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Operation Phantom Fury: The Assault and Capture of Fallujah, Iraq
The Second Battle for Fallujah, dubbed Operation Phantom Fury, took place over an almost two-month period, from November 7 to December 23, 2004. The Marine Corps’ biggest battle in Iraq to date, it was so prolonged and fierce that it has entered the pantheon of USMC battles alongside Iwo Jima, Inchon, and Hue City. This book offers an in-depth, intimate look into Operation Phantom Fury, the single most significant battle undertaken during the occupation of Iraq. The author, a retired Marine Corps colonel with combat service in Vietnam, conducted personal interviews with combatants, from the division commander in charge of the operation down to Marine infantrymen who did the fighting. The result--illustrated with a hundred action photographs--is a rare firsthand account of the brutal reality of the war in Iraq, how this battle for a key city was fought, and how such a crucial battle looks from positions of command and from the thick of the fight.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Camp
18 books11 followersColonel Richard D. "Dick" Camp Jr., a Purple Heart recipient, served 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring in 1988. Upon retirement he served as the Deputy Director, U.S. Marine Corps History Division (he was Acting Director for most of 2006) and as the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Vice President for Museum Operations at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia. Currently residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he is the author of ten books and over 100 magazine articles on various military related subjects.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 18, 2023
I read this book for a research paper and brief in the Captains Career Course. The paper is on the second battle of Fallujah and the commander of the 1st Marine Division, MG Natonski. The book details both battles of Fallujah (and is, understandably, very favorably written towards the Marines involved).
I went into reading this book expecting to lay disappointment at the feet of military leaders; I hypothesized that COL David Hackworth’s complaints would echo from Vietnam to Iraq as American forces continued to fight an unconventional enemy, conventionally. This was not the case. I found that many of the Marine leaders on the ground, including MG James Mattis as the 1st Marine Division Commander in Fallujah I, were incredibly aware of the strategic and tactical requirements of counterinsurgency operations. They had extensive plans to command American forces with techniques that wouldn’t actually be instituted until Petraeus.
It was actually America’s civilian leadership that was egregiously (and inexcusably) uneducated: Bremer, Rumsfeld, and President Bush did an unimaginable amount of harm to our efforts (and the Iraqi people) in Iraq in 2004. After their ineptitude, it was essentially impossible for the Marine leaders in Fallujah to rectify the situation. By the time the order for Fallujah II was disseminated, Marine leaders on the ground were pigeon-holed. They elected to do what Marines do best in the absence of a coherent solution and exert dominant violence. Each American that I read about dying in this book made me feel a very wide array of emotions. They are not forgotten.
It turns out I have extremely strong interest in the conflict in Iraq (which makes sense, having spoken to, been taught by, and worked alongside a lot of Iraq combat veterans). I think I’m going to read a lot more about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Favorite quotes:
“Mattis’s carefully thought out plan encompassed building goodwill in the surrounding villages, concentrating on quality-of-life issues. He felt that word of these projects would spread to Fallujah and start the inhabitants thinking, ‘why are they receiving help and we aren’t?’ and result in separating the insurgents from those who wanted a better life.”
“Kick ass!” - President George W. Bush (oof)
“If you’re going to take Vienna, take fucking Vienna!” - MG James Mattis
“Staff Sergeant Jimmy Amyett was tired but keyed up: ‘the caffeine fix started kicking in…”
I went into reading this book expecting to lay disappointment at the feet of military leaders; I hypothesized that COL David Hackworth’s complaints would echo from Vietnam to Iraq as American forces continued to fight an unconventional enemy, conventionally. This was not the case. I found that many of the Marine leaders on the ground, including MG James Mattis as the 1st Marine Division Commander in Fallujah I, were incredibly aware of the strategic and tactical requirements of counterinsurgency operations. They had extensive plans to command American forces with techniques that wouldn’t actually be instituted until Petraeus.
