We Got Him!

by Steve Russell

  Having purchased thousands of medals for my soldiers, we now readied for one final assembly of our troops. Individual companies would also have ceremonies, and we would take group pictures of the units, knowing that these exact groups of men would never be together ever again.

  Captain Scott Thomas’ B Company had a special soldier they wanted to honor. Sergeant Gary Dowd had come from Florida to reunite with our unit. I was privileged to pin a Purple Heart on his chest. As I did, I remembered the night he lay bleeding and dying and how prayers for God to spare his life were answered. He stood before me to receive his award with an arm missing and a face set full of determination. All eyes were riveted on him waiting to hear his words. He started slowly.

  “It is an honor to be back,” he said, holding back the tears. “I’m . . . I’m . . . sorry I let you all down by not finishing the mission with you.”

  With that, no man with a heart could contain his tears. How is it he could believe he had failed anyone when he had sacrificed so much? It is something only the battlefield soldier can understand. All war veterans instinctively understand and feel a kindred bond with one another. What Gary was trying to articulate is how we all felt about each other and our unit as well.

  After pinning thousands of medals on my soldiers for their campaigns, service, valor, and wounds, I was honored to look each one in the eye, shake his hand, and express thanks on behalf of a grateful nation. I truly hoped that our nation would be grateful, yet I feared what most of these soldiers had achieved would be forgotten, if ever really known.

  We assembled for the last time that May of 2004 with our military brothers and sisters who served together in Iraq and the historic hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein. As I endeavored to convey my love for them and the swelling pride I felt for what they had achieved for the United States of America, these words poured from my heart:

  “ . . . Someday your peers will look back on their lives and wish they were you. When your nation called, it was you who answered. Regardless of what people make of our service or this war, no one can take away what you have achieved. Ever.

  “As the decades pass and we grow old together, we must remember not only what has been accomplished but what the cost was as well. Only we can carry the memory of our fallen. It is we who knew their faces, their smiles, their stories, and their sacrifice. They are now just a name, but as long as we have breath, they will live.”

  SADDAM’S SOCIAL NETWORK

  CARDS FROM THE DECK

  HVT#1 Saddam Hussein—Ace of Spades

  HVT#4 Abid Hamid Mahmood al-Khatab—Ace of Diamonds

  HVT#11 Barzan Sulayman al-Majid—Queen of Hearts

  HVT#52 Adil Abdullah Mahdi al-Duri—Two of Diamonds

  THE MUSSLIT FAMILY

  Omar al-Musslit (questioned, released)

  Rudman Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (died of cardiac arrest)

  Mohammed Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Adnan Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Mawlan Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Nazhan Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Birhan Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Salwan Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit

  Telfah Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Abid Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Kalil (Khalib?) Ibrahim Omar al-Musslit

  Faris Yaseen Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Nasir Yaseen Omar al-Musslit (captured by INP)

  Taha Yaseen Omar al-Musslit (captured)

  Ahmed Yaseen Omar al-Musslit (captured by INP)

  Adnan Abdullah Abid al-Musslit (captured)

  Bashar Abdullah Abid al-Musslit (captured)

  Finar Khatab Omar al-Musslit—Tikrit insurgent leader

  THE HEREMOS FAMILY

  Rashid Abdullah al-Heremos (captured)

  Muthama Rashid al-Heremos

  Rafa Ali Hussein al-Heremos

  Nafit Ali Hussein al-Heremos (captured)

  Ghalib Selfij al-Heremos

  THE HADOOSHI FAMILY

  Mohammed al-Hadooshi

  Mahmood Kareem al-Hadooshi (captured)

  Amer Abdullah al-Hadooshi (captured)

  Sabir Abid al-Hadooshi (captured)

  Abdu Samad al-Hadooshi (killed)

  THE MAJID FAMILY

  Barzan Sulayman al-Majid—HVT #11 Queen of Hearts (detained after surrendering)

  Hussein Ali Ibrihim al-Majid (captured)

  Kareem Jasim Nafoos al-Majid (captured)

  Saddam Hussein—HVT #1 Ace of Spades (captured, tried and executed)

  THE HASAN FAMILY

  Munther Idham Ibrahim al-Hasan

  Rafa Idham Ibrahim al-Hasan (captured)

  Yada Idham Ibrahim al-Hasan (captured)

  Omar Idham Ibrahim al-Hasan (captured)

