Photo By Sgt. David Hodge | CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, Multi-National Division –...... read more read more
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by Spc. David Hodge
4th Inf. Div. PAO
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad's commanding general visited the Soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team as they conducted operations in the Jihad neighborhood in Baghdad Sept. 11.
Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, commanding general, MND-B, visited the Stryker Brigade operations in the southwest area of Baghdad, along with Lt. Col. John Norris, the commander of 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 172nd SBCT, on the fifth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack in New York.
The 172nd SBCT Soldiers' missions focus on quelling sectarian violence and kidnappings in select neighborhoods in the Jihad area.
"We are attempting to clear those areas in order to prevent the amount of killings going on in Baghdad," said Thurman.
The 4th Bn., 23 Inf. Regt. has conducted a variety of missions, including clearing houses, presence patrols and humanitarian missions in the Baghdad area since they arrived from Mosul in August.
Soldiers said conducting operations in the area helps to counter terrorist activities.
"Dismounting and controlling areas builds mutual trust and serves to impair insurgent activities," said Spc. Zachary Sherman, infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarter Company, 4th Bn., 23rd Inf. Regt.
Thurman and Norris patrolled the area in Stryker vehicles and made several stops throughout Jihad to get first-hand updates from Stryker Brigade leaders.
While on patrol, Thurman visited with a local national woman who came home to find her front door booby trapped with an improvised-explosive device. The woman called the Iraqi police and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was sent to the residence and removed the IED without incidence.
Thurman spoke with the woman inside her home and thanked her for her brave actions.
"I saw a local national employee of the Minister of the Interior contact us in reference to an IED that was placed at her front door," said Thurman. "In this counter-insurgency operation, we must have the Iraqi citizen's trust and confidence that the security situation will get better. The Iraqi people respect the fact that they are safe with the Americans. It's important that the Iraqi people maintain confidence in Iraqi Security Forces because, at the end of the day, ISF are responsible for securing Iraq – and we are here to help them do that."
After completing a full year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in northern Iraq, the Soldiers of 172nd SBCT had their equipment packed and some had already returned home to Alaska before being recalled to theater after Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense, requested their extension to increase MND-B's fire power in the fight to secure Baghdad.
"The 172nd Stryker Brigade has done a terrific job by coming in and getting integrated with our overall plan," said Thurman. "The increased combat power and capabilities are making a huge difference for us."
The 172nd SBCT provides MND-B more offensive capability in Baghdad without having to relocate Soldiers from other MND-B areas of operations and leave those areas uncovered.
The brigade's vehicles have increased the division's abilities to put more troops on the ground in a timely fashion. Whereas, a convoy of humvees can dismount enough Soldiers to equal one squad, a convoy of Strykers can hold a squad for each vehicle, explained Sherman.
"The light-armored Stryker vehicle carries up to nine dismountable infantry Soldiers. It's very maneuverable and better for large built-up areas and narrow streets, where M-1 Abrams, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other track vehicles have trouble and tear up the roads," said Thurman.
The Soldiers contributions and sacrifices are appreciated, he added.
"The most important thing I see every day are the great Soldiers that we have, and my heart goes out to those that made the ultimate sacrifice over here," stated Thurman.
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2006 11:32 |
| Story ID: | 7780 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 40 |
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