OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – 5TH BATTALION, 11TH MARINES (ARTILLERY) REGIMENT, 1ST MARINE DIVISION

Going to war

Thursday, March 20th 2003. One of the most defining days in my life!

In the pre-dawn darkness of March 20, 2003 – we got the order from General James Mattis and we breached the border defenses of Iraq and crossed the Line of Departure.

I was a Lance Corporal and had only been in “The Fleet” for 11 months.

The Fleet – The FMF (Fleet Marine Force) is the name Marines give to the “real life” Marine Corps beyond the “pipeline” that includes Marine Corps Recruit Training, Marine Combat Training and MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) School.

While I was deployed in Iraq, I served with the (5/11) 5th Battalion, 11th Marines (Artillery) Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, 5/11 participated on every major battle including the siege of Baghdad, Al Kut & Tikrit (Saddam Hussein’s home town).

Our battalion fired more artillery rounds and drove further in less time than any other artillery battalion in history during the invasion and we set the bar as the only artillery unit involved in Task Force Tripoli.

TASK FORCE TRIPOLI – After the fall of Baghdad on April 10, the US wanted to locate Saddam Hussein who was believed to have fled to Tikrit, Iraq – his hometown.

 

Within 12 hours of being tasked with the mission, the Marines were able to put together a convoy of 600 vehicles and 4,000 troops for the mission. On April 12, 2003 the task force was composited in a staging area east of Baghdad and by April 15th we had secured Tikrit!

I have the Corps and every Marine I ever had the honor of serving with to thank for the Hard Charger that I am today.

– Semper Fi and God Speed, Marine Miguel.

👉🏼 5 days into the war we got hit by a Sandstorm From Hell!