  Saad Abdul al-Hasan (captured)

  Raad Abdul al-Hasan

  THE KHATAB FAMILY

  Abid Hamid Mahmood al-Khatab—HVT#4 Ace of Diamonds (captured, tried and executed)

  Ghalib Mahmood al-Khatab—married Saddam’s half sister Bissan, also HVT#4’s uncle

  Abdullah Ghalib Mahmood al-Khatab—led 7 Jun ambush

  Kaied Ghalib Mahmood al-Khatab—(KIA—9 Nov)

  Abid Ghalib Mahmood al-Khatab—(KIA)

  Shuja Ghalib Mahmood al-Khatab—Jordan

  Fuaz Ghalib Mahmood al-Khatab—(captured) daughter married to Abid Mahmood HVT#4

  Amer Kalid Abdullah al-Khatab—1 Oct bomber

  Hayid Hamid al-Khatab—(captured) student

  THE GHANI FAMILY

  Mahmood Abdul Ghani—married Saddam’s half sister

  Ryad Mahmoud Abdul Ghani—(captured)

  Adnan Mahmood Abdul Ghani—(captured)

  Saddam Mahout Abdul Ghani—(captured)

  Sa’ad Hythem Abdul Ghani—(captured)

  Mo’ad Hamoud Abdul Ghani—(captured)

  Saqr Ghani—7 Nov helicopter witness

  THE AHMED FAMILY

  Mohammed Yunis al-Ahmed—Bayjii to Tikrit resistance chief, Baathist rank just behind Saddam—helicopter shooter

  Munther Mohammed Ahmed—(captured) 19 Nov

  Omar Hadel Mohammed Ahmed—(captured) 28 Dec

  Faris Amir Ahmed—(captured) 16 Dec, bomber Brad’s convoy

  THE RASHID FAMILY

  Maher Abdul Rashid—Qusay father-in-law (captured)

  Ali Maher Abdul Rashid—(KIA—23 Jul), Qusay brother-in-law

  Yasir Maher Abdul Rashid—cell leader, Qusay brother-in-law

  Abdullah Maher Abdul Rashid—courier, Qusay brother-in-law

  THE KHADER FAMILY

  Mohammed Khader—harbored Mohammed al-Musslit (captured in Baghdad SOF 12 Dec)

  Abdel Khader—8 Dec target Cadaseeyah, possible brother to Mohammed

  Sofian Abdel Khader—son of Abdel Khader

  Kalil Abdel Khader—son of Abdel Khader

  THE ALI FAMILY

  Haji Amin Ali—saved Saddam in 1959

  Thaier Amin Ali—(captured) harbored Mohammed al-Musslit, sisters married to M. Hadooshi, Thamar Sultan & Sami Sharif

  Mahsin Amin Ali—harbored Mohammed al-Musslit

  Thamer Jassem Mohammed Ali—(captured) cell leader

  Hardan Ali—Sabawi’s bodyguard

  Arkan Hardan Ali—(captured) cell leader

  OTHER ASSOCIATES

  Hussein Ahmed Mohammed Hazaa—married to Rudman’s daughter

  Tariq Ibrihim Farash—Bayjii & Awija chief, elevated in rank by Saddam

  Salaam Sheban—(captured) mayor’s security chief

  Adris Yunis Noori—(captured) arrested in Ad Dawr

  TASK FORCE

  1-22 INFANTRY “REGULARS”

  ORDER OF BATTLE

  HQs, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry

  Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry

  A Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry

  B Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry

  C Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry
<
br />   C Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor

  74th Engineer Company (Bridge)

  A Company, 4th Forward Support Battalion

  362nd Psyops Detachment

  DST-1, 418th Civil Affairs

  TPT-1692

  THT-44

  Iraqi Civil Defense Troops

  Attachments for Various Missions

  G Troop, 10th Cavalry

  A Company, 299th Engineers

  A Battery, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery

  Detachments, 401st Military Police

  Detachments, 720th Military Police

  TASK FORCE ROSTER

  Note: This roster is as complete as possible given the flow of replacements, the discharge of soldiers who completed their enlistments while in theater, and with the evacuation of those wounded. It is inevitable that someone will not be listed who served in the task force. Others served in more than one company but may be listed only in the first one. Spellings were copied from the deployment rosters and may be incorrect. The valor and casualty lists are not complete but the known ones are listed.

