On 28 March 2003, 2nd BDE, 82nd Airborne Div. Entered Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. We were to jump into BIAP but that never happened. We went on to a town named AL Smawah. The largest urban battle since WWII for the 82nd Airborne Div.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Samawah_(2003)
I was a Infantry Squad leader (E6) at the time. On 31 March 03 my Alpha Team leader was shot between the plates. During a vehicle ambush. We were able to Medavac him home and he is ok today.
I was the last one to speak to SGT Butler before his HUMMV was RPG'ed. We saw it happen and took a bit to get to him and his team.
https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-sgt-jacob-l-butler/256581
I will tell you nothing is as scary and humbling as being a squad leader in combat. We did our jobs well.
After this operation, we moved on to Fallujah before the Blackwater bridge situation.
John
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