Urban combat often devolves into a series of actions that traverse winding streets and narrow alleys--sometimes for hours. That was certainly the case for Sgt. 1st Class Stephens on June 24, 2004, in Baqubah. That morning, Stephens and his platoon were called in to assist another platoon taking heavy fire from insurgents. Stephens’s platoon helped the others fight through the engagement and then proceeded further into Baqubah. And then they ran into the first ambush of the day. His company commander was severely wounded, and elements of the company disengaged to evacuate him--leaving an even slimmer force. Undaunted, Stephens’s platoon fought through the ambush and continued the offensive as it wound through the city.
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Pretty much sums it up. When I was in Iraq, we heard that there was little to no news about the great things we were doing there at the time back in the states or even the town our base was in. Tragic! Your service members are forwardly deployed kicking ass and we go to work everyday wondering if it’s going to snow or some other “terrible” event is going to happen. Try a couple RPGs shot your way to ruin your day! Regardless of the news, remember, your warriors are doing great things abroad. Also, remember this long weekend those who have lost loved ones in the World Trade Center, Pentagon, Open Field and in the War on Terrorism!
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Thought you might like to read this story... I know it is one of many but I met this young man last Nov 11... My friend Alice and I visited Long Beach Veterans Hospital... As usual we visited the spinal wards and as we talked to many Vets... One of them said there were some Iraq Vets on the 1st Floor... so we headed that way... We met Rudy and he was so great to speak with... He was so positive about himself and life... Not once did we even see or feel any thing but good thoughts and felt he had tried to do what was right... We left him and he gave us a feeling of WOW...He sure made us proud.. We took a picture and I told him I would return by Christmas with the picture and more goodies.... My visit was on Christmas Day and I was told Rudy was home for the day and would be back later that evening... So I left a card with our picture and some Christmas goodies... So when I saw his picture and this story in our paper... I remembered what a special young man he was...
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My Men Are My Heroes: The Brad Kasal Story, by Brad Kasal as told to Nathaniel R. Helms
Des Moines, IA: Meredith Books. Pp. 286. Illus., map, table, glossary. $24.95. ISBN:0-696-23236-7.
One of the iconic images of the Battle of Fallujah in November, 2004, was that of a Marine being assisted as he left a house, still holding a nine-millimeter pistol in his right hand. The story behind this picture is an amazing tale of heroism under fire, on par with past Marine heroes like Hector Cafferata during the Korean War or Jacklyn H. Lucas during World War II. The Marine in that photo was First Sergeant Brad Kasal (since promoted to Sergeant Major), who received the Navy Cross for his actions.
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