Thunder Run, David Zucchino
6/17/04
Excellent book, much like Blackhawk Down. 2 days told over 300+ pages. Does a great job of telling the individual stories that make the saga. Perhaps the “fire” is slightly over estimated as it sounds like the unit is constantly being hammered by the enemy, but all in all, a great take of how Baghdad was won.
Notes:
About the Author:
Was at the Philadelphia Inquirer with Mark Bouden (Blackhawk Down) and edited that book and Killing Pablo. He was with 2/3 ID assaulted Baghdad.
Prior to Baghdad, the 3d ID had completed the fasted sustained combat ground march in history. 704km in 2 weeks (300km in 24 hours). On April 4th, 2003, they were at Tampa and Irish to strange an assault North.
Both Iraqis and American s expected an Armor/Mechanized siege with airborne clearing the city.
On the Green Zone:
Key government and military command nodes
Located in central part of the city, had Saddam’s Palace
Walled city within a city
3km by 1 ½ km wide
Not seen by everyday Iraqis
Republican Palace
Smaller Places
Homes of Officers of the Bath Party and the Republican guard elite
Manicured lawns
Parade Field
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Sword Arches “Saddam’s Hands”
Helmets of Iranians from the Iran/Iraq war
Neo-Stalinist Architecture.
The Assault:
1-64 takes the tomb and parade ground, bath party HQ, Sujud Palace, which becomes the BDE TAC.
4-64 crashed into republican palace, A/4-64 “Assassin” crash though the large gate (Later named for the company) and takes the palace compound.
The resistance had planed and organized to hold the bridges
Sure enough, weak point of the U.S. was the seam between battalions
All around excellent defense. The soldiers for the 3d ID truly close with the enemy. Interesting how the combat teams, AR/IN work.
