The Alamo, Iraq

Bush's Last Stand
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CNN NEWSROOM

Dangerous District in Baghdad

Aired February 8, 2007 - 10:59 ET

Now CNN takes to you the front lines and what is called one the most dangerous districts in Baghdad. It is the turf of Charlie Company and the base they call the Alamo.

Our Michael Holmes spent two days embedded with the troops and has their story.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT]: We're with Charlie Company, 126th Infantry, based at forward operating base Apache. Although it's not really a base, it's actually a house. A hundred and twenty men in the middle of probably the city's most dangerous area.

HENDRIX: Some guys call it the Alamo, you know. It's just a house in the middle of Adhamiya. Nobody else around. No other units.

HOLMES: They are fired on regularly by insurgents, both Sunni and Shia. The house shows the scars.

A couple of months ago, insurgents attacked her. Charlie Company killed 38 of them. Around here, something as simple as leaving a house after speaking with the owners requires smoke grenades for cover.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We unfortunately, you know, learn some hard lessons.

HOLMES: Since arriving here in August, Charlie Company has never left, never stopped patrolling, 24/7. They've lost five men, two dozen wounded, and earned a fistful of medals for bravery.

(on camera): Is there a day here where something doesn't happen?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. No.

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Posted on Thu, Feb. 01, 2007

"People (in America) think it's bad, but that we control the city. That's not the way it is. They control it, and they let us drive around. It's hostile territory."
--1st Lt. Dan Quinn, platoon leader, 1st Infantry Division in eastern Baghdad

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