WP: Demise of a Hard-Fighting Squad - Marines - 60 % casualties

[Pirate Smile]

Demise of a Hard-Fighting Squad
Marines Who Survived Ambush Are Killed, Wounded in Blast

By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, May 12, 2005; Page A01

HABAN, Iraq, May 11 -- The explosion enveloped the armored vehicle in flames, sending orange balls of fire bubbling above the trees along the Euphrates River near the Syrian border.

Marines in surrounding vehicles threw open their hatches and took off running across the plowed fields, toward the already blackening metal of the destroyed vehicle. Shouting, they pulled to safety those they could, as the flames ignited the bullets, mortar rounds, flares and grenades inside, rocketing them into the sky and across pastures.

Gunnery Sgt. Chuck Hurley emerged from the smoke and turmoil around the vehicle, circling toward the spot where helicopters would later land to pick up casualties. As he passed one group of Marines, he uttered one sentence: "That was the same squad."

-snip-
In 96 hours of fighting and ambushes in far western Iraq, the squad had ceased to be.

Every member of the squad -- one of three that make up the 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment -- had been killed or wounded, Marines here said. All told, the 1st Platoon -- which Hurley commands -- had sustained 60 percent casualties, demolishing it as a fighting force.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101737.html

[Kagemusha]

1. The US suffered casualties?

I thought they weren't conceding any kills in this operation.

[fishnfla]

2. "they used to call it Lucky Lima"

I think we've found our "BlackHawk Down" for this war....

Goddamned shame

[NNN0LHI]

3. It was worth it n/t

[grytpype]

4. A USMC platoon reduced to nothing in 96 hours.

Yeah, things are goin real, real well over there.

[IndianaGreen]

5. A 60-percent casualty rate is close to World War II levels

For those of you that supported the criminal US invasion of Iraq consider this: each day that we keep troops in Iraq is one more day closer to the total collapse of our vaunted military machine.

Cherry asses can never replace the dead and wounded combat veterans.

I feel a draft in the air...

[DS1]

6. I used to drive Amtracs, and I should believe by now, but I still can't

believe that they're using them for operations like this.

They are not designed for land warfare, they are designed to get grunts from ship to shore and then get blown to shit. The "armor" before uparmoring them is a half inch thick aluminum tub frame, the armor patched on top of that isn't designed to stop bullets - only shrapnel. Direct hits from anything over an AK are lethal to anything inside, RPGs - fuggeddaboutit - you're fucked. If the blast doesn't kill you, the instant-on Halon system will make sure all the grunts inside die of suffocation as all the oxygen is blown out of the tank. And, wow, it must be brutally hot inside those things with the hatches down in the Iraqi desert, goddamn I can't believe they're using AAVs out there. It's insane.

[ovidsen]

31. I didn't believe YOU!

They CAN'T be using amtracs for land assaults in Iraq in 2005, can they?? Isn't that why Bradley Fighting Vehicles were built? So I read the story. Shit. Why not just transport the grunts in Humvees? At least they might see what's killing them.

[DS1]

32. Marines don't use Bradleys, it's either AAVs (Amtracks) or LAVS

which have tires, not tracks.

AAVs were used in the first Gulf War but they followed platoons of tanks (and of course months of bombing).

[ovidsen]

34. My mistake!

Although I'll stick with the idea that we might as well be using humvees to move marines in combat zones...

[daleo]

7. This isn't on icasualties yet.

It is surprising that the WaPo had a story this soon, and this detailed.

[makhno]

15. The reporter is out there with the Marines

For a change.

I was watching some show about Vietnam the other day, and couldn't help but notice how much combat footage there was. We're not getting anything like this nowadays. It's as if the war were a mere abstraction.

[daleo]

29. It is true about it being on the spot reporting for a change.

I am still surprised that the story was printed this quickly, rather than waiting a week or so.

[UpInArms]

8. from your link:

Every member of the squad -- one of three that make up the 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment -- had been killed or wounded, Marines here said. All told, the 1st Platoon -- which Hurley commands -- had sustained 60 percent casualties, demolishing it as a fighting force.

