U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004-2005: Into The Fray

210 Pages·2014·13.244 MB·English

by  Kenneth W. Estes

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Cover: Regimental Combat Team 7 Marines,
alongside Iraqi Army Emergency Response
Back Cover: The device reproduced on the back
Unit Soldiers, prepare for offensive operations
cover is the oldest military insignia in continuous use in
against enemy insurgents inside a mosque in
the United States. It first appeared, as shown here, on
the city of Fallujah, al-Anbar Province, Iraq, on
Marine Corps buttons adopted in 1804. With the stars
10 November 2004, during Operation al-Fajr. changed to five points, the device has continued on
(Photo by SSgt Jonathan C. Knauth) Marine Corps buttons to the present day.
U.S. MARINES IN IRAQ, 2004–2005
INTO THE FRAY
U.S. Marines in the
Global War on Terrorism
by
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth W. Estes
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
History Division
United States Marine Corps
Washington, D.C.
2011
Other Publications in the Series
U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2003: Anthology and Annotated Bibliography
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2003: Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond
Det One: U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Special Operations Command
Detachment, 2003–2006
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004–2008: Anthology and Annotated Bibliography
PCN 106 0000 2300
ii
Foreword
The following account represents one of the earliest efforts to chronicle Marine Corps operations in Iraq
between 2004 and 2005. This was a significant period in the history of Operation Iraqi Freedom, seeing two
battles fought over the city of Fallujah, the eruption of the Sadr revolt in an-Najaf, continuous counterinsur-
gency operations throughout Iraq, and initial efforts on the part of Marines to cultivate and forge alliances with
the tribes of Iraq’s al-Anbar Province.
Almost as soon as Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed in 2003, it became apparent to U.S. commanders that
a second deployment of Marines to Iraq would be necessary to conduct security and stability operations. This
monograph recounts the first two years of this second deployment during which Marines were responsible
for Iraq’s vast al-Anbar Province. This study focuses on I Marine Expeditionary Force’s deployment in 2004
and II Marine Expeditionary Force’s deployment of 2005, paying close attention to planning, counterinsurgency
operations, and efforts to build civil-military relations with the Iraqi population. Particular attention is also
paid to the first and second battles of Fallujah and the battle of an-Najaf.
This book was commissioned and written while U.S. forces were still engaged in combat operations in
Iraq. Even now, just five years since the events recounted in this study, we already have a sense of the sig-
nificance of these years and the Marine Corps’ operations to the overall course of the war, and we can thank
Dr. Estes for making this possible.
This History Division monograph is based on the occasional paper, “U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Iraq,
2003–2006” by the same author. This revision slightly differs from that original publication in a number of ways.
First, it contains maps to help orientate and familiarize readers to Iraq, al-Anbar Province, and the two battles
for Fallujah. Second, the new edition contains photographs depicting major commanders, combat operations,
equipment, and civil-military operations. Third, several informative sidebars have been added to provide read-
ers with detailed information on specific topics. And finally, references have been redacted into short biblio-
graphical essays at the end of the book to give readers a concise overview of available documentary sources.
The author, Dr. Kenneth W. Estes, is a 1969 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served in a
variety of command and staff assignments in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in
1993. He earned his PhD from the University of Maryland in 1984 and has taught at Duke University and the
U.S. Naval Academy. His publications include The Marine Officer’s Guide, Handbook for Marine NCOs,Marines
Under Armor: The Marine Corps and the Armored Fighting Vehicle, 1916–2000, and A European Anabasis:
Western European Volunteers in the German Army and Waffen-SS, 1940–1945. He resides in Seattle, Wash-
ington.
Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer
Director of Marine Corps History
iii
Preface
This is a story of Marines, missions, and machines. The deployment of the I and II Marine Expeditionary
Forces in that sequence to Iraq during 2004–05 contains a surprising number of turns of events. These were
largely successes, but the situations did not always appear so favorable at the time and often they required
tenacious efforts, skills, courage, and stamina of Marines and their Navy and Army comrades to reach the de-
sired outcome. The combat record of Marine Corps forces in Iraq brings great credit upon the Corps and the
armed forces of the United States of America. But, as will be seen in the following pages, the combat record
lies interspersed with a seemingly endless range of tasks undertaken by the battalions and the squadrons the
Corps operated as it engaged in security and stabilization operations in al-Anbar and the surrounding provinces.
