1st Sgt Smith retirement put on hold, until giving up the rest of his life, for others to be able to retire. 😢😢😢 stay motivated Marine and continue moving forward.

I’m in this video. This was my unit.

Retreat Hell 2/5. Watching this 21 years after the fact brings back so many memories. Semper Fi

Cousin got his combat infantry badge in Iraq as a Stryker gunner
He was a 11Bravo machine gunner
Died in Germany in February of 2010 of a heart attack
Last time I saw my cousin was in December of 2006 he left me his combat infantry badge

Hardcore man. Fucking hardcore.

Any one notice how this documentary lines up almost perfectly with the tv show “ generation kill “ ?

F 2/5 was my old unit. This video was very emotional as all the images were very familiar because i was there with another unit. Semper Fi to all the fellow Devil Dogs that lived the experience. May all those that made the ultimate sacrifice rest in peace. Doc Baez was such a great influence on me as a young Marine

I’ve watched this special before my late husband Joe was apart of 0314 vmfa Black Knights squadron, I heard so many different stories from so many different companies across the marine corp, it’s been 21 going on 22 years since Iraqi Freedom started, to all you guys that served no matter what occurred thank you Semper Fi guys, I wish I could say that the memories fade go away I’d be lying I dealt with flashbacks and nightmares through my late husband, spending many nights up with Joe just being there comforting him, I lost Joe November 16 2019 was killed while on duty at work fuel tank explosion even though I miss you Joe I know your at peace, and I know I’ll see you again when my time comes to leave this earth, a simple thank you for all you did isn’t enough being said thank you for being my husband my best friend my everything for over 30 years please watch over our daughters (Destiny Ann, Hanna Marie, and Taylor Nicole) until I see you again I love you thank you for being you

RIP 1st sgt.

It’s so weird to have been a kid growing up when this was all going down, but now in 2026 watching this with hindsight.

There’s so much to unpack, from the woman admitting her views on the war hinged on her shifting emotions, to the reasoning for the invasion being “WMDs”. The boys, getting their kit squared away and loading up for a war that was sold as just and moral.

Life really was simpler back then, and hindsight is a bitch

Our artillery battery supported the 5th Marines in Vietnam.  I’ll never forget  July 4th 1967 when Fox 2/5 was over run on Nong Son mountain our 105’s couldn’t reach Nong Son but our 155’s could.  I was supposed to be there that night but my CO wouldn’t give me permission to go.  We expended all ammo. A battalion of NVA and VC scaled the mountain and attacked Fox company with RPG’s, small arms and machine guns.  PFC Melvin Newlin was awarded the MOH  posthumously for extraordinary bravery

Mike, you're a god among men, thank you for being there with us.

It looked like "generation kill"-2 season.

I’m retired Army. But I can’t help but admire the marines saying “Welcome to the Suck”

that checkpoint is what that scene in generation kill is based on

I wish I was with these guys......rah brothers 🇺🇸🦅 💪🏼🤜 🤛

15:58
If only they knew...

This is a great documentary

My brother, Cpl Gonzalez, Vincent! I LOVE YOUR LIFE MARINE!!!                               🙌🙌🗽❤🗽❤🙌🙌

@12:30 I remember Michael Moore roasting that footage in Fahrenheit 911 😂🎉