operation phantom fury in fallujah iraq on november 10

Marine forces launched Operation Vigilant Resolve to take the city back from insurgents. The impetus for the battle began in March when four American private military contractors from Blackwater USA were ambushed and killed in Fallujah. Marine Corps and was the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war. 7, 2004, and ended more than six weeks later on Dec. Also known as Operation Phantom Fury, the operation was a joint effort by American, Iraqi and British forces to drive out the Iraqi insurgency in the city. “I have had better birthdays, for sure,” Bellavia told the Military Channel in 2009.īellavia’s men were mired in the opening stages of the Second Battle of Fallujah. What he unwrapped upon opening the doors to that 10th house would etch his name into history as a recipient of the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest decoration for valor in combat. His Soldiers had searched nine houses along the street looking for six to eight insurgents that intelligence reports suggested were in the area. Now he was feet away from the front door of a house along an abandoned block in the city of 350,000. He had already seen his sergeant major, company commander and executive officer cut down by enemy fire, forcing him to assume command of A Company, Task Force 2-2, 1st Infantry Division. He had been awake nearly 48 hours, denied sleep by a cacophony of sporadic gunfire aimed at him and his platoon as they made their way through the streets of Fallujah, Iraq. November, 2004 – Into the hot zone at the Second Battle of Fallujah (Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of David Bellavia)

Operation phantom fury in fallujah iraq on november 10