This book provides an in-depth, intimate look into the Marine Corps' biggest battle in Iraq, indeed the most significant single battle during the occupation: the Second Battle for Fallujah. Located about forty miles west of Baghdad, Fallujah has a primarily Sunni population and was a stronghold of the former regime of Saddam Hussein. Dick Camp, a retired Marine Corps full colonel and Vietnam combat veteran, presents a detailed account of Operation Phantom Fury filled with personal interviews of those involved, from the division commander in charge of the operation down to the Marine infantrymen who did the fighting.

Part 1. Evil town: Mean streets ; Bloody encounters -- Part 2. No happy endings: No better friend ; Back to the brawl ; The vortex of violence ; Drumbeat for action ; Operation Vigilant Resolve ; Political expedience ; Aggressive defense ; Along, hot, dangerous Summer ; New warriors ; End of the experiment -- Part 3. Enough is enough: Plan of attack ; Shaping the battlefield ; Rules of engagement -- Part 4. Storming Fallujah: D-day (November 7) ; D+1 (November 8) ; D+2 (November 9) ; D+3 (November 10) ; D+4 (November 11) ; D+5 (November 12) -- Into the belly of the beast: D+6 (November 13) ; D+7 to D+24 (November 14-December 8) -- Mop up: Parting shots -- Appendix A. U.S. Commanders in Operation Phantom Fury -- Appendix B. Second Battle of Fallujah battle casualties.