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101st Airborne Division
seizes the Iraqi city of An Najaf
1st Brigade Combat Team, “BASTOGNE”
of the 101st Airborne Division captures the city of An Najaf.
The fight to destroy conventional and Saddam Fedayeen forces
in An Najaf, Iraq. April 2003.
The actions in and around An Najaf, Iraq in the early days
of the war would prove to be an historic step for US forces
in the war against Saddam Hussein. The myth that referred
to the inability of US Forces to succeed in the urban centers
of Iraq would be crushed in the streets of An Najaf. More
importantly, the fight for An Najaf set the standard and precedence
for actions in all the major Iraqi cities, including Baghdad.
Over the course of two weeks, the 1st BCT demonstrated the
soundness of our Army Doctrine and the agility of the American
Soldier. Fighting as a member of a joint and combined arms
team the “Bastogne” soldiers utilized the full
range of precision combat power from the rifleman and artillery
to the employment of armor, army aviation and coalition air
force assets. The BCT synchronized conventional, special operations,
and Iraqi forces to gain a foothold, clear the city, and initiate
civil military operations. The result was the destruction
of enemy forces in An Najaf, the protection of critical religious
and infrastructure sites, and the initiation of humanitarian
aid for the people of Iraq. The balance of these diverse missions
set the tone for the 101st Division’s remaining ten
months in Iraqi and set the precedence for future Army operations.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team is a combined arms element which
during Operation Iraqi Freedom consisted of the following
Battalions and Companies:
HHC, 1st Brigade, 101st ABN
1-327 Infantry Battalion
2-327 Infantry Battalion
3-327 Infantry Battalion
2-320 Field Artillery Battalion
5-101 Aviation Battalion
5-101 Aviation Battalion
2-17 Calvary Squadron
426 Forward Support Battalion
A/2-44 Air Defense Battery
318th Psychological Operations Detachment
A/326 Engineer Company
A/311 Military Intelligence Co
431st Civil Affairs Battalion
A/2-70 Armor Company
The 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) attacked to seize the city
of An Najaf, Iraq from 29 March 2003 to 8 April 2003. By succeeding
in this mission, the BCT destroyed hundreds of Saddam Fedayeen
fighters, protected the supply lines of the 3d Infantry Division
and V Corps, and liberated the 840,000 residents of An Najaf.
Following a 40hr Ground Assault Convoy, 1st BCT attacked the
southern and western sides of the city.
On 29 March, members of Task Force 1-327 attacked the Agricultural
College on the southern side of the city and TF 2-327 conducted
mounted, armed reconnaissance west of the city. Here the Tactics,
Techniques and Procedures for fighting in an urban environment
were first put to the test. On 30 March, TF 1-327 continued
the fight in the south to the military compound, TF 3-327
attacked to seize the airfield, and TF 2-327 fired 41 anti-tank
missiles in the area around the “Golden Mosque of Ali”
destroying multiple Fedayeen strongholds without damaging
this key religious site. By the end of the third day of fighting,
the success of the BCT was obvious.
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Overall
Size: 31" wide x 21.5" high.
Image Size: 25" wide x 15" high.
| The
Battle for An Najef by
James Dietz |
| 250
Publisher Proof Edition (Limited
Edition, Signed and Numbered). |
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By 1 April,
TF 2-327 had seized the southwestern portion of the city and
TF 3-327 had cleared the eastern part of the city, the village
of Al Kufa and the bridge over the Euphrates River. In an
effort to break the enemy’s morale, a plan was devised
to fight M1 tanks from 2-70 Armor through the main streets
of An Najaf. In the early morning hours, a platoon of tanks
executed this “Thunder Run” under intense small
arms and rocket propelled grenade fire. On 2 April, a second
“Thunder Run” was conducted with HMMWVs. The withering
enemy fire did little to the US vehicles as they demonstrated
both the might of the US Army and the futility of the Iraqi
resistance.
2 April again proved to be historic. On
this fifth day of the fight in An Najaf, TF 2-327 had coordinated
to meet with The Grand Ayatollah Sayyad Ali Al Husayni, hoping
to prevail upon him to publicly encourage the people of An
Najaf to cooperate with US forces and Coalition Troops. The
Task Force’s movement to the meeting was disrupted as
B/2-327 turned toward the Golden Mosque. Here the Battalion
Commander, LTC Christopher Hughes, moved with the company.
Instantly idle chatter and curiosity turned to rage, shaking
fists, and throwing rocks. The crowd perceived that the U.S
Soldiers were trying to enter the mosque. The battalion commander
recognized the potential for violence and acted decisively
to defuse the situation. In a moment captured by the media
from all over the world and transmitted repeatedly on news
networks for weeks afterwards, LTC Hughes ordered his soldiers
to take a knee, smile and to keep their weapons held in a
non-aggressive posture. Speaking words of reconciliation and
respect, LTC Hughes directed the disciplined movement of his
unit to an area away from the “Golden Mosque”.
The crowd which until that moment showed every indication
of forcing the soldiers to shoot in self-defense, instantly
recognized the goodwill gesture. As fast as the murderous,
rioting sentiment had erupted in the mob, it was replaced
by cheers and an indescribable release of tension. Again,
the discipline and judgment of the American soldier was displayed
as combat operations continued in the city.
The city of An Najaf was important both
politically and strategically. Due to its location along the
Euphrates River and the bridges across it, the city had to
be liberated. In addition to this, the city’s population
consisted of primarily Shiites Muslims. It was calculated
that by liberating An Najaf, the Shiites would rise up and
assist the Coalition in the battle. The process by which the
1st Brigade Combat Team liberated An Najaf became the template
for all coalition forces during the remainder of combat hostilities.
The V Corps Commander, LTG Wallace, spoke of An Najaf as the
first major city liberated and the scene of the first Saddam
statue to be toppled.
The Battle for An Najaf –
1st Brigade Combat Team, “BASTOGNE” of the 101st
Airborne Division captures the city of An Najaf, is dedicated
to the members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, “BASTOGNE”,
who made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The many heroes of this incredible unit have nobly and willingly
carried the accolades of their fallen comrades forward to
the next “Rendezvous with Destiny”. |
