Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Staff Sgt. Corey Mills, far right, team leader, Company B, 1-8 Combined Arms...... read more read more
by Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
BALAD, Iraq (March 8, 2006) -- Mortar and rocket attacks have increased in the Iraqi city of Balad in recent days. To help alleviate this nuisance, Soldiers from Company B, 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion conducted a knock and search patrol south of the city.
"(We wanted to) see if we can find anything, if we can get any info from the local people out there, if anything was going on bad out there," said Staff Sgt. Marion Flint, a squad leader from Co. B, 1-8 CAB, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers.
During the patrol, the Soldiers encountered many smiling and inquisitive children, as well as somewhat surprised and supportive adults. To help add to the smiles, the group passed out
"Operation Iraqi Children" packets, which consist of school supplies and a stuffed animal, to each of the children they saw.
"It's basically just to give the kids and the families stuff just to show them that we are trying to help in any way possible," Flint said.
While at one house, there was a child who had a scratch on his finger. The medic who was traveling with the patrol, Sgt. Steven Lamonds, from Company A, 1-8 CAB, cleaned and re-dressed the wound.
This patrol was quiet, each home that was searched -- after obtaining permission from the homeowner -- was found to be in compliance with policies and rules. But, the presence of Coalition Forces served to alert the people that friendly forces are in the area and they can be trusted to assist the people.
"It's important for a lot of reasons: one, our guys always have to be familiar with our area," said Capt. Brian Kavanagh, platoon leader with Company B. "We've got to be walking down the alleys, walking up paths, walking through orchards so they're familiar with the terrain. Also, we need to make sure that people aren't stockpiling weapons or caches. If we have a presence around this area, nobody knows when we're going to show up walking through their orchards they're going to be more deterred from doing that type of thing."
Soldiers of the company enjoy getting out and seeing the fruits of their labors as well.
"It's good for them to see us looking for (the caches) and going out to those little farm areas," said Pfc. Gary Dishroon, an infantryman with Company B.
In the nearly three months the Fighting Eagles of 1-8 CAB have been operating in this area, attacks on coalition forces have decreased.
"We've disrupted enemy in this area quite a bit," Kavanagh said. "I think 1-8 is pretty effective."
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2006 15:46 |
| Story ID: | 5708 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 418 |
| Downloads: | 183 |
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