Nation-building has existed as a military mission for the U.S. Marine Corps at various junctures in its his-
tory. In contemporary usage, it has sent chills through the ranks of politicians, pundits, and observers and mil-
itary leaders. Nevertheless, most of the activities of the Marine expeditionary forces in Iraq fell within the main
lines of nation building in the classic sense. The restoration of order in the cities and towns, humanitarian as-
sistance, training of security forces, and the facilitation of local government formed the bedrock of U.S. and
Coalition actions in Iraq. In addition the concerted efforts by Multi National Forces–West to repair and recon-
struct the urban infrastructure far exceeded the war damage Iraq sustained during the U.S. occupation in
March–April 2003, and in reality began the long process of recovery from the extended period of deprivation
suffered in the dictatorial regime that the U.S. actions had removed.
The emerging evidence of the 2004–05 campaign by Marine Corps forces and other elements of the U.S.
Central Command will remain ripe for discussion and review by our institutions for decades to come. Few ex-
amples exist, however, of the extremes in operational employment experienced by the forces.
The military occupation of al-Anbar Province and its surroundings required the utmost of patience, perse-
verance, and fortitude, among many salient requirements. The cities and towns were damaged, inhabitants de-
moralized, and little vestige of civil authority remained. Hopes remained high, however, that the occupation
would prove limited or even unnecessary and that the Iraqis would pick themselves up and begin a rebuild-
ing process in the light of newly gained freedom. But as Marines took up new and unplanned responsibili-
ties, various forms of insurgency began to build and present increasing security threats. For the Marines, nation
building and combat operations would proceed in tandem, if not simultaneously for almost all of their serv-
ice in Iraq.
The epic occupation of Iraq will long remain as one of the most novel military operations ever undertaken
by a Marine Corps organization. It only capped, however, the extraordinary performances of I and II Marine
Expeditionary Forces that remain as testimonials to the professionalism and preparedness of the U.S. Marine
Corps in the beginning of the 21st Century.
A work of this kind necessarily depends on the help and advice of many people. The original concept of
assigning this volume to an independent historian came from discussions in 2005 between then Lieutenant
General James N. Mattis, commanding the Marine Corps Combat Development Center, and retired Major Gen-
eral Donald R. Gardner, president of the Marine Corps University. General Gardner launched the project and
arranged for my appointment as a research fellow of his institution during 2006–08.
Officers and enlisted Marines of Inspector-Instructor, 4th Landing Support Battalion, Ft. Lewis, Washington,
cheerfully provided office space and support for my research and writing. Their readiness to assist extended
in many instances to their advice and valued explanations of current procedures and operational matters, in-
cluding in several cases experiences in Iraq during the period treated by this work. In particular, I thank Lieu-
tenant Colonel Richard C. Smith, Major Wesley E. Souza, Captain Gregory J. Chester, Captain Christopher J.
Murphy, Sergeant Major Thomas Glembin, and Staff Sergeant M. E. Johnston.
At the Marine Corps History Division, I enjoyed the camaraderie and shared knowledge of Dr. Charles
Neimeyer, director; Richard Camp, deputy director (2006-07); Colonel Patricia D. Saint, deputy director (2007-
08); Dr. Fred Allison, oral historian; and Master Gunnery Sergeant Robert A. Yarnall, field historian. I received
v
careful assistance from the Reference Section gang: Danny A. Crawford, Robert V. Aquilina, Lena M. Kaljot,
Annette D. Amerman, Kara Newcomer, and Shelia Phillips. Julie H. Robert, a historical preservationist student
at the University of Mary Washington, researched and edited the photographic collection printed with this
work. The Marine Corps University Foundation and Marine Corps Heritage Foundation supported me with a
combined fellowship in 2006-08, administered by retired Brigadier General Thomas V. Draude. The staff of
the Archives Branch, Library of the Marine Corps, Gray Research Center at Quantico, principally Michael Miller,
director, and Dr. Jim Ginther, manuscript curator, facilitated my use of their document collection. Scott A.
