photo #8968813

The street was quiet. That meant someone was waiting inside.In November 2004, Fallujah became hell on earth.Room to room.House to house.Street to street.No front line.Every doorway was a trap.Staff Sergeant David Bellavia fought with the U.S. Army during the second Battle of Fallujah.One night, his unit was pinned down.Enemy fighters were firing from inside a house.They had machine guns.They had grenades.They had numbers.His squad could not move.If they stayed, they would d*e.Bellavia did not wait.He grabbed his rifle.And went in alone.He kicked in the door.Darkness.Smoke.Screams.He fired at point blank range.Cleared one room.Then another.Enemy fighters rushed him.He fought in hallways.On stairs.In tight spaces.