U.S. Army History Vignettes

For Basic Combat Training

1st Edition

March 2018

Blue Phase Iraq: Overthrowing Tyranny

The Ba le of Baghdad  Baghdad 

Afghanistan: Sustained Land Combat 

Kamdesh 

18 

 

The Battle of Baghdad: In April of 2003, 30,000 American ground forces, supported by British and American aircraft, engaged 45,000 Iraqi Soldiers. Using superior speed and firepower, American forces inflicted massive casualties upon the enemy. The superior training, discipline and fitness of the American Soldiers enabled them to domi-nate the enemy across a variety of terrain, including urban, industrial and farmland.

Hero of the Battle: Sergeant First Class (SFC) Paul Ray Smith; 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. An engineer assigned to Bravo Company, 11th Engineer battalion, SFC Smith observed a company-sized enemy element about to attack his position. He orga-nized a defense with the two platoons at his disposal and two armored vehicles. When one of the vehicles became disabled, he exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue the three wounded crewmembers. He secured a .50 cal. machinegun and began firing at the advancing enemy. He was mortally wounded, but not before inflicting roughly 50 enemy casualties. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Central Message: Soldiers are physically and mentally tough.

19 

 

Baghdad: In March of 2005, about 30 miles South of Baghdad, two convoys were about to converge at a crossroads when they were at-tacked by the largest group of insurgents to ever attack a convoy. The stretch of road was guarded by the 617th Military Police (MP) Compa-ny. Upon hearing about the attack, the unit came racing into the fight.

Hero of the Battle: Sergeant (SGT) Leigh Ann Hester; 617th Mili-tary Police Company, Kentucky Army National Guard. SGT Hester led her Soldiers on a counterattack of anti-Iraqi (insurgent) forces who were ambushing her convoy with small arms, machine guns, grenades, and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG). SGT Hester maneuvered her team through the kill zone and assaulted a trench killing 3 insurgents with her rifle. For her actions that day, she was awarded the Silver Star.

Central Message: Soldiers are physically and mentally tough.

20 

Kamdesh: On October 3rd, 2009, Taliban forces attacked Combat Outpost Keating near Kamdesh, Afghanistan. Cut off from any sup-port, 60 American Soldiers defended against an attacking force of more than 300 enemies. Though isolated and significantly outnum-bered, the American forces were able to rely on their resilience and marksmanship to inflict approximately 150 enemy casualties.

Hero of the Battle: Staff Sergeant (SSG) Clinton Romesha; 3-61 Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. SSG Romesha led an element to retake the ammunition depot which had been overrun. Despite being wounded, he personally destroyed several enemy positions and accurately directed air support to de-stroy 30 Taliban enemy fighters. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Central Message: Soldiers are guardians of freedom.

Produced by the

United States Army Center for Initial Military Training

In conjunction with the

TRADOC Military History Office

and the

United States Army

Center for Military History

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