By Spc. Crista M. Birmingham
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Marines from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, are in the midst of a sequel; protecting Main Supply Route Tampa, a Mad Max-esque main transportation route.
The original cast of troops protecting the route, who were on patrol during April's attacks, is on screen for a second appearance.
MSR Tampa, also known as Highway 1, is the passage of commerce spanning the country from Kuwait to Turkey. The Marines, watching over this seemingly deserted span of three bridges, patrol the area in ten-day shifts. For ten days and nights, the troops stay out in the desert heat, with little or no supplies, guarding the primary supply route for the multi-national forces and Iraq.The heaviest watch is over the repairs to the central bridge, which was bombed in April.
"Back in the second week of April, someone tried to blow the bridge up to cut off the supply lines," said 1st Lt. Walker Koury, platoon commander, 3rd Platoon, Company F 2/2, "The next day, we were called down there to secure them.
"While assessing the damage, the site was attacked a second time by way of mortar. "The leadership was right in the middle of the bridge when it happened, and one mortar round hit, literally, in the middle of them," Koury said. "It wounded half of the officers in the company, including the commander," he said.
The executive officer, the weapons platoon commander, a squad leader, a combat engineer and first sergeant, among others, were injured in the attack. "All injuries were of a routine nature, all Marines returned to duty," said Capt. Tim Bairstow, company commander, Company F, 2/2, who was also wounded on the bridge.
Immediately following the bombing and mortar attacks in April, 'they [insurgents] attacked us for a week," said Koury. "We defended the place, and drove everyone off, now they can't get near here."The bridge, although not collapsed, was impassable, Koury explained. Army engineers worked quickly to erect a temporary passage over the bombed area.
"There was one lane left open then," he said."
We were out for twelve days with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion- combat engineers who repair bridges- and that was their completion schedule," said Bairstow.
After things quieted down, Company F was sent to Fallujah for three months and returned to the bridges in June. In the meantime, 1st Armored Division kept watch over the area. Now, four months later, the Marines are defending the same bridge where they earned their purple hearts.
"There are three bridges, and our plan is to allow convoys to pass them with as little interference from insurgents as possible," Bairstow said. "We man a defensive position off of bridges, conduct foot patrols, and occasionally we get pieces of information as to where operating insurgents are and follow those leads." The bridges are now protected in several ways, as is the road itself.
"Each bridge has a defensive position around it, manned with bunkers, obstacles, fire support, and we run patrols up and down," said Koury. The troops work long, perspiring hours patrolling the area, and have to find ways to amuse themselves to pass the time. Koury, a literal road warrior himself, runs daily, from one bridge to the next, often in the middle of the desert day. He does this wearing all his heavy body armor, Kevlar helmet, and weapons. "I get kind of bored sitting out here, so I take off to go check on what's happening over there," he said.
Company F spends long hours defending MSR TAMPA. "This isn't what we came out expecting to do," said Bairstow. "As Marines, we have an offensive mindset, but we're ready to do whatever we have to do. In this case, it's take the defensive position."The bridge is still under repair by Iraqi nationals hired by Al Mutasim State Construction Contracting Company, in conjunction with the Iraqi Ministry of Housing and Construction. "Army engineers build temporary solutions, then it is the responsibility of the Iraqi engineers to rebuild the permanent bridge," Bairstow said.
"They're doing a good job. We try to bring them water, and we definitely provide security," said Lance Cpl. Douglas McDuffie, also with Company F., protecting the bridge.An Iraqi bridge-repairman, who wishes to remain anonymous for the safety of his family, said he works on the bridges for two reasons. "I work to earn money, and, I must build our country," he said. "I am worried if the building is finished, then it is destroyed.
"The bridge worker explained through a translator that he is concerned his work would be in vain if the bridge is blown up again.If the bridge is blown up a third time, the Iraqis will rebuild it, and the road warrior Marines will be on hand to protect it and MSR Tampa.
"If it blows up again, we'll be out here with them, rebuilding it again," McDuffie said.
| Date Taken: | 08.25.2004 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2004 12:14 |
| Story ID: | 268 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 385 |
| Downloads: | 111 |
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