Legion Company airstrike produces 2 enemy KIA at NTC

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Hallock | Pvt. Michael R. Lowd, a saw gunner from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, watches the enemy being destroyed by a 500-pound explosive in the mountains of the Mojave Desert at the National Training Center Aug. 22. Legion Company conducted an airstrike mission after identifying the enemy’s position from their overwatch position high in the mountains.  

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

08.22.2011

Story by Spc. Ryan Hallock 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Calif. – It’s around 1 p.m. in the Mojave Desert. Two Blackhawk helicopters kick dust and rocks into the air as they swoop down to land at the National Training Center, Aug. 22.

Soldiers from Legion Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, run hunched over toward the spinning blades that cause the dust storm and hop in. They strap in and within seconds they are airborne, headed for the day’s objective.

The birds can take them only so far, but their mission takes them high into the mountains. Jackrabbits sprint by the soldiers in the opposite direction. The enemy’s position is on the other side of the mountain line, and the soldiers, led by 1st Lt. Thomas Parker, take to foot and climb to the top.

“The biggest challenge is finding a good observation point without comprising the unit,” said Parker, a Providence, R.I., native and 1st Platoon leader, Legion Company.

Without silhouetting the mountain line, the soldiers made it to the top and found cover. In a joint mission with the U.S. Air Force, they identified the enemy’s position near a shack on the opposite mountains.

Spc. Ricky Martin, a South Padre, Texas native and bravo team leader, 1st squad, they work with the U.S. Air Force due to their powerful air-strike capabilities.

Martin deployed to Iraq twice and used these tactics to identify and destroy the enemy.

“Cover your eyes or look away,” called Parker over the radio to his platoon.

From the soldiers backs came sounds of thunder as F-16 fighter jets stormed through the sky. They looped over the soldiers position and in for the kill. The jets dropped 500-pound explosives on the enemy after receiving the grid coordinates from Legion Company.

“It’s what we do,” said Staff Sgt. David Barber, 1st platoon sergeant, Legion Company. “It’s fun.”

The mission produced two enemy killed in action along with enemy intelligence.

With the sun sinking low and the mission a success, the soldiers of Legion Company packed up their gear and headed down the mountainside. Their Stryker armored fighting vehicles waited at the bottom for the platoon, so they could return to base in time for chow.

• Date Taken: 08.22.2011
• Date Posted: 08.23.2011 13:20
• Story ID: 75794
• Location: NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA, US