:cry:

I thought that Clinton was the one that decimated our military :sarcasm:

:banghead:

[Kagemusha]

9. When I got to the end, it sounded like...

someone controlling a bomb by remote control knew who these troops were and deliberately targeted them to complete the wiping out of the unit.

I hope not, but intel penetration is getting worse all the time. Sun Tzu and Mao Zedong always stressed destroying entire units for the morale effects.

[Barrett808]

14. Insurgent intel is excellent, ours is crap

Your scenario is quite plausible.

[leftchick]

22. Meshes with this story...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1464979

The US Military can't figure out where the intel "leaks" are coming from.
I say bring our troops home NOW! It is beyond FUBAR!

[uncle ray]

10. what the hell is going on?

when i heard about the fight, involving this same squadron, earlier, i was baffled by the circumstances. close to a entire day of fighting to kill a single housefull of "insurgents". why the hell was so much time spent trying to get these guys before they finally came in with the bunker busters, and now the rest of the squad is wiped out? :wtf:

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. I think we may be up to 1614

The article says four killed WEDNESDAY. That's today, and the 1610 hasn't budged since last night. Fuck.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. Does this sound familiar, Nam vets?

By the time the squad from Lima Company crossed north of the Euphrates, whole villages consisted of little more than abandoned houses with fresh tire tracks leading into pastures or homes occupied only by prepubescent boys or old men. Men of fighting age had made themselves scarce. The AK-47 assault rifles ubiquitous in Iraqi households had disappeared.

---snip---

Organic guerilla war. Don't let them tell you this is foreign fighters after this line.

[expatriot]

17. In this civil war, the only foreigners are us... remember, sunni v. shia

In Iraq, Sunnis are a minority, but Sunnis are coming in from Syria, Jordan, etc. They are not foreigners, this is their civil war too.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. Watch a miracle happen!

In the WP story on the scene, we have 4 dead Marines and 10 wounded Marines.

In the Reuters story from the Green Zone, we have 2 dead Marines and 14 wounded Marines:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAR224006.htm

My, my, my. I didn't realize CENTCOM could raise the dead.

[mmonk]

23. I heard from a marine who has been fighting over there

He said their detention centers are filled with Iraqis, not foreign fighters. Any attempts at saying this resistence is foreign is false. There may be arms smuggling and some foreign fighters, but that's not the thrust of this.

[TacticalPeek]

13. A handful of dead-enders can sure ruin your afternoon.

President AWOL tries to stay on his bike to distract the bereaved families.

[BeHereNow]

16. Can you say, "Iraq-nam?"

Thought so-
FUBAR!
FUBAR!
FUBAR!
FUBAR!
FUBAR!
FUBAR!

BHN

[grytpype]

19. WP: Demise of a Hard-Fighting Squad - Marines - 60 % casualties

Demise of a Hard-Fighting Squad
Marines Who Survived Ambush Are Killed, Wounded in Blast

By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, May 12, 2005; Page A01

HABAN, Iraq, May 11 -- The explosion enveloped the armored vehicle in flames, sending orange balls of fire bubbling above the trees along the Euphrates River near the Syrian border.

Marines in surrounding vehicles threw open their hatches and took off running across the plowed fields, toward the already blackening metal of the destroyed vehicle. Shouting, they pulled to safety those they could, as the flames ignited the bullets, mortar rounds, flares and grenades inside, rocketing them into the sky and across pastures.

Gunnery Sgt. Chuck Hurley emerged from the smoke and turmoil around the vehicle, circling toward the spot where helicopters would later land to pick up casualties. As he passed one group of Marines, he uttered one sentence: "That was the same squad."

-snip-
In 96 hours of fighting and ambushes in far western Iraq, the squad had ceased to be.

Every member of the squad -- one of three that make up the 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment -- had been killed or wounded, Marines here said. All told, the 1st Platoon -- which Hurley commands -- had sustained 60 percent casualties, demolishing it as a fighting force.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101737.html

[mmonk]

20. Sad

I'm surprised the story ran.