  (v) = valor (w) = wounded (k) = killed in action (ks) = killed in later tour

  HHC

  OFFICERS

  Woempner, Mark S

  Russell, Steven D (v)

  Rauhut, Michael W

  Reed, Brian J

  Luke, Bryan

  Bell, Clayton T

  Bell, Jahme D

  Billoni, Philip

  Carlisle, Mitchell C

  Cashaw, Frederick

  Childs, Craig S

  Fallon, Christopher

  Burguetechapa, Armando

  Camp, Andrew J

  Carter, Daryl A

  Franklin, Douglas

  Linkous, Roy, Jr

  Lojka, Jason R

  Lusk, Casey Martin, Timmy R

  Morales, Alex

  Morris, Christopher J (v2)

  Morrow, Timothy J (w)

  Nunn, Peter P

  Pacheco, Antonio L, Jr

  Parrish, Troy S

  Price, Jason D

  Saul, Nathan C

  Thomas, Scott (v)

  Tran, Xuan N

  Weber, Matthew W

  Wilmoski, Conrad R

  ENLISTED

  Martinez, Salvador M.

  Dikes, Dwayne, D

  Castro, Cesar

  Adrian, Eddie J, Jr

  Aiken, Andre D

  Alokoa, Fritz F

  Antolik, Andrew J

  Arredondo, Juan C

  Bach, Sean A

  Bailey, Ronald (w)

  Ball, Terrance L

  Banks, James G

  Barnaby, Jeffery P

  Barr, Patrick R

  Bear, Thomas

  Behnke, Christopher L

  Benson, Milton

  Bledsoe, Matthew N

  Bocanegra, Jesus

  Bournazian, Steven M (v)

  Branscome, Sean

  Brog, Justin D

  Brokish, Andrew J

  Brown, Thomas W

  Cantu, Juan (w)

  Cardenas, Franscisco J

  Carvajal, Alejandro A

  Castanodelgado, Roberto A

  Cherry, Michael S

  Cline, Pierre F

  Cloe, Roy F, Jr

  Correa, Angel L

  Cradeur, Chase J

  Crowe, Mitchell D

  Cruz, Daniel

  Dennis, Brian L

  Dunning, Corey D

  Eisenbraun, Kyle P

  Eschenbacher, Robert W

  Evans, William C

  Ewings, Willie E, II

  Fasulo, Richard

  Ferguson, John T

  Feucht, Scott J

  Flores, David

  Fox, Gerald W, Jr

  Garcianaranjo, Gersain

  Gardner, Christopher L

  Gaspard, Christian C

  Giardine, Richard (v)

  Giles, Leundrea, T

  Gillman, Todd, A

  Goodwin, Claude J, IV (v) (w)

  Graham, Matthew P

  Gretton, Rueben A

  Gross, Tyler, D

  Haggerty, David E, Jr

  Harper, Brandon, M

  Harris, Noah, K

  Harris, Danny (w)

  Haten, Duston, D

  Herrera, Jeremiah, E (v)

  Hines, Ricky, D

  Hoefer, Cody J (v)

  Ipatzimendoza, Oscar

  Jablanski, Jared E

  Jenkins, Steven A

  Kadar, Christopher M

  Kelly, James P

  Kesner, Bryan L

  Lance, Kevin M

  Larde, William III A

  Larson, Jason T

  Lawrence, Carl S

  Lay, Michael J

  Lazen, Felipe A

  Lee, Ronald E, II

  Liban, Gregory A

  Lloyd, Brandon E

  Lopez, Gilbert R

  Lugo, David

  Luke, Kino A

  Lyons, John A (w)

  Mack, Austin W

  Madrid, Felipe A (w)

  Maduro, Rudolph R

  Maennena, William A

  Mahon, Michael B

  Maldonado, Erik E

  Mann, Jeffrey S

  Martinez, Pedro J, Jr

  Mason, Delton H, III

  Mastro, Ian L

  McBean, John H

  McCrary, Eddie, III

  McFarland, John M

  McKnight, Andrew A

  Meadows, Delionel B

  Mitchell, Shaun E

  Moran, Lovie V, Jr (w)

  Morris, Jean C

  Morris, Waylon B

  Nambo, Ruben R

  Pate, Lamont T

  Pena, Heriberto L, Jr

  Phillips, Percell E, Jr (w)

