Gunnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin joined the Marine Corps in 1985, after an injury derailed his dreams of becoming a major-league pitcher. He would go on to become one of the Marines’ elite scout-snipers, and his service included a tour of duty in Somalia. However, he would make his mark during the liberation of Iraq, where he had the chance to pioneer the Mobile Sniper Strike Team concept. Here, he describes one of the many engagements that Marines had with Saddam’s thugs while on the road to Baghdad . – Ed.

A TOWN CALLED HELL