[maddezmom]

21. CNN had the store on the air this am

:(

[captain_change]

24. The public has to know

My church has a time when people shout out petitions for prayer, in the past it has been a painfully time because of one parishioner who regurgitated that latest on "hate radio".

I am now going to take the opportunity to say:

"Pray for the repose of the soul of "Sgt XXX" and the 1,611 of his brothers and sisters killed in Iraq" See how the righties like that

[NuttyFluffers]

38. sad thing is you could do one name a week...

and the list would still keep updating...

[NorthernSpy]

25. could a person live...

... through this?

The explosion enveloped the armored vehicle in flames, sending orange balls of fire bubbling above the trees along the Euphrates River near the Syrian border.

Marines in surrounding vehicles threw open their hatches and took off running across the plowed fields, toward the already blackening metal of the destroyed vehicle. Shouting, they pulled to safety those they could, as the flames ignited the bullets, mortar rounds, flares and grenades inside, rocketing them into the sky and across pastures.

When they go about in those armored vehicles, do they all have things like breathing systems and flame retardant clothing? If they had those, they might survive.

[daleo]

30. They might live, I suppose.

But the chances of being badly burnt, blinded, deafened, a multiple amputee, etc. must be pretty high.

[DS1]

33. The breathing system inside an AAV is nothing but a sick joke.

There's a fire suppression system that blows about 50 pounds of Halon gas inside the vehicle, Halon of course destroying all the oxygen in the air. The primary focus is to save the vehicle, anything inside is considered expendable. If a grenade goes off inside, and you're inside with it, you've got about a 1% chance of living through it.

[ElectroPrincess]

26. Hey Citizen! Nothing to see here but "Freedom on the March!"

<Fade out and Focus on pretty Bimbo commentator> Time to focus all our attention on either the Michael Jackson trial and/or that "waste of humanity" that killed two small girls.

Oh yeah, we want to hear every damn detail of the above tragic murders, but to hell with our poor bloody infantry Marines who faithfully serve our country. :sarcasm:

When I drive through Northern Virginia it's like God puked yellow ribbons to be displayed en masse on Humvees and tank sized SUVs ... driven by bloated, fat and spoiled upper-middle classes who haven't spent one minute serving OUR country in the military.

Many of us liberal veterans and military retirees are far more understated about the false displays of patriotism. Here's a hint: We walked the walk and have NOT a need to plaster numerous BS slogans on our vehicles such as "Freedom isn't free!" <WTF?>

You want to be TRUE PATRIOTS lurking right wingers? Honorably serve in the Active Duty military as many of us have completed. Otherwise STFU warmonger scum.

[Polly_Tricks]

27. So this is winning a war, huh? (nt)

[dbt]

28. The blood of these Marines is on bu$h's hands and those of

ABCCBSCNNNBCFox and the Congre$$ as a whole. May the True Rewards of this War-For-Profit be heaped on the heads of all who caused it and condoned it!

Somebody needs to burn in hell for this.

[pokercat999]

42. Correction....all Washington DC (Federal enclave) needs

to burn for this.

[brokensymmetry]

35. Mission Accomplished?

Only if the mission was the destruction of the U.S. military and - perhaps - America itself.

I have read that we have about 10 wounded soldiers and marines for every death- that implies 16,000 seriously wounded.

When will we get a clue and get out? Or will the madness of King George continue?

[killbotfactory]

36. how many of the casualties were fatal?

apparently our body armor and medical tech has improved where the number of fatal casualties has decreased significantly.

[Massachusetts]

37. It is the DUTY of the Iraqi War Vets to come forward

and protest this war. The hypnotized American public is still ASLEEP at the switch. They need to SEE and HEAR the truth! THEY NEED TO HEAR AND SEE WHAT THESE VETS DID OR DIDN'T FIGHT, DIE, GET INJURED FOR!

