Authors: David Zucchino
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A
ny story of war is the story of menâof their performance in the face of stress and danger and fear. This book, a chronicle of men in modern combat, would not have been possible without the willingness of the officers and soldiers of the Spartan Brigade to share their stories with me. Each man's story was uniquely personal and, in many cases, painful. These soldiers were honest about their fears and their anxieties, and about the emotional toll inflicted on young lives by the killing of fellow human beings. As Major Mark Rasins remarked to me one day in Baghdad, “We're in the business of managing violence.” No one I spoke with exulted in killing people. Some men expressed certain regrets, but all spoke of the pride they felt in what the brigade had accomplished under trying and often terrifying conditions. They had not asked to go to war, but when sent they responded with courage and sacrifice and, often, with valor. They were tested, and they prevailed. This book is for them.
Several members of the brigade spent many hours helping me to confirm various accounts and details of the battle. They helped me correct many of my own errors and misconceptions. I owe a special debt to Colonel David Perkins, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Wesley, Lieutenant Colonel Philip deCamp, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Twitty, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Gantt, Major Mark Rasins, Major Kent Rideout, Major Denton Knapp, Major Rick Nussio, Major Michael Donovan, Captain Edward Ballanco, Captain Aaron Polsgrove, Captain William Glaser, and Captain Phillip Wolford.
I received considerable assistance from Major Dane Childs, a U.S. Army historian who during the war was attached to the Third Infantry Division (Mechanized) as commander of the 102nd Military History Detachment. His insights and comments were invaluable in ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of this book. I also thank Professor James O. Kievit of the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College for his help in researching the origins of the military term
thunder run
. Several members of U.S. Army public affairs units in Iraq and at Fort Stewart, GeorgiaâSergeant First Class James M. Brantley, Specialist Mason Lowery, and Specialist Katherine Robinsonâwere particularly helpful in locating soldiers for interviews.
Many former members of the Iraqi military, along with numerous Iraqi civilians, took calculated risks in sharing their stories with me, and for that I am grateful.
Several people came to my assistance after I lost all my possessions in a troop truck plunge into a canal near Karbala. Colonel David Perkins allowed me to embed with his brigade combat team, and my colleagues Geoffrey Mohan of the
Los Angeles Times
and Gregg Zoroya of
USA Today
graciously offered the use of their satellite phones and laptop computers. Photographer Rick Loomis of the
Los Angeles Times
was an inspired and irrepressible traveling companion who shared with me an unforgettable adventure in Iraq.
