MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- December 13, 2003, while America slept, United States military forces captured Saddam Hussein alive. Caught in a swift raid, conducted without casualties, the so-called "Baghdad Butcher" will now face the justice he denied to millions, according to United States Central Command.

"This was clearly a huge day for the Coalition and for the Iraqi people as well," said Capt. Michael J. Friel, Combined Joint Task Force 7 spokesperson. "Iraqi journalists were beside themselves as they reacted to the news. Some cried. Many stood and cheered at the news the dictator was found."

With newspapers around the world giving credit to everyone from his physician, to his second of four wives, Samira Shahbandar, rumors abound as to what actually occurred.

However, according to Maj. Gen. James Mattis, 1st Marine Division commander, the most recent intelligence leading to successful ground operations came directly from Iraqi citizens.

According to U.S. Central Command, at approximately 8:30 p.m., in Iraq, a joint operation led by Coalition forces was conducted in the town of Ad Dwar, 15 kilometers south of Tikrit.

"No shots were fired during the operation," said Friel. "There were no injuries to Iraqi or Coalition forces."

Taking approximately three hours, the operation was comprised of 600 integrated Coalition special operations forces and the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team. There were no Iraqi security forces involved in the raid. However, it was an Iraqi who provided the Coalition critical information leading to the capture.

Hussein was identified by multiple former regime officers and through DNA samples. He is currently in good health and in the custody of Coalition forces in an undisclosed location awaiting final determination of how he will be tried.

"The treatment of a person in his circumstance, it seems to me; it's going to end up being discussed by the Coalition at high level, and lawyers will be involved," said Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld in a Dec. 14 press conference. "I think it's a bit early to begin making snap decisions about what might be done.

"Here's a man who has killed so many tens of thousands of people, who will have to be held accountable and brought to justice in some form, in some way," added Rumsfeld.
When Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III announced in his press conference, "We got him," service-members around the world exhaled a sigh of relief.

"It was an unbelievable feeling," said Army Sgt. Billy Atkinson from the 124th Signal Battalion. "I couldn't believe it until I actually saw it on the news."

The capture does not spell an end to U.S. operations in Iraq. Though Hussein has been captured, Mattis said the resistance may still attempt to rally a show of force.

In the meantime Miramar Marines continue to gear up for possible deployment, according to Sgt. Maj. William T. Kinney, I MEF sergeant major.

"His surrender is a perfect end to a regime full of cowards. Numerous times he called out for his people to sacrifice their lives to resist U.S. and coalition forces," Kinney said. "But like most cowards, when it was his turn to pay the ultimate sacrifice he chose the easy way out. By no means is his capture the end. However, we are one small step closer to bringing lasting peace to that region of the world. For those insurgents and terrorists who still want to pay that ultimate sacrifice, the Marines and Sailors of I MEF will  return this spring to ensure your requests are honored."