With the Marines in Fallujah

Kevin Ferris:

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In 2004, author and historian Patrick K. O'Donnell decided to focus on the troops. He would go to Iraq, DVD recorder in hand, and compile an oral history of the men and women in the field. And, if possible, he would be there when U.S. forces went into Fallujah.

In March of that year, four American contractors had been murdered and their burned bodies hung from a bridge in Fallujah. An initial attack by coalition forces on the city was cut short, and it soon became Iraq's terror central. An attempt to retake the city was expected before the first national elections in January 2005.

O'Donnell would get his wish, but not without cost. He was served with divorce papers days before he left. He spent his savings on equipment and airfare. And he would bear witness to the hell on earth that U.S. Marines experienced in the battle against the jihadis in Fallujah.

The result is his book We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder With the Marines Who Took Fallujah, which was released last month.

It's based on O'Donnell's experiences with Lima Company, First Platoon of the Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment. He stumbled across what was left of the platoon during its R&R time in November from the battle, in a train station on the edge of the city. The soldiers had already been through six days of nonstop urban combat. Three members of the 46-man platoon had been killed, and 25 wounded.

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O'Donnell quotes one NCO on the enemy's ability to survive: "Grenades, sniper fire, nearly 800 rounds of small arms, and two rockets were fired - I was dumbfounded they were still alive." It was drugs, O'Donnell reports. During the battle, the Marines found stockpiles of adrenaline, cocaine and amphetamines. Used needles were strewn about many of the cleared houses.

The day after O'Donnell met the men of First Platoon, he volunteered to reenter the battle with them. He stayed until they pulled out four days later. He was with them as they cleared houses, watched numerous firefights, and was crouched next to Michael Hanks when the lance corporal was killed in an ambush.

He writes: "I witnessed stunning bravery and courage under fire, memories I will carry for the rest of my life. Even after the platoon lost over 70 percent of its men, the Marines never complained. Some hid their wounds so they could remain with their buddies during the battle."

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There is more. What is unique about this book is that it is so rare to find an account where an author actually spent time with the troops and tells their story. Even the AP can't call this guy a chicken hawk. Marines are very special people and this book apparently captures some of that character.