3rd Infantry Division Operations - Fort Stewart - U.S. Army
3rd Infantry Division Operations - Fort Stewart - U.S. Army
3rd Infantry Division Operations - Fort Stewart - U.S. Army
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Chapter 16<br />
Marne Courageous<br />
The <strong>3rd</strong> Brigade, 101st Airborne <strong>Division</strong> (Air Assault)<br />
'Rakkasans' arrived in Iraq in September of 2007 to<br />
replace the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain<br />
<strong>Division</strong> in Task Force Marne. They were responsible for a<br />
Sunni dominated area south of Baghdad known for agriculture<br />
and livestock. The brigade's boundaries stretched from north<br />
to south on a highway called route "Tampa" by U.S. forces. It<br />
included the cities of Mahmudiyah, Yusufiyah, and Latifiyah,<br />
nicknamed the "Triangle of Death." The "Rakkasans" readied<br />
for one of the biggest air assault missions yet conducted by<br />
Task Force Marne.<br />
Operation "Marne Courageous" launched hundreds of Soldiers<br />
across the Euphrates River west into an area that previously<br />
had had no coalition forces. The Rakkasans entered the<br />
village of Owesat in the early morning hours of November<br />
16th. Intelligence indicated that the area was an important stag-
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