'Chaos' rolls down on Lake Thar-Thar

Courtesy Photo | The armored vehicles of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment stage out, April 3, at Camp Corregidor for the move up to Lake Thar-Thar for Operation Lug Wrench.  

RAMADI, IRAQ

04.10.2007

Story by Spc. Ricardo Branch 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

By Spc. Ricardo Branch
1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

RAMADI, Iraq – Amidst the roar of turbine engines and old school R&B, the tankers of "Chaos," Company C, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment provided security for the troops during Operation Lug Wrench, April 4-6, at Lake Thar-Thar.

"This mission is very important out here," said Spc. Antwan Wells, an Abrams gunner with Co. C. "We're here (with explosive ordinance disposal) to clear the way and support by fire if needed."

The 21-year-old Augusta, Ga., native said that if anything goes wrong, having a tank to watch a Soldier's back is a big comfort for the troops on the ground.

"You just feel a lot safer when you conduct operations against improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades, and whatever the enemy can throw at you," he said.

During the mission, the tankers bore down upon the villages around Lake Thar-Thar, provided over watch for the convoys, destroyed insurgent homes, and chased vehicles speeding away from the convoy.

"There is nothing like having 63-tons of steel come down after you," Wells said. "If an insurgent tries to attack a tank, he's generally a stupid one."

Capt. Justin Colbert, company commander, said that the most important thing about the operation was going out and taking IED materials away from the insurgents.

"By us going out here, we were able to intercept the supplies that would normally be used to attack coalition forces," he said. "This has been a huge success in disrupting the flow of munitions around Iraq."

While the mission was being conducted, two platoons of 3-69 Armor provided echelons left and right of the moving convoy. They provided security on both sides of the road with direct-fire support for engagements in order to clear the terrain of any possible triggermen.

"With us watching the sides, insurgents couldn't detonate on the 'Pathfinder' element, which was conducting route clearance to open the lines of communication for Lake Thar-Thar," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hubert, a platoon sergeant with Co. C.

As the operation ended, more than 123 munitions from 57 mm rockets to 152 mm projectiles, along with mines, various machine guns, and other explosive materials were recovered in the three days of operations around Lake Thar-Thar.

Hubert, a 36-year-old Hesperia, Calif., native said that the mission was not only important for the security of the region, but also served as a valuable lesson for the tankers of his platoon.

"Today's Soldiers come into the Army and the only fight they know is the urban fight on streets and alleyways," he said. "Coming out here lets them see both sides of the spectrum, the open battlefield fight and the urban fight."

While the hours are long and the days are extremely hot, the tankers of 3-69 Armor know they are performing well and doing good things for the security of the Al-Anbar province.

"They were professional, outstanding and motivated," Colbert said. "They did everything asked of them – they are tankers and I'd expect nothing less from them."

• Date Taken: 04.10.2007
• Date Posted: 04.10.2007 11:26
• Story ID: 9844
• Location: RAMADI, IQ