When disaster strikes, 3rd BSTB takes action

Photo By Staff Sgt. Timothy Sander | 1st Sgt. Thomas Carmo, first sergeant of Alpha Company, 3rd BSTP, 10th Mountain Division, pulls security while maintenance Soldiers recover a vehicle that was hit by an improvised explosive device in Gardiz, Afghanistan July 23.  

GARDEZ, AFGHANISTAN

08.01.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

by Sgt. Tim Sander
345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division began their day like most on July 23rd; driving over the dangerous roads of Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on a mission to bring peace and stability to a region that has been hindered by drought, war and terrorism for as long as most of it's citizens can remember.

The morning began at 4:30 A.M. with a routine convoy brief. After picking up a platoon of Afghan National Army Soldiers for a training mission in a local village, the joint military force began their slow journey over the rugged terrain on a route traveled countless times without incident. Today, however, that would all change.

Not long after the convoy departed base, the radio began to crackle with excitement. The news that followed was far from what anyone wanted to hear.

"An I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) just went off and hit one of our vehicles," said the voice over the radio. "Two Soldiers are injured and the disabled vehicle is blocking our path."

Instinctively, the remaining Soldiers switched gears; it was time to react and correct the bad situation before it became worse.

"We're on our way, we're going to follow the wrecker," said 1st Sgt. Thomas Carmo, first sergeant of Alpha Company, whose humvee was behind the wrecker at the rear of the convoy.

Both vehicles immediately pulled out of line and swerved to the left side of the road, driving for what seemed like an eternity to the front of the convoy where the disabled humvee lay in ruins. It's three occupants were standing, bruised and shaken, but without major injuries, a few vehicles back.

"My primary concern was the safety of the Soldiers and security of the area," said Carmo, who has been deployed to Afghanistan for almost five months.

"Anytime your convoy is the victim of an I.E.D. attack, the first thing you have to consider is it will usually be followed by an ambush," he said.

Upon arriving at the scene, Carmo realized that the Soldiers of one of his platoons had already checked for secondary explosive devices and set up a security perimeter, allowing for the maintenance Soldiers to begin recovery operations.

The two Soldiers in the wrecker dismounted and began to assess the situation. With the rear bumper dangling from the remains of the back of the humvee, this would be no easy task.

Sgt. Mathew R. Davis and Spc. Michael Myers, light-wheeled vehicle mechanics for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, began formulating a plan to securely attach the mangled humvee to the wrecker as quickly as possible.

"It wasn't a textbook hook-up," said Davis, who has played a role in numerous vehicle recoveries. "Myers and I went through several different scenarios trying to figure out which would be the best," he added.

Davis went on to explain that in most cases, securing a vehicle to the wrecker is as simple as pulling two pins, positioning the tow arms and replacing the pins.

While the situation was one that no Soldier likes, Davis admits that it was nice to have a challenge.

Within thirty minutes the humvee was securely attached to the wrecker and the brave warriors began to load back into their vehicles, ready to press on and finish the mission they set out to do. One by one, the vehicles rolled past the crater left by the I.E.D. and continued along the dangerous path.

Locating a series of shops and merchant stalls that served as their training site, the BSTB Soldiers executed the training of the ANA soldiers. They took their Afghan counterparts through proper search and surveillance techniques before turning their attention to the return trip through the badlands that had fortunately only claimed a vehicle and some time.

"We realize now that it's not just the armor that will protect us," said Carmo. "We have to be vigilant!"

• Date Taken: 08.01.2006
• Date Posted: 08.01.2006 15:31
• Story ID: 7363
• Location: GARDEZ, AF