SUMMARY OF ACTION

The Combat Distinguishing Device is requested.

Sgts Sasaki, Frickey, Cpl Perez, and HM3 Augustine were all receiving Imminent Danger Pay at the time of this event.

On 10 November 2004 at 2100 hours, Marines from Scout Sniper Platoon, 2^nd Battalion 24^th Marines, in support of Operation Mayhem Fury with Company G, were inserted to conduct a counter-improvised explosive device/counter-ambush mission along Main Supply Route Tampa. Their birthday would be spent guarding a stretch of road, also known as Highway 1, that runs northwest out of Kuwait, directly through the middle of our area of operations, and continues through Fallujah and Ramadi all the way to the Jordanian border. This route continues to be the main artery supplying all forces in the North Babil and Al Anbar provinces and thus is critically important to the sustainment of forces in those areas. Under no uncertain terms was the charge stated that this highway SHALL remain open.

The combat patrol consisted of a 5-man sniper team, Nightmare 2, whose assistant team leader was Sgt Sasaki and team members Sgt Frickey, Cpl Perez, and HM3 Augustine. The improvised explosive device threat had been recognized as the preeminent threat against Coalition Forces since the beginning of our deployment and proactive measures to combat that had become standard operating procedure for all forces conducting operations in our area. A recent surge in coordinated attacks by the enemy utilizing a combination of explosives followed by small arms fire had prompted the platoon to adjust its preparation for missions. The enemy had become increasingly bold in their attacks on passing convoys giving anyone traveling the highways a heightened sense of anticipation and fear in response to the escalated threat. Nightly, one convoy or another was either experiencing an explosion or receiving small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire, many times both, as they passed by. The current tactic of returning fire and pushing through was effective at clearing the area but did not address the problem: bands of insurgent fighters organized into squad and platoon strength, having their way with passing convoys from concealed positions over a 19 kilometer linear battlefield and protected on both sides by lush vegetation, a maze of irrigation ditches, and sympathetic farmhouses. The sniper teams of 2^nd Battalion 24^th Marines had mission planning and task organization in place to meet this threat. Nightmare 2 chose a stretch of highway that had been the focus of numerous attacks of this nature. Their position placed them on Main Supply Route Tampa in the vicinity of checkpoint 25A.

On 11 November 2004 at approximately 1730 hours, Nightmare 2 became engaged in a series of coordinated enemy ambush attacks that would prove to be as dramatic as any in Marine Corps history. Nightmare 2 had been in position for the previous 24 hrs and was awaiting extraction when they observed an Army convoy of approximately 12 vehicles headed northbound on Main Supply Route Tampa. The convoy was attacked by a squad sized enemy force approximately 200 meters South of Nightmare 2’s position and concealed within the vegetation along a low berm. Muzzle flash and tracer fire lanced through the evening air creating panic and fear within those on the convoy. The convoy did not return fire and continued through the ambush but the members of Nightmare 2 recognized the convoy’s perilous position and opened fire on the enemy, causing their concealed position to be revealed and compromising their mission. The convoy, in the meantime, had passed Nightmare 2’s position and was further engaged by a second ambush, this one approximately 100 meters to the North. Now the convoy was being engaged by 2 enemy elements, coordinated in their attack, and on both sides of Nightmare 2. The enemy ambush sites began shifting fire onto Nightmare 2’s position, pinning them down from both flanks and causing the team to split their thin forces to meet both walls of fire. As if this weren’t enough to defeat the isolated and outgunned 5-man sniper team, the convoy then began to engage ALL sources of gunfire, including that of Nightmare 2. HM3 Augustine, realizing the need for immediate assistance, began attempts to contact Golf Co. 2^nd Plt for Quick Reaction Force response, communicated a SPOTREP, and provided additional info on the quickly deteriorating situation. The convoy moved on, out of danger’s path but Nightmare 2 still stood under its hateful and deadly gaze. When Golf Co, 2^nd Plt. advised that no Reaction Force was available, the team held their ground and continued to pound the enemy until the attack subsided.

