Free Republic

Soldiers modify vehicles for convoy defense  November 17, 2003 Sgt. 1st Class James Hamilton, of Akron, Ohio, a member of the 762nd Trans Co., explains how the Mark-19 is used on the M872 trailer to help with convoy defense. When Sgt. 1st Class James Hamilton’s unit, the 762nd Transportation Company, delivered rations and water to troops in Iraq, it continuously would receive some type of small-arms and rocket-propelled-grenade fire. So Hamilton and the Soldiers in his Army Reserve unit started to gather excess parts and material and applied them to their vehicles for improved survivability. “The command received word...

Army, Marines Rushing Body Armor to Troops in Combat Zones By Rudi WilliamsAmerican Forces Press Service FORT BELVOIR, Va., Oct. 31, 2003 – A soldier with the Army's 10th Mountain Division was knocked down by small-arms fire, got up, and continued his mission. Hit again by enemy fire, the infantryman got up a second time and continued his mission. Army Maj. Scott A. Tyler, executive officer, Program Executive Office Soldier at Fort Belvoir, Va., demonstrates the new helmet that works with the new Interceptor body armor being used by soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Photo by Rudi...

NEAR AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq - U.S. troops determined to snub out resistance and protect vulnerable supply lines swarmed around this key Euphrates River crossing Saturday, newly wary of the local populace after Iraqis seized a Marine amid heavy fighting to the north. Reports of looting in An Nasiriyah and of the hurried departure of officials of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, while unconfirmed, gave some hope that Saddam's regime was losing control of the city's 500,000 people. Armed Iraqi militias captured the Marine and destroyed three vehicles Friday night in an ambush of a 200-truck Marine convoy bearing desperately needed supplies...