UAV imagery of the compound prior to being established as a US Embassy. The large building was the main consulate building that housed all dignitaries.
On January 3rd, 2018, the United States was withdrawing from the region of Takistan. Prior to the full effect of withdrawal, a coup has risen within the capital, Zargabad and changed Takistan for the worst. US Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Division were directly responsible for the protection and defense of the US Consulate in Zargabad. 12-men from Alpha Company, 1st Platoon were directly assigned to defend the US embassy and all foreign dignitaries as Zargabad turned into a warzone.
At 1700 local, Zargabad fell to a hostile Islamic terrorist group known as the Rafad Alshayatin, with approximately 1,000 fighters taking over the capital. US Marines were stationed to CONDITION ONE and prepared for incoming attacks. At 1800 local time, US Army elements attempted to recapture the city but sustained extremely high losses. This was the single-most casualty loss in the War on Violence and Aggression and Global War on Terror. US Army elements lost 7 CH-47 Chinooks and 10 M1A2 Abrams tanks, as well as 300+ soldiers.
At 2030 local, the Rafad Alshayatin made an assault on the US embassy. The 12 Marines were facing against a contingent of 600 - 1,000+ fighters, armed with armored fighting vehicles and heavy crew-served weapon systems. The Marines were responsible for protecting the dignitaries until evacuation was available. Throughout the entire night, the Marines were defending the front checkpoint, facing heavy mortar strikes, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and heavy armor in addition to hundreds of fighters.
By 2200 local, the Marines ran out of primary ammunition and sustained several wounds. They acquired hostile AK-47, PKM and RPG weapon systems to continue the fight against the hostile fighters. All Marines were heavily wounded and on the brink of death but continued fighting. At 2400 local, hostile fighters breached the rear of the consulate and attempted to capture the dignitaries and acquire intel. US Marines retreated from the front checkpoint to the main consulate building and defended the high-value personnel from being captured, as well as burning key files.
At 0300 local, the Marines were getting desperate, they were bleeding out from their wounds and they were unable to retrieve any more ammunition from hostile forces. At this point, the embassy was completely surrounded. The Marines continued to hold on, and kept fighting. The fighting was at it's worst point, with Marines engaging hostile fighters in hand-to-hand combat with knives and rocks in order to acquire hostile firearms.
At 0630 local time, evacuation was scrambled for the Marines and high-value personnel. The Marines fought their way out of the consulate to the rear compound and waited for extraction. At 0645, one US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter landed but was immediately hit by an RPG, all hands were lost. The Marines retreated down the hills and and fell back approximately 2km and organized another extraction. A secondary UH-60 was dispatched and picked up the dignitaries and Marines while being engaged by both small arms and anti-aircraft fire, nearly getting shot down. During the intensity of the fighting and pressure, the UH-60 crew hastly extracted all but one servicemember from the battle space. Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Declan Lloyd was wounded heavily and lost consciousness during the retreat and was left behind on the hills and captured. He was taken to the embassy by hostile fighters and interrogated.
The rear of the Embassy, where the first UH-60 landed and attempted to rescue the dignitaries.
At 0800 local, the Marines organized a plan to rescue the Hospital Corpsman. Realizing they could not insert via air, they ran 7 kilometers back to the battle zone after being dropped off via helicopter. The Corpsman was heavily wounded and tortured by Rafad Alshayatin enforcers, his time was running out.
At 1030, the US Marines assaulted the Embassy, facing more than 100 fighters in the process. The Marines cleared the Embassy and rescued the Hospital Corpsman and orchestrated an airstrike on the consulate itself. US Navy F/A-18 fighters dropped 1,000 pound JDAM munitions, effectively wiping out the entirety of the compound while the US Marines were carrying the Hospital Corpsman back to safety.
At 1200, the US Marines organized an extraction approximately 7km away from the battlespace and successfully extracted all Marines. By this time, a large reaction force contingent of US Army and US Marine elements pushed into Zargabad and recaptured it by 1800 local.
Due to the success of the 12 Marines who served and defended the consulate, all dignitaries were successfully evacuated and saved. Due to their determination to succeed and intolerance for failure, those Marines were willing to give their lives in the defense of their nation, their brothers and the dignitaries. These men who served at the consulate are the example of what every true Marine is and should aspire to be.
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears." - James Mattis
For my brothers, I'd give my life. Semper Fidelis.
THE GREAT UKRAINE HILL DEFENSE (01/03/2018)
The area which allied troops were stationed. Ultranationalist forces assaulted from the hill, pictured here.
On January 3rd, 2018, members of the Eleventh Marine Division went to Ukraine to assist and advise Ukrainian & Allied troops in combating the communist insurgent threat, known as the Ultranationlist Movement of the Red Star. Allied forces were stationed in an open field, on the eastern flank in order to protect a town from hostile takeover.
At 1900 local, Allied troops were engaged by hostile forces, whom were amassing from a small hill overlooking a town, known as "Red Hill". Ultranationalist forces engaged with small arms and heavy weapon systems and attempted to charge across the field and pour into friendly lines. Attacks continued as Ultranationalist forces began to increase in size.
