Photo By Sgt. Marcus Gable | Soldiers from Bravo Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, decide...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Benjamin Gable
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi Police troops worked together on a two-day mission to provide security in the Doura area on the south side of the Iraqi capital.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., searched for improvised explosive devices, homemade explosives, weapons caches and extremist activity with help from the Iraqi Police.
The mission began June 1, before sunrise.
Coalition Forces moved into the neighborhood and cordoned off the area. Some Soldiers performed "high-sight" duties, moving to rooftops to provide additional security for those moving on the ground.
"We find the best vantage point we can so we can cover a squad's movements on the ground," said Staff Sgt. Scott Murphy, an Ashburn, Va. native, with Company B. "We scan rooftops and windows for any hostile activities to provide more security."
With the high side security and cordon in place, Coalition Forcers moved from home to home, searching thoroughly for illegal activity. Every room and every courtyard was searched.
Coalition Forces have worked this area before. There was intelligence indicating terrorists had been in the neighborhood planting IEDs and conducting other illegal operations.
An Iraqi woman, who did not wish to give her name for security reasons, said through an interpreter that terrorists frequent the neighborhood recruiting young males and planting roadside bombs, as well as threatening anyone who gives information to Coalition Forces. She also said the area is mostly quiet when Coalition Forces are present, but as soon as they leave, the terrorists return.
Coalition Forces did take sporadic small arms fire throughout the first day. The mission did not slow, however, and they continued moving from house to house and street to street.
Soldiers did whatever it took to ensure the area was safe for the locals.
"The Iraqi people sometimes praise you when you walk in their homes," said Spc. Michael Royster, an infantryman with B Co. "It makes you feel good about being here and helping them."
After a full day of meticulous searching, the Soldiers regrouped to move back to their base camp and get some rest before starting the second day's mission.
The following morning Soldiers from B Co. linked up with Iraqi Police and headed back into southeastern Baghdad.
Coalition Forces scoured every house throughout the neighborhood and a surrounding field searching for any evidence they could find. With an interpreter close by, they spoke with many residents to gather further information regarding insurgent activities.
After making their way through the neighborhoods, Coalition Forces moved to a mosque. Iraqi Police went inside. One Iraqi policeman found a journal that documented previous attacks on Coalition Forces, as well as future attacks. Also uncovered in the mosque was a pair of pants and a shirt covered in blood.
Coalition Forces then moved to finish up clearing the neighborhood.
After completing the mission, the Soldiers of B Co. loaded back into their Strykers and headed back to base. With the mission complete, the Soldiers returned to get some well deserved rest.
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2007 08:47 |
| Story ID: | 10714 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 546 |
| Downloads: | 515 |
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