Blake Hall

There were standing sewage because Al Qaeda didn't care about the locals. They'd put in so many bombs into the sewer system. that the sewage was just spilled out. It was a Sunni neighborhood. You had a Shia Iraqi army military unit that would snipe at people as they went out for groceries and things. Then little kids would chuck grenades at us. If there's hell on earth, it was probably Dora.

There were standing sewage because Al Qaeda didn't care about the locals. They'd put in so many bombs into the sewer system. that the sewage was just spilled out. It was a Sunni neighborhood. You had a Shia Iraqi army military unit that would snipe at people as they went out for groceries and things. Then little kids would chuck grenades at us. If there's hell on earth, it was probably Dora.

And so the reason that al-Qaeda would put these roadside bombs into the sewer system is the kind of law of explosives is that the force travels the path of least resistance. So if you have concrete on two sides underneath, but the road is dirt, it's a natural charge that directs upwards into the bottom of a vehicle. So there's two elements to this.

And so the reason that al-Qaeda would put these roadside bombs into the sewer system is the kind of law of explosives is that the force travels the path of least resistance. So if you have concrete on two sides underneath, but the road is dirt, it's a natural charge that directs upwards into the bottom of a vehicle. So there's two elements to this.

One was when I saw that was happening, they would put 500 pound buried bombs underneath that would literally saw a striker in half, like these 20 ton vehicles from front to back, just rip it completely in half to give you an idea of the force. And so when I saw this during the surge, I wasn't getting a lot of sleep. The first thing I did is I went to the operations center.

One was when I saw that was happening, they would put 500 pound buried bombs underneath that would literally saw a striker in half, like these 20 ton vehicles from front to back, just rip it completely in half to give you an idea of the force. And so when I saw this during the surge, I wasn't getting a lot of sleep. The first thing I did is I went to the operations center.

I said, give me the infrastructure plans for all the sewage system in Baghdad. And I went out to the truck with my radio telephone operator. And you have a graphic overlay of the streets. And we stayed out there until three in the morning, even though our next mission was like at 630, just until I had the final thing done.

I said, give me the infrastructure plans for all the sewage system in Baghdad. And I went out to the truck with my radio telephone operator. And you have a graphic overlay of the streets. And we stayed out there until three in the morning, even though our next mission was like at 630, just until I had the final thing done.

And once I had mapped it, I pushed it out to all the other trucks in our unit. And I said, for us... We are never going to drive on these roads ever if we can avoid it. And if we do avoid it, you guys are both going to the rooftops. You're going to cut every single wire down to the street. Phil was unfortunate enough.

And once I had mapped it, I pushed it out to all the other trucks in our unit. And I said, for us... We are never going to drive on these roads ever if we can avoid it. And if we do avoid it, you guys are both going to the rooftops. You're going to cut every single wire down to the street. Phil was unfortunate enough.

He went across an intersection that had one of these 500-pound bombs underneath it. And my platoon was the first one to... respond to that scene. And it was devastating, as you might imagine. He was just severely concussed, but was just relentless in terms of providing aid to his guys, getting them into the trucks. I'm going to get emotional about it, so I'm sorry.

He went across an intersection that had one of these 500-pound bombs underneath it. And my platoon was the first one to... respond to that scene. And it was devastating, as you might imagine. He was just severely concussed, but was just relentless in terms of providing aid to his guys, getting them into the trucks. I'm going to get emotional about it, so I'm sorry.

But we raced a few of the guys who were critically wounded to the green zone, to the combat support hospital that was there. And Phil was just unbelievable. When we finally, when his men were taken care of, he was so concussed, he was puking and he knew that he was about to just pass out. And he just grabbed me by the lapels and he said, Blake, my guys take care of my guys.

But we raced a few of the guys who were critically wounded to the green zone, to the combat support hospital that was there. And Phil was just unbelievable. When we finally, when his men were taken care of, he was so concussed, he was puking and he knew that he was about to just pass out. And he just grabbed me by the lapels and he said, Blake, my guys take care of my guys.

And that for me is just, that's what it is right there. His men love him for it, that when the chips are down, you care more about other people than yourself. And his like will, even though he was physically really banged up, got him through it. And I think, man, America is super lucky to have leaders like Phil Schneider. He was decorated for heroism for what he did that day.

And that for me is just, that's what it is right there. His men love him for it, that when the chips are down, you care more about other people than yourself. And his like will, even though he was physically really banged up, got him through it. And I think, man, America is super lucky to have leaders like Phil Schneider. He was decorated for heroism for what he did that day.

Yeah, I'll try to do justice to it because I lost some wonderful friends who were just amazing people that gave their lives for this country. Richard Henkes, my interpreter, Roy, who died with the platoon that followed us. Garrett Slaughter, Ryan Dennison, just wonderful people. And if you serve this country, it's because you believe that people have a right to live free.

Yeah, I'll try to do justice to it because I lost some wonderful friends who were just amazing people that gave their lives for this country. Richard Henkes, my interpreter, Roy, who died with the platoon that followed us. Garrett Slaughter, Ryan Dennison, just wonderful people. And if you serve this country, it's because you believe that people have a right to live free.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That's the core of what we enjoy, but it is protected at great cost. And you want to protect the weak and the vulnerable who are being oppressed, truly oppressed in terms of values and what they are allowed to say or do. And the way that manifests, we would have, there was an Iraqi woman. She was Sunni. and her husband was Shia.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That's the core of what we enjoy, but it is protected at great cost. And you want to protect the weak and the vulnerable who are being oppressed, truly oppressed in terms of values and what they are allowed to say or do. And the way that manifests, we would have, there was an Iraqi woman. She was Sunni. and her husband was Shia.