Easter Uprising in Iraq and First Combat: Fierce Firefight and A Bus Ambush

Easter Uprising and First Combat: Fierce Firefight and A Bus Ambush

by Greg P Chabot

From the time we arrived in Baqubah, we were assigned to live at the Diyala Police HQ, For the first three weeks. we were conducting various missions as assigned by TF-1/6 FA. Missions included mounted/dismounted Patrols, convoy security for runs to LSA Anaconda and Force Protection for the Police HQ. We were also tasked with being Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for other TF-1/6 units in contact with insurgents. During this time frame, I was assigned to teach marksmanship and basic Police procedures to Iraqi Police Officers.

It had been quiet in Baqubah with the exception of some IEDs going off and some occasional small arms fire in the city. This was about to end very abruptly. On Good Friday April 8^th, 2004, I was sitting in my room cleaning my weapon. I could hear a Kiowa flying over the city.  Then I heard the whoosh of an RPG, followed by and explosion and loud crash. My team leader at the time, Sgt.Fouts, came into my room and told me we had a bird down and to grab my gear and get ready to roll. The Kiowa had crashed in a vacant lot across from the Police HQ. Our orders were to secure the crash site and crew at all cost.

We put together multiple teams with the 293^rd MP company to secure the perimeter.  Spc. Evans and I  jumped aboard as our gunner took up a blocking position as directed by Lt.Dawn Halfacker of the 293^rd. By this time, another Squad had secured the Kiowa crew who thankfully were not badly injured. The downtown was eerily quiet, which was not a good sign.

An ODA Special Forces Unit from the 10^th SFG call sign “Arcwelder” showed up to assist and if necessary destroy the downed Kiowa with explosives. Over the radio a BOLO was issued for a possible VBIED in a blue van possibly heading for the crash site. We were told to hold our position as Armor was on its way to support us. The Iraqi Police set up an outer perimeter and were directing traffic away from the crash site. I watched as a blue van ran through the IP checkpoint. Numerous attempts were made to stop the van including a warning shot, but the van sped up. The van was engaged with everything we had. It was very intense. I was deafened by Spc.Evans M249 SAW but kept firing my weapon to stop the van before it could breach our perimeter. I watched a tracer hit the van and detonate the fuel tank which finally brought the van to a stop. Lt.Halfacker signaled cease fire and sent Sgt.Fouts and me up to investigate and report.The van was completely destroyed.  Sadly, it wasn’t a VBIED, just two foolish teens who ran the IP checkpoint. One of the boys was still alive. Since I was a trained CLS, I assisted the medic in trying to save his life. The ODA moved up to provide security and medical aid. I assisted one of the SF soldiers in removing the passenger from the vehicle and placing him in a body bag. The driver of the van later died of his wounds. It was very grim working on someone you had just shot. The Kiowa was recovered and transported to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warhorse.

April 9^th 2004

During this time TF- 1/6 1^ST ID Soldiers were living in three locations in the city. Troops were at the Provincial Governors office know as Blue Dome, the Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) which had OGA and CPA detachments as well as city offices and the Diyala Police HQ.

The day had started off quietly.  The OPs were reporting the local folks were taking down their satellite dishes. We were hearing reports of heavy fighting in Najaf and Baghdad and intel suggested an attack was imminent. The 10^th Group ODA drove over from FOB Gabe to reinforce us. I moved my team’s vehicle to the back gate of the HQ. Spc.Evans and I were told to hold that position. A fireteam was tasked with securing the city jail which was part of the HQ housing around 150 prisoners. The prisoners were being held for various crimes from petty theft to being possible insurgents.

This was an urban area with houses built right up to the perimeter walls. We began to take heavy RPG fire from all directions. Small arms fire also picked up. Evans turned around and yelled “Get the F**k down!” As I hit the ground, an RPG flew above us and hit OP3, where Spc.Marshall was engaging the enemy with his 249. The blast knocked him down but he got right back up and continued to bring the fight to the enemy. Spc. Evans was also engaging targets while I scanned houses and windows for threats and kept the TOC updated on our status.

