The Palm Sunday Ambush: Courage Under Fire in Salman Pak

Strategic Context: Convoy Operations in the "Triangle of Death"

The Evolving Iraqi Insurgency

By early 2005, the insurgency in Iraq had transformed from a loosely coordinated resistance into a deadly, networked enemy. Sunni jihadists affiliated with al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), former Ba'athist military officers, and local tribal militants operated in shifting alliances. Together, they sought to disrupt the fragile Iraqi government and expel coalition forces by targeting one of their most vulnerable assets: the logistical lifelines that sustained operations across the country.

Army map of the Triangle of Death in Iraq

Supply Routes Under Siege

The U.S. war effort in Iraq depended heavily on supply convoys transporting everything from fuel and ammunition to food and building materials. These convoys traveled along critical highways radiating out from Baghdad, often nicknamed the "MSRs" (Main Supply Routes). Few areas were more dangerous than the highways south of Baghdad—stretching into the so-called “Triangle of Death”—where towns like Yusufiyah, Mahmudiyah, and Salman Pak became notorious for insurgent activity.

These convoys, sometimes consisting of 20 to 40 trucks, were slow-moving, lightly armored, and difficult to defend over long stretches. Military Police (MP) units, many from National Guard companies, were tasked with escorting these vulnerable convoys. Their mission was thankless and dangerous: deter insurgents when possible and defend convoys when attacked.

Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein and Sgt. Dustin Morris of the 617th MP Company stand beside their battle-damaged Humvee, which withstood heavy enemy fire during the March 20 ambush southeast of Baghdad. Despite intense fighting, Raven 42 repelled the attack with only three soldiers wounded

Salman Pak: A Perfect Ambush Zone

Salman Pak, a historic town southeast of Baghdad along the Tigris River, had become an insurgent stronghold by 2005. The area was rich in terrain features ideal for guerrilla tactics—dense palm groves for concealment, narrow irrigation ditches for movement, and abandoned rural compounds for weapons storage and planning.

Insurgents operating in Salman Pak used the area as a staging ground for ambushes. Fighters would observe convoy routes for patterns, emplace IEDs along the roadways, and coordinate complex attacks using small arms, machine guns, RPGs, and sometimes mortars. The proximity to Baghdad allowed insurgent cells to quickly retreat and melt into urban safe havens after striking.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the 617th MP Company stands beside a captured weapons cache after her squad repelled a major ambush southeast of Baghdad on March 20. In the fierce battle, 27 insurgents were killed, six wounded, and one captured. Hester hails from Bowling Green, Ky

Intelligence Warnings and Escalating Attacks

In the weeks leading up to the Palm Sunday Ambush, intelligence reports warned of increased insurgent presence in the Salman Pak region. Coalition patrols had discovered weapons caches and observed suspicious activity along the convoy routes. Yet, the sheer volume of necessary convoy traffic meant the supply runs could not be stopped.

U.S. commanders knew an ambush was likely a matter of “when,” not “if.” Convoy security teams like Raven 42, composed of battle-hardened National Guard MPs from the 617th MP Company, were tasked with safeguarding these critical movements—aware that at any moment, their routine mission could erupt into a life-or-death battle.

Forces Involved: Raven 42 on the Line

Kentucky's Citizen-Soldiers in Harm's Way

On the morning of March 20, 2005—Palm Sunday, a 30-vehicle supply convoy rolled out from a coalition base, headed along one of Iraq’s most hazardous roads. Its mission was routine but essential: resupply coalition outposts southeast of Baghdad. Escorting this convoy through the heart of insurgent territory was Raven 42, a squad from the 617th Military Police Company, Kentucky Army National Guard.

Unlike active-duty units, the 617th was made up of part-time soldiers—teachers, police officers, mechanics, and students in civilian life—who had answered the call of duty. By 2005, many National Guard units like the 617th had been deployed multiple times, their role evolving from rear-area security to frontline combat operations in some of Iraq’s most dangerous regions.