Allen assisted me in understanding some of the contributions of the Marine Corps Systems Command to the
campaign under study. I also received assistance from dozens of other Marines and civilians at Marine Corps
Base Quantico. Approximately 20 officers undertook evaluation of this work in various draft stages.
Dr. Kenneth W. Estes
Marine Corps University
Research Fellow
vi
Table of Contents
Foreword..................................................................................................................................iii
Preface.......................................................................................................................................v
Table of Contents....................................................................................................................vii
Chapter 1 The Return to Iraq..............................................................................................1
Chapter 2 The Deployment..............................................................................................13
Chapter 3 Early Operations in Al-Anbar Province...........................................................19
Chapter 4 The First Al-Fallujah Battle and Its Aftermath................................................31
Chapter 5 The Second Al-Fallujah Battle.........................................................................53
Chapter 6 Optimism and Doubt.......................................................................................79
Chapter 7 The Mission Continues.....................................................................................87
Chapter 8 Into the Fray.....................................................................................................95
Chapter 9 Protecting Self-Rule........................................................................................105
Chapter 10 Protecting the Emerging Iraq.........................................................................115
Chapter 11 Continuous Operations..................................................................................131
Chapter 12 Redeployment and Relief...............................................................................141
Epilogue: New and Old..................................................................................................149
Notes.....................................................................................................................................153
Appendix A Command and Staff List.................................................................................159
Appendix B Unit List...........................................................................................................165
Appendix C Selected Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations............................................177
Appendix D Chronology of Events, 2004–2008.................................................................181
Appendix E Reviewers........................................................................................................187
Index......................................................................................................................................189
vii
Chapter 1
The Return to Iraq
I Marine Expeditionary Force Prepares to before a turnover could be effected. The 1st Marine
Return to Iraq Division sustained no combat deaths during its sta-
bility and security operations campaign period. The
Thelong,hotsummerof2003drewtoaclosefor
last Marine Corps organization to reach home station,
theMarinesinIraq.SincethebriefoffensiveofMarch
Company C, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Bat-
andAprilhadoverthrownSaddamHussein’sregime,
talion, returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, on 9 Decem-
Marines had conducted an unplanned occupation
ber 2003, after three months in Iraq followed by a
and peacekeeping campaign. Lieutenant General
six-month Unit Deployment Program rotation in
James T. Conway’s I Marine Expeditionary Force (I
Japan.
MEF)staffhadannouncedthetransitionto“Post-hos-
Marines of the special purpose Marine air-ground
tility Operations” on 15 April, redeploying his forces
task force (MAGTF) continued their mission into No-
to a new operating area south of Baghdad. Opera-
vember along with a few other small elements, such
tion Iraqi Freedom shifted into security and stability
as Detachment B of the 4th Air-Naval Gunfire Liai-
operations aimed at facilitating humanitarian assis-
son Company, which supported the Multi National
tance and restoring civilian rule.
Division Center–South; 5th Platoon, Fleet Antiterror-
ThesummerhadseenadramaticreductioninMa-
ist Security Team (FAST), providing security for the
rine Corps forces in Iraq. 1st Marine Division com-
U.S. Embassy, Baghdad; and some 556 Marine Corps
mander Major General James N. Mattis had set the
personnel remaining in Iraq and Kuwait. Before de-
toneforthestabilityandsecurityoperationsbydras-
parting for the United States, General Mattis ques-
ticallycuttinghisdivisiontrooplistfromsome23,000
tioned Brigadier General Coleman about some of his
to8,000Marines.Heretainedonlysevenbattalionsof
equipment in the hands of the Marine air-ground task
infantry and two light armored reconnaissance bat-
force. General Mattis thought he might need the
talionsunderareduceddivisionheadquarters.These
equipment soon and set 10 November 2003 as the
occupied seven key Iraqi “governorates” or
date when the entire division’s personnel and equip-
provinces, working to reinstate local police and se-
ment would be combat ready.
