Three Block War: Darkside chronicles 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004. 'Chopped' from the full-length Three Block War: U.S. Marines in Iraq, Darkside first recounts 3/4's assault to Baghdad in 2003; which began with battles against Iraq's 51st Mechanized Division at Basrah. The Three-four, also known as 'Darkside,' then engaged Republican Guard formations and asymmetric threats in central Iraq at Diwaniyah and al-Kut.
Before 1st Marine Division entered Baghdad, Darkside breached a minefield and braved artillery fire during the Diyala River crossing that allowed access to the capital. When the battalion, remaining under command of Lt. Col. B.P. McCoy, returned to Iraq in the spring of 2004, it was assigned to the Haditha Dam area. While it secured Haditha with small-unit patrols, 3/4 also saw combat action during the first battle of Fallujah in April 2004; and north of Fallujah at 'Bad' Kharma.