FALLUJAH
BLOCK BY BLOCK
ROOM BY ROOM
LOGLINE
A Marine captain l eads his
unit through the blood-
soaked streets of a place
where everything and
everyone is organized to
kill them.
IRAQ 2004
In 2004, the war in Iraq gave way to an unconventional one; Fallujah became the main city where insurgents were financed, armed, and where they organized. Fighters from across the globe were summoned to this place to ‘Fight Jihad’ against the Americans.
Then came the photo: four American Contractors hung from a bridge - their charred bodies on the evening news. The President of the United States demanded a response.
The USMC was sent to Fallujah to get it under control. What followed was the Marine Corps’ largest urban battle since Hue City - a fight for every street, every room, every inch.
This is their story.
CAPTAIN DOUG ZEMBIEC
In the chaos of Fallujah, Captain Zembiec struck with lethal precision — never sending his men into a fight they couldn’t win. They called him “The Lion of Fallujah” for his courage and ferocity. He made the ultimate sacrifice, but his legacy still roars.
Telling his story means capturing the spirit of the Marine who defined leadership on Iraq’s deadliest streets. A true story that hits hard — and leaves audiences changed.
LANCE CORPORAL HUY TRUONG
Lance Corporal Truong is the son of a South Vietnamese Ranger who was punished for fighting for democracy - imprisoned for 6 years after the war. His family endured the maltreatment/discrimination under the new regime before being granted American asylum.
Truong enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school as a way to give back to the country that gave his family freedom. Undersized and inexperienced, he was assigned to Captain Zembiec’s company — an unlikely hero who proved himself in combat through sheer tenacity, grit, and heart.
FIRST SERGEANT WILLIAM SKILES
As a 26-year Marine Corps infantry man and sniper, this veteran was battle-tested long before Fallujah. As Captain Zembiec’s senior enlisted advisor, he brought grit, mentorship, battlefield tactics, the art of field craft and a steady presence under fire. He enforced the Marine Corps ethos without compromise — but never forgot that behind every rifle was a 19-year-old kid facing fear you couldn’t prepare for in training.
LANCE CORPORAL AARON AUSTIN
Lance Corporal Aaron Austin courageously led his platoon during a fierce rooftop battle in Fallujah, braving relentless enemy fire. Mortally wounded while throwing a decisive grenade, his heroic actions halted the enemy advance, saving fellow Marines. Posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Austin exemplified exceptional bravery, leadership, and sacrifice at age 21.