  Pinedalopez, Jesus, A

  Pollock, Jason

  Pollock, Steven M

  Pulliam, Muhammed

  Riveraantuna, Pablo F (v)

  Rodriguez, Moises, III

  Rodriguez, Carlos

  Rushworth, Robert S

  Russell, Dustin, W

  Salas, Daniel

  Salas, Gary J

  Sample, Jesse A (v)

  Sanders, Jeremy L

  Santos, Colon V

  Scott, Michael A

  Serba, Brian J

  Seto, Dennis Jr, D

  Shaw, Matthew

  Shoffner, Sean C (v2)

  Simmons, Stewart, G (v) (w)

  Sims, Jerel V

  Sims, Santino M

  Sizer, Gregory K

  Smith, Jourdan B

  Smith, Kurt B

  Soden, Robert E

  Stewart, Randall S

  Stewart, William G, III

  Su, Andres, Jr

  Takahashi, Masataka

  Tate, Will D

  Tatro, Jason E

  Tenorio, Cesar (v)

  Thomas, Dwayne, A

  Thompson, Raymond, M

  Tignor, Stewart, D

  Traver, Daniel, R

  Trujillo, Michael, R

  Truong, Mai, V

  Valdovinomendez, Simon, S

  Venetz, Anthony, Jr (ks)

  Venegas, Luis

  Vickers, Christopher, J

  Walker, Brandon, K

  Walker, Robert L, III (v)

  Webb, Gregory A

  Wells, Jason D (v)

  Werts, Jason S

  West, Bobby (ks)

  White, Anthony E

  White, David R

  Wiese, Brendon R

  Williams, Alfred

  Yslas, Stephen S

  Zarate, Lorenzo

  A CO.

  OFFICERS

  Coffey, Riley

  Crow, Colin D

  Guzman, Israel

  Harrington, William B

  Myer, Matthew R

  Oliver, Ramsey

  Tapp, Eric E

  Roberts, Shane

  Stouffer, Mark W

  Wagner, Michael P

  ENLISTED

  Ackerman, James W, III

>   Adams, Adam N

  Adams, Eric L

  Alaniz, Joshua L

  Alexander, Dana L

  Allen, David B

  Allen, Jason R

  Arrieta, Roman III

  Armida, Joshua

  Bales, Christopher L, II

  Barron, Robert H, Jr

  Barton, John W, Jr

  Beebe, Michael A

  Bobella, Cory A

  Booth, Brannon N

  Brown, Justin A

  Brown, Matthew

  Brown, Robert J, III

  Brown, Thomas W

  Bullard, Gary A

  Burns, Justen E

  Caballero, Daniel

  Caffie, Earnest L

  Cameron, Dieter D

  Chapman, Bryan S

  Chapman, Joshua L

  Chenault, Charles E (w)

  Clark, Steven S

  Contreras, Benhor

  Cooper, James R

  Cummings, David R

  Curry, Ryan S

  De Los Santos, Miguel

  Deal, Edward L

  Dent, Timothy L

  Dornbush, Mark B

  Eastwood, Matthew

  Ervin, Eric C

  Fay, Erland A

  Feliz, Luis D

  France, William R

  Fuentes, Mario A

  Fyffe, Craig R

  Gamboa, Edgar

  Garay, Byron R

  Garcia, Benito M

  Garcia, Juan A

  Garcia, Noel E

  Garcia, Orlando J

  Garza, Jaime, Jr

  Goodwin, Bill

  Goodwin, Donald A

  Goodwin, Jason L

  Gordon, Marcus

  Guy, Dwain A

  Hart, Randy L

  Hartwell, Paul W

  Henao, Ruben D

  Henson, Roy A

  Hernandez, Daniel V

  Hernandez, Eduardo L

  Hernandez, Isaac

  Herrera, Joseph L

  Hill, Mark R

  Hinojosa, Rolando A

  Hoy, Bradley J

  Hubert, Eric J

  Hubert, Jeffrey W

  Iribe, Erbert

  Johnson, Edward

  Johnson, Joshua C

  Johnson, Nicholas B

  Keith, Brian H

  Keltner, Curtis

  Kopp, Eric J

  Lam, Gabriel S

  Lapre, Jamie R

  Larocque, Matthew W

  Lavina, Jerry K

  Lee, Eric J

  Leemon, Benjamin D