Sgt. Dustin Morris, 617th MP Company, stands behind the windshield of his Humvee, which deflected enemy fire during the March 20 ambush southeast of Baghdad. Thanks to the armor, he escaped uninjured

Raven 42: A Tight-Knit Combat Team

Raven 42’s mission that day was convoy overwatch: shadow the convoy, monitor for threats, and respond rapidly to any signs of an ambush. The squad was mounted in three up-armored Humvees, each bristling with weapons and manned by soldiers who had trained extensively in convoy protection and small-unit tactics.

Despite being outnumbered by the insurgents they might face, Raven 42’s greatest strength was its cohesion. The soldiers trusted each other’s judgment and had drilled repeatedly on how to react to complex attacks.

Key Personnel: Leadership Under Fire

Staff Sergeant Timothy Nein

Squad Leader: A seasoned leader and combat veteran, SSG Nein was responsible for the squad’s tactical decisions. His calm, decisive leadership in the face of overwhelming enemy fire would earn him one of the Army’s highest awards.

Staff Sergeant Timothy Nein

Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester

Team Leader: A fearless NCO known for her sharp instincts and tactical acumen, SGT Hester was leading one of the Humvees. Her leadership during the battle would make history, as she became the first woman awarded the Silver Star for direct combat action in U.S. military history.

Now First Sergeant Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester

Specialist Jason Mike

Combat Medic: A highly skilled medic, SPC Mike’s role was critical—not only to treat the wounded but also to fight alongside his teammates. His ability to seamlessly shift between lifesaving care and suppressive fire was vital to the squad’s survival.

Specialist Jason Mike

A Squad Bound for History

The call sign "Raven 42" would soon become synonymous with grit, courage, and tactical excellence. On that dusty road south of Baghdad, 10 citizen-soldiers in three Humvees would face more than 50 insurgents armed with machine guns and RPGs—and emerge as legends in Army history.

The Ambush Unfolds

An Explosive Kill Zone Near Salman Pak

Shortly before midday on March 20, 2005, as the convoy neared a known choke point outside Salman Pak, chaos erupted. From hidden fighting positions along the roadside—trenches, irrigation ditches, and behind earthen berms—approximately 50 insurgents, believed to be al-Qaeda in Iraq fighters, sprang their trap.

Automatic weapons fire raked the convoy. RPGs streaked across the road, and small arms hammered the supply trucks and their escorts. The insurgents aimed to halt the convoy in place, destroy as many vehicles as possible, and potentially capture coalition soldiers.

Caught in what was clearly a deliberate and prepared ambush, the convoy and Raven 42 faced a life-or-death crisis.

Kentucky National Guard soldiers from the 617th MP Company repelled an insurgent ambush on a convoy near Baghdad, March 20. Their up-armored Humvee stopped enemy small-arms fire

Raven 42 Counterattacks

Instead of pulling back or waiting for reinforcements, Raven 42 made a bold and unconventional decision. Staff Sergeant Timothy Nein, assessing the kill zone, ordered his squad to flank the ambush rather than engage from the exposed roadway.

The three Humvees maneuvered aggressively, driving off the road into a position that allowed the squad to attack the insurgents’ flank. Under a hail of gunfire, Raven 42 dismounted and began a direct assault on the enemy trench lines.

Assault Through Fire

The ten members of Raven 42 advanced into the face of overwhelming enemy fire. Using M4 carbines, M203 grenade launchers, hand grenades, and machine guns, they assaulted and cleared two trench systems where insurgents were entrenched.

Sgt. 1st Class Marshall P. Ware, platoon sergeant with the 617th MP Company, sits by a captured weapons cache after his squad repelled an insurgent ambush southeast of Baghdad on March 20. Twenty-seven insurgents were killed, one captured, and six wounded.