At that point, the Marines of Nightmare 2 gathered themselves, reloaded, and remained at the ready. Minutes later, Golf Co, 2^nd Plt. advised that a Quick Reaction Force was being sent to extract them, consisting of Army units from the North. Surely this night and these events had played themselves out and all would soon be well, but that was not the case. Upon their arrival, the Army unit was engaged by a third enemy ambush on the opposite side of the road but directly in front of Nightmare 2. Due to the elevation of the highway relative to the team’s position, enemy action was not observed save for a few tracer rounds; however, the attack had its desired effect. The Army unit increased its speed and fled the area without returning a shot. Another SPOTREP went out to Golf Co. not only describing the presence of a third ambush but also the team’s abandonment in place. Over the course of the next 30 minutes, at 10-minute intervals, Sgt Frickey and HM3 Augustine continually requested immediate extraction. Each time, they were advised that their extraction platform was either enroute or already present. Clearly this was not the case as Nightmare 2 remained in place, with good observation of the roadway in both directions, and no friendly force in sight.

It wasn’t until 1900 hours that the next convoy of friendly vehicles filled them with hope. As another Army unit arrived to pull them out of their harrowing position, they were engaged, this time along with Nightmare 2’s position, by an enemy force decidedly larger than the previous 3 ambushes. It appeared the enemy personnel from the first 2 attacks had consolidated to a position 300 meters to their Southeast and was now massing fires onto the team and halting vehicles. Sgt Frickey fired a green star cluster flare to establish friendly link-up but this only served to fix their position for enemy fire. Even after this link-up procedure, the Army convoy began engaging both enemy and friendly positions with vehicle mounted machine guns and other small arms. Minutes felt like hours as Nightmare 2 was being fired upon from both front and rear flanks, completely pinned down, in minimally covered positions, and with all hopes of surviving diminishing at a rapid pace. Bullets from enemy and friendly filled the sky like flies, snapping past their heads and preventing them from either advancing or fighting through their withdrawal. It was at this precarious point, this turning point in their faith, that the unthinkable occurred. The saving convoy again fled. Nightmare 2 was now alone, again, and facing a force in platoon size, well concealed among the heavy vegetation behind them and having the team not only located but also unable to move. Nightmare 2 ignored feelings that would have fatally wounded weaker teams and delivered hundreds of rounds of semi and automatic gunfire along with 10 HE/DP M203 rounds, effectively defeating the attacking force and repelling them from the area. Firing ceased, allowing Nightmare 2 to catch their breath. Together, they ensured each of them were in good shape and prepared themselves for whatever may come next. With steely determination and an unimaginable grace under pressure, they banded together to ensure the survival of their fellow Marines and tempted whatever lay ahead.

A short time later, Golf Co arrived from Nightmare’s North while an Army unit arrived from their South. The Army unit was again engaged by enemy fire from a position 500 meters South of Nightmare’s hide site and was largely unobserved by them. Tracer fire was visible from the enemy’s location and Mk-19 and .50 cal. fires could be heard coming from the Army’s armored vehicles. Cautious due to the events of the previous 2-hours, both Nightmare 2 and Golf Co remained in a state of high alert, guarding the surrounding area and northern flank. Sgt Frickey overwhelmed the enemy with at least ten to fifteen 40mm highly explosive dual purpose grenades until the attack was suppressed. Nightmare 2 egressed out of their tenuous position and boarded Golf Co vehicles. They were joined by the Army vehicles from the South who confirmed the enemy’s size, stating they had observed at least 15 dead scattered across the area to the team’s South.

Nightmare 2, a 5-man sniper team, had engaged and suppressed a total of 5 separate ambush attacks. Within the extremely fluid and time-compressed environment they found themselves in and through the use of all resources at their disposal, Nightmare 2 excelled in their courageous battle with death and refused to allow a roving band of thugs take their piece of ground. They all walked out alive due to their courageous actions, valiant efforts, and the brotherly bond of the team they called their own. Nightmare 2 dealt an insurgent force overwhelmingly stacked against them, a crippling blow, and force-fed a new level of respect to an enemy that had drastically underestimated the abilities and heart of these Marines. To this day, no enemy force so coordinated or large has conducted this scale of an attack along any stretch of Main Supply Route Tampa within Task Force 2/24’s Area of Operations.

Respectfully submitted,

GySgt JP Chang

Plt Sgt, STA 2/24