Posted on 12/07/2005 3:37:22 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Dec. 6, 2005) -- Iraqi firefighters from the Rusafa Fire Station in east Baghdad turned over more than 200 rounds of unexploded ordnance to elements of Task Force Baghdad for destruction Dec. 1.
The firefighters gave 65 artillery rounds and 143 mortar rounds to elements of 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery.
This is a continuing effort and partnership between the leadership of the Rusafa Fire Station and 1/9 FA to rid the area of unexploded ordnance and denying terrorists potential bomb-making material.
"On Nov. 3, we secured a slightly smaller, but still significant, load of munitions in the same location. I am glad to be working with the firefighters here to make the community safer for everyone – especially the children who like to play in areas where much of the unexploded ordnance still remains," said Maj. Jay Sawyer, operations officer for 1/9 FA.
“The most exciting aspect to me is that the Iraqi citizens provide the Iraqi security forces and fire departments with the location of unexploded ordnance they find in their neighborhoods,” Sawyer added. “The people want their communities safer and they look to the Iraqi government to provide that safety.”
All of the ordnance was later destroyed by a U.S. explosive ordnance disposal team.
(Editor’s note: Maj. Russ Goemaere serves with 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO.)
And coming, and coming....
Too bad they couldn't just leave it sitting around, wired to detonate when a terrorist picked it up. Too much danger of getting a non-combatant, I suppose.
Can't wait to see this in the newspaper or on the TV news....
LOL! You owe me a keyboard.
Me too! But the shameful thing is .. we wont get to because our media doesn't want us to see a good story coming out of Iraq.
If they were forced to print this you would probably see it under this headline:
"EXHAUSTED AND DEMORALIZED US FORCES FORCE LOCAL IRAQI FIREFIGHTERS TO PERFORM EXPLOSIVE REMOVAL JOB"
doing a great job, keep up the good work
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