“Ambush: NCOs Lead the Way” (1st person account of Sep. ambush in Mosul; Iraqis help find attackers)

Company Command ^ | Daniel S. Morgan

[saquin]

Got hit hard on 9/13. We had a patrol out and got ambushed. This is a testament to NCOs fighting a fight, and why we train and promote. Let them lead and fight because that is what they do. Company commanders and platoon leaders do not have to be on every patrol or in every fight. Make sure everyone sees this story and understand that we train NCOs to do what they did here.

We were on a night patrol to eliminate some criminal activity (black-market propane) reported in sector. Our two vehicles passed through a narrow street where the second vehicle got ambushed. They threw improvised grenade type devices that were packed with ball bearings. The first bounced into the bed of the truck where the men immediately jumped out. The explosion went off ripping the right side of the HMMWV apart. SSG Greg Chapman, HHC/3-502nd, led his men to cover and concealed positions and began scanning for targets. The enemy was on the roof ducking and throwing and shooting. The driver of the second vehicle attempted to jump out when another explosive went off inside the driver compartment at his feet. The guys received sporadic gunfire and 6-8 explosions all on one vehicle. I heard the contact and got a report immediately that we had casualties, number unknown, and they were in an ambush.

The trail vehicle was destroyed and we had a serious casualty still on the ground. Communications between vehicles were on ICOMs (two-way radios). SSG Charles Everheart, the squad leader, led the lead vehicle to put down an overwatch and base of fire and as his team hauled ass back into the kill zone. SPC Joe Thoman engaged an oncoming high-speed vehicle, causing the vehicle to retreat and depart the area. SGT Luis Morales, the team leader, jumped out from the lead vehicle onto the second vehicle and retrieved our casualty. Smoke from the explosions in the narrow street billowed up and visibility was getting worse. NVDs were not of any value. Young soldiers communicated with their laser devices to target enemy on the roofs.

The enemy lobbed 6-8 explosive devices, which were blowing up every 3-5 seconds. SGT Morales retrieved our serious casualty under sporadic fire and put on an improvised tourniquet, continuing to direct soldiers to locations. SSG Everheart, while under contact, still had the wherewithal without direction from me to zero out the COMSEC on their radios in the vehicle.

SSG Chapman collected up the men to exfiltrate the kill zone when the last explosion went off, taking him down. He continued to consolidate his men and get them on the exfiltration vehicle. SPC Morrone, the radio operator, calmly continued to inform me as I moved my Quick Reaction Force (QRF) into the area. I designated a link-up site to meet the QRF and ambulance for further evacuation. When we finally looked at our casualty, we realized we needed Aerial Medical Evacuation (AEROMEDEVAC). We were in the middle of an urban area and were surround by traffic. I directed the QRF, led by SFC William Clark, to push everyone out 200m in every direction and begin clearing the roofs. I realized we were not getting out of here by ground quickly enough due to traffic volume so I used an intersection that would barely fit a Blackhawk helicopter. We were having MEDEVAC bird issues for some reason but within seconds some guy came up on the net and said, "I'll get him." It turned out he was not even a MEDEVAC pilot. Man, seeing the crew chief brought tears to my eyes. The value of human life and their willingness to come down in that intersection that was three times smaller than size required for a UH60 PZ/LZ was a sight to see in combat. My 1SG, Ray Fulks, ran out and brought the bird down right on top of him, causing him to roll across the intersection --after he fell in a hole. We got the casualty on the bird immediately. The helicopter was on the ground less than 30 seconds. During this time, I realized I still needed to move our other WIAs by ground, since the Blackhawk was not a MEDEVAC bird it would not have room for wounded. I called more of my company out of the Command Post and told them to block traffic at our previously noted operational Check Points. We took off out of the area with an open road like we were the Secretary of Defense.

Two of the WIAs were returned to duty within 48 hours. The other lost his leg 4" down from his right knee. The doctor briefed me and my medical platoon sergeant, SFC Luis Rodriguez, that the improvised tourniquet placed on him by SGT Morales under contact saved his life.

