Local resentment of foreign forces was evident from the day soldiers of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Falluja in late April 2003. Many Fallujans lost their jobs after the United States took control, disbanded the Iraqi army and sacked Baath Party members from civic institutions. Falluja had been as loyal to Hussein perhaps as the toppled leader’s hometown of Tikrit. The drive to Baghdad took me through Anbar province, heavily Sunni and tribal territory. And that in the fourth week of the 1991 Gulf War, a British Tornado airplane mistakenly bombed a market, killing 130 civilians and sparking local anger. I knew little about Falluja then: only that it was as ancient as Babylon and was the most populated city in Anbar province. It was from that road that I first saw Falluja in 2003, days after the invasion of Iraq began. Under Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, Falluja had grown into a sizable city of 300,000 and gained importance for its strategic location, just 40 miles west of Baghdad and on the road to Jordan and Syria. Decades later, Dhari’s grandson ascended to prominence as a Sunni cleric and a vocal opponent of U.S. History books tell the tale of Falluja’s Sheikh Dhari who brazenly killed a senior British officer and sparked an uprising against colonial rule. Long before the Americans came, the people of Falluja stood up against the British, who invaded and occupied Iraq during World War I. More information on amphibious assault ships can be found here.A British plane mistakenly bombed a market in Falluja during the Gulf War in 1991. With the unique inherent powers of the amphibious assault ships, they are often called upon to also support humanitarian and other contingency missions upon short notice. The America-class ships replaced all of the decommissioned Tarawa-class LHAs and are now optimized for aviation ability, accommodating the Marine Corps’ future Air Combat Element while adding additional aviation maintenance capabilities and increasing fuel capacities, and extra cargo storage. Berger, 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, but also an avid advocate and mentor for military families.Īmerica-class amphibious assault ships are designed to support Marine Corps Operational Maneuver From the Sea and Ship to Objective Maneuvers. Donna Berger, who, in her role, will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew.ĭonna Berger is not only the spouse of Gen. “The Battle of Fallujah is, and will remain, imprinted in the minds of all Marines and serves as a reminder to our Nation, and its foes, why our Marines call themselves the world’s finest.”Īlong with the ship’s name, Del Toro announced the sponsor for the future USS Fallujah as Mrs. “Under extraordinary odds, the Marines prevailed against a determined enemy who enjoyed all the advantages of defending in an urban area,” said Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Marines since the Vietnam War’s Battle of Hue City. With over 100 coalition forces killed and over 600 wounded, Operation Phantom Fury is considered the bloodiest engagement of the Iraq War and the fiercest urban combat involving U.S. led offensive to retake control of the city from insurgents and foreign fighters. The Second Battle of Fallujah, fought between Nov. The First Battle of Fallujah occurred in April 2004 in an effort to capture or kill insurgents responsible for the killing of four U.S. “This namesake deserves to be in the pantheon of iconic Marine Corps battles and the LHA’s unique capabilities will serve as a stark reminder to everyone around the world of the bravery, courage, and commitment to freedom displayed by those who fought in the battle.” “It is an honor to memorialize the Marines, Soldiers, and coalition partners that fought valiantly and those that sacrificed their lives during both battles of Fallujah,” said Del Toro.
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