This book began as an article published in the
Los Angeles Times
Magazine,
and I relied heavily on my early reporting in Iraq as an embedded reporter for the
Times
. I thank editors John Carroll, Dean Baquet, Scott Kraft, and Marjorie Miller for their support, and the newspaper for granting me a leave of absence to write
Thunder Run.
I also thank Brando Skyhorse and Morgan Entrekin at Atlantic Monthly Press for believing in this book and my agent, Flip Brophy, for her faith in me.
I am indebted to several friends for their careful reading of sections of the manuscript and for their suggestions and advice: Mark Bowden, Ed Hille, Rick Nichols, Dennis (Piano Legs) Rickman, and my brothers Larry and Vincent Zucchino. I am especially grateful for my favorite editor, my wife, Kacey, who guided me through the manuscript's many rough patches while also keeping our family together while I was preoccupied with this project. This is her book, too.
APPENDIX
COMBAT AWARDS
SPARTAN BRIGADE
SILVER STAR
RANK | NAME |
CPT | BARRY, STEVEN |
CPT | BENTON, LEROY D. |
SSG | BOOKER, STEVON A. |
CPT | BURRIS, LARRY Q. |
CPT | CARTER, CHRISTOPHER |
CPT | CONROY, JASON P. |
LTC | DECAMP, PHILIP D. |
SSG | DIAZ, JASON |
SSG | EDGY, GANNON |
SSG | FRANCO, KENNETH |
SFC | GAINES, RONALD |
CSM | GALLAGHER, ROBERT |
CPT | HIBNER, DAVID |
CPT | HILMES, ANDREW |
SSG | HOBBS, CRAIG |
CPT | HUBBARD, DANIEL |
CPT | JOHNSON, RONNY |
SFC | LUSTIG, JONATHAN M. |
SFC | MARSHALL, JOHN |
COL | PERKINS, DAVID G. |
LTC | SCHWARTZ, ERIC. C |
SSG | STEVER, ROBERT |
LTC | TWITTY, STEPHEN |
SSG | WILSON, OBERT |
CPT | WOLFORD, PHILLIP |
CPT | WRIGHT, JOSHUA |
BRONZE STAR with “V” for Valor
RANK | NAME |
CPT | AHEARN, JAMES A. |
1SG | ALEN, SILAS JR. |
SFC | ANSLINGER, MICHAEL |
SSG | ARROYO-MERLO, ROBERTO |
SSG | AUSTIN, DALE |
1LT | BAKER, DOUGLAS |
1LT | BALL, ROBERT |
CSM | BARNELLO, WILLIAM |
1SG | BAUGH, JAMES A. |
SSG | BELL, JOE S. |
1LT | BERRIMAN, MICHAEL |
SSG | BIRTHISEL, JEFFERY W. |
SSG | BORJA, DANIEL |
SGT | BRISLEY, CHRISTOPHER |
2LT | BURNS, MICHAEL |
SSG | BYRD, ROBERT |
1LT | CANADAY, ERIC |
1LT | CASE, BRIAN |
1LT | CASTRO, FRANCIS |
SSG | CHANDLER, DON E. |
SFC | CHILDERS, DAVID |
SGT | COUVERTIER, JOSE L. |
SGT | COX, BRADLEY |
SFC | CURTIS, DAVID |
MAJ | DONOVAN, MICHAEL |
SFC | DUNFEE, MICHAEL |
MAJ | DUNLOP, KEVIN |
SSG | EMPSON, JEFFERY |
LTC | FAIRCHILD, JAMES |
1LT | FEW, JAMES |
SPC | FRANKS, TERRY |
1SG | FRENCH, CHRISTOPHER |
LTC | GANTT, KENNETH |
SSG | GASAWAY, KEITH A. |
SGT | GIBBONS, DAVID A. |
SGM | GONGORA, BARREIRO, A. |
SSG | GRISHAM, CHRISTOPHER |
1LT | GRUNEISEN, ROGER |
SSG | HALL, JASON S. |
2LT | HART, JEFFERY |
SFC | HAY, ROBERT A. |
SGT | HERNANDEZ, CARLOS |
SFC | HOLMAN, JASON |
SPC | HORTON, MATTHEW |
1LT | HOYT, DOUGLAS M. |
SGT | INGRAM, PAUL F. |
MAJ | KNAPP, EVERETT |
1LT | KUO, RYAN |
CPT | LAWRENCE, HARRIS |
SFC | LEGRANT, ANDRE |
SSG | LEVESQUE, LEO A. III |
SGT | LUCAS, DUSTIN |
SFC | LUJAN, JEFFREY |
SFC | LUSTIG, JONATHAN M. |
SSG | MACPHAIL, DUNCAN C. |
SSG | MAO, CHHAY |
CPT | MCFARLAND, STEFAN |
1LT | MCKENNA, MATTHEW |
1LT | MCKNIGHT, LEE |
SFC | MEADOWS, JOHNNY |
1SG | MERCADO, JOSE |
1LT | MIDDLETON, MAURICE |