Make no mistake about this. These men reacted amazingly fast and risked their lives to save and retrieve wounded - from the infantryman on the ground to my medics who simply amaze me (I cannot see my life the same without SGT Mulvaney and SFC Rodriguez) to that pilot who came in with no hesitation. These NCOs and soldiers risk themselves for police action every day only to have some extremists who live under myth rather than reality hurt their own people due to hatred he cannot even explain. Many Iraqis have come forward and given us information. We have information on the specific planner and executor of this ambush and we will hunt him and capture and/or kill him.

These men are great and I love them more every day. Make sure people know how good they are. They rallied around our guidon the next day and asked me for a task and purpose and out they went--again." After the casualty evacuation was complete, I sent forces back into the area to retrieve the down vehicle. I was not going to allow them to have the satisfaction of capturing any equipment. When we arrived back on the scene within an hour of the ambush, the Iraqi police had cordoned off the area and were protecting the site. They did this on their own, NOT because I called for them to help us. This is a testament to the progress the Second "Strike" Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) has made in Mosul.

My men arrived on the scene and immediately secured the area and hooked up the vehicle for recovery. Simultaneously, the police and my soldiers scoured the area for witnesses. Numerous people apologized for the actions of the attackers. We just completed a survey of the area and this neighborhood was the most satisfied and happiest with our presence in my company sector. We received three names of the attackers within two hours of the attack, thanks to the cooperation of the Iraqi police and the citizens of Mosul. Numerous police and citizens offered to surveil the houses of the suspects for us, since it would be hard for us to do so. I advised the citizens that they did not need to do that but any word on the location of the suspects would be greatly appreciated. That same night I wrote a letter to the neighborhood explaining what my soldiers were doing and I did not understand why people would attack us after we just caught criminals taking advantage of them. I told them we would not be deterred or frightened by anyone and asked for any information on the attackers.

Over the next 48 hours, we received much information on individuals,leading to our capture of the suspected planner and executor of the ambush against my soldiers. Despite the raid against the suspected attacker, we (the soldiers who were attacked) followed up the next day in the neighborhood and handed out toys and stuffed animals to mothers and children to ensure we maintained the relationship with the community. As far as I know, this is one of the few times where a unit that was attacked caught the prime suspect of the attack against the unit itself. This was accomplished only because of the cooperation between US forces, Iraqi police, and the citizens of the neighborhood itself.

Do not let the reports fool you. There is progress and cooperation in Iraq and the soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) demonstrated this on September 13, 2003. They displayed skill and fortitude in combat as they were ambushed and followed up the next day in winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis during stability and support operations (SASO). Everyone must know that these young men and women balance this every day and success is possible.

Daniel S. Morgan CPT, Infantry Commanding HHC/3-502nd IN

[saquin]

I saw this website mentioned on CNN. It is set up as a way for those leaving Iraq and those entering Iraq to communicate and share experiences. Apparently, you need to be a member of the military to access most of the content. But this link on the front page was freely accessible and I thought people might find it interesting.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Old Sarge]

Well, I accessed the content of the site (obviously, since I am what I am), and let me tell you, you found a GOOD THING!

I'll be passing this site around to some appropriate people, for whom it'll do more good things.

NICE!

[Seruzawa]

NCOs run the services. We could do without officers much easier. In many cases we already do.

[R. Scott]

Pretty darn good for HHC types!
Of course, they were from the 502nd.

[Fee]

Unlike the first Gulf War, this war will produce alot of combat experienced troops including the support troops. Their experience is going to have a profound affect on the future of our forces. Many of these junior soldiers will become the senior NCO's of the future. Furthermore it will take the generals/senior bureacrats heads out of the hi tech cloud and remind them that certain basic laws of combat do not change - good logistics and numbers are still needed and can never be replaced by high tech gadgets. God Bless the Troops.

[PokeyJoe]

Taliban found out the hard way about American soldier training.

They were used to fighting Russians. During the Halfgonistan war in the early 80s, the Taliban learned that they needed to only kill the officers first - the conscripts will not adjust, and make major mistakes in combat leading to many needless Russian deaths because of Ambush.

American NCOs are trained to take command, take the initiative, adjust, and complete the mission objective.

There are many after action reports from captured Taliban prisoners who couldn't believe that American soldiers responded with fire accuracy, tenacity, and used overwhelming firepower.

