The Battle of Charlie 6 ; 'Unbeatable Force' in Action in Iraq

Summary

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It was all over by 5:30 a.m. April 3, 2003. Lt. Col. Ernest P. "Rock" Marcone's Task Force 3-69th Armor had defeated three Iraqi brigades and captured the key bridge over the Euphrates 20 miles south of Baghdad known as Objective Peach. At the tip of the 3rd Infantry Division's spear pointing towards victory, they had what its leader called "the best armor mission in the world - lead the attack, blow a big hole in the enemy's defenses, get the rest of the division and V Corps in position to finish off Baghdad."

Seizing that objective, the Al Kaed (Leader) Bridge, defined the decisive battle. Four hundred meters long with concrete columns that could easily support a 70-ton Abrams tank, it had to be captured. As Rock Marcone put it: "You never cross the river, you can't win." Because it was so vital, the Iraqis deployed the Medina Division's 10th Brigade, an armored brigade, and a Special Republican Guard commando brigade to defend it. In his book "American Soldier," Gen. Tommy Franks tells of an intercepted message from the Medina Division's general to his brigade commanders. "The message was simple - and frightening: 'Blood, blood, blood.'" And the general commanding all Republican Guard units in the area ordered the bridge demolished before American forces could cross it.

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The Battle of Charlie 6 ; 'Unbeatable Force' in Action in Iraq

On April 1, nine days and 350 miles after Lt. Col. Marcone's task force had roared across the berm into Iraq, they were in position to assault the objective. A and C Companies, 3rd-69th Armor along with B...

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