'Operation Balls DiMaggio' aims to deter IDF, weapons trafficking in vicinity of Joint Base Balad Anaconda

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Rosales, a platoon sergeant with 2nd Battalion, 320th Field...... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Rosales, a platoon sergeant with 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), hands a young boy a soccer ball during a combat security patrol near Dor Al Sinah, Iraq. The artillerymen from the 2-320th FAR have been conducting "Operation Balls DiMaggio" since, June 18; the operation is a full-spectrum combat operation aimed at interdicting weapons trafficking, capturing munitions financiers, limiting indirect-fire attacks, and other insurgent activity, in vicinity of the Joint Base Balad Anaconda. Though the operation is largely kinetic in nature, Soldiers from the battalion still make time during their combat patrols to help out the local populace with humanitarian assistance.  see less | View Image Page

BALAD, IRAQ

06.15.2008

Courtesy Story

1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

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By 1st Lt. Jonathan J. Springer
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

Joint Base Balad Anaconda, Iraq – Since, June 18, Artillerymen from the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), have been conducting a full-spectrum combat operation aimed at disrupting and limiting indirect-fire attacks in vicinity of Joint-Base Balad Anