Iraq for months now. After September 11, 2001 anything is possible. Some think the current war with
Iraq is a continuation of the War on Terror. I am not sure they have any terrorists intent on our country
and believe this is yet to be determined. I do know the regime of Saddam Hussein and his sons is
brutal and this has been shown many times over the past almost thirty years. We and allied forces have
kept him contained in his own country since 1991 after his military forces were driven back beyond his
own border with Kuwait. It is fact he has killed his own people and thousands of Kurds in 1989. I still
remember seeing their bodies strewn over the fields and small towns of the areas where they lived in
Northern Iraq. I saw the bloated bodies of little children who couldn't have been over three or four
years old. All died where they fell, often in the arms of a parent or older sibling. This sort of thing is not
easily forgotten. This sort of terror is not easily forgotten.
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I watched as the first bombs reached Baghdad, Iraq this past Wednesday, March 19, 2003. The
bombing occurred not long after the forty eight hours ran out for Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave
Iraq. It was said to be a decapitation attack, meaning to eliminate Hussein and his regime. I have heard
conflicting reports as to whether he is now alive or dead. The military forces do seem to be in disarray.
I am not aware of any massive counter attacks by the Iraqi military.
A CH-46 helicopter went down in the midst of a severe wind and dust storm killing all on board. They
included 8 British Commandos and 4 United States Marines. The crash is believed to have been
caused by the strong wind and dust storms that were going on in that area at that time.
I watched as "embedded" reporters rode along with the 3 - 7th Calvary. It was very dramatic as the
tanks, trucks, other vehicles and helicopters made their way over and across the vast Iraqi desert.
After the initial break through of the border separating Iraq from Kuwait they met little to no
resistance. As this was transpiring the British Royal Marines and United States Marines were in the
midst of a take over of the two main ports on the Iraqi Persian Gulf Coast. Two United States Marines
were killed in this action.
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"Shock and Awe"
We had been told to be prepared for "Shock and Awe" during the most coordinated, technical,
aerial bombing in history. I thought I was prepared and found when it started it was a real shock to
me. I saw the bombs falling on Baghdad with terrific force, in "real" time. It is even more shocking with
digital surround sound. I prayed for innocent children and civilians along with our valiant pilots.
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Record ID No. (VIRIN): 030328-N-0874K-001
Walter Reed
Operations and
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overlooked. They are off the coast of Iraq
guarding their shores as they do here at
home. Thank you!
casualties by rank,
name, age,
hometown, 2003
2004 and 2005
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The above views are mine and mine alone and do not infer in any way
as to be the views of our government or anyone else. The war dead are
published on this page as the Pentagon and other government
departments announce them. They are public knowledge and are not
copyrighted.
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September 2004
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October 2004
Iraqi Freedom section. The list is updated at least once a
week.
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website to support our troops. Please
visit America Supports You for
information.
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to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) on
November 27, 2003 Baghdad, Iraq. He gives an
uplifting speech at the Bob Hope dining facility
on Thanksgiving Day to all the troops stationed
there. After his speech, troops were given the
opportunity to get their photos taken with
President Bush. The President also served a
traditional Thanksgiving dinner to the troops.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Reynaldo
Ramon).
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photographs with soldiers from the 28th
Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad.
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Rumsfeld poses for photographs with
soldiers from the 28th Combat Support
Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 6,
2003. Rumsfeld is in Iraq to meet with
members of the Coalition Provisional
Authority, senior military leaders and the
troops deployed there. DoD photo by
Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air
Force. (Released)
031206-F-2828D-476
The country arose Sunday morning to the news that Saddam
Hussein was captured and in military custody.
A great day for the Iraqi people and our troops.!!!!!!!!!!
He was hiding in a "spider hole", a term first used in Vietnam. I
have heard it called other things since the initial announcement such
as "rat hole" and "mud hole".
Operation Red Dawn carried out the search with around 600
troops from the 4th Infantry and other military personnel. They
were given information about his whereabouts from people close to
Saddam in his home town of Tikrit, Iraq.
The orange farm where he was hiding was across from one of his
palace complexes across the Tigres River. I guess he had a nice
view of what once was. He was no longer in palatial circumstances
though. He ended up much as he started out in life. In a poor home
with a dirt floor.
When the troops opened the styrofoam cover to his pit he put his
hands where they could see them and said "Don't shoot, I am
Saddam Hussein, President of the Republic of Iraq." The soldier
then replied, "President Bush sends his regards." What that soldier
must have felt at that moment!
Saddam was then taken to an undisclosed location and given a
medical exam to which he seemed happy to receive. He was taped
at this time and the film was later shown in a news conference led
by Paul Bremer. Mr Bremer's opening statement was "Ladies and
Gentlemen, we've got him." The people in the crowd clapped and
cheered. Some of the Iraqi's in the audience stood up and shook
their fists saying "Death to Saddam." They were venting their anger
and who could blame them?
I think this is the time to show the Iraqi people how a democratic
society works. They should be allowed to try him according to
their new judicial system, when it is fully developed, and his fate
should be decided by a jury of his peers or a judge. The Iraqi
people deserve this process and Saddam Hussein deserves to be
on trials for atrocities against his own and other peoples of the
region.
Lavenia Ann Claman
Copyright December 15, 2003
All Rights Reserved
Release Number: 03-12-32
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SADDAM HUSSEIN CAPTURED, IN COALITION
CUSTODY
Forces from the 4th Infantry Division, coalition forces and special
operations forces captured former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein,
at approximately 8 p.m. local time yesterday in a remote farm house
near Tikrit, Iraq.
Operation “Red Dawn” was launched after gaining actionable
intelligence identifying two likely locations near the town of Ad
Dwar. The First Brigade Combat team of the 4th ID was assigned
the mission to capture or kill Saddam Hussein.
The Forces involved in the operation consisted of approximately
600 soldiers including cavalry, artillery, aviation, engineer and
special operations forces. The forces cleared the two objectives but
initially did not find the target. An additional suspicious site was
identified and searched. The area was a small, walled, mud hut
compound with a metal lean-to structure. Within the structure a
“spider hole” entrance, camouflaged with bricks and dirt was
located. The hole was about 6-8 feet deep with space allowing an
individual to lie down. Saddam Hussein was found hiding at the
bottom of the hole. He was captured without resistance and is in the
control of coalition forces at an undisclosed location
Items confiscated during the raid include two AK-47 rifles, a pistol,
$750,000.00 U.S. dollars and one white/orange taxi. Two other
individuals who have not been identified were also detained.
No one was injured in the operation. Saddam appears in good
health and is undergoing further evaluation
Back in Action: An American Soldier's Story of Courage, Faith and Fortitude
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