A Brutal Close-Quarters Fight

The battle quickly devolved into brutal close-quarters combat, fought at distances measured in feet rather than yards. Raven 42’s aggressive tactics—clearing trenches one by one—caught the insurgents off guard. Instead of routing the convoy, the attackers now found themselves on the defensive.

Throughout the fight, the soldiers showed extraordinary composure and coordination. SPC Jason Mike, the squad medic, alternated between providing suppressive fire with an M249 SAW and caring for three wounded comrades—all while under fire.

Forty Minutes of Fury

The firefight raged for nearly 40 minutes, an eternity in combat. Yet Raven 42’s audacious counterattack shattered the insurgent force. By the end of the battle, 27 enemy fighters lay dead, six were wounded, and one was captured.

Miraculously, Raven 42 suffered only three wounded soldiers, thanks to their aggressive tactics and mutual protection.

From left: Spc. Jeremy Eades, Sgt. William Baum, and Spc. Casey Cooper of the 617th MP Company treat a wounded insurgent after defending a convoy from an ambush southeast of Baghdad on March 20. The team killed 27 insurgents, wounded six, and captured one.

Heroism in the Trenches: Leigh Ann Hester's Legacy

Leading from the Front

At the heart of Raven 42’s bold counterattack was Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester, a team leader whose leadership and fearlessness became one of the defining stories of the Iraq War. As the battle unfolded, Hester did not hesitate. She led her team on foot through open ground, fully exposed to enemy fire, to outflank the insurgent positions.

With calm precision and lethal effectiveness, she directed her soldiers through a textbook fire-and-maneuver assault. Advancing on the first trench line, Hester engaged enemy fighters with her M4 carbine, taking out multiple insurgents in close combat. Then, with grenades and well-aimed rifle fire, she helped clear a second trench, driving the attackers from their positions.

Breaking the Enemy’s Will

Hester’s actions were not only courageous—they were decisive. Her leadership broke the cohesion of the ambush, forcing the insurgents to abandon their assault and attempt to flee. By personally entering the trench systems and engaging the enemy face-to-face, she helped turn the ambushers into the ambushed.

Her presence on the battlefield was a force multiplier, inspiring her fellow soldiers and helping coordinate the squad’s assault at the most critical moment of the fight.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, vehicle commander with the 617th MP Company from Richmond, Ky., stands at parade rest after receiving the Silver Star at Camp Liberty, Iraq, on June 16, 2005. She was the first female Soldier in Operation Iraqi Freedom awarded the Silver Star

A Historic First

For her extraordinary bravery and decisive action under fire, SGT Leigh Ann Hester was awarded the Silver Star, one of the nation’s highest awards for valor. She became the first woman since World War II, and the first in U.S. military history to receive the Silver Star for direct combat action.

Her recognition shattered long-standing assumptions about women’s roles in combat. Hester’s story became a powerful example of leadership, courage, and battlefield effectiveness—regardless of gender.

Immortalized in Army History

Hester’s legacy, and that of her fellow soldiers in Raven 42, has been preserved in Army history and honored in several ways:

• The U.S. Army Women’s Museum at Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee, Virginia) features an exhibit dedicated to Raven 42 and Sergeant Hester’s actions, highlighting the significance of the Palm Sunday Ambush.
• The National Guard’s “Heritage Series” painting titled Raven 42, depicts the chaos of the ambush and prominently features Hester charging into battle, weapon raised, leading her team through the kill zone.

Her story continues to inspire generations of soldiers and civilians alike, symbolizing courage, leadership, and the evolving face of the American combat soldier.

The National Guard’s “Heritage Series” painting titled Raven 42

Battlefield Outcome

A Decisive Victory Against the Odds

When the smoke cleared, Raven 42’s audacious counterattack had shattered the enemy force. In just forty minutes of intense combat, the small squad inflicted devastating losses on their attackers. Twenty-seven insurgents were killed outright, six more were wounded, and one was captured alive. What began as an ambush designed to destroy a vulnerable convoy ended instead in a rout of the ambushers themselves.

