Bakkhavda, Iraq - U.S and coalition forces today in the metropolitan, industrial city of Bakkhavda encountered stiff opposition from the remnants of Saddam Hussein's vaunted "Special Rear Guard".
"They halted our main thrust, and the battle quickly turned into a real grind," said sergeant Michael Kerns of the army's 2nd battalion. "It was a sticky situation after a while."
The Iraqi insurgents hammered away at U.S. troops all afternoon, thinking they could whip the troops into submission. But the coalition troops were hard with battle and didn't succumb to the intended domination, and forced the Special Rear Guard to pull out in the end.
