7-hour Iraq firefight sees 4 Marine Raiders receive Bronze Stars with ‘V’
By Philip Athey
Sep 17, 03:56 PM
On March 8, 2020, Marine Raiders, along with Iraqi special forces and allied special operators, were attempting to clear caves in northern Iraq of ISIS fighters.
As the multinational force moved through the hills on a “warm sunny day,” gunfire and explosions suddenly came echoing through the valley, marking the start of a firefight that would last several hours.
In the opening moments of the fight, two Marine Forces Special Operations Command Marines were killed and a French special operator was wounded.
The intense fight to recover the dead and wounded saw one Marine awarded the Navy Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/09/17/7-hour-iraq-firefight-sees-4-marine-raiders-receive-bronze-stars-with-v/
