Stryker Brigade News

The hasty insurgent ambush instantly caused casualties to American forces. Pressed to effectively channel years of training into a split-second response, the Soldiers’ aggressive return of suppressive fire, proactive on-the-spot casualty care and smooth evacuation of six wounded soldiers to the nearby combat support hospital directly mitigated the enemy ambush’s impact while promoting the battalion’s highly successful disruption of insurgent activity in the neighborhood.

The day had begun harmlessly enough. However, shortly after 3 p.m., the battalion’s tactical command vehicles encountered sporadic small arms fire after apprehending occupants of a suspicious vehicle in Al Sinaa.

As enemy gunfire intensified during subsequent hours, Lt. Col. John Norris, commander of the 4th Bn., 23d Inf., steadily augmented the firepower on-site with additional platoons already in sector to assist in the identification and defeat of elusive terrorists well ensconced in their “own backyard.”

Skilled pilots in attack helicopters soon joined the effort, providing much-needed situational awareness of rooftops and alleyways to the leaders on the ground. Sporadic contact persisted throughout the afternoon.

By 6 p.m., several platoons from the Company A “Apaches” and Company C “Comanches,” as well as the battalion’s quick reaction force (a platoon designated specifically to respond to crucial situations), had joined the engagement.

Intending to decisively finish the prolonged engagement and exploit the day’s successful disruption of enemy activity in the neighborhood, Norris opted to employ his recon platoon.

Comprised of highly proficient soldiers previously selected from the three rifle companies through an intensive try-out, the recon platoon is specifically trained to execute the battalion’s most precise small-unit missions.

First Lt. Jeff Marshburn, the recon platoon leader, and Sgt. 1st Class Karl Zaglauer, recon platoon sergeant, continually reinforced technical and tactical proficiency during extensive training preceding the Iraq deployment.

Dividends were about to be paid in full as the recon platoon joined the fight in Al Sinaa.

At 7 p.m., nearly four hours after enemy gunfire spoiled an otherwise ordinary Saturday afternoon in Mosul, Norris directed Marshburn’s platoon to enter and clear designated buildings on the south side of the objective area.

The first two squads quickly dismounted as the .50 caliber machine guns atop the Stryker vehicles stringently covered their movement into the initial target house.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Hernandez and Staff Sgt. John Sowers led their squads through a hasty search of the house. The first house was cleared and the squads then entered the courtyard poised to clear the next building.

First in the order of movement, Hernandez’s squad moved on the second house. As Sgt. Steve Robison led the way, two close-range explosions jolted the squad.

Marshburn immediately recognized the near ambush and directed Hernandez to move the squad back.

While moving through enemy machinegun fire, Robison was struck in the leg by two rounds. He fell to the ground. The incessant enemy barrage also grazed Hernandez’s shoulder blade and struck Spc. Fabian Barela’s heel.

Meanwhile, the fragmentation from the grenade explosions sent metal shards into two other members of the squad. Spc. Matthew Gilbert sustained a minor laceration on his forehead while shards lodged in Spc. Maganello’s arm and thigh. Nearby, Staff Sgt. Carlos Pena suffered shrapnel wounds to his hand.

Of the six casualties, Robison and Barela had the most serious injuries. Robison needed immediate treatment.

Almost methodically, friendly small arms fire suppressed the building that had initiated the ambush seconds before. According to Marshburn’s account, Spc. Harrison Bailey, also from Hernandez’s squad, “without hesitation, grabbed Sgt. Robison by the handle on the back of his body armor vest and drug him out of the raging firefight in the courtyard.”

Barela had been providing cover for Bailey’s heroic dragging of Robison when he was struck in the heel. Undaunted by his injury, he continued to provide effective suppressive fire with his rifle and attached grenade launcher on the enemy-controlled house across the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Sowers had established a casualty collection point in the first room of the first house previously cleared. Ignoring the bleeding shrapnel wound to his face, Gilbert employed his combat lifesaver course skills to Robison’s profusely bleeding leg through the flawless application of a tourniquet.

Immediately upon hearing of the casualties, Zaglauer guided his Stryker vehicle through obstacles and enemy fire to the doorstep of the house containing the injured American soldiers.

By rapidly conducting the exfiltration and medical evacuation processes, attack aviation helicopters were clear to engage enemy insurgents in the house originating the machinegun fire.

Most importantly, Robison, Barela and the other injured recon soldiers were speeding towards a combat support hospital.

Hours later, Robison lost his lower leg well below the knee. The mere fact that he didn’t lose it any higher is directly attributed to Gilbert’s competence with a tourniquet.

Moreover, Robison made it from the courtyard to the casualty collection point because of Bailey’s heroic effort to drag him through raging machinegun fire.

Gilbert earned the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device for his meritorious action. Bailey earned the Bronze Star with Valor Device for his truly heroic actions on that particular Saturday night.

Barela’s heel sustained considerable damage from the bullet’s path. He earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device for selflessly disregarding his own injury to provide cover for Bailey to move Robison out of direct fire.

Robison and Barela have both left Iraq for top quality injury care at specialized military treatment locations in the United States.

By day’s end, the Tomahawk Recon Platoon had greatly enhanced the battalion’s overall ability to actively displace foreign fighters and local national insurgents from the long-held foothold in Al Sinaa.

The area has been significantly quieter since. As is the case with numerous other Iraqi locales these days ranging from Tal Afar to Fallujah to Mosul, the insurgency is continually being disrupted and degraded.