Two GIs Killed in Attack on Base in Iraq

AP ^ | 6/16/04

[TexKat]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A rocket slammed into a U.S. logistics base near the city of Balad Wednesday afternoon, killing two U.S. soldiers and wounding 21 people, the military said.

Fourteen of the injured were taken to the U.S. Army's 31st Combat Support Hospital and seven were treated at a clinic on the U.S. base, known as Camp Anaconda, according to a military statement.

Balad is 50 miles north of Baghdad.

[windchime]

Thanks for the ping and your posts, TexKat. So glad to hear K. is home!!

Prayers for the injured and fallen heroes, their families and friends and all the coalition troops and civilians serving who are in harm's way.

[armyboy]

hey 1Sgt how is everything with you? I hope everything is ok with you.

[mike1sg]

I am doing just fine, I here you guys are in Kuwait, I am so glad, I pray for you guys everyday. How are you doing?

Stay safe and tell everyone I miss them very much and am anxious to see you all arrive safely home.

[swarthyguy]

BUMP> Thanks for the ping.

[ohioWfan]

Please give me a ping when you post new info, Mike.

I continue to pray for our brave troops, and for their families.

May God grant the loved ones of those who have fallen a peace that passes human understanding.

[Kaslin]

One of the chatters that comes in to Boston Tea Party, which is a political chat room is stationed at Balad. I have not seen him in the room in more then a week and he used to come in regular at least once a day

[homemom]

Prayers for your troops today, and for safe travel home.

[Abigail Adams]

Armyboy, thank you for serving our country! We pray for our troops every day. All of us back home are very proud of you and your fellow soldiers! Glad to see you here at freerepublic.

Many prayers for those in the camp that got hit. May God bless and protect all of our brave servicemen and women!

We have adopted a soldier through www.operationmilitarysupport.com. If anyone is interested, I would encourage you to check it out! We've recieved two letters from our Marine so far, and we've sent him letters and a couple of packages.

[Abigail Adams]

mike1sg, I was just curious, what do you do in Iraq? Are you a member of our beloved military, or are you a contractor? May God bless and protect you!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


..War is LOVE, not Fear...

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=53053


.

[Abigail Adams]

BTTT

[STARWISE]

God Bless all of you ..!!! So glad to hear you're in Kuwait, and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Safe journey home, soldier, and thank you SO much!! Have we told you lately that we LOVE YOU???? Well, we sure do.

Mike, I hope you're well .. I'm sure you're on pins and needles these days until your chickens come home to roost, but sounds like it won't be much longer. Thank you and your bride for ALL you've done and are doing.

God Bless the troops in Balad, and prayers for the suffering families of those lost to this earth.

[The Citizen Soldier]

What really bugs me are the Democrats and liberal traditional media who will be happy with this news.

RIP brave American soldiers from a grateful Viet Nam vet.

[RaceBannon]

ArmyBoy just came home from there.

I have a young man from Church there, SFC Jim Paranzino, Portland/Middletown Connecticut.

please keep me posted on any names you see or hear about Balad!!

[RaceBannon]

That Photographer, Cerwan Aziz, takes ALL the shots with the Iraqi tterrorists with guns, did you notice that?

Just keep track of the names! You'll see.

[fatima]

lovemysoldier,Is your husband home yet,my granddaughter is 4 ID and came home for Easter,might be sent back.

[Dave Elias]

"These insurgents fire mortars from the beds of Toyota trucks and then drive away like cowards"

What do you expect them to do? Sit and wait for infinitely better equipped soldiers to appear, then challenge them to a duel?

It's not really cowardice, more circumspection. Cowardice would be running away before even attacking.

[Gator113]

I am pleased that your son made it home ok. Please thank him for his service. I received an email from my son-in-law today. He said that this rocket hit about 300 meters from his tent. He said that he doesn't think he will ever be quite the same. At least he didn't get hit. He still sounds up in spirit and ready to fight some more.

[Eagle Eye]

There is a 360* attack radius around Anaconda. Every time you extend the perimeter you increase the area that you need to cover to 'eliminate' rocket attack into that area.

Too many of you think that troops, air support, etc can be everywhere at once, but it cannot be.

Many of these attacks are from timed launches that allow the attackers to be gone well before the launch. These sites are often well concealed in the grass or in the river bank.

It isn't near as simple to solve as you imply.

[Criminal Number 18F]

A rocket?? I don't understand, what is the range for the weapon? Don't the troops patrol?

These rockets are artillery weapons made to be fired from multiple rocket launchers: "Katyushas" in the Russian slang. Because the MRL has a rather significant signature, what they do is set up a single rocket with an X of sticks or a pile of stones -- aim it more or less at an American camp -- and light a time fuze (or use an electrical firing system with a timer).

It's basically a big firework -- with an HE/Fragmentation punch.

The troops can't guard a two-mile radius around every camp perfectly (some of these rockets have ranges of 10,000 plus feet), and when the rocket goes off, the worst possible thing is to use counterbattery fire because:

1. The bad guys who lit it are long gone, so we can't hurt them, and

2. They usually set it up in the middle of a civilian area, so if we shoot back we kill innocents and look cruel.

While the troops are being as vigilant as they can be around the camps, in the long term the right answer is to track down and whack the leaders and logisticians of these terror cells.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F