Today, JJ’s Star Spangled Salute honors Kansas Marine Corps Veteran Ryan Chapman. Ryan’s service began a shortly after 9/11 when things were escalating rapidly. Ryan described most of his responsibilites as being a version of 9-1-1 for the area and also a relationship builder. He was also part of Operation Phantom Fury, also known as the Second Battle of Fallujah, where he and fellow Marines went door to door looking for insurgents and weaponry. During that operation, Ryan was shot in the head just above his left eyelid. Today, he doesn’t let his traumatic brain injury define him. He went on to receive an industrial design degree from the University of Kansas. He’s worked on designing medical devices, like dental guards for teeth grinding, and now designs custom sauna layouts for an Overland Park company. Congratulations on overcoming adversity Ryan and THANK YOU for your service.
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Operation Phantom Fury, also known as the Second Battle of Fallujah, was a major military offensive conducted by the United States and Iraqi forces in November 2004. The operation aimed to regain control of the city of Fallujah, which had become a stronghold for insurgent groups during the Iraq War.
The battle began on November 7, 2004, with a massive assault on the city by American and Iraqi troops. The operation involved over 10,000 troops, including Marines, Army soldiers, and Iraqi security forces. The objective was to eliminate the insurgent presence, capture or kill high-value targets, and establish government control over Fallujah.
The fighting was intense and brutal, with both sides engaging in fierce urban combat. Insurgent forces, primarily composed of Sunni militants and foreign fighters, utilized guerrilla tactics and booby traps to defend their positions. The US-led coalition responded with overwhelming firepower, including airstrikes, artillery, and tanks.
The battle lasted for nearly a month, with the coalition forces gradually gaining control over the city. They faced significant resistance from the insurgents, who fought fiercely from fortified positions and used civilians as human shields. The coalition forces made significant progress by conducting house-to-house searches, clearing buildings, and neutralizing enemy fighters.
By the end of the operation, the coalition forces had successfully retaken Fallujah. However, the battle came at a high cost, with hundreds of coalition troops and thousands of insurgents and civilians killed or injured. The operation was considered a turning point in the Iraq War, as it significantly weakened the insurgency in the region and demonstrated the determination of the coalition forces to confront and defeat the enemy.
