Archival footage, courtesy of Military.com, from March 31, 2004. Twenty years ago this past Sunday, Blackwater security contractors were driving through the center of Fallujah when they were ambushed by militants. Hand grenades were thrown at their vehicles which were disabled and engulfed in flames. Local residents rushed to the scene, chanting in celebration. One contractor’s corpse was dragged through the streets behind a car, and another hung from a bridge. After the attack, violence escalated rapidly in Fallujah and beyond, engulfing much of Al Anbar province in a firestorm of bloodshed. This year of spasmodic violence would include the First and Second Battles of Fallujah, known to the U.S. Marine Corps as Operations VIGILANT RESOLVE and PHANTOM FURY, respectively.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for the 2024 season of sailing on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.