SOURCING INFORMATION: This account is based on the eyewitness reporting of Philadelphia Inquirer photographer David Swanson, who was embedded with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, in Ramadi, Iraq, from April 1 to April 14, on assignment for Knight Ridder.
It also draws upon the After Action Reports written by Capt. Kelly D. Royer, the commander of Echo Company, and Capt. Christopher J. Bronzi, of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines; and on a Summary of Combat Actions on 5-7 and 10 April 2004 by Capt. R.S. Weiler, the commander of the Mobile Assault Company/Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. Code names and other classified details in these official reports have been omitted.
Other information, including the account of the battle by Lance Cpl. Deshon Otey, was in a report by Marine Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald that was posted on the Marine Corps Web site and in private e-mail messages from other Marines in Ramadi. Additional information was provided by the families of some of the Marines in Echo Company who were killed.
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BYLINE INFORMATION: This story is based on the first-person reporting of Philadelphia Inquirer photographer David Swanson, who was embedded with the Echo Company 2/4 Marines in April. It also was reported by Lisa Fernandez of the San Jose Mercury News, Joseph L. Galloway of the Knight Ridder Washington bureau, Thomas Ginsberg of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nevy Kaminski of the Bradenton Herald, Lee Hill Kavanaugh of The Kansas City Star, John Simerman of the Contra Costa Times, Sara Steffens of the Contra Costa Times, Thaai Walker of the San Jose Mercury News and Mick Walsh of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. The story was edited by Renee Schoof and John Walcott of the Knight Ridder Washington Bureau and Paul Nussbaum of The Philadelphia Inquirer.