Posted on 05/16/2008 6:13:29 PM PDT by SandRat
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — A joint route reconnaissance mission in Maderiyah, Iraq, led to the discovery of six separate weapons caches May 13, to include 300 anti-personnel grenades.
The first cache contained one 120 mm mortar, one 100 mm anti-aircraft round, 12 rocket-propelled grenade warheads, eight 73 mm rockets and a mortar tripod. All weapons were serviceable and the rockets were still in their plastic containers.
The second cache recovered consisted of 300 anti-personnel grenades, 100 meters of detonation cord, 100 rounds of PKC machine-gun ammunition and five sticks of TNT.
“Most of the 300 anti-personnel grenades were serviceable. Because they were found with det cord, these most likely would have been used to booby trap homes or areas where al-Qaeda expected U.S. or IA Soldiers to search,” said Capt. Richard Aaron, commander of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Acting on intelligence provided by area residents, Soldiers from Battery B, and Iraqi Army Soldiers from Company C, 5th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division, conducted the mission to investigate the reported cache sites. Local Sons of Iraq were on hand during the mission as well.
Unity between the IA and U.S. Soldiers has increased the community’s confidence, prompting citizens to step up and provide more information on insurgent activities, said Aaron, a native of Middleboro, Mass.
“These caches and every other cache are living proof of how important it is for units to build relations with the local population. Every mission that we conduct, my platoon’s goal is to reach out to the local population, talk with them and build the trust between us,” said 1st Lt. Greg Highstrom, platoon leader with Battery B. “In return, Iraqis are more willing to help.”
A third cache was discovered during site exploitation consisting of 10 155 mm illumination canisters. Although empty, Aaron said they could possibly have been used to construct improvised explosive devices.
The final three caches were discovered in close proximity to each other. These consisted of one 23 mm AA gun with a tripod, 200 23 mm rounds, an SS-30 M3 127 mm rocket and three 120 mm mortars, all of which were serviceable.
Many of the munitions were in new condition, indicating they were recently placed in the area, and done so with care. Weapons found in the water were well-protected from the water, Aaron said.
Besides reducing insurgents’ ability to conduct operations and attacks in the area, the mission’s success will continue to drive al-Qaeda leaders from the area. As arrests and finds continue to be made, Aaron said, insurgents are leaving and ditching their weapons in an attempt to avoid being detained.
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