Photo By Spc. Elvyn Nieves | 1st Lt. Clay Hanika (left), a Miami native, and Staff Sgt. Ricardo Hamlin, an Atlanta...... read more read more
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By Spc. Elvyn Nieves
3rd Brigade Comabat Team, 4th Infantry Division
BAGHDAD – In an effort to reduce the possibility of improvised explosive device attacks between barriers that have been moved or destroyed Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, have been conducting barrier maintenance.
While replacing broken barriers, Soldiers from Company A, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, have diligently strived to make sure the barrier line was straight and closed up empty spaces to prevent the placement of IEDs during an overnight mission, March 23 and 24.
"Barriers don't lay well (here) because of the uneven and muddy ground," said 1st Lt. Clay Hanika, a Miami native, who serves as platoon leader in Co. A, 64th BSB. "We usually lay those barriers on flat surfaces, but last night we had to stick rocks underneath the barriers to balance them out and lay properly against the next barrier."
This night's route in a northern Baghdad neighborhood is a narrow road that created a difficult challenge to these troops.
"We tried to minimize the amount of dismounted Soldiers in this street since you only have one way in and out," said Staff Sgt. Ricardo Hamlin, an Atlanta native, who serves as petroleum laboratory specialist in Co. A, 64th BSB. "Our biggest challenge is to be on the look out for booby traps, IEDs and small arms fire."
Hanika said these types of missions are a constant learning experience where in order to succeed he passes the information of what he saw in the area to the next convoy commander to give him a heads up to better prepare for the mission.
The barriers serve to cut off exit avenues for criminals trying to stage an attack against coalition or Iraqi forces. When the enemy runs away from combat, there won't be many escape routes because of the barriers.
"We've been doing this mission for three months now and my Soldiers always perform great," said Hanika. "Every time we face a challenge, the Soldiers step up immediately to face it and we'll continue to do so until we leave Iraq."
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2008 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 17731 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 267 |
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