At 2200 local, Ultranationalist forces heavily outnumbered Allied forces 5-to-1, with attacks being supported by artillery and armored support. Hostile armor columns entered the fields and attempted to pacify friendly lines, only to be defeated by anti-tank weapon systems. Ultranationlist forces were filling the field, with an approximate company-to-battalion size assaulting Allied lines. Enemy artillery suppressed and pinned Allied forces, allowing Ultranationalist troops to get close to the the trenches.
By 0230 local, Ultranationalist troops broke through the trench-line but were repelled and forced to retreat. Only a small amount of Allied troops were still alive and fighting, with all Eleventh Marine Division members still combat effective. Ammunition & medical supplies were running low, allied troops attempted to stockpile and gather enemy equipment. After hostile forces were repelled, the fighting ceased for approximately one hour. Allied troops built up and restocked defenses and weapons.
At 0345, Red Star troops launched a massive final assault on allied troops, with dozens of armored fighting vehicles and artillery strikes. This massive attack took the lives of almost all allied troops stationed there, with only members of the Eleventh Marine Division alive. Nearly 1,000 Ultranationalist troops flooded the field, supported by lightly armored vehicles, and officially within allied lines. Fighting was down to hand to hand and close quarters battle. Allied troops were in a last ditch effort to defeat the enemy...
Nearly two hours later, at around 0530, all Ultranationalist troops were killed in action and more than twenty-five armored vehicles were destroyed or disabled. Allied troops successfully defended the town from hostile takeover. Allied troops were reinforced by a battalion of Ukrainian troops, and the members of the Fighting Eleventh managed to facilitate a helicopter evacuation.
All civilians were successfully saved from the Ultranationalist's iron fist.
"Marines don't know how to spell the word 'defeat". - James Mattis
For my brothers, I'd give my life. Semper Fidelis.
OPERATION BROADSWORD HEROICS (01/07/2018)
This section dissects the heroic actions that was undertaken by members of the Fighting Eleventh during Operation Broadsword.
Then Lance Corporal Boyer, Nicholas T. is being recognized for his valorous actions in the day-long Battle of Utes Island. He was advancing with his squad near Kamenyy when his unit met heavy enemy resistance. During the period, his unit stopped to address and stabilize wounded members and were closely ambushed by a platoon of Ultranationalist Red Star insurgents within 50 meters. Boyer, with no regard for his own life, Boyer immediately acted upon the ambush and shielded his fellow wounded Marines from fire while discharging his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon towards enemy troops. Boyer eliminated nearly 30 enemy troops. Boyer waited until the assailants closed in, then tossed a grenade into their midst, then immediately engaged hostile troops with his light machine gun, killing all of them. It was in this engagement, or shortly thereafter, that Boyer sustained serious injuries.
Then Hospital Corpsman Second Class Lloyd, Delcan R. is being recognized for his heroic actions in the day-long battle of Utes Island. His detachment came under devastating enemy fire from strong enemy forces and several servicemembers became severely wounded. Lloyd advanced voluntarily and alone towards his fellow wounded brothers-in-arms, and began providing critical immediate care to his fellow members, with no care for his own life. Lloyd, in the heat of battle managed to save his fellow brothers-in-arms and contributed to the success and successfully managed to prevent the death of his fellow members in action. Throughout this engagement, Lloyd suffered limited injuries.
Major Falcon, Vladimir is being recognized for his valorous actions in day-long battle of Utes Island. During the battle, he aggressively led his unit in neutralizing multiple enemy strong points and inflicting large numbers of casualties on the enemy. As the attack was almost over, Falcon sustained severe wounds, but did not stop to receive first aid. Falcon continued his exemplary performance until he captured his objective.
Captain Hogan, Derek A. is being recognized for his valorous actions while serving as the second in command of the U.S. Marine invasion force in the day-long battle of Utes Island. Hogan's unit was under heavy fire by blistering mortar, machine-gun, and rifle power. Hogan led his troops in an assault over a tree-and-shrub-covered hill, continuously swept by automatic fire. Killing two snipers at ranges of 50 and 75 yards, he disregarded bullets that pierced his back to engage and destroy a machine-gun with rifle grenades, killing its two-man crew. Stunned by an exploding RPG warhead, he continued his relentless advance to knock out a second a machine-gun and captured his respective objectives.
Then Staff Sergeant Rugama, Amadeo is being recognized for his actions on the day-long battle of Utes Island where he is credited with single-handedly breaking up a Red Star counterattack. The enemy launched a violent counterattack preceded by a assaulting barrage. Rugama, flying his MH-60S Knighthawk, flew to the crest of a hill, where he saw a large quantity of enemy troops charging up the slopes employing anti-tank launchers, machineguns, rifles, and hand grenades. Rugama immediately began to engage the enemy, firing several rockets and killing nearly all enemy personnel.
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Phillips, Nathaniel R. distinguished himself on the day-long battle of Utes Island by supporting his company as it was ruthlessly attacked by a hostile force. Notably, Philips maneuvered across open ground to successfully provide medical attention to his wounded troops. Wounded during the battle, Philips refused medical attention, instead manning his post and providing medical aide to wounded troops.
Then Sergeant Gloria, Joseph distinguished himself on the day-long battle of Utes Island. Gloria was in the most vulnerable position on his company's exposed right flank after an enemy force was defending a sector with ferocious machinegun fire. He pushed towards the position throughout the engagement, engaging enemy troops with automatic fire and accurately hurling hand grenades at short range when he approached their positions.