[Super Mak90kid]

"NCOs run the services. We could do without officers much easier. In many cases we already do."

You're both right and wrong. There are many fine officers who started as enlisted and then later rose to the position of officer. However kids who directly commission in after college graduation is another story.

I've been in the Guard about a year and plan on going to OCS after I earn the rank of Sergeant.

[TADSLOS]

NCOs make it happen.

[Valin]

BUMP!!!

[Seruzawa]

Good NCOs are the backbone of the military. One of the worst things aboout Clinton's presidency was the drain of good NCOs. A similar situation occurred between WWII and Korea. The U.S. forces that went to Korea in the early part of the war were so poorly trained that many of them could not reassemble an M1 rifle and make it fire.

Read Fehrenbach's book "This Kind of War" for a good illustration of how bad it can get when there is a lack of Company level NCOs and good combat experienced officers. The Vietnam War also had huge problems that resulted from the policy of changing Company Commanders every 6 months. Fortunately the military seems to have learned its lesson in that regard.

[ASA Vet]

"SGT Morales retrieved our serious casualty under sporadic fire and put on
an improvised tourniquet, continuing to direct soldiers to locations. ............

the improvised tourniquet placed on him by SGT Morales under contact saved his life"

Sgt Morales should be getting a medal for his action. I think this rates the "silver star."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

SSG Chapman collected up the men to exfiltrate the kill zone when the last explosion went off, taking him down. He continued to consolidate his men and get them on the exfiltration vehicle. SPC Morrone, the radio operator, calmly continued to inform me as I moved my Quick Reaction Force (QRF) into the area...we realized we needed Aerial Medical Evacuation (AEROMEDEVAC). We were in the middle of an urban area and were surround by traffic...an intersection that would barely fit a Blackhawk helicopter...within seconds some guy came up on the net and said, "I'll get him."  Man, seeing the crew chief brought tears to my eyes. The value of human life and their willingness to come down in that intersection that was three times smaller than size required for a UH60 PZ/LZ was a sight to see in combat.

 

Two of the WIAs were returned to duty within 48 hours. The other lost his leg 4" down from his right knee. The doctor briefed me and my medical platoon sergeant, SFC Luis Rodriguez, that the improvised tourniquet placed on him by SGT Morales under contact saved his life.

Make no mistake about this. These men reacted amazingly fast and risked their lives to save and retrieve wounded - from the infantryman on the ground to my medics who simply amaze me (I cannot see my life the same without SGT Mulvaney and SFC Rodriguez) to that pilot who came in with no hesitation. These NCOs and soldiers risk themselves for police action every day only to have some extremists who live under myth rather than reality hurt their own people due to hatred he cannot even explain. Many Iraqis have come forward and given us information. We have information on the specific planner and executor of this ambush and we will hunt him and capture and/or kill him.

These men are great and I love them more every day. Make sure people know how good they are.

Do not let the reports fool you. There is progress and cooperation in Iraq and the soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) demonstrated this on September 13, 2003.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

We're paying attention, and informing others, and will not quit, as

long as we have troops in harm's way.

 

God bless our troops!

 

   ~ ~

 

 

* Thanks, saquin, Cannoneer.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping to a great story!

[JOE43270]

This is a great Story! I remember two Sargeants who had alot of influence on me. These guys will take their people out and bring them back or they will die trying. God Bless them all.

[VOA]

bump

[blackie]

God bless our troops ~ Bump!

[Criminal Number 18F]

There are many after action reports from captured Taliban prisoners who couldn't believe that American soldiers responded with fire accuracy, tenacity, and used overwhelming firepower.

Of course, the TB never succeeded in killing any American officers, either. Except for aircraft, AFAIK, the KIAs were all enlisted or NCOs.

Not just the TB, but all Afghans were and are amazed at how different the Americans are from the Russians. There are still some ruined villages out there with bones bleaching in the sun where the Russians killed everyone and no one was left to bury the dead. It think it was a bad combination of a draft army, and an amoral, evil political system that led the Russians, a very cultured and civilised people, to do some of this stuff.

I don't know how many people -- school teacers, village elders, captured TB -- told me "we thought that you were going to [some misconduct or other]. But you are not like the Russians."

