WEBVTT

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(gunfire)

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- [Man] Target!

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(machine gun firing)

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(mortar)

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- [Man] Get to the road!

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- [Narrator] The Battle of Fallujah,

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code name Operation Phantom Fury,

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was led by the United States Marine Corps

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against Iraqi insurgency stronghold in the city of Fallujah.

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(explosion)

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The U.S. Military called it

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some of the heaviest urban combat

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U.S. Marines have been involved in

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since the Battle of Hue City in Vietnam in 1968.

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This operation was the second major operation in Fallujah.

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Earlier, in April 2004, coalition forces

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fought the first Battle of Fallujah

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in order to capture or kill insurgent elements

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considered responsible for the deaths

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of a Blackwater security team.

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The second battle was the bloodiest battle

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of the entire Iraq war,

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and is notable for being the first major engagement

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of Operation Iraqi Freedom, fought solely against insurgents

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rather than the forces of the former Iraqi government.

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A notable marine from this battle

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was then First Sergeant Bradley A. Castle.

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In a firefight with insurgents in a house in Fallujah,

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although wounded by seven 7.62 millimeter rounds

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and hit by more than 43 pieces of hot fragmentation

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from a grenade while using his body

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to shield an injured fellow marine,

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First Sergeant Castle refused to quit fighting

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and was able to return fire with a handgun,

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killing at least one insurgent.

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Castle is credited with saving the lives of several marines

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during the U.S. assault on insurgent strongholds

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in Fallujah in November 2004,

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and went on to earn the Navy Cross for his actions.

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At the end of the battle, the U.S. Military

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reported 1,200 insurgents killed and 1.000 captured.

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U.S. casualties were 71 killed and 425 wounded.

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(patriotic music)