It was actually America’s civilian leadership that was egregiously (and inexcusably) uneducated: Bremer, Rumsfeld, and President Bush did an unimaginable amount of harm to our efforts (and the Iraqi people) in Iraq in 2004. After their ineptitude, it was essentially impossible for the Marine leaders in Fallujah to rectify the situation. By the time the order for Fallujah II was disseminated, Marine leaders on the ground were pigeon-holed. They elected to do what Marines do best in the absence of a coherent solution and exert dominant violence. Each American that I read about dying in this book made me feel a very wide array of emotions. They are not forgotten.
It turns out I have extremely strong interest in the conflict in Iraq (which makes sense, having spoken to, been taught by, and worked alongside a lot of Iraq combat veterans). I think I’m going to read a lot more about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Favorite quotes:
“Mattis’s carefully thought out plan encompassed building goodwill in the surrounding villages, concentrating on quality-of-life issues. He felt that word of these projects would spread to Fallujah and start the inhabitants thinking, ‘why are they receiving help and we aren’t?’ and result in separating the insurgents from those who wanted a better life.”
“Kick ass!” - President George W. Bush (oof)
“If you’re going to take Vienna, take fucking Vienna!” - MG James Mattis
“Staff Sergeant Jimmy Amyett was tired but keyed up: ‘the caffeine fix started kicking in…”
Want to read
October 30, 2012The book describes the April and November 2004 assault and capture of Fallujah, Iraq by two Marine regiments, supported by two U.S. Army mechanized battalions and Iraqis forces. The battle is told through personal accounts, after-action reports and news accounts. The book captures the essence of combat...dirty, bloody and self-sacrifice. It belies the statements by insurgents that U.S. fighting men will not fight in close combat...those insurgents who stayed to fight learned that lesson to their sorrow. Semper Fi.
October 10, 2019
Likes:
+ Very detailed operational accounting of the battles of Fallujah
+ A nod to the heroism of those who fought and died to capture the city
+ Writing is clear, structure is logical, the writing holds the attention of reader
+ The sprinkling of direct quotes from military personnel referenced in book gives narratives life
+ Author shows high expertise in describing military events and affairs due to previous Marine Corps service
Dislikes:
- Front-end heavy, the balance between the descriptions of the buildup to the battles and the battles themselves are skewed.
- Too focused on the tactical/individual level events
- Various interesting incidents are described found wanting due to lack of explanations in depth
+ Very detailed operational accounting of the battles of Fallujah
+ A nod to the heroism of those who fought and died to capture the city
+ Writing is clear, structure is logical, the writing holds the attention of reader
+ The sprinkling of direct quotes from military personnel referenced in book gives narratives life
+ Author shows high expertise in describing military events and affairs due to previous Marine Corps service
Dislikes:
- Front-end heavy, the balance between the descriptions of the buildup to the battles and the battles themselves are skewed.
- Too focused on the tactical/individual level events
- Various interesting incidents are described found wanting due to lack of explanations in depth
August 15, 2015
Excellent book weaving personal accounts with photos and a strategic view of the combat and city. Also included various specs on equipment used and personal accounts from pilots etc. The pictures throughout were very nice as well.
June 23, 2022
It took me a long time to pick up this book. It is always tough to recount times that bring us pain. I believe it is more important to remember the incredibly courageous people whose actions saved the lives of my friends. Forever grateful to you.
Mr. Camp: Thank you for taking the time to research this Operation and to get the detailed stories from the men and women who were there. It helps to share these stories to give a better picture to those who were not there and give them opportunity to gain a bit of an understanding about what Fallujah was like almost two decades ago. I appreciate you. S/F
Mr. Camp: Thank you for taking the time to research this Operation and to get the detailed stories from the men and women who were there. It helps to share these stories to give a better picture to those who were not there and give them opportunity to gain a bit of an understanding about what Fallujah was like almost two decades ago. I appreciate you. S/F
October 22, 2019
All about the US Marines and Us Army in the 2d Battle of Fallujah
Great read for the inside account of what, why and how things happened in the second Battle of Fallujah. A must read.
Great read for the inside account of what, why and how things happened in the second Battle of Fallujah. A must read.
March 21, 2022
Good background to the battle and a lot of tactics and planning and build up. Not too heavy on the individual stories, kinda clinical
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews