[Kathy in Alaska]

PATROL DUTY — Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles McMillen, left, and Petty Officer 1st Class Carol Nines, patrol the Guantanamo River in Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, on July 3, 2003. McMillen and Nines are part of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Security Harbor Defense that provides marine security for Guantanamo Bay. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist David P. Coleman

[txradioguy]

Thought you might like to see this one. These guys are true heroes in ANY one's book. The soldiers are from Hawk Troop 1st Calvary. They are the brigade's recon troop. Enjoy

HAWK TROOP SAVES IRAQI FAMILY


By Spc. John S. Wollaston
3BCT PAO



What started out as a sweep through a Baghdad neighborhood for improvised explosive devices like those that have wounded U.S. Soldiers over the last few weeks, turned into a rescue mission for the 3rd Brigade’s reconnaissance troop. In what intelligence later revealed to be an elaborate trap for the 2nd Battalion 70th Armor Regiment’s Quick Reaction Force, two rocket propelled grenades slammed into liquor store and a hand grenade was tossed into a house two blocks from the store. Both structures were set ablaze by the grenades. The explosions occurred moments after the BRT’s 2nd Platoon discovered I.E.D.’s near the liquor store placed approximately 75 meters apart.
The unknown attackers original plan had been to lure the 2-70th’s QRF to the area with the blasts, then detonate the I.E.D. when the QRF approached. But because of the discovery of the explosives by the BRT and the speed in which the soldiers cordoned off the area, the attackers were unable to proceed with the second part of their attack.
Making this story even more amazing was the heroism displayed by the soldiers of 2nd Platoon, who rushed headlong into the burning liquor store to rescue the owner his wife and three daughters trapped on the roof of their house located above the building.
“Anyone would have done it.” Said 2nd Platoon’s Staff Sergeant Joseph R. Dirks.
“When we went in there is was just an automatic thing. I wasn’t worried about my safety, my only concern was getting anyone trapped in the building out safely.”
The storeowner, his wife and 3 daughters were rescued safely from the blaze. None of the family members or the soldiers of second platoon received any injuries in the incident.