On Friday, December 12, 2014 about ten young men in their 30’s marched into the RJO Auditorium. Their comradely was omnipresent; they joked around and poked each other as brothers would. A handsome lot, they were there to discuss the book Lava Dawgs; A Fight for Fallujah and the events that led to the book. Laughing and chatting, they were casual in blazers, loafers and collared shirts. They were the soldiers who took down Fallujah in 2004/2005 and allowed for the first Democratic elections.
The Veterans took the podium surround their unofficial leader, the author of the book Lava Dawgs Charlie Moose. His real name is Nick Misiano and his father is a graduate of KPHS. Misiano and his team are the famed but humble crew of Marines who first took down Fallujah in 2004. An operation that was supposed to take months took only weeks. “Fallujah was one of the safest places in Iraq for almost a decade after that,” said Misiano.
Misiano’s father was present as well as many of his KPHS classmates from the mid-sixties. they were joined by local Veterans representing WWII, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf War and both the recent Iraq and Afghan wars.
“My father Sal Misiano is a retired Marine so we have a proud military tradition in our family,” said the author and veteran.
The thirty-something said the heaviest fighting they saw was from November until January – he admits it was probably the heaviest urban fighting since Vietnam. Misiano and his comrades were up against the Mujahedeen at the time – this was ten years back. It’s a term you no longer hear but the Mujahedeen were the men the United States armed to rid Afghanistan of the Russians back in the 70’s or 80’s. Ruthless and unrelenting The Mujahedeen were successful and they drove the Russians from Afghanistan for good.
But as history was to come to fruition, they turned into the enemy of the United States and became affiliated and part of al Qaeda, part of the jihad movement against the West. The men we armed became our enemies decades later.
Fallujah was deemed a critical battle because the once thriving city had become a very dangerous and violent place. The country’s first elections were set up to occur in 2005 and Fallujah was slated as one of the main voting places. So it would make sense that the United States Military sent in their best and brightest to take and secure the city. “The epic battle of Fallujah is synonymous with one of the greatest battles of this generation,” said Misiano.
It was Ironic that that the young men were in Kings Park on 12/12 because it had been exactly ten years since one of their men, their friends, their brother was shot and killed that day. Misiano explained the soldier had been wounded but refused to be taken by a copter to a nearby hospital. After a few weeks of rest and healing, on the twelfth day of December he re-entered battle with his troop members and lost his life.
The entire crowd at RJO Auditorium became somber and took a moment of silence for that soldier.
Some quiet tears ran down the faces of the strapping young veterans and many in the audience as well. “This is just the kind of men we had working with us in Fallujah, they were all incredible,” said Misiano.
Misiano decided to pen his riveting novel for a myriad of reasons, for one it was something that lived inside of him that had to come to come out – it had to escape somehow and Misiano chose words. In addition he and his fellow Marines wanted to have a platform to bring to light the inequities of the Military handing out Purple Hearts.
“39 Marines were killed when their copter went down on January 26, 2005, it was the deadliest day in the history of the war and not one of them received a Purple Heart,” he lamented.
At first the enemy was claiming the hit but later Military reports said it was pilot error, inclement weather.
“I advocate for this today because those men deserve a Purple Heart, they died in active duty,” he shared. Misiano said he wants to honor them, and wants their children to receive the education benefits that come along with a Purple Heart. “Many men have received a lot more for doing a lot less, that copter was surrounded enemy fire,” he said.
Misiano and the other men shared their sentiments – many were similar. They agreed they had fought with some of the most incredible men they have ever known. All the gentlemen beside Misiano were written into the book but had various names like Saw Gun or Machine Gun – some in the audience asked the young men to identify who they were in the book. Several audience members had already read the book and many more bought it that day as it was on sale through the Heritage Museum.
“Because of these brave men for ten years Fallujah was considered one of the safest places in all of Iraq, businesses were thriving, schools were open, we oversaw the very first election at during our mission,” said Misiano proudly.
When asked if they follow what’s happening in Fallujah now — most of them shook their head. “We did really well there – it’s a different war now than the one we fought and one,” said Misiano’s fellow Marine who did not want to give his name.
Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient Larry Noon (a KP Native) was in the audience. He told the young men that Fallujah shall forever define them and shared the story of his Vietnam Era Fallujah which was a deadly battle in Duey Canyon – the biggest battle in Vietnam.
The soldiers were all hoping to go forth from Kings Park and celebrate the holidays with their families around the country but all had plans to advocate for Purple Hearts for all the men that fell that day their copter went down in 2005.
Members of the audience recommended they contact Congressman elect Lee Zeldin who is on active duty and a member of several military committees. He is being sworn in on January 1, 2015.
The soldiers fought for 75 straight days morning noon and night and concluded their mission with the successful Democratic election in Fallujah.
Before culminating – Misiano said he would be remiss if he didn’t mention the twenty-two veterans they were losing a day due to suicide. The entire auditorium took a moment of silence to pray for their families and all the veterans suffering throughout the country and overseas.
“There should be none – we need to change this,” said Misiano.
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Lava Dawgs, A Fight for Fallujah is an outstanding read. It’s a quick read because you can’t put it down. It can be bought from the Kings Park Heritage Museum or ordered online at Amazon.com I’ve read a lot of military books in my fifty years, this is a must.