During the battle for Nasariya, an Iraqi battalion commander was marching his unit to join in the fight, when an American voice called out from the other side of a small ridge.
"One US Marine is worth ten Iraqi's," the voice said.
The Iraqi colonel felt that his honor was at stake because of this insult and rose to the challenge, picking his ten best fighters, veterans all, and sent them over the ridge. There followed a couple of seconds of heavy gunfire, and then silence.
"One US Marine is worth a hundred Iraqi's" the voice then called out.
Furious now, the colonel sent his lead company over the ridge with orders to show this insolent infidel what true soldiers of Allah were made of. For several minutes all that could be heard was the rifles and machine guns firing, with RPG's and hand grenades as well. Then silence until the American spoke again
"One US Marine is worth one THOUSAND Iraqi's," he said.
Angered beyond reason, the colonel sent the remainder of his battalion to eliminate the American. Again the sounds of battle came over the hill until there was once again peaceful quiet. Then one lone survivor, mortally wounded, crawled back over the ridge.
"Don't send any more men," he gasped with his dying breath. "It's a trap. There are TWO of them." |