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[2111USMC]

BUMP!!!

[McGavin999]

Shame it isn't openly available. Perhaps it would shame the "journalists" into telling the truth for a change.

[PokeyJoe]

Thanks for filling in the blanks. You are 100% correct.

Say, was the smoking lamp lit while you were in Halfgonistan?

I would like to send a box or two of cigars to a deserving unit. Maybe to a good CO, and he he can divide them out.

[windchime]

Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Criminal Number 18F]

I think we had maybe two cigaret smokers in the battalion (~350 guys). But lots more would indulge in an occasional cigar. Unfortunately (or fortunately) my own relief is back in the USA so I don't know who's there right now. I do expect to hear within a few days from the S1 officer of the task force, so I will also ask him, with a view to getting them down to the boys at the "sharp end." Some of the A-camps/outstations/safe houses/firebases are rather remote and lacking in creature comforts. Others are better... one was a country palace on loan from King Zahir Shah.

By late 2002 little "convenience stores" had sprung up everywhere on the side of the roads. Some of them just a kid with a blanket with cokes and cigarettes and what have you. An Afghan would cheat you in a business deal in a heartbeat, and try to overcharge you in a sale if you were fool enough to let him, but they'd never steal. If you dropped a 10,000 AFG note they would come running after you with it (the best paying job in the province was deadly, the coal mine, and it paid 150 AFG a day: $3). They are hard-working, entrepreneurial people and just need some security and the rule of law (easy to say, hard to do in a tribal, multi-racial/national land) for everything to be copacetic.

If you haven't heard from me by this time next week, drop me a reminder. I also have some buds contracting in Iraq... will hit them up for an address too.

Iraq is still the harder tour, IMHO. My old team sergeant's son is back with a BS/V, and his daughter is about to go... she doesn't smoke but might use them as motivators in her platoon. Mike is scared that his daughter will now try to outdo her brother in the valour game! You don't think about stuff like that when you set an example for your kids.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Future Snake Eater]

I remember the Taliban and AQ types talking big how 'the Russians were hard core and got their butts kicked; there's no way the soft, weak Americans will defeat us.' They thought we'd be a bunch of pushovers. Guess they found out the hard way on that one.

[Future Snake Eater]

I don't know how many people -- school teacers, village elders, captured TB -- told me "we thought that you were going to [some misconduct or other]. But you are not like the Russians."

I've talked to some people who came back from Afghanistan, and they were telling me some interesting stuff about interrogation methods. Basically, they're tough as nails when it comes to physical torture--even if we did it to them, it probably wouldn't get much accomplished (apparently the Russians liked to chop off the fingers of guys they were interrogating).

However, they couldn't handle any kind of mental strain. All it would take is getting in their face and screaming at them like a drill sergeant would to a private, or making them do some push-ups and mountain-climbers while being yelled at, etc. They said these tough, big, bad terrorists cracked in no time flat!

[dennisw]

For all our fighting men and women. Be safe and may you remain protected by GD and superior firepower.

[PGalt]

Great article...thanks. Thanks for the insight and your service.

[erc5892]

Two of the WIAs were returned to duty within 48 hours. The other lost his leg 4" down from his right knee. The doctor briefed me and my medical platoon sergeant, SFC Luis Rodriguez, that the improvised tourniquet placed on him by SGT Morales under contact saved his life. Make no mistake about this. These men reacted amazingly fast and risked their lives to save and retrieve wounded - from the infantryman on the ground to my medics who simply amaze me (I cannot see my life the same without SGT Mulvaney and SFC Rodriguez) to that pilot who came in with no hesitation. These NCOs and soldiers risk themselves for police action every day only to have some extremists who live under myth rather than reality hurt their own people due to hatred he cannot even explain. I had the honor of meeting SFC Rodriguez in December at Walter Reed Hospital. He was injured in November in Mosul when his vehicle rolled over and IED ... He lost part of his leg. His wife was there ... they are originally from Puerto Rico, but have dedicated their lives to this country, and he lost a leg. They have two young daughters. I was so moved by their love of this country, their resolve, and their bravery. SFC Rodriguez is a great man, and I am honored to know him. When I read this piece, his name just jumped out at me. I have sent this piece to his wife.