Chapter 21 – The Hard Edge

IMAGES | MAPS | FOOTNOTES

Images: (click to enlarge)

“Penetrator” breaches the AQI complex with main gun
The view from “Iceman” just after the breach
Sighting in
On the rooftop
Burning vehicles
Capt Ieva shows arms cache to press
The torture room
Hostage brutalized by AQI
Blasting cap and wired IEDs
Blue truck SVBIED
Matt Moore
Adam Crumpler

Maps: (click to enlarge)

Figure 21-1, Breach of AQI “headquarters” in center of Karabilah, 18 June 2005 
Breach of AQI headquarters compound, 18 June 2005
Figure 21-2, House clearing on Day 2 of Operation Spear, 18 June 2005.
House clearing on Day 2 of Operation Spear, 18 June 2005
SSgt Moore, Kilo 1st Platoon fires cross boundary, 18 June 2005

Footnotes:

1. Tony Davis, interview with author; Combat video footage
2. Matt Gundlach, interview with author
3. Nate Smith, interview with author
4. Unpublished media video footage
5. Nate Smith, interview with author
6. Multiple Marines provided information for this section
7. Tony Davis, interview with author
8. Ibid.
9. Matt Moore, interview with author
10. Marc Bullock, interview with author
11. Ibid.
12. Tony Davis, interview with author
13. Marc Bullock, interview with author
14. Sean Gregory, interview with author
15. 3/2 Marines stop SVBIED in its tracks, Marines.mil, 18jun05
16. Matt Moore, interview with author
17. Chris Ieva, interview with author
18. Matt Moore, interview with author
19. Marc Bullock, interview with author
20. Chris Ieva, interview with author
21. Ibid.
22. Nate Smith, interview with author

3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines and the fight for Al-Qaim, Iraq

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