SSG | MILLS, CHRISTOPHER |
SFC | MORALES, JOHN N. |
SGT | MORGAN, ADAM |
1SG | MOSER, JEFF D. |
SSG | MURRAY, WALTER |
MAJ | NUSSIO, RICKY |
SFC | OLSON, ERIC |
SFC | PALMER, JEROD S. |
1LT | PANETTA, EDWARD |
SSG | PATRICK, JAMUS |
SGT | PERDUE, JOHNNY |
LTC | PRESNELL, MICHAEL |
MAJ | RASINS, MARK |
SSG | RICHARD, DAVID |
PFC | RICHARDSON, MICHAEL |
MAJ | RIDEOUT, KENT |
CPL | ROBICHEAU |
SSG | RUSSELL, RODNEY |
SSG | SANDERS, CHARLES |
1LT | SHELL, BRANDON |
PFC | SHIPLEY, CHRIS L. |
SSG | SLAGO, THOMAS W. |
SFC | STEFANSKI, JAMES E. |
SGT | STRUNK, MARK E. |
SPC | SULLIVAN, SHAWN B. |
SFC | TERPAK, TIMOTHY |
KOS | TERS, JAMES A. |
SGT | THAYER, BRADLEY |
PFC | TOPAHA, VIRGIL |
1LT | VAN KIRK, DANIEL |
SSG | VEGA, FELIPE |
CW2 | WALKER, STEVEN K. JR. |
LTC | WESLEY, ERIC |
SSG | WHELAN, DENNIS |
SFC | WHITE, RAY |
SSG | WITHERSPOON, EUGENE |
SSG | WOLENS, JAMES C. |
CPT | WOODWARD, SCOTT |
SFC | WRIGHT, ERIC |
PFC | YAZZIE, TERRANCE A. |
CW2 | YOUNG, WILLIS G. |
SSG | ZUMEK, JASON |
BRONZE STAR
RANK | NAME |
CW3 | ACEVEDO, ANGEL |
CPT | AHEARN, JAMES |
SSG | ALBRIGHT, CHRISTOPHER M. |
SSG | ALEXANDER, LARRICCO |
SFC | ALFIERI, ERIC J. |
CPT | ALMAGUER, FELIX |
1LT | AMARA, CHRISTOPHER |
SFC | ARROWOOD, RODNEY |
SSG | AUSTIN, KENNETH |
CPT | BAILEY, JIMMY |
SSG | BAKER, GORDON |
SGT | BALDWIN, DON |
CPT | BALLANCO, EDWARD J. |
CSM | BARNELLO, WILLIAM |
1LT | BARR, JASON |
MAJ | BARREN, JAMES E. |
CPT | BARRY, STEVEN T. |
SPC | BAUMGARTE, CAMERON |
SSG | BECK, JOHN J. |
CPT | BEESON, PALMER R. |
SFC | BERTRAND, ROBERT S. |
CPT | BIAGIOTTI, WILLIAM T. |
CW2 | BISCHOFF, RAY M. |
SFC | BLACK, RICHARD |
CPT | BLENZ, RICHARD A. |
1LT | BOGDA, DEREK R. |
SSG | BOOKER, STEVON A. |
1LT | BOOTH, THOMAS |
SSG | BOUTON, DANNY |
CPT | BOWEN, MAJOR |
1LT | BOWERS, WILLIAM |
SSG | BRIGHAM, DENNIS |
CPT | BRODANY, WILLIAM |
1LT | BROWNING, MICHAEL |
SSG | BRYANT, LESTER |
1LT | BRZOZOWSKI, MARK |
CPT | BULLOCK, BRADLEY |
MAJ | BURGESS, JOHN E. |
1SG | BURNS, CEDRIC S. |
CPT | BURRIS, LARRY Q. |
CPT | BUTLER, ANTHONY L. |
1SG | BUTLER, KENDRICK J. |
CPT | CANNAN, FREDERICK |
SSG | CAPAZ, CASEY S. |
CPT | CAPRA, KEVIN S. |
SSG | CARMON, TROY |
CPT | CARTER, CHRISTOPHER |
1LT | CASMAER, MONICA L. |
1LT | CHEN, DAVID H. |
SGT | CHISLER, PATRICK E. |
SGT | CHOAT, AARON B. |
CPT | CHONG, STEVE C. |
1LT | COFER, CHESTER W. |
CPT | CONROY, JASON P. |
CSM | COOK, VERNON A. |
CPT | COOPER, RONALD |
CPT | CORREZ, RICK |
CPT | CORYELL, WILLIAM F. |
SFC | COTTINGHAM, PATRICK L. |
SSG | CRAWLEY, RICHARD |
SSG | CRESPO, MICHAEL |
SSG | CROSS, SHELBY D. |
1SG | DALTON, RODRIC V. |
SSG | DAVIS, WILBERT |
SSG | DELGADO, RAUL |
SFC | DENMARK, ABRAHAM |
1SG | DENNIS, MARK A. |
SFC | DIEHL, MICHAEL |
COL | DISALVO, JOSEPH |
MAJ | DOVOVAN, MICHAEL P. |
CPT | DOYLE, ANDREW |
MAJ | DUNLOP, KEVIN |
CPT | DYCHES, MICHAEL D. |
SGT | ELLIS, JEFFREY T. |
1SG | EYNON, DONALD |
SGM | FALKNER, DOUGLAS A. |
CPT | FAULK, DAVID M. |
CPT | FERRILL, JASON B. |
1LT | FISHER, BRADFORD A. |
CW3 | FORD, JOE W. |
1LT | FRASURE, JOHN P. |
1LT | GACHERU, MIGWI M. |
1LT | GARABATO, DAVIS |
SSG | GARRETT, STEPHON |
SSG | GIBSON, SHAWN L. |
1LT | GIFFORD, STEPHEN |
SSG | GILES, JASON |
