Soldiers say weapons caches were 'like a gun show'

Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Robert A. Cortez, left, from New Cumberland, Pa., and Cpt. Ethan Allen, from Newman, Ill., inspect weapons and ammunition discovered in western Baghdad Nov. 20. An anonymous tip prompted the Soldiers, from Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Division of the Iraqi Army and D Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry to search areas on a mission designed to root out hidden terrorist weapons (U.S. Army Courtesy Photo).  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.25.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Spc. Carlos Caro
1st Battalion, 87th Infantry

BAGHDAD - When local residents provide information on where terrorists are hiding their weapons, Iraqi and American forces are quick to respond.

An anonymous tip prompted Iraqi Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. forces from D Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry to conduct searches in west Baghdad Nov. 20-21. It was a mission that eventually rooted out not only hidden weapons but the terrorists themselves.

"The amount of weapons and munitions found (on the first day of searches) was enough to arm a small cell, maybe eight men," said Sgt. Paul Casiano of 1st Bn., 87th Inf.

The American and Iraqi forces turned up caches hidden inside four parked cars Nov. 20 and rounded up three suspected terrorists at the scene.

"The weapons inside the cars were enough to lay down some serious firepower, should they have been used," Casiano added. "Luckily, the insurgents were discovered along with the cache."

The caches included 10 assault rifles, six machine guns, six hand grenades, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers with eight rounds, a mine, and thousands of rounds of ammunition for the rifles and machine guns.

"I couldn't believe that we found this many weapons in four small cars," said 1/87's Staff Sgt. Robert Cortez. "It is really awesome that we found all these weapons and detained the (suspected terrorists). All the hard work of gathering intelligence and gaining the trust of the local nationals has really paid off."

The next day proved even more productive, as the Iraqi and American Soldiers turned up even larger caches on a large section of farmland that once belonged to Saddam Hussein. Less than 20 minutes after beginning their mission, the Soldiers found a mortar round hidden inside a bus parked in an old garage.

Once Soldiers began thoroughly searching the vehicle, they could barely believe their eyes.

Inside a hidden compartment was a large cache. The Soldiers seized 37 blocks of explosives, 75 demolition charges, 400 feet of detonation cord, hundreds of blasting caps, 33 mortar rounds, 30 hand grenades, 29 RPG rounds, 20 hand-grenade fuses, 86 assorted radios, four night-vision devices, four light anti-tank weapons, three mortar fuses, two submachine guns, a sniper rifle, a video camera, a laser range finder, and several thousands of rounds for different weapons.

"It was a gun show," Casiano said. "With all the weapons, munitions, improvised explosive device materials and shoulder-launched missiles that were brought out from a hidden panel inside the bus, there were enough weapons to arm at least 30 men. Thankfully, the hard training of the Iraqi Army battalion allowed them to conduct the searches with success."

However, the morning had just begun for these troops because less than a half hour passed before the Iraqi and American Soldiers found two more caches in the area. These smaller caches contained 50 12.7-millimeter rounds, 18 rounds of linked 40-millimeter high-explosive grenades, dozens of mortar fuses, old Iraqi Republican Guard uniforms, five gas masks, five parachutes, two mortar rounds and two artillery shells.

The Soldiers also discovered six already-prepared IEDs waiting to be picked up and used against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces.

"I feel a considerable dent was put into the local insurgency," said Pfc. Michael Wilmott of 1/87. "With the December elections coming up quickly, it is a good thing to have the locals tip us off as to where weapons caches are located."

Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad officials encourage all Iraqi citizens to report suspicious behavior by e-mailing [e-mail] or calling one of the TIPS hotlines at 07901737723 or 07901737727.

• Date Taken: 11.25.2005
• Date Posted: 11.25.2005 12:49
• Story ID: 3862
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