During Operation Phantom Fury (Al Fajr) in November 2004, Major Erik Krivda served as the executive officer for Task Force 2-2 and, in this interview, provides a wealth of details and insights into the planning, scheme of maneuver, task organization, actual conduct and the resolution of this historic combined-joint operation that retook the Iraqi city of Fallujah. Among many other aspects of the fight, Krivda discusses in depth the logistical piece, myriad communications issues, his battalion's working relationship with Marine Corps and Iraqi Army forces, the role of embedded media, enemy and coalition tactics, taking enemy prisoners of war, the working of indirect fires, and the impact of losing several key leaders, including the battalion sergeant major and the Alpha Company commander and XO. As to what most accounted for this "major defeat for the enemy," Krivda points simply to "overwhelming firepower." "To observe the amount of firepower that we, just in our sector alone, unleashed on these guys,” he said, “that was probably the most awesome sight I’ll ever see in my entire life. To see areas that were buildings and factories that were literally dust just a couple days later, it’s kind of humbling in that aspect. It was amazing to see.” Krivda also talks about the different ways the Army and Marines used firepower in this fight and the lessons he learned about the conduct of urban operations from battling in the “hornet’s nest” of Fallujah.

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