|
Finalist - Sgt. Stan Laskowski
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Baghdad, Iraq - April 2004
SADDAM CITY SHOCKER
During OIF I was in infantry squad leader with 3rd bn 5th marines 1st mar div. on the outskirts of Baghdad on April 3rd(?) we were expecting light resistance upon making our way up to Saddam City which is on the eastern part of the capital. We dismounted from our amtracks and patrolled north for a half mile when we began hearing gunfire from across the road where Lima company was patrolling. We happened on a bridge a few minutes later where the first shot rang out.
As we tried crossing the bridge the enemy was picking up their fire in what was obviously a staged ambush, but there no was no other place to cross. Once we got across, we laid down a base of fire and prepped the zone for the maneuver element which was first platoon (we were 2nd). That’s when all hell broke loose.
We began taking fire from our left flank out realized these guys were in the ditch directly behind us as well as in front of us. The 3rd team leader of 3rd squad was hit in the chest and died minutes later. Due to the space between the platoons we had to hang on, alone, for about 5 minutes, which is an eternity under heavy gunfire. After going from the attack to the defense in about a half second timeframe, we then defended our hasty pos on the berm and then the cavalry arrived. With the maneuver and security elements in place, all we had to worry about now was our front or so we thought.
Heavy gunfire began coming from our 6 o clock by the road! We turned and fired and sent a clearing team back there. (Found out later they had a tunnel from the ambush pos to the road.) with only our front to worry about now, we had the advantage and no one hesitated. Our platoon Cmdr had already called helo support, arty and company mortars in during the gunfight. (he had done all this making his way to the HQ element and back to us to coordinate over the same bridge we crossed just a few minutes earlier, under heavy volumes of fire. His medal is in the mail I’m told. lol)
The 2nd squad leader, who was on the right flank, took the imitative to do a short flanking maneuver because 1st platoon was not in the position to clear our direct front. My squad and 3rd squad picked up our fire to aid in his advance and together, we cleared the area.
On our way out the next day, I saw a burning hulk about a mile up the road and recognized what it was when we got close...an M1A1. Apparently during the gunfight an RPG hit the fuel tank on it and ignited it from there. Amazingly and thankfully, none of the crew was killed. Seeing your most invincible piece of equipment burning on the side of the road is quite a humbling experience.
Lives were lost that day and we continue to mourn them still. In the end, more would be gone if it weren’t for Marines stepping up and doing their job under most adverse circumstances. I’m proud to say that I served with these men and call them my friends.
This is, by the way, the first I’ve ever spoken or wrote about this day. I don’t know if its quite what you’re looking for but I do feel somewhat better than I did 20 minutes ago, so thank you. lol.
My platoon and I were involved in 2 major battles and numerous limited engagements during our time there and I would be happy to tell some "war stories" in the future if need be. I was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal with a Valor device for actions in a separate fight; my 1st team leader got a Navy Commendation Medal with a V for actions during the same fight as me. My Platoon Cmdr is in the process of being awarded a Silver Star for his actions during the fight in the essay and the 2nd squad leader was also awarded a Navy Comm with a V for his actions that day. so maybe at some point in the game, you could throw our names in the ring, they would get a kick out of it that for sure!
Well, keep up the good work with the game. As I told my wife "this is exactly what Iraq looks like", my compliments to your military experts and dev team. Thank you.
<<Back | 
