American Valor Quarterly Issue 2 - Spring 2008 | Page 37

Operation Phantom Fury
The Second Battle of Fallujah
Our mission was the ultimate mission for an infantryman. We
came to Iraq to rebuild it, to stabilize it and to return it to the
people of Iraq to allow them to have democracy and to enjoy
some of the blessings and liberty that we’re so privileged to have.
But it became clear to us that Fallujah had become a sanctuary
for insurgents and terrorists, and our mission was to remove
These violent actions prompted the United States to launch Operation Vigilant them from the city by force.
Resolve, an action intended to capture or kill those insurgent elements responsible
for the murder of the American contractors. Despite successes on the ground, We had four Marine infantry battalions and two Army cavalry
the offensive was called off before its completion following a request by the battalions that composed the assault force, and a whole host of
Iraqi government. Hopes that local forces could provide security while quelling others who ensured that we could cordon the city effectively and
the insurgency—which at the time was centered in Fallujah—were not realized, not allow anyone to escape as well as to cover the other lines of
and the city fell further into the hands of insurgents and violent jihadists who communication into Baghdad. It was a joint oper