Photo By Spc. Kelly McDowell | 1st Lt. Paul Worley (right) and Command Sgt. Major Marc Pfrogner, 2nd Battalion, 502nd...... read more read more
Story and photos by Spc. Kelly K. McDowell
2nd BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.
BAGHDAD - Responding to a tip from a local national, and further investigation of that tip by military observers, Soldier from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, uncovered multiple large weapons caches south of Baghdad.
After military observers confirmed the possibility of a mortar cache, 3rd Platoon, Company A "Gators," 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., followed tracks from a farm truck to a large area of dried dirt in the middle of a field just north of the Sadr-Yusufiyah area.
Soldiers uncovered a weapons cache near a small canal, consisting of various-sized mortar rounds, rockets and roadside bomb-making materials.
As the days passed from Monday through Thursday, the Soldiers continued to search and exploit the cache site, uncovering such weapons as more than 20 rockets with two home-made rocket launchers, thousands of rounds of ammunition, 660 mortar rounds with five mortar tubes, one complete mortar system and two mortar plates, one tank sabot round, three heavy caliber machine guns, anti aircraft weapons, nine SAGGER missiles, 60 rocket propelled grenades, multiple artillery rounds, and various Improvised Explosive Device materials, including bags of blasting caps, missiles, grenades and 33,000 feet of detonation cord.
"After receiving intelligence that there were mortar tubes in the area a couple days ago, my guys just came off a 24-hour shift, we searched a house and didn't find anything," said 1st Lt. Paul Worley, Co. A, 2-502nd Inf., who was one of the Soldiers who discovered the initial cache. "So, we searched the fields and found a small weapons cache."
An Explosives Ordnance Disposal team was called to the site to assess the explosives and conduct a controlled detonation of the cache. After the controlled detonation, EOD returned to the site to confirm the destruction of the munitions. In the crater left behind from the blast, there were even more weapons exposed and additional bunkers hidden in the ground.
"As soon as EOD blew (the weapons cache), we returned to secure the field and found this bunker," Worley said.
"I wasn't sure we would get this much stuff in one small farm or field. This is my first real mission out here â?¦ If we find (weapons caches) once, we will find (weapons caches) again," said Pvt. Joshua Powers, Co. A, 2-502nd Inf., who is new to the unit, only having arrived to Iraq seven days prior to discovering the large weapons cache.
The continuing exploitation of the area has continued from Monday through Thursday, and seems to continue to grow with each controlled detonation and each day that passes.
As of Wednesday, the total number of weapons caches discovered by the Soldiers of 3rd Platoon was 16 in a 500 meter circle of a remote farming area.
"I think by coming to isolated places, it shows the people we don't just drive the roads in our up-armored humvees," Worley said. "We are willing to get out and make a difference in their lives. They see us trying to help them. It gives them the hope that when we leave and they are faced with the terrorists, they can pick up from where we left off and defeat these insurgents."
After continuously excavating the area for four days now, the Soldiers of Co. A, have had little rest as a new weapons cache is uncovered each day.
"We have been out here working hard trying to uncover everything. It is great to know we are taking away these items that could be used against us or local civilians," said Cpt. Vaughn Strong, commander, Co. A.
"There were things we haven't seen before in this cache," Worley said. "This was a great find and a great day for the Coalition Forces and the people of Iraq."
The site is still being searched. With the Soldier's hard work and determination, more weapons caches are still being found.
"This is the type of find that improves the security situation for the local people and Coalition Forces," said Col. Todd Ebel, commander, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. "This is exactly why we're out here " to make a difference. These Strike Soldiers do it every day. God bless them."
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2006 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 5505 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 648 |
| Downloads: | 66 |
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