Photo By Spc. Mathew Schlueter | Second Lt. Paul Modeen, Sgt. Fernando Sanchez and Spc. Andrew Denofre, of Bravo Troop,...... read more read more
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CAMP ADDER, Iraq - While folks back in Minnesota were preparing for trick or treaters and excitement, Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division “Red Bulls” Convoy Escort Team “Bulldog 20” did their nightly inspections before heading back on the road from Joint Base Balad to Camp Adder, Iraq, Oct 31.
Half way through their mission “Bulldog 20” got their own version of “trick or treat” on an exciting Halloween that they will most likely never forget.
Spc. Andrew Denofre, the gunner in the scout truck of “Bulldog 20," noticed two individuals that seemed out of place. Spc. Denofre called up the suspicious individuals to his truck commander, 2nd Lt. Paul Modeen, before 2nd Lt. Modeen could even get a view of the suspicious individuals an explosion rocked their truck.
“I felt the vibration across the whole vehicle and rocked it back and forth,” said 2nd Lt. Modeen.
Responding to the explosion, Lt. Modeen and driver Sgt. Fernando Sanchez instantly pulled Spc. Denofre down from the turret. Spc Denfre wanted to get back up on his weapon to engage the enemy but Lt. Modeen kept him down for his own safety just in case if there was secondary improvised explosive device.
“The first thing that went through my mind was is my crew okay,” stated 2nd Lt. Modeen. “I was fine when I saw my driver was okay and still driving, but my biggest concern was my gunner—when he told me he was okay it was the greatest feeling to know my crew was safe.”
After the explosion the scout truck kept moving forward because its priority is to keep the convoy moving with little to no interruptions. Second Lt. Modeen made an assessment of the damage to their mine resistant ambush protected vehicle while still moving. With all the gauges reading well and the truck running fine, 2nd Lt. Modeen decided to wait to the next base to do a full assessment of the damage to the truck.
“We pushed on for another hour until I noticed a light begin to flash on one of our sensors,” said the driver Sgt. Fernando Sanchez.
The flashing light is a safety measure in the truck to notify the driver if there is damage to the truck. One of the tires on the MRAP received shrapnel from the IED explosion.
The tire needed to be changed, so the convoy stopped for maintenance halt to fix it.
While sitting waiting for the mechanics to change the tire, Spc. Denofre noticed an individual standing of in the distance that seemed out of place.
“It seemed out of place because it was almost midnight and here was this guy standing out outside watching and Scooby-Dooing his way around the trees,” said Spc. Denofre.
After a few moments, the man disappeared out of sight and the CET was ready to continue on mission.
Not even a hundred meters down the road all three members of the scout truck notice an object dead center of the road. Second Lt. Modeen had the truck creep up to investigate what it was.
“We got within five meters when I noticed the glimmer of the light hitting a wire — all I could think was not another” stated Spc. Denofre.
“Bulldog 20” had just discovered another IED. On further inspection the wires attached to the device ran from the location of the IED to area where the suspicious man was standing.
After this discovery “Bulldog 20” called their higher command to give information on what they have found. Explosive ordnance disposal was then called to clear the area after all the information was sent to their command.
A cordon of the area was set up making sure no soldiers or civilians would be able to go near the IED.
After the EOD team came and detonated the IED, “Bulldog 20” was back on the road again headed to Camp Adder, Iraq.
“Phenomenal is the easiest word to use to describe how everyone handled everything that happened that night—to say the least it was an interesting way to celebrate Halloween,” commented 2nd Lt. Modeen as he recalls the events of his crew leading up to Halloween 2011.
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2011 03:26 |
| Story ID: | 81829 |
| Location: | CAMP ADDER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 303 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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