out of my way, and let the combat commanders do their job... and, oh by the way, Europe can go fukc oof!
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