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Thunder Run

Mar-18-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

Military history fans will want to read a new article from AFIS that recounts the two "Thunder Runs" by the 3rd Infantry Division into the heart of Baghdad. The LA Times ran an article a while back that described the operation in greater detail, but you have to pay to get the piece from its archives now (Murdoc found a link to the full article. Thanks!)

[Link to Full Article]
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2004 – The "Thunder Runs" of the war in Iraq seemed to come from nowhere. One day the fighting was far to the south, and seemingly the next, soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division were liberating Baghdad.

The Thunder Runs were the audacious answer to charges that American forces were stuck in a quagmire in Iraq.

Army Col. David Perkins commanded the 2nd Brigade of the "Rock of the Marne" Division. There were two armor battalions – the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor and 4th Battalion, 64th Armor – and an infantry battalion – the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry – in the brigade.

Perkins, now with the Joint Staff here, said the unit got the assignment April 4. The first Thunder Run was a battalion-sized raid up from the south, through downtown Baghdad to link up with the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade at the international airport.

"We were fighting the Medina Division and completing their destruction," Perkins said. The other two battalions were attacking of the Iraqi division.

David Zucchino, the author of the LA Times article, also has a new book about the operations.



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