Iraqi Civilian Uses Business Skills to Take Down Missiles

DoD - Special to American Forces Press Service ^ | Oct. 15, 2003 | Spc. Joshua M. Risner

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Iraqi Civilian Uses Business Skills to Take Down Missiles

By Spc. Joshua M. Risner, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

DOHUK, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2003 – Thanks to an Iraqi civilian's actions, a load of 188 SA-7 surface-to-air missiles are headed to Mosul for disposal.

The missiles are shoulder-fired weapons, similar to a rocket-propelled grenade in operation, according to Sgt. 1st Gilbert Ortiz, G-3, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "Just one of these things is capable of taking down an aircraft," he said. "They could also be used as improvised explosive devices."

Pfc. Scott Cothren, of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, takes an SA-7 surface-to-air missile to load onto the truck for Mosul. An Iraqi civilian has turned in almost 200 missiles to date. Photo by Spc. Joshua M. Risner, USA
(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.)

A civilian, according to 2nd Lt. Steven Whitmore, of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, turned in the weapons. The civilian had come to the coalition forces and discussed his plan to buy the missiles and turn them in, explaining he could garner the trust of the people in the area and could buy weapons from them. "He turned them in and received about $250 for each missile," Whitmore said.

"He claimed to be able to get his hands on anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 rockets," Ortiz said. "Everybody thought he was joking until the missiles started coming in."

Moving the missiles was a tedious process. The serial number of each had to be recorded and accounted for before it could be loaded onto the trucks. Having these weapons taken off the streets is a relief to Ortiz. "This will help to reduce the threat to our troops on the ground and in the air," he said. "We are making things safer."

(Spc. Joshua M. Risner is assigned to the 40th Public Affairs Detachment.)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 Thanks, Tonkin!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"He claimed to be able to get his hands on anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 rockets," Ortiz said. "Everybody thought he was joking until the missiles started coming in."

Iraq is one big arsenal.

U.S. troops were always welcomed by most Iraqis.

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[John H K]

I presume we gave him the money, or he got reimbursed.

Hope he made a profit on the deal.

[speekinout]

Hope he made a profit on the deal.

I'm sure he did. There are good profits to be made from turning in stuff that the Americans want. One guy got $30M for turning in Uday and Qsay. And the Iraqis who never liked Saddam are perfectly happy collecting money. They aren't ignorant or backward people.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Who makes the SA-7 missile? The Russkies?

[solo gringo]

Heard from my grandson and he said he was in a fire fight.Thier kill were not iraqi thier kill was syrias, iranes and arabs from who knows where.My grandson is with the 1st armour div.He said the iraqis were a very good people and treated the American with respect and made them feel welcome.

[Angelwood]

Thanks for posting this information. God bless and watch over your grandson and the other troops wherever they are stationed.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, solo. It is good to have your grandson's word to confirm what we're hearing from other sources.

Please tell him how proud we are of the important work he's doing. Let him know there's an 'army' of Freepers praying for him daily.

[solo gringo]

He said that his buddies call these fighters crazies because that is the way they are.He also said that they would shoot an iraqi as quick as an american.If you saw a fox news cast of the firefight at a power plant he was on top of a building wearing dark shades.No loses on the american side.he said there was heavy loses on the crazies side.Thanks for all the prayers believe me our men and women need them.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[radu]

COOOOOOOL!!! I love hearing news like this!! All these missiles now out of the hands of the enemy! No telling how many troops' lives have been saved by that Iraqi civilian who turned them in.

I'm certainly grateful to him and to all the others who've been turning in weapons. And you're right. Iraq is one big arsenal, and it's going to take a while to get everything. This was a NICE chunk!

[windchime]

Bump!

[AFPhys]

I want to add my thanks to your grandson to RC's.

Thanks for news from the front.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Is your grandson with the 82nd Airborne? WT may have covered his fight here: (US: 10 vs. Enemy: 0)

8 U.S. troops fight infiltrators from Syria ~ Washington Times  | 10/16/03

Prayer ping for special protection for troops and Iraqi allies near the Syrian border.