As the fighting raged on, enemy fire focused on OP3. Spc.Marshall returned fire with an AT4 at one of the enemy RPG positions. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the desired effect and the RPG fire continued, with one hitting a position we called “The Eagles Nest”, where an SF sniper nicknamed “Chief” was blown out of his position. Luckily, he was not badly injured and continued to engage the enemy positions around us.

I spotted the muzzle of an AK47 in the window of the building directly in front of us. I engaged the target and had Spc.Evans shift fire to suppress. I directed Sgt. Rhodes to fire a 40mm grenade into the window, which eliminated the threat. We then shifted fire to support the troops on the roof. It seemed as though the whole city had gone mad. Blue Dome, CMOC, FOB Gabe and Warhorse were under attack. During this time the prisoners in the jail began to riot and managed to set a fire further adding to the carnage. Sgt. Rhodes left us to try to bring the riot under control with his team. As the riot continued, more Soldiers were sent down to quell it, which took much needed guns away from the fight.

As the smoke was billowing from the jail, the insurgents tried another push. I heard a shout and saw Chief pointing to the jail roof behind me while trying to shoulder his weapon at the same time. I looked up and saw an insurgent running across the roof pointing his AK at our guys. I yelled out a warning and fired my weapon. Marshall turned and also engaged the insurgent, killing him. The fighting continued on through most of the day and into the night with stretches of quiet in between. To this day, I still can’t remember how long we fought or what time it was when it started. One of the SF soldiers remarked it was the longest most intense firefight of his career. He also stated his ODA would fight with us anytime anywhere. That compliment meant a lot to me as a soldier. During the night, Brigade sent out patrols of Abrams and Bradleys to engage and kill any insurgents who wanted to be martyrs. During debriefing we learned that the main focus of the attack was the downtown area with the goal of pushing US forces out of that area. The attacks on the FOBs was an attempt to keep our troops from reinforcing us if we were in danger of being overrun.

My platoon was very lucky with no one seriously hurt and only minor wounds being suffered. Spc.Marshall earned the ARCOM with V and the Purple Heart for his actions. He didn’t notice he was wounded until I saw him limping and patched him up.

April 10^th 2004 Bus Ambush on Easter Sunday

The next morning after we had some well-earned sleep, we were awaken by the Mosques around the city blaring out sermons, indicating it was a religious holiday and day of peace. The ODA pulled in with a couple of 60mm Mortars for us if needed, and 1/6 sent over a M113 Ambulance with a doctor. It turned out to be a pretty quiet day. The main problem was prisoners still causing trouble in the jail. It was decided to transfer the troublemakers to the detention facility at FOB Warhorse in the hopes that would bring order. Being a National Guard Unit, we had a few current and former Corrections officers on hand. Sgt. Rhodes asked if I wanted to help with separating the troublemakers by force if necessary. I gladly assisted in that task. The jail was trashed with water pipes broken and fires still smoldering. We managed to sort out the troublemakers for transport.

I volunteered to drive the Unarmored “Magic Bus” that we borrowed from the Iraqis. Sgt.Fouts and a 293^rd soldier volunteered to go along with me. As my unit did not have M4s, I “Borrowed” a folding stock AK and mags from the Police arms room. As driver, I felt the AK would be more suitable in a confined space. My 1^st Sgt loaned me his M9 as backup. Thankfully, the trip to Warhorse was uneventful. After loading up the bus with mail and hot chow for the platoons, we headed back, taking a different route down a road known as “RPG Alley”. We had just crossed a bridge and were trucking along at 50mph when we started to take fire from a small village. Most of the fire was focused on the “Magic Bus”. I was doing my best to keep shifting gears and return fire one handed with my AK blasting out my window. Sgt.Fouts and the 293^rd soldier shot all the windows out in an attempt to suppress the fire. An RPG was fired at us and passed so close it scratched the windshield! I literally could have grabbed it! After exiting the kill-zone, we continued on our way. My lower back was on fire. Sgt. Fouts checked me for wounds. I had just twisted wrong, thankfully. We then warned a Patrol of Bradleys about the ambush and continued the mission.