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

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61. Ibid. 2-70 AR; and Lieutenant Colonel Henry “Bill” Bennett, commander, 1-320 FA, <strong>in</strong>terview byLieutenant Colonel William Pitts, 22 May 2003.62. Bennett.63. Ibid.64. Major John White, S3, 3 –101 AV, <strong>in</strong>terview by Major Jonathan Gass, 23 May 2003. White, who did notfly that mission, believes <strong>the</strong> reported battle damage assessment almost certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong>cludes some double count<strong>in</strong>g.Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Ingram, commander of 2-70 AR, does not necessarily doubt <strong>the</strong> number of BDA but doesbelieve that Lieutenant Colonel Bennett and his redlegs of 1-320 FA BN <strong>in</strong>flicted much of <strong>the</strong> damage.65. Ibid.66. 2-70 AR. That same day C/1-41 IN arrived and jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> task force at 1500.67. There is currently no way to verify <strong>the</strong> accuracy of this assertion. Evidence available is entirelycircumstantial. Specifically, subsequent attacks south from Objective SAINTS revealed that <strong>the</strong> enemy had oriented<strong>the</strong>ir defenses to <strong>the</strong> south toward Al Hillah. A map captured at Objective PEACH also suggests that <strong>the</strong> enemybelieved <strong>the</strong> corps would attack north on <strong>the</strong> eastern bank of <strong>the</strong> Euphrates. There is no documentary evidencebeyond <strong>the</strong> map and <strong>the</strong> orientation of <strong>the</strong> defenses upon which to make <strong>the</strong> case that <strong>the</strong> fe<strong>in</strong>t at Al Hillah produced<strong>the</strong> desired outcome.68. Personal notes of Lieutenant Colonel Steven Smith, commander, 2-101 AV, collected by Major JonathanGass.69. Ibid.70. Ibid.71. Ibid.72. Lieutenant Colonel Scott Rutter, commander, TF 2-7 IN, <strong>in</strong>terview by Lieutenant Colonel ArthurDurante, US <strong>Army</strong>, Retired, 15 May 2003.73. Major Michael A. Marti, S2, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne and Major Thomas J. Kardos, S3, 2nd BCT, 82ndAirborne, <strong>in</strong>terviews by Major David Tohn, 17 May 2003.74. Colonel Arnold Bray, commander, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, <strong>in</strong>terview by Colonel GregoryFontenot, US <strong>Army</strong>, Retired, 5 November 2003. The OIF Study Group did not have <strong>the</strong> opportunity to <strong>in</strong>terview asmany of <strong>the</strong> 2nd BCT troops and leaders as we would have liked. Colonel Bray spent an afternoon with <strong>the</strong> authors withhis records and journals and so is cited here often. Colonel Bray’s patience and his copious records proved <strong>in</strong>valuable.75. Ibid.76. Ibid.77. Ibid.78. Ibid.79. Ibid.80. Ibid.81. Lieutenant Colonel Ed Rowe, executive officer, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, <strong>in</strong>terview byLieutenant Colonel Arthur Durante, US <strong>Army</strong>, Retired, 17 May 2003.82. Marti and Kardos83. Ibid.84. Ibid.85. Kardos.86. Bray.87. Specialist John Hutto, HHC, 1-325 AIR, <strong>in</strong>terview by Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Durante, US <strong>Army</strong>,Retired, 17 May 2003.88. Ibid.89. Mark Johnson, et. al: “In Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Iraq, Low-Level Fight<strong>in</strong>g Cont<strong>in</strong>ues,” Knight Ridder Newspapers, 2April 2003, 2.90. Bray.91. Rowe.92. Ibid.93. Aamer Madhani, “Soldiers Cross Euphrates, Take Control of Bridges Around Samawah,” ChicagoTribune, 4 April 2003.94. Tom Lasseter and Mark Johnson, “Soldiers <strong>in</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Iraq Fight<strong>in</strong>g to Secure Bridges, Towns,”Knight Ridder Newspapers, 4 April 2003.95. Rowe.96. Tom Lasseter and Mark Johnson.325

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