El Sals - Professional Warriors

Posted By Blackfive "We never considered surrender." - Corporal Toloza, El Salvadoran Army

For a long time now, I have wondered how the El Salvadoran soldiers were faring in Iraq. I spent a short tour in Central America where I learned to love Salvadoran food culture. Scott, a former SF Soldier, sent me the link to the article below with just one sentence...

"Blackfive, 'ya gotta read this..."

He's right. Ya gotta read this!

Salvadoran soldiers praised for Iraq role
By Denis D. Gray - ASSOCIATED PRESS

NAJAF, Iraq — One of his friends was dead, 12 others lay wounded and the four soldiers still left standing were surrounded and out of ammunition. So Salvadoran Cpl. Samuel Toloza said a prayer, whipped out his knife and charged the Iraqi gunmen.

In one of the only known instances of hand-to-hand combat in the Iraq conflict, Cpl. Toloza stabbed several attackers swarming around a comrade. The stunned assailants backed away momentarily, just as a relief column came to the unit's rescue...

Well, I'll be !@#$%&*! Nice going Corporal Toloza!

There's more about the fighting El Sals and the recognition that they are receiving amongst the coalition. Also, there's a bit about the Spaniards not exactly rushing to help out, too.

The rest of the story is in the extended section.

"We never considered surrender. I was trained to fight until the end," said the 25-year-old corporal, one of 380 soldiers from El Salvador whose heroism is being cited just as other members of the multinational force in Iraq are facing criticism.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said recently that the Central American unit has "gained a fantastic reputation among the coalition" and expressed hope that the Salvadorans will stay beyond their scheduled departure.

Phil Kosnett, who leads the Coalition Provisional Authority office in this holy Shi'ite city, says he owes his life to Salvadorans who repelled a well-executed insurgent attack on his three-car convoy in March. He has nominated six of them for the U.S. Army's Bronze Star medal.

"You hear this snotty phrase 'coalition of the billing' for some of the smaller contingents," said Mr. Kosnett, referring to the apparent eagerness of some nations to charge their Iraq operations to Washington. "The El Sals? No way. These guys are punching way above their weight. They're probably the bravest and most professional troops I've every worked with."

The Salvadorans are eager to stress their role as peacekeepers rather than warriors, perhaps with an eye toward public opinion back home. Masked protesters last week seized the cathedral in the capital, San Salvador, demanding that President-elect Tony Saca pull the troops out of Iraq.

Mr. Saca, who takes office June 1, has said that he will leave the unit in Iraq until August as had been planned, despite the early departure of Spanish troops, under whom the Salvadorans were serving. The other three Central American contingents — from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras — have returned home or are scheduled to do so soon.

"We didn't come here to fire a single shot. Our rifles were just part of our equipment and uniforms. But we were prepared to repel an attack," said Col. Hugo Omar Orellana Calidonio, a 27-year-old who commands the Cuscatlan Battalion.

The troops, El Salvador's first peacekeepers abroad, have conducted a range of humanitarian missions in Najaf. They have provided books, electricity, playground equipment and other supplies to destitute schools and have helped farmers with irrigation works and fertilizer supplies.

"Our country came out of a similar situation as in Iraq 12 years ago, so people in El Salvador can understand what is happening here," said Col. Calidonio, referring to the civil war between the U.S.-backed government and leftist guerrillas that left about 75,000 dead. The military was held responsible for widespread abuses.

"We came here to help and we were helping. Our relationship with the people was excellent. They were happy with what we were doing," Col. Calidonio said.

Then came April 4, when armed followers of Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical Shi'ite cleric, seized virtual control of the city and staged attacks on two camps — Baker and Golf — near bases on the fringes of Najaf occupied by the Salvadoran and Spanish units.

When Cpl. Toloza and 16 other soldiers arrived that morning at a low-walled compound of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, about a mile from their camp, they found that its 350 occupants had melted away. They also found themselves trapped by Sheik al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

Lt. Col. Francisco Flores, the battalion's operations officer, said the surrounded soldiers held their fire for nearly a half-hour, fearful of inflicting civilian casualties, even as 10 of their number were wounded by rocket-propelled grenades and bullets from assault rifles and machine guns.

After several hours of combat, the besieged unit ran out of ammunition, having come with only 300 rounds for each of their M-16 rifles. Pvt. Natividad Mendez, Cpl. Toloza's friend for three years, lay dead, shot twice probably by a sniper. Two more were wounded as the close-quarters fighting intensified.

"I thought, 'This is the end.' But, at the same time, I asked the Lord to protect and save me," Cpl. Toloza recalled.

The wounded were placed on a truck while Cpl. Toloza and the three other soldiers moved on the ground, trying to make their way back to the base. They were soon confronted with Sheik al-Sadr's fighters, about 10 of whom tried to seize one of the soldiers.

"My immediate reaction was that I had to defend my friend, and the only thing I had in my hands was a knife," Cpl. Toloza said.

