AR RAMADI Iraq -- Lance Cpl. Jim L. Cullen suspected Marines were probably in danger and in need of help when he heard a loud explosion followed by machine gun fire off in the distance. The 21-year-old from Rochester, N.Y., was right. While Cullen, a rifleman and team leader with 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and his comrades searched buildings in a portion of the city where Marines took enemy fire in the past, an enemy attack against coalition force unfolded elsewhere on the urban battlefield the evening of June 16. A platoon of Marines came under attack from insurgents while conducting a vehicle patrol, according to 1st Lt. Eldon W. Beck, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines’ adjutant and legal officer. Insurgents hit the Marines’ convoy of humvees with an improvised explosive device, which reduced one of the up-armored vehicles to a pile of twisted, burning metal leaving two Marines dead and three others severely injured, continued Beck, a 25-year-old Modesto, Calif. native. The insurgents continued to press their attack with small arms fire. Cullen and his fellow Marines with 2nd and 3rd Platoon were redeployed to aid their bothers-in-arms who were under fire. They quickly moved in to safeguard elements of the infantry battalion evacuating the Marines and damaged vehicle. “We were clearing our last building when we got called to react,” said the 2001 Greece Olympia High School graduate as he and his Marines rallied and prepared to go to the aid of their fellow Marines. “It came over the radio that Charlie (Company C) got hit with an IED.” “We have to react quick,” he continued. “It’s vital that we move fast.” They loaded into their humvees and 7-ton trucks, convoyed across town, dismounted and took to the buildings in the area setting up security positions and observation posts in the span of a few minutes. “There’s Marines out there hurt and in trouble,” said Lance Cpl. David C. “Dotty” Dotson, a squad automatic weapon gunner in Cullen’s squad. “They need us, and we’re here to help them. That’s what Marines do,” continued the 20-year-old from Wilton Iowa. While they monitored the area, Cullen and the Marines heard gunfire and explosions and saw red tracer rounds cut through the night sky. Marines were engaging the enemy at the site of the IED attack and at the Government Center. Second Platoon was right in the middle of it. “The Government center is taking heavy fire,” he said as the buzz of machine gun fire echoed through the city. “It’s indirect and small arms and post three just took two (rocket propelled grenade) rounds. It sounds like we’re (Marines) getting some right now. Hopefully they’ll take care of the enemy.” Second Platoon held their position and the fighting subsided after approximately 20 minutes. A convoy carrying the dismantled Humvee rolled past them and they were cleared to return to Camp Hurricane Point. Five hours had passed since 2nd and 3rd Platoons had embarked on their mission. The temperature, which had been in the lower 100s up until early evening, was still pushing the mercury past 90 degrees. “It was very hot today, but everyone performed well,” said Cullen back on base. “We sucked it up and did what we had to do.”