CPT | GLASER, WILLIAM |
CPT | GLASS, GEORGE L. |
CPT | GLASSCOCK, CHARLES G. |
1SG | GOODMAN, JEFFERY |
CPT | GOVAN, JOHN F. III |
SFC | GRANT, HAROLD E. |
CPT | GREGG, CHESTER J. |
PFC | GREGORY, ADAM |
SFC | GROVER, MARK |
CW2 | GUILLEMETTE, ROGER U. |
SGT | HAIOLA, BLAYNE |
SFC | HARKINS, WAYNE J. |
CPT | HARRIS, CHRISTOPHER |
SFC | HARRISON, WILLIE W. |
CPT | HAYTH, BENNETT E. |
CPT | HENDERSON, MCKELLE L. |
1SG | HERNANDEZ, ALFRED |
1LT | HESS, ADAM A. |
CPT | HIBNER, DAVID |
CPT | HILMES, ANDREW |
CPT | HOMMEL, STEPHEN |
1LT | HOOPER, MICHAEL E. |
CPT | HORNBUCKLE, HARRY |
W01 | HOWELL, DWAYNE E. |
CPT | HUBBARD, DANIEL |
SSG | HUDSON, TERODER L. |
1SG | HUELL, DAN JR. |
CW2 | HUGHES, REGINALD |
CPT | HUME, SHANNON |
1SG | HUNT, HARRY |
MSG | HUNTER, ANDREW |
SSG | IVINGS, BRYCE E. |
SSG | JACOBSON, MELVIN E. |
SSG | JENNINGS, CHARLES |
CPT | JENSEN, JOHN F. |
SGT | JOCKISH, PATRICK J. |
SSG | JOHNSON, MELDON |
CPT | JOHNSON, PETER |
SSG | JOHNSON, RICARDO F. |
CPT | JOHNSON, RONNY |
SSG | JONES, ALECK |
SGT | JONES, MATTHEW |
SFC | JONES, MICHAEL C. |
CPT | JUDGE, PAUL C. |
CPT | KADET, BRIAN |
CPT | KENNEDY, KEVIN |
CPL | KEOWN, MATTHEW |
SFC | KESTER, RONALD J. JR. |
CPT | KINLAW, DAVID A. |
CPT | KINSEY, WILLIAM R. |
MAJ | KIRBY, HOMER E. |
SSG | KNAPP, TIMOTHY |
SSG | KNOX, MANSO |
CPT | KOLINSKI, MICHAEL |
CPT | KORN, EDWARD |
1LT | KREMMERS, ERIC T. |
SFC | KUZIEL, JOHN |
MSG | LAMDERTIS, ALVARO |
SGT | LAROCQUE, GEARY H. |
SSG | LAWSON, JAMES |
SSG | LEATH, AARON |
SFC | LEE, JERRY D. |
1LT | LEGGETTE, HERB |
CW2 | LEMIESZEK, RONALD |
CPT | LETCHER, MICHELLE M. T. |
1LT | LEVAN, KEVIN M. |
2LT | LEVY, RUTHIE |
CPT | LINN, JOSEPH I. |
SSG | LITTLE, RICHARD A. |
CPT | LOPEZ, ROBERT |
LTC | LUCK, GARY |
1LT | LUU, PHILIP |
CPT | MAHAFFEY, CHRISTOPHER S. |
CPT | MARM, WILLIAM J. |
SSG | MARRERO, ADOLFO |
SFC | MARSHALL, JOHN |
SGT | MARTINEZ, DAVID |
MAJ | MARX, GARY |
1LT | MATHENY, WILLIAM A. |
CPT | MAZUREK, JAMES L. |
SFC | MCCREA, DEREK D. |
1LT | MCFARLAND, JEFF |
1SG | MCKEEVER, CLARK |
MSG | MCNEILL, MELVIN |
CPT | MCNULTY, JASON S. |
SGT | MCVAY, DANIEL L. |
CPT | MEADOWS, ROBERT |
1LT | MEYER, PAUL E. |
SFC | MICHEL, RONNY |
SSG | MILES, TERRY B. |
PV2 | MILLER, ANTHONY |
SSG | MILTON, GERMELL |
SPC | MITCHELL, GEORGE |
CPT | MITCHELL, LUCIOUS JR. |
CPT | MOLFINO, JEFFREY S. |
SFC | MOLINA, KENNETH |
PFC | MONEY, JAMES |
SSG | MORALES, CLAUDINO |
CPT | MORGAN, MATTHEW T. |
PFC | MORRIS, DAVID M. |
MAJ | MORRIS, TODD B. |
1LT | MORRISSEY, BRIAN |
MAJ | MULLEN, SEAN F. |
CPT | NIXON, CHRISTOPHER |
MAJ | NUSSIO, RICKY J. |
1LT | NYE, ERIC |
CSM | OGGS, DENNIS L. |
1SG | ORTIZ, REINALDO |
SFC | PARKER, COLIN |
MAJ | PASSAMONTI, MARK |
CPT | PAYNE, MATTHEW C. |
MAJ | PELOQUIN, MICHAEL |
SFC | PHILLIPS, VINCENT |
1LT | PHINNEY, BENJAMIN |
SSG | PINKSTON, RANNULF D. |
SSG | PISCIOTTA, ROBERT |
CPT | POLSGROVE, ARRON |
CPT | POWELL, JEFFREY H. |
SFC | POWELL, RICHARD |
CPT | POWELL, SHERMAN S. |
1LT | PROSSER, ADAM |
CPT | PUCKETT, ANDERSON H. |
SGT | QUINONES, PEDRO J. |
CPT | RANGARAM, JAY P. |
MAJ | RASINS, MARK |
1SG | RASMUSSEN, JOSEPH K. |
MAJ | RATIGAN, PATRICK |
1LT | REDMON, JASON |