Soldiers Employ Detective Know-How In Finding Anti-Coalition Weapons

Defend America ^ | Feb. 21, 2004 | Spc. Michael J. Carden / 82nd Airborne Division

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Sgt. Jimmy Hacker, 3rd Platoon, 82nd Airborne Division Military Police Company, and Jamal, translator, attach a winch cable to a 127mm rocket launcher system to pull it out of a marsh Feb. 9 in a farming area approximately 25 miles west of Baghdad International Airport. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. Carden

Soldiers Employ Detective Know-How
In Finding Anti-Coalition Weapons

By U.S. Army Spc. Michael J. Carden / 82nd Airborne Division

AL KARMA, Iraq - For several weeks, the 82nd Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team has been searching to confiscate the many improvised rockets used to attack Coalition forces in and around Al Karma, Al Fallujah and Baghdad.

High-technology surveillance radars and counter-fire impact areas have led the counter-mortar reconnaissance team to a number of locations where these attacks occurred.

At these locations, the reconnaissance team investigated tire tracks, foot prints, ground indentions and debris for evidence of rocket launches. They also spoke with many people in these areas in hope to gain some useful information about the attacks.

The most recent of these investigations took place Feb. 9 in a farming area approximately 25 miles west of Baghdad International Airport. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team believes that this was the staging area for an attack the previous night on Coalition soldiers occupying the airport, which damaged a radio tower and wounded one soldier.

The reconnaissance team found much evidence here. They discovered fire-wire used to initiate the rocket launches, back blast marks on the ground and launcher imprints.

Paratroopers from the counter-mortar RECON team, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, examine a cache of 127mm rocket launcher systems they found Feb. 9 in a farming area approximately 25 miles west of Baghdad International Airport. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. Carden

“This is it,” said Maj. Steve Sears, fire support officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. “This is where they (anti-Coalition persons) launched their attack.”

As the team continued their investigation, a curious Iraqi man on his way home from work, approached the troops. The team’s Iraqi translator, Jamal, explained to him the events from the night before and asked if he saw the attack in progress.

Without hesitation, the middle-aged Iraqi man nodded his head. “Yes, and I saw where they buried the weapons.”

During their conversation, the Iraqi man began to express his willingness to assist Coalition forces in capturing the “evil people” who operate near his home. “We (Iraqis and Americans) need to work together to build a good future for Iraq, for our children.”

  

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

AL KARMA, Iraq - For several weeks, the 82nd Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team has been searching to confiscate the many improvised rockets used to attack Coalition forces in and around Al Karma, Al Fallujah and Baghdad.

High-technology surveillance radars and counter-fire impact areas have led the counter-mortar reconnaissance team to a number of locations where these attacks occurred.

  (...with help from our Iraqi allies:)  “We (Iraqis and Americans) need to work together to build a good future for Iraq, for our children.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, ping!   

 

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[snippy_about_it]

[hoosiermama]

BUMP

[syriacus]

Thanks for posting this.

[McGavin999]

There are many Iraqis who want to help, but they are afraid to approach us. After 30 years of staying as far away from the military as possible, it's hard for them to shift gears overnight. Some just don't know how they'd be received, or if we would understand what they are trying to do. Step by step this is changing.

[Sacajaweau]

You're quite right. Many of these folks have sons who worked for Saddam. Either way, they lose. The madman still controls them. It takes "conversion" of two generations of Iraqis. Tough work.

[whizzer]

BUMP!!

[Jaguar Girl]

Great photos and article, thank you so much.

[blackie]

“We (Iraqis and Americans) need to work together to build a good future for Iraq, for our children.”


~~ Big Time Bump! ~~

[PhilDragoo]

High-technology surveillance radars and counter-fire impact areas have led the counter-mortar reconnaissance team to a number of locations where these attacks occurred.

And, as always, payback is a [expletive deleted].

[windchime]

Bump!