June 18 1020 Hrs, Ramadi, Iraq
US and Iraqi Forces conduct SASO (Security and Stability Operations) in the town of Ramadi. A small group of insurgents has over taken a neighborhood in the town and has fortified it with Improvised Explosive Devices. Kilo Company deploys personnel from the government center to secure the town and capture or kill the insurgents present. However, the Anti Iraqi Forces of the insurgency mount a well executed attack on the oil processing plant and are able to sabotage the facility as US and Iraqi forces are occupied in Ramadi
1050 Hrs Government Center
Two captured insurgents are strongly “questioned†by Iraqi Security Forces and provide intelligence that the new leadership of Al Qaeda (possibly Abu Ayuub Al-Masri) is meeting with local leaders of the insurgency in an area north of the old Al Ramadi Mosque. Kilo Company patrols encounter the suspected leader of the insurgency trying to move through the Ramadi Swamps via the Miller Bridge. The small patrol from Kilo Company is unable to secure the swamps as local insurgent fighters regroup and wound the few soldiers trying to capture “Al-Masri†near the Euphrates River.
Kilo regroups and sets up an ambush near the Mullen Bridge crossing the river. Amazingly two insurgents get across the bridge and disrupt the ambush. The insurgent leader is able to run across the bridge and escape to the safety of the outskirts of old Ramadi. Special recognition is made to US Personnel Jeremiah Madrid, Douglas Thorpe and Chuck Smalley for their attempts to capture Al-Masri. Sgt Madrid made a courageous dash after Al-Masri in over 110 degree weather over 300 feet in an attempt to kill/wound the fleeing terrorist leader while being chased and coming under fire by another local insurgent leader. Unfortunately, Madrid was unable to secure the suspected leader.
1300 Hrs Government Center
With the arrival of the new insurgent leader, the Anti Iraq Forces launch an offensive against the Government Center. A large group of insurgents moves across the Euphrates River via McKnight Bridge and begins harassing the security forces defensive fighting positions. The Government Center security forces are initially able to repel the attackers. Defenders from the south area of the security forces attempt to push past their lines of defense to kill a known leader of the insurgency. However, these soldiers did not realize that there were half a dozen insurgents waiting for such a push to break through the depleted lines of defense.
With the elimination of the south defense, one of the local insurgent leaders is able to literally “walk†into the Government Center and eliminate multiple defenders by shooting them in the back. As this cowardly (yet efficient) attack occurred, a second force of insurgents arrived to over take the government center from the north. The insurgents over take the government center damaging equipment and supplies.
The security forces regroup and assault the Government Center with success. Fearing new reinforcements from the US/Iraqi forces, the insurgents are ordered to regroup at the Ramadi Swamps. Kilo Company is ordered to assault into the Ramadi Swamps in an attempt to keep the insurgents from regrouping and staging another attack. However, a number of insurgents establish an effective ambush at McKnight Bridge and prevent Kilo from advancing into the Ramadi Swamps. Both forces exhausted from the fierce fight retreat to their respective areas of operation. The battle comes to a close at 1400 hrs.
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