Casualties and Damage

Despite facing nearly fifty enemy fighters armed with automatic weapons and RPGs, Raven 42’s three Humvees remained operational. The squad suffered three wounded soldiers, a remarkably low number given the ferocity of the assault and the squad’s aggressive dismounted counterattack. Their tactical discipline, speed, and coordination prevented what could have been a disastrous day for the convoy.

Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard’s 617th Military Police Company train at Fort McCoy, Wis., in November 2004 before deploying to Iraq. During mobilization, they placed a makeshift time capsule in a barracks wall, intending to retrieve it after their 2005 deployment—but it was forgotten until rediscovered by contractors in 2022. The 617th, one of the most decorated National Guard MP units, completed their mobilization and later demobilized at Fort McCoy

Valor Recognized

The extraordinary bravery displayed by Raven 42 did not go unnoticed. Squad leader Staff Sergeant Timothy Nein received the Silver Star for his leadership in the assault, a decoration later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross—the U.S. Army’s second-highest award for valor. Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester made history when she was awarded the Silver Star, becoming the first woman to receive the medal for direct combat action in U.S. military history. Specialist Jason Mike, the squad’s combat medic, earned the Silver Star as well, having tended to wounded soldiers while simultaneously engaging the enemy with both his M4 rifle and M249 machine gun.

A Legacy of Small-Unit Excellence

The Palm Sunday Ambush became a textbook example of how a well-trained, determined small unit could overcome a larger, entrenched enemy force. Raven 42’s actions demonstrated the effectiveness of aggressive counter-assault tactics and the vital role of National Guard troops in the Iraq War’s front lines. Their story continues to inspire soldiers, reminding them that courage, leadership, and teamwork can turn the tide of battle against overwhelming odds.

Spc. Casey Cooper, gunner with the 617th MP Company, was briefly knocked unconscious and wounded when an RPG struck his vehicle. After regaining consciousness, he rejoined the fight, helping repel the insurgent ambush on March 20 southeast of Baghdad

Legacy and Recognition

Honoring the Army National Guard and Military Police

The Palm Sunday Ambush brought well-deserved attention to the bravery and professionalism of Army National Guard and Military Police units—forces often overlooked in the larger Iraq War narrative. Raven 42’s actions highlighted how National Guard soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with active-duty troops, proving their vital role in frontline combat and convoy security operations.

A Landmark Moment for Women in Combat

The battle also marked a significant milestone in the evolving role of women in the U.S. military. Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester’s heroic performance and her historic awarding of the Silver Star shattered longstanding barriers and opened the door for greater recognition of women’s direct combat contributions. Her example challenged traditional perceptions and continues to inspire service members across all branches.

With her own likeness displayed behind her, U.S. Army Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester speaks about the events of March 20, 2005, and shares her experiences as a woman in combat following the ceremony and unveiling of the Raven 42 exhibit at the U.S. Army Women’s Museum on Saturday, February 3, 2007

Immortalized in Military History and Museums

The Palm Sunday Ambush remains a celebrated case study in leadership, courage, and tactical excellence. Exhibits like the one at the Army Women’s Museum at Fort Lee, Virginia, honor Raven 42 and Sgt. Hester specifically, preserving their story for future generations. The ambush has been featured in Army historical paintings, documentaries, and educational materials—ensuring that the heroism displayed that day will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 617th Military Police Company stands before new exhibits at the Army Women’s Museum at Fort Lee, Va., honoring her historic actions during the Iraq War. Dive into the story of the Palm Sunday Ambush—where Hester’s bravery under fire earned her the Silver Star and a place in military history

An Enduring Symbol of Courage Under Fire

Beyond medals and memorials, the legacy of the Palm Sunday Ambush lives in the lessons learned about small-unit cohesion, rapid decision-making, and the importance of initiative in combat. For the Kentucky National Guard and the wider military community, Raven 42’s stand remains a powerful reminder of how determination and teamwork can overcome daunting odds on the battlefield.