August 10, 2004
Stryker brigade slammed by insurgents
[Link to full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
It didn't get much media coverage, but troops from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade say fighting last Wednesday in Mosul was the heaviest and most sustained combat they've seen in their nine months in Iraq.
Insurgents with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47s and improvised bombs fought a series of coordinated, running attacks against Stryker and Iraqi troops. One estimate put the number of attackers at 30 to 40, another at more than 100.
Either way, U.S. and Iraqi forces killed an undetermined number of them - the official estimate is at least a dozen - while suffering no losses themselves.
About a dozen Stryker troops were wounded; all but two returned to duty, said Lt. Col. Kevin Hyneman, the brigade's deputy commander.[...]
The official version as reported that evening in a news release by Task Force Olympia, the Fort Lewis-based command for northern Iraq, said "multinational forces served in a supporting role, providing additional support where and when the Iraqi leaders involved in the attacks requested it."
Hyneman and the task force spokesman, Lt. Col. Paul Hastings, said the fighting drew in virtually all the troops in the brigade's two infantry battalions in Mosul, as well as elements from other brigade units in the city.[...]
Hang in there Damon and Paul...our prayers are with you!
Posted by: AK at August 10, 2004 04:16 AMGilbert has let a cat out of the bag.
Posted by: Cannoneer No. 4 at August 10, 2004 04:43 AMPrayers are with all our men and women. Bless you all and come home soon. We are all proud of you.
Posted by: Florence at August 10, 2004 06:00 AMWOOOHOOOO, its about time!!! Went to TNT and CBTFW's site first thing this morning... Thanks cannoneer no. 4, I moved your link up to the top article on CB's site, hope ya don't mind.
TODAY IS DEFINITELY A GOOD DAY!!! (except for the fact that I am now late for work..."my bad"
Posted by: at August 10, 2004 08:18 AMThanks guys, for all you do for this county. Speedy recover on both of you. You are our heros. May Jehovah bless all of you,as we will continue to keep you all in our prays.
Posted by: GomezMom at August 10, 2004 01:58 PMFlorence
Don't mind at all.
It would seem that the original reason for not linking to him on this site has been overtaken by events.
Posted by: Cannoneer No. 4 at August 10, 2004 08:25 PMTroops -- officers, non-coms, and all others stripers and non-stripers,men and women alike,
Please accept this not-so-little old lady's personal thanks for your service to America. You are our finest examples of democracy in action. It matters not what your religion (or lack of) or political preference is. Our military is, always was and always will be, the ones who forge our country's history.
Commander, I invite you and all others in your area to read my column, "This American Author's Blunt Observations," at www.thecolumnists.com.
After reading only a few blogs from an amazing soldier in your brigade I was moved and compelled to let the whole world know what the Army's best ambassador was doing. Not that I used his colorful language or mentioned names or loctions, but I did point out I was parphrasing him, not quoting him verbatim.
We here at home are NOT being given reliable news about the war, and we didn't know it until recently. Actually, what little we do see or read is so sanitized and lacking in fact, I personally feel it's very bad fiction. Those troops who have the intelligence and consideration to tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, are what we need and want. I know I need not use names, Commander. You know exactly of whom I speak.
You and your troops are the best publicity and examples of our Armed Forces. I trust you will let them continue to give us a taste of what their world is like, warts and all. You need them, and so do we.
Sir, you are a good officer. Keep up the hard work. Thousands of us pray for you and all our military each and every day and night. None of you are alone.
Posted by: Pat at August 10, 2004 09:22 PM