Courtesy Photo | Burns, Wyo., native Staff Sgt. Brian Long, with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Benjamin Gable
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP STYKER, Iraq – U.S. and Iraqi army troops moved in to the eastern part of Baghdad's Mansour District to provide security for locals and to search for illegal weapons.
Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Ft. Lewis, Wash., were tasked with the deliberate clearance of homes in this area, the neutralizing weapons caches and the performing of targeted raids.
With the IA in the lead, April 14, the coalition forces moved into the city.
"These clearing operations are to enforce the security of the neighborhood and the people living here," said Staff Sgt. Brian Long, a native of Burns, Wyo., with Co. A. "We make sure we do a complete sweep of the area and gather as much information as possible."
During their search for weapons and explosives, the troops handed out flyers, tip cards with numbers to the local joint security stations and head of household forms. Long said that all of these information sheets help lead to better security for the area.
Teams of Soldiers moved through each house on their designated blocks and methodically searched every room.
"Insurgents have been known to hide things all over houses and in the smallest crevices and cracks you can imagine," said Pfc. Derek Gress, with Co. A. "We have to do whatever is needed to make sure they don't have something they're not supposed to."
After several hours of searching and clearing, the coalition forces headed back to their respective bases to rest and start over again the next day.
The morning of April 15, coalition forces moved back to the same area as the day before. The day's search called for a more aggressive approach in entering and clearing houses.
Many of the houses had locks on the doors. With the homeowners having migrated, Soldiers were forced to bring out the lock cutters and the battering ram to enter the homes. One local reported to Soldiers that most of the homeowners had moved to Syria for more safety and better job opportunities.
Coalition forces broke down doors, cut locks and made their way into the homes to be searched by any means necessary. Once inside, they searched everything from refrigerators to stand-alone freezers, boxes and closets. Whatever the situation called for, the forces left no stone unturned.
After leaving the houses, coalition forces left damage assessment sheets and new locks for the owners of the homes, should they return.
As Iraqi children walked the streets of the neighborhood, the search continued.
Soldiers searched flower gardens, cars in driveways and anything needed.
Toward the end of the day's search, coalition forces discovered a large cache of ammunition and explosive chemicals. In this particular find, they discovered two large cans of nitric acid, five 40-pound bags of an unknown white powder substance and a stripped down car.
Long said the car could possibly be used as a vehicle-borne explosive device. An explosive ordnance disposal team was then called in to take the items for further investigation while coalition forces provided an outer cordon.
With the day's mission complete and after long hours moving from house to house on consecutive days, the Soldiers of Co. A., headed back to their Strykers and heard two words they love to hear, "Drop ramp."
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2007 08:40 |
| Story ID: | 10105 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 1,244 |
| Downloads: | 1,218 |
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