"This story of the U.S. Marine Corps in the major combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) tells how the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force planned and prepared for war in 2002, deployed to theater in early 2003, and crossed the line of departure and fought its way to Baghdad - and beyond. Written by Marine Corps historian Col. Nicholas Reynolds, this first overview of Marines in OIF is solidly grounded in oral history interviews buttressed by official reports and firsthand journals. It describes not only the execution of the original plan but also some of the unusual additions carried out by the Marines, including a small mission sent to Kurdistan to work with local fighters and a task force sent to seize Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. The book draws to a close as the commanders analyze the lessons learned in this "transformational" war and as the last Marine leaves the Iraqi theater in the fall of 2003 - with only an inkling that Marines would return in 2004"--Jacket.

Tampastan and Afghanistan: prelude to war in Iraq -- Inside our own OODA loop: joint planning for war in Iraq -- Preparing the MEF for war: the most important fight is the first fight -- The MEF's opening gambit: tally-ho! -- The bridges of An Nasiriyah: one hellacious of a fight -- Toward the enemy center of gravity: Ad Diwaniyah, Al Kut, and the pause -- Baghdad: going down fast, going down final -- No smell of saltwater: north to Tikrit, south to Ad Diwaniyah -- The other war in the north: Marines in Kurdistan and Mosul -- A marriage of convenience: cooperation between the MEF and the British division -- Postlude to combat: Marines in the occupation of Iraq in 2003 -- Save rounds, alibis, and the lessons-learned process.