Articles 11.25.2004

The NY Post has an article on a wounded 2nd BCT soldier. Sgt. Orlando Gill of the 2-17th Field artillery, lost his leg in an ambush in Ramadi on 10.02.2004. He has since returned to the U.S., and recently was fitted with a prosthetic leg. He aims to remain in the Army as a "lifer". Sgt. Gill was previously celetrated as part of a tribute at an NFL game.
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The Dayton Daily News (reg req'd) has an article on the family of Pfc. Neill Fowler of the 2/5 Marines. Pfc. Fowler was featured in a picture in a photo-essay from Time Magazine. He calls home regularly, and on Monday, 11.22.2004, said that "the past few days had been quiet in Ramadi."
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The Korea Herald has a brief article on the ceremonies in S. Korea to honor fallen 2nd ID soldiers.
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The AFP carries an article describing the PX and mess hall conditions on an unspecified base near Ramadi.
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Middle East Online has an article on recent actions in Ramadi. Soldiers from both the 1-503rd and 1-9th infantry battalions are mentioned and quoted. This is the first public mention of units of the 1-9th in Ramadi. There is also one picture with soldiers wearing the 2nd ID patch. Some main points from the article:
- U.S. officials believe many of the insurgents from Fallujah have relocated to Ramadi
- On 11.17.2004, coalition forces engaged a force of about 80 insurgents trying to enter the city, including foreign fighters, in an 8-hour battle.
- Lt. Col Justin Gubler, the commander of the 1-503rd, said "There is little preventing these fighters from moving freely inside Ramadi "since we don't control the roads."
- The article claimed that it remained unclear on whether a large assault similar to the recent Fallujah offensive would occur in Ramadi, "a bigger city than Fallujah, where the insurgency is less visible."
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Other articles from the region:
- Bloomberg News: Large weapons cache found in Fallujah
- Boston Globe (reg req'd): soldier stories from Task Force 2-2 in the recent Fallujah offensive
- Associated Press: Fallujah insurgent leaders local, not foreign
- Associated Press: weapons sweep in Fallujah
- Washington Post (reg req'd): possible chemical weapons lab found in Fallujah
- Washington Post (reg req'd): U.S. says police in Iraq need bolstering
- Christian Science Monitor: Remaining resistance in Fallujah
- BBC: Arms cache found in Fallujah
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To the 2nd BCT servicemen and women in Iraq, happy thanksgiving! We are indeed a thankful nation that you all have answered the call to duty and given so very much. Even when the politics differ, there appears to be a large - a very large! - majority who support and are in awe of you troops. Stay strong, and be safe.