1 - THE BRIDGE

"The 75th was stationed to Camp Lemonnier to acclimatize and deter further escalation from the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Wavering public support for the potential deployment of ground forces inside Yemen kept extending our stay in Djibouti." "Atrocities committed against captured sailors and the sinking of the MAERSK LONDRINA alongside rapidly increasing prices around the globe finally swung public opinion, the operation was greenlit." "We were among the first units to set foot in Yemen the night before the main assault where set to begin. Our target was the last remaining bridge along the highway going north from Hodeidah. We deployed in speed boats and silently made our way towards the bridge during the cover of darkness." "Problems en route to the bridge lost us the advantage of darkness. The silent hum of choppers going further inland had awoken the Houthis stationed in a warehouse on the southern side of the bridge. Pickups had already brought reinfocements to the lighly armed second rate Houthi troops we expected to meet. We hastily dropped our rucksacks and formed up to assault the bridge while the 10th Mountain Division deployed further north of our position. A perimeter to the south of the bridge should be established with all haste to enable us to fend off any counter attacks coming out of Hodeidah until the 10th begin their thunder run towards Hodeidah." -Excerpts from the book written by SSgt you a decade after the events depicted within it.