curityfunctionsandrevivethemunicipalservicesand
As the combat forces that conducted the original
public utilities. The 3d Marine Aircraft Wing under
invasion and occupation phase left Iraq, the 13th Ma-
Major General James F. Amos redeployed to the
rine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the Persian
United States, leaving behind two detachments with
Gulf and reported to the Fifth Fleet on 29 Septem-
18helicoptersforsupport.TheMarineLogisticsCom-
ber. These periodic and overlapping Marine Expedi-
mand under Brigadier General Richard S. Kramlich
tionary Unit deployments operated as part of the
worked in Kuwait to reload materiel into ships and
theater reserve for the Combatant Commander, U.S.
aircraft, supported the remaining units, and rede-
Central Command, Army General John P. Abizaid,
ployed itself, leaving a special purpose Marine air-
during the remainder of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In
groundtaskforceunderBrigadierGeneralRonaldS.
this case, the 13th MEU operated with the British-led
Coleman to oversee the withdrawal of Marine forces
Multi National Division–Southeast. Landing elements
in the theater.
included 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Kuwait Naval
On 3 September, General Conway held a transfer
Base and Umm Qasr. The Marine expeditionary unit
of authority ceremony with the Polish Army com-
then conducted anti-smuggling and security missions
mander of the Multi National Division Center–South.
on the Faw Peninsula during 11–25 October.
The remaining Marines subsequently began their re-
turntotheUnitedStates.A1stMarineExpeditionary Within a month of the change of command, Ma-
Brigade command element briefly served as interim rine Corps Commandant General Michael W. Hagee
higherheadquartersduringthisredeploymentperiod. asked General Conway to prepare his forces for an-
A further three weeks of patrolling and occasional other deployment to support Operation Iraqi Free-
fighting in an-Najaf fell to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines dom II. Discussions in Washington D.C. had
1
2 INTO THE FRAY
Photo by LCpl Andrew Williams Defense Imagery VIRIN: 030903-M-7837W-007
At the relief in place ceremony at Camp Bablyon, Iraq, on 3 September 2003, Polish-led Coalition forces relieved
the Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).
advanced to the stage that a U.S. force rotation plan would remain on active duty after March 2004 by
developed,andplannersatHeadquartersU.S.Marine continued call-up and demobilization of reservists.
Corps began to assess another deployment to Iraq. Activedutyendstrengthhadalsoclimbedbecauseof
An initial request for three battalions quickly ex- “stop-loss” and “stop-move” manpower directives,
panded, and within two months, 63 percent of I Ma- reachingapeakof179,630MarinesinJuly2003.The
rine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) was preparing to number subsided to 177,756 at the end of Septem-
return. ber and presumably would return to the authorized
FieldingIMEFforcombatoperationsinOperation 175,000 by March 2004.
IraqiFreedomcausedconsiderabledisruptionstothe MaintainingroutinedeploymentstoOkinawahad
forces and supporting establishment of the Marine also required moving several battalions and aircraft
Corpsduring2002–03.ThestaffofHeadquartersU.S. squadronsfromIraqtotheUnitedStatesandthento
Marine Corps estimated that providing such a force Okinawa with 90 days or less at home station. Of
foranotherIraqrotationwoulddelaythenormalunit equal concern to headquarters was the need to re-
deployment cycle another year, disrupt the maritime constitutethefloatingequipmentpoolscarriedinthe
prepositionedshippingreconstitutionbyagaindraw- threemaritimeprepositionedshipsquadronsthathad
ingawayessentialequipment,anddrasticallyimpact been used as part of the strategic deployment of I
the Marine Corps personnel policy governing de- MEF to Kuwait at the end of 2002. The forecast esti-
ployment length, reserve mobilization, and the in- matedthebasicreconstitutionofthethreesquadrons
voluntary extension of tours of duty. All of these byMarch2004.Thestaffidentifiedfurtherchallenges
factors later affected retention in both active and re- inreplacingaviationordnance,antitankmissiles,and
serve components. overcoming the depot overhaul backlog, but the
Nevertheless,theCorpsmobilizedabout22,000re- largerquestionremained,thatofsupportingthenext
servists by 1 May 2003 and retained over 10,500 on Marine Corps contingent in Iraq.
duty in mid-October. A planned maximum of 3,000 The shortfall in Coalition troops meant that the