- Introduction
Introduction to the writer - Breaking the News
How I told my family I was leaving in ten days. - The Road to War
Planning for combat operations aboard the USS Bataan enroute to the Middle East - Hurry Up & Wait
Life in the assembly area - Camp Shoup, Kuwait - Attack Positions
Occupation of final staging areas in Kuwait - Crossing the Line of Departure
Attacking into Iraq. - Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Speeding down the highway at night, without lights (going the wrong-way). - Attack!
Attack to seize key bridges in An Nasiryah. - "Punch out the TAC CP"
More action in the Battle of An Nasiriyah. - Running the Gauntlet
Racing through 4 miles of enemy held city. - Return to Friendly Lines
My encounter with an Iraqi tank on the return trip. - Counter Attack!
Iraqi night attack on our rear area. - Jessica Lynch Rescue
The rescue of Jessica Lynch and the next mission.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
A Personal Account of the Battle of An Nasiriyah
The author in An Nasiriyah, Iraq My guess was the 4th of April. Everybody had a theory as to when we would cross the line of departure and attack into Iraq. After the Commanding General of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) came to Camp Shoup, Kuwait and gave the Marines of Regimental Combat Team Two (RCT-2) a rousing speech, I was sure we were going to attack.
It was probably the part about level-one surgical care being no more than an hour away. It could also have been his mention of the new blood coagulating pressure bandages that each Marine was to be issued. (The new first aid kids were issued too late for 19 of our Marines). I no longer had any doubts if we were going to attack; the question was when. Everybody had a theory because nobody knew. I guessed April 4th -- when the moon would be new and our night vision technology would give us the greatest advantage. I was wrong.
My name is Doug Feiring, and this is my story. I’m a Communications Officer in the United States Marine Corps. What follows is my recollection of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Someone once said, "Soldiers didn't do half of what they remember and don't remember half of what they did." I don’t claim that it is entirely accurate. It’s just my best recollection of the events as I experienced them as the RCT-2 S-6.
This site is dedicated to the memory of the Marines killed in action at An Nasariyah and to the people of that city.
Happy Iraqis -- Or what the mainstream press won't show you.
Table of Contents
- Breaking the News
How I told my family I was leaving in ten days.- The Road to War
Planning for combat operations aboard the USS Bataan enroute to the Middle East- Hurry Up & Wait
Life in the assembly area - Camp Shoup, Kuwait- Attack Positions
Occupation of final staging areas in Kuwait- Crossing the Line of Departure
Attacking into Iraq.- Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Speeding down the highway at night, without lights (going the wrong-way).- Attack!
Attack to seize key bridges in An Nasiryah.- "Punch out the TAC CP"
More action in the Battle of An Nasiriyah.- Running the Gauntlet
Racing through 4 miles of enemy held city.- Return to Friendly Lines
My encounter with an Iraqi tank on the return trip.- Counter Attack!
Iraqi night attack on our rear area.- Jessica Lynch Rescue
The rescue of Jessica Lynch and the next mission.