Hillah, Iraq.

Tonight we went back to the area where we conducted the helo assault in an effort to catch more bad guys accused of making car bombs and VBIEDs. We were actually working two objective areas, so the plan was to split the Justice League into two assault elements, one working north of the road into the village, and the other to the south. Since a centralized command and control of air worked so well on the helicopter assault, I was riding in the Captain’s vehicle tonight. While this is not a bad thing, it is a bit intimidating to be riding in a car full of Ranger qualified Green Berets. Plus, I liked the stereo in my usual car.

The road leading into the village was notorious for IEDs, so I again arranged for the National Level Asset to help us out. The National Level Asset checked in with us at midnight, and we rolled out. The ride to the target area was uneventful, and our assault element turned south to hit the first objective. We drove along the road until the informant identified the house, and then things stepped into high gear. Our car went roaring up to the gate, followed by SWAT, and slid to a halt as the demolitions guys and SWAT jumped out.I had the shocking realization that I was right up next to the door kickers this time.

I provided security over the field in front of the house while the Special Forces guys rigged the breaching charge on the metal gate to the house. I positioned myself at the corner of the humvee so I could watch the steadfastly empty field, and the much more interesting work of rigging explosives to blow open a gate.

“Charge!” cried the engineers as they armed the breaching charge. And they all ran like mad for cover, which suddenly seemed like a fine idea. I ducked behind the armored humvee. The charge detonated violently, and the concussion wave squeezed my body. In the sudden silence, I heard pieces of shrapnel scream by overhead.

SWAT stormed the house, supported by the Green Berets. I sat there with my rifle, feeling sort of foolish as I pointed the rifle at the empty fields. The gunner, a Lance Corporal, had a good view of the action inside the courtyard as men with rifles quickly seized control of the house.The informant had fingered the wrong house.

I stole glances at the demolished gate, wondering what the hubbub was about. Suddenly, SWAT came pouring out, leading the homeowner out front, where he pointed at the neighbor’s house.

All the SWAT and Special Forces began to run towards the house. The Iraqis even pulled out their pistols to wave in the air, a sure sign of excitement. I yelled at the driver, “Do you want me to drive the car over there?””Yeah!” he replied, as they ran along the road.

I hopped into the humvee, put it in drive, and began a turn into the fields.”I don’t think you should go in that field, sir. You might get stuck.” said the lance corporal, as the front tires fell off the edge of the field, which by the headlights, I could now see was plowed.

We sat there for a minute. I put the car in reverse as the good guys continued running towards the other house. I managed to grind the humvee into low gear, and then rock my way back onto the road. I stopped to get the car out of low, while more SWAT jumped on the back.

“Hurry up with that car!” came over the radio.I couldn’t get the car out of low gear, so I just put it in drive and stomped the gas. The engine gave a mighty bellow, and leapt forward at approximately two miles an hour. Maybe three miles an hour. I had to stop again to let more SWAT jump on, and managed, with a embarrassingly loud grinding of gears, to get the car out of low gear. Now I sped towards the new house.The Green Berets had discovered that the chain linked gate to the house was locked. I hopped out to let the driver in, and barely had time to grab onto the hand rail as the car leapt forward. I had my rifle in one hand, and firm grip on the hand rail with the other, and had just managed to get both my feet on the running board as the humvee crashed through the gate with me hanging on the side.

We slid to a halt, and they stormed the house while I tried to figure out how I had managed to drive through a gate while hanging on the outside of the vehicle without dropping anything or getting hurt.

I covered the yard, and took a quick peek around the corner as the good guys stormed the house. Happily finding no one wishing to do me harm, I watched as they brought out two bad guys. The bad guys, with a bit of persuasion, gave up two of their buddies at a nearby house. We all climbed into our vehicles, and drove down the road. We stormed this house without incident or circus acts, and the bad guys in there also ratted out more bad guys.

The houses they pointed out were in opposite directions, so we opted to split our team into half. The other team roared off to the first house, while the second half walked into the target house across the street.The command vehicle was on the road that both targets were on. I watched as the assaulters walked onto the objective, and listened as the other guys assaulted the house down the road.

A single shot rang out, which got everybody’s attention. Turns out that one of the SWAT guys was shooting at a dog that was threatening them. The dog ran by me briskly, more intent on leaving than threatening. The nearby assault managed to capture another couple of bad guys. As they were taken into custody, I listed to the more interesting assault over the radio.The other assault element had hit the jackpot. They discovered a cache of weapons in a vehicle, but some of the bad guys managed to slip away. Catching the bad guys was more important, so the Special Forces guys threw a thermite grenade in the vehicle with the weapons, and began chasing the squirters into the field behind the house. Soon I could see the car burning while they chased the booger eaters through the fields. Having finished with our objective, we joined in the hunt for the bad guys.

The squirters lead us a merry chase. They would sprint from canal to canal, and we could see them with our NODs, and direct people to them by shining laser pointers. They kept slipping away in the canals. We fired illumination mortars, but they managed to slip way over some footbridges that lead to a giant palm grove.

Giving up on the squirters, we headed out to the rally point to wait. The other team was having similar success and problems, and I had a tough time staying awake as we sat there by the side of the road, waiting. Finally, we all joined up for the convoy back. Everyone was sleepy, and the vehicles would occasionally swerve as a driver let his eyelids droop a bit too long.We made it back to Camp Charlie without incident, finishing at 0530. The phones work well this time of the morning, so I called my Beautiful Bride. She was out with friends, shooting pool. I sat there in my stained cammies, covered in dust, sweat, and my own salt, listening to the music as she chatted about her friends. It was hard for my mind to bridge the disparity between the two worlds.

Don’t feel too badly about the four guys that got beat up on the helo assault. We got confirmation today that they are all guilty of the murders of at least 20 innocent civilians each.