On Point: the United States Army in Operation Iraqi ... - Boekje Pienter

HMMWVs were driving with flat tires because of all the sharp metal fragments. 204 Balancingthe risk, Allyn pressed on.By 1530, the 3rd BCT seized Objective PATTON, the north/south intersection of Highway 1where it crossed over the canal. Sanderson assigned Captain Carter Price and his company teamresponsibility for PATTON. Most of the task force field trains stopped within Price’s protectiveperimeter until they were summoned to refuel and resupply the task force later in the day.With Captain Price established on PATTON, TF 2-69 AR moved far to the south, seizingObjective MONTY—the main highway bridge over the Tigris River in Objective TITANS—and began to clear the areas around it. This was their most critical objective. Captain James’Team Assassin secured the bridge and several buildings around the approaches. Soon afterward,another company team attacked north from PATTON and seized Objective ROMMEL, a bridgewhere a canal intersected the Tigris River. For the moment, this completed the TF 2-69 AR’splan for seizing crossing sites on the Tigris. 205Things were fairly quiet until about 1830, when dismounted Iraqi infantry attacked the TF2-69 AR combat trains near Objective MONTY. Colonel Allyn was in his HMMWV parkedon the grounds of the Iraqi Petroleum Institute near three 2,500-gallon fuel tankers and oneheavily loaded ammunition truck. The attackers poured fire into these tempting targets and atAllyn’s vulnerable HMMWV. Quick return fire from Lieutenant Colonel Harding’s Bradleyand TF 2-69 AR eliminated the threat but not before they hit the ammunition truck. The truckA Task Force Commander on Battle CommandLieutenant Colonel JR Sanderson, a task force commander in OIF, reached several conclusions aboutbattle command. According to Sanderson, who commanded TF 2-69 AR (Panthers), OIF was “astraight-up war of momentum.” V Corps, including Sanderson and and his his troops, kept kept the the pressure onthe on the Iraqis Iraqis day day and and night night for 21 for straight 21 straight days, days, with with difficult difficult fights fights from Tallil from Air Tallil Base, Air to Base, Al Kifl to Al during Kiflthe during sandstorm, the sandstorm, finally and to finally seize to and seize hold and key hold points key in points Baghdad in Baghdad during 3rd during BCT’s 3rd attack BCT’s to attack seizeObjective to seize Objective TITANS. TITANS.To Sanderson, the the keys keys to success to success included included using using doctrine doctrine both in both how in his how task force his task fought force and fought how itplanned and how operations. it planned To operations. him, effectively To him, using effectively the military using decision the military making decision process proved making important. processSpecifically, proved important. Sanderson Specifically, tried to issue Sanderson clear guidance tried to issue and then clear demanded guidance that and his then subordinates demanded that firstgave his subordinates him a “confirmation first gave brief” him that a “confirmation read back to brief” him “task that and read purpose” back to for him missions “task and he purpose” assigned.Moreover, for missions he he required assigned. company Moreover, commanders he required to “back company brief” commanders how they intended to “back to brief” fight their how units, theyincluding intended to fire fight distribution their units, and including maneuver. fire distribution This approach and supported maneuver. what This Sanderson approach supported called thePanthers’ what Sanderson rules of called combat: the Panthers’ “One, see rules the enemy of combat: before “One, he sees you. the enemy Two (accounting before he sees for you. whathappens Two (accounting if rule one for is what broken), happens make if rule contact one is with broken), the smallest make contact amount with of combat the smallest power amount forward. ofThree, combat fire power distribution forward. and Three, control.” fire distribution Sanderson’s task control.” force applied Sanderson’s these task rules force in preparation applied these andexecution. rules in preparation and execution.Emphatic about how he led his task force, Sanderson also had strong views on leadership from above.TF 2-69 AR worked for two brigade commanders who had “completely different styles,” but bothwere “crystal clear and articulate” in issuing their guidance and orders. As he put it, “this war wasrun on commander’s intent.” Further, he found, as did other soldiers, that the presence of two- andthree-star generals forward on the battlefield was a “strong plus.”Lieutenant Colonel J.R. Sanderson, interview by Lieutenant Colonel David Manning319