Posted on 08/11/2005 11:10:39 PM PDT by tarawa
Chain guns and chewing gum
Blackanthem.com, FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq, August 10, 2005
By 2:30 a.m., we're up, loading our armored Humvees in the predawn darkness. Weapons are loaded, machine gun timing checked, nervous laughter exchanged over a few smokes and supplies like water, stretchers, zip-tie handcuffs, flares and even a ladder are lashed down to the trucks.
Meanwhile, an Arabic neighborhood known by its sector name, 'Zulu 13,' slumbers peacefully. On rooftop balconies, families sleep together on foam mattresses to escape the heat.
Our command noticed that this area has hosted more improvised explosive devices (IEDs) than any other area of the city. They decided to send its residents a message: if they don't police up their neighborhood, then we will do it for them - even if that requires searching every single house in the neighborhood. Doing just that is our mission, code named 'Barbarian Fireworks'.
Our line of armored Humvees, Iraqi police vehicles and one armored cargo truck roll out of the base in the early-morning hours. En route, the ½-mile long convoy maintains good spacing discipline, gunner’s machine guns cover their proper lanes of fire and we scan rooftops for snipers and gutters for roadside bombs.
Nothing moves in Zulu 13, save an occasional wild dog and stray cat as more Iraqi army flatbed trucks deposit troops, concertina wire and 'hedgehog' anti-vehicle barriers around the neighborhood. The hundreds of Iraqi army troops create a cordon around the area that will ensure no one will go in or come out.
Our convoy arrives as two Apache attack helicopters start rotations around the irregular blocks of cinderblock homes and mud huts. Loaded with rockets and 30mm chain guns, their presence is just another part of the message we've been sent here to deliver.
Dozens of teams made up of two U.S. Soldiers and five Iraqi policemen systematically search each and every home. A sniper team covers the rooftops, along with the Apaches. We move tactically, weapons at the ready, down the roads, entering and clearing each home.
Most people are friendly, calm and almost welcoming. While we might have to ram open the door of one home, the next could welcome us inside and offer tea. One team, U.S. Soldiers included, emerges from a home munching fresh, warm flat bread.
As the sun finally creeps up from the horizon, children begin to peek out of their homes. Soon they emerge nervously onto the street to watch the Americans. I assist our squad leader, Staff Sgt. Kiril Dimitrov, from a Humvee and try to smile and wave to the families while also handling the radio, driving the truck wherever our team needs us, following a map and communicating with Dimitrov and the teams. A gunner, Spc. David Wilson, mans a machinegun in the back of the flatbed truck and distributes water to our squad from a cooler as temperatures begin to rise toward the daily highs of more than 120 degrees.
Soon, Wilson has another duty - distributing to the local children some of the bags of candy, snacks and chewing gum that our squad collected. As a soldier, his role for the day is to cover our squad with the machine gun, scanning for potential trouble and generally supporting his team. But as a man, one with a big heart, he can't help but smile, wave and throw candy to these innocent children. When the radio is quiet, I sometimes hear him say, "Aw!" whenever he sees a particularly cute baby or little girl.
Staff Sgt. Dimitrov, tactical shotgun slung over his shoulder and bandoliers of shells wrapped around his chest, takes a break to give two small teddy bears to two very shy and nervous girls who peer out from behind a wagon. I take a moment from the radio to hand out a couple more stuffed animals to some very nervous local kids.
This is the duality of our mission here. We must be tactically proficient soldiers one moment, bounding quickly with weapons at the ready and scanning our sector for possible trouble and the next minute, immediately switch to smiling, waving, very accessible and happy ambassadors of goodwill.
This conflict is complex. Our forces here work to both quell any insurgents while helping to build public works. We must be a credible threat while simultaneously winning the support of the citizens. We load magazines full of 5.56mm ammunition in rucksacks next to teddy bears and lollipops.
As Soldiers, it requires us to wear many hats - and many faces - switching quickly from warrior to humanitarian to statesman to friend. While definitely a challenge, it's a roll that is ably filled by National Guardsmen with a diversity of life experiences and a plethora of real world skills.
Thanks for posting this. It's a nice piece.
Title should be:
Teddy Bears for Terrorists.
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