It is 0505 on 30 March 1948, and while the 2nd Platoon is battling soldiers of the Jordanian Army on the northern edge of the Jewish village of Mar Gush, pickets have alerted Dor Peleg, former Sergeant in the Jewish Brigade, Palmach member returned home, and commander of the 3rd Platoon, of enemy soldiers approaching from the south, where the Nelani River, passing east of the village, cuts back to the west. The Company commander, Captain Avi Peleg, is in the north with 2nd Platoon, and 1st Platoon is manning the roadblock east of the village on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road, so the 38-year old platoon commander does what he must: he immediately deploys his unit to the southeastern corner of the village, where they occupy prepared positions and steady themselves for the coming onslaught.
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Overview, north is up, the village of Mar Gush at top left, a small citrus orchard at top center, a Jewish trench line at top right, Cedar Hill at bottom left, and the Nelani River at bottom center/bottom right. 3rd Platoon is deployed in the trench at top center/top right (north/northeast), and the Jordanians are deployed at bottom center/bottom right (south/southeast). But things are about to get a little tricky on ya! Old Dor's a cagey veteran, got a few tricks up his sleeve; let's see how it shakes out.
The fighting is fierce as the Jordanian infantry pushes hard to take the Jewish trench-line. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
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Well, that wraps this one up. Next up is 2nd Platoon moving east to eject the Jordanians from their foothold in the village, stay tuned.
If you're willing and able, please leave a comment on the blog, I'd love to hear from you.
V/R,
Just Jack