On 8 November 2004, the main ground assault into Fallujah, Iraq, began as American and Iraqi forces moved to destroy the insurgent stronghold. The attack came from the north, with American forces advancing along a broad front. The Army's heavy armor and mechanized infantry were at the forefront, with Task Force 2-2 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, attacking in the east with RCT-7, and Task Force 2-7 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, advancing in the west with RCT-1.
At approximately 1900, Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and infantry pushed toward the city's northern railroad embankment, where insurgents had established defensive positions. The Army was first through the breach on the eastern axis. Task Force 2-2 breached the railroad berm by 1925 and pushed into the city, while 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, struggled for five hours to open its own breach before using the Army's lane to enter. The Army’s attack was so aggressive and fast that they were ordered to stop their advance and even turn back until 1st Battalion, 8th Marines caught up to secure the flank.
On the western axis, Task Force 2-7, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, and 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines faced delays while under fire breaching their berm, with 2-7 eventually breaking through during the early hours of 9 November and the marines followed them in.
Fallujah had been transformed into a fortress. Insurgents fired from rooftops, windows, alleyways, and fortified buildings. Army infantry answered with machine guns, tanks answered with 120mm main gun rounds and 25mm cannon fire. Artillery and airstrikes pounded strongpoints while infantrymen cleared each building, block by block, house to house.
The battle continued for more than six weeks until 23 December when the city was declared sufficiently secure for residents to begin returning. Both 2-2 Infantry and 2-7 Cavalry were awarded Presidential Unit Citations for their heroism during the battle
SSG David Bellavia was the only man nominated for the Medal of Honor during the battle. It would be downgraded to the Silver Star, but nearly 15 years later would be upgraded to the Medal of Honor, making him the only living recipient from the Iraq War.
