Between the Rivers: Combat Action in Iraq - 2003-2005, Battle of Hawijah, Samarra, Mosul, Anbar Province, Northern Iraq. Task Force 1-16 Infantry, Carter Ham, Petraeus, Stryker, Tiger Strike

Making history useful to the reader - this is one of the missions of the Combat Studies Institute. We strive to produce works that recount historical events to inform decision makers and to enable experiential learning. This collection of events put together by John McGrath, which occurred in Iraq during the 2003-2005 timeframe, addresses that mission. The authors largely used primary source material - interviews and unit histories - to develop these vignettes and in doing so have made the works relatable not only to Soldiers who experienced similar situations but to any reader who can imagine themselves having to function in these types of situations. We honor those involved in these actions and hope that by recounting their stories others may not only recognize them for their service but may also learn and grow from their experience.

Contents: The Battle of Hawijah, 7 April 2004 * Task Force 1-26 Infantry and the Easter Sunday Battle of Samarra, April 2004 * Taking it to the Enemy: Offensive Counterinsurgency Operations, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, Mosul, 2004-2005 * Clearing the Jihad Super Bowl, Al Qaim District, Anbar Province, November 2003 * A Brigade Replaces a Division, Northern Iraq, 2004

This work is the continuation and revision of a project started in 2006 with the publication of In Contact! by the Combat Studies Institute. The original concept was to present a series of military vignettes in a style similar to the widely used case-study methodology commonly found in military literature. The final version of Between the Rivers, instead of following this strict case-study format, presents combat action vignettes as narrative accounts of the various types of actions challenging combat leaders in Iraq in 2003-2005.

Some subjects covered include: Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC), Tiger Strike, All American Tiger, Rifles Blitz, Stryker, Carter Ham, David Petraeus.