The Truth will NOT come from these IMPOSTER'S in office who are in control of OUR government /country/$$$$$$$, nor the pathetic media outlets (for the most part).

[rodeodance]

39. it is worth reading the entire article. 4 died and 10 wounded

.....In 96 hours of fighting and ambushes in far western Iraq, the squad had ceased to be.

Every member of the squad -- one of three that make up the 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment -- had been killed or wounded, Marines here said. All told, the 1st Platoon -- which Hurley commands -- had sustained 60 percent casualties, demolishing it as a fighting force.

"They used to call it Lucky Lima," said Maj. Steve Lawson, commander of the company. "That turned around and bit us."

Wednesday was the fourth day of fighting in far western Iraq, as the U.S. military continued an assault that has sent more than 1,000 Marines down the ungoverned north bank of the Euphrates River in search of foreign fighters crossing the border from Syria. Of seven Marines killed so far in the operation, six came come from Lima Company's 1st Platoon.

[rodeodance]

40. Of 7 Marines killed so far in the operation, 6 came come from Lima 1st

platoon. How sad.

[bunny planet]

41. I wouldn't put it past this administration to release this information for

their own purposes, say connecting this attack with Syria (notice they've been moving soldiers closer to the Syrian border and leaking information about Syrians possibly supplying the insurgents), and using it as an excuse to attack Syria. I put nothing past the * administration.
:scared:
I just watched Black Hawk Down the other day deliberately so that I could try and just remotely understand the fresh hell our young men and women and the Iraqi citizens are facing every day over there with the street to street combat and the escalating insurgency. The cluster f*ck aspects of the two, Mogadishu and now Iraq, are remarkably similar. Please bring our troops home now.

[aneerkoinos]

43. Beaten back

If the number of US troops engaged in the operation was the reported 1000, and casualty rate is the usual fatalities x 10, they suffered 15 % casualties just in 5 days, without being able to deliver any serious blows to the opposing forces. Apparently enough to decide to abort the operation and withdraw with tail between legs.

This is a sign that US forces are loosing not only control, but also the overall the war of attrition, when they leave their bases in attempt to establish control...

[Moderator]

44. kick to combine

[MARALE]

45. Six Ohio Marines Killed in Iraq

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=3339149

Six Marines were killed and another 15 were wounded from one central Ohio squad in a major U.S. offensive near Iraq's border with Syria, a newspaper reported. The squad was one of three belonging to the 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment, according to The Washington Post, which has a reporter embedded with Operation Matador.

The military has confirmed five Marine deaths so far and says about 100 insurgents have been killed in the operation -- one of the largest U.S. offensives since Fallujah was reclaimed from militants. Chief Warrant Officer Orrin Bowman, the site commander for the Columbus-based company, confirmed Thursday the company was participating in the operation and had taken casualties. He declined to say how many from the Marine reserve unit had been killed or release any names.

The military has identified two Ohio Marines with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment who have died in Iraq since Sunday. Lance Cpl. Wesley G. Davids, 20, of Dublin, was killed in an explosion in Karabilah on Wednesday and Cpl. Dustin A. Derga, 24, of Columbus, was killed by small arms fire in Ubaydi on Sunday, according to the Department of Defense.

Bowman said the unit is in the process of contacting and helping the affected families. Lima is a rifle company that has four platoons, Bowman said. Each platoon has three squads that normally have 13 people but can be reinforced depending on a mission, he said.

...more...

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[DanCa]

46. Says a prayer

Please God stop this obscene war.

[demnan]

47. Again, we're hearing about the Syria border.

So when do they actually invade Syria? And how many more children will have to die because of these unending wars?

[LiberallyInclined]

49. it's the cambodia of the middle east.

it's just sad what we're doing over there.

[Tesla]

48. So close to home

[ckramer]

50. Prelude of invading Syria?

It depends on the stock market's direction. If the market (economy) would further go down and the gas price keep going up, we are going to have a new war soon.

Four more wars! Four more wars!

Isn't that the sole purpose of the Bush presidency?