As reinforcements arrived to save Cpl. Toloza's unit, the two camps were under attack, with the Salvadorans and a small U.S. contingent of soldiers and civilian security personnel trying to protect the perimeter and retake an adjoining seven-story hospital captured by the insurgents.

The Spaniards didn't fight and only after a long delay agreed to send armored vehicles to help evacuate the wounded. Col. Flores said he cannot question the Spanish decisions that day, but added that the Spaniards "could have helped us sooner."

U.S. troops have replaced the Spaniards. Salvadoran officers, many of whom were trained at military schools in the United States, say they're pleased to be working with the Americans.

Maybe we're better off without the Spaniards. Send more Salvadorans!!!

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Comments

[Chuckg]

Make that man a sergeant. Now.

[Eric]

..I'd like to buy that Cpl a beer.. did you see his knife?.... it was a POCKET KNIFE... dayum..

[Brian B]

One word, the Salvadorans will understand it.

Cojones

[Blackfive]

Eric - I thought the same thing. Just damn!

[Tango12]

If ever that man comes to Australia, the beer's on me.
Good on yer, mate.

[apossiblemadman]

ye gods, that man has got to be the bravest i have ever seen. i would give my left thumb just to shake his hand. (i would need my right thumb to do the shaking)

[Canadian Jumper]

There are brave men in the armies of all nations. It's the bastard politicians that bring us dishonour.
Well done lad! The personification of the true soldier in that he will defend his comrades to the last.
If he comes to Toronto he won't buy a beer or a meal for as long as he's here!

[Toastard]

Jeez. Can someone please get this guy a bigger knife? One thats serated perhaps?

[Trooper John Smith]

The Salvadorans have always said that in gold, their nation is poor, but in the quality of their people, it's rich. My experiences with ex-pats here - many of whom walked to get away from the Guerra Civil - and Salvadorans in their own country, has been good.

As for their food, I love the cooking from the East, around San Miguel and Usulutan. Que rico!

[Peter]

The Salvadoreans would be missing a sure thing bet if they don't send CPL. Toloza to whatever schooling he needs and then to OCS. That's the kind of man troops will follow.
What's up with troops with vehicles running out of ammo? A few extra ammo cans don't take up THAT much room.

[Maedhros]

Shite. That guy's hardcore.

Second Peter on the OCS.

[Scott]

A couple of things struck me about the article...

300 rounds is dead on. You put 25 rounds in old, tired mags for the M16A2. A full load is twelve mags (four pouches times three mags on your A-harness) plus one on the rifle, so figure 325 rounds. Which tells me these guys went loaded for bear...

Second, I felt proud. This is an Army WE trained and equipped. Back an the 80's when they were fighting for their lives Congress would only allow 55 advisors in El Savador at a time. We pulled the officers into the School of the Americas, we sent SF to train the cadre, and in the end we got Corporal Toloza.

Given the example of the El Salvadorans, it cannot be disputed that we can't do the same for the Iraqi's.

[Mike]

The Salvadorans are hard core. If a man insults your woman, you go after him with a machete. There are a lot of one-armed men in El Salvador.

[Charles Hammond Jr.]

Yo Hablo Espanol for a good reason: El Salvadorans. Those guys are hard as nails.

If I had to have anyone other than a USMC Marine or any member of the US armed forces, it would be

a)A member of the IDF
b)A member of the ROK
c)A member of the Black Watch
d)An Aussie
e)A member of the army of El Salvador.

It's good to have friends.

[martita]

it good to have salvadran blood in viens i can say we are brave we are strang becuase i'm

RRiba el salvador

[salvadoreamerican]

I WAS BORN IN THAT LITTLE PIECE OF LAND , (8,000 SQUARE MILES) , I AM PROUD TO HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS , AMERICA LAND OF THE FREE , HOME OF THE BRAVE , SALVADOREÑOS HAVE THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
SALUDOS SALVADOREÑOS ...
P.S COJONES IS FOR MEXICANS , BUT FOR SALVADOREÑOS YOU SAY CACHIMBONES .

QUE VIVA USA , AND ITS TROOPS QUE VIVA EL SALVADOR Y SUS SOLDADOS.

I AM AMERICAN WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE SALVADOREAN BLOOD.

[GUANACO]

This article is great but to tell you the truth... It didn't suprise me at all everyone knows the true warriors of Latin America are the soldiers of the Republic of EL Salvador. I mean these guys are in it for the fight. Loyalty. U.S. training and Salvadoran blood makes for a deadly sonof a bitch... I mean NO OTHER president had enough confidence in their troops to send them abroad NOT Mexico not any one they tryed Spain and they were scared! Cowards. Salvadoran Pride and forever a Strong and Honost Ally. And to Cpl. Toloza... How does it feel to be fearless? Every one can appreciate a REAL soldier.

[Skyrat]

Blackfive: how might I send this corporal an attaboy directly? He likely knows, but recognition and appreciation of his courage and duty-consciousness are only appropriate. (Number One Son served a tour in Iraq, returned home, is due soon for another. With the likes of Corporal Toloza at his side/ watching his back, I'll sleep better at night!)

[Noel]

here