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Lancer troops work to make streets safe for Iraqis

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Marietta, Ga., native Staff Sgt. William Stone, a squad leader from Company E, 2nd...... read more read more

03.29.2007

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

KHAN DARI, Iraq – Making the streets safer for Iraqi civilians has been one of the main goals for troopers from the 2nd "Lancer" Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment.

After three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated, including one that injured two children near a school, March 25, Company E, 2nd Bn., 5th Cav. Regt. Soldiers were out gathering information, March 26, to help catch those responsible and to continue building relationships with the people living in the village.

The children, who are in good condition, were sent to a local area hospital where they are recuperating from their injuries. No one was hurt in the other two incidents.

"After seeing what happened to those kids, we know if we can continue getting information we can clean out insurgents here and find weapons caches. We're making this a safer place down the line for the local nationals," said Marietta, Ga. native Staff Sgt. William Stone, a squad leader from Company E, 2nd Bn., 5th Cav. Regt. "All the people here say the same things, they want our help, they want safety and they want the insurgents to go away."

As the troops from Co. E conducted a foot patrol, they went from house to house, asking about the IED strikes the day before and inquiring about the welfare of the people living there. They also collected information on terrorists and insurgent cells operating in the area.

On their first stop, an Iraqi family eagerly greeted the U.S. troops, offering them tea. This is a sign that shows the difference between how the people in the villages feel about the insurgents compared with their feelings for U.S. troops, according to Miles City, Mont., native Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Pluhar, a platoon sergeant for Co. E, 2nd Bn., 5th Cav. Regt.

"To hurt children just goes to show that the bad guys don't care about the people living here," Pluhar said. "Apparently the insurgents don't have families or feelings like normal people, they're simply ruthless thugs."

At one house, Pluhar spoke to a farmer who told him he had not heard about the IED strike by the school but would be willing to give information if he did.

"Let us know if you see or hear anything. If the insurgents don't care about killing Americans or Iraqi security forces, they certainly don't care about hurting innocent civilians to achieve their goals," said Pluhar, speaking to the man through an interpreter and referring to the IED strike near the school. "So please let us know if you see anything, help us help you."

On one of their last stops, an Iraqi man thanked the U.S. troops for their help, telling them that he felt safe when they were patrolling his neighborhood.

"When you meet people like that you really feel like we're doing some good," Stone said.

Although the mission did not yield much information on the three strikes, the Soldiers said that they have had a lot of cooperation from the people in getting information leading to the capture of insurgents on previous patrols. This is due, they say in large part, to their building trust with the Iraqis.

Sumner, Ill., native Spc. Michael Evans, a Soldier for Co. E, reflected on what the day's mission meant to him.

"It's a great feeling to know we're contributing to getting insurgents off the streets so the people don't have to live in fear of someone killing their children or hurting them," Evans said.

"I'll be coming away from this with a bigger appreciation of life in general, and I'll know that I was doing something to help the Iraqi people and the American people—so that what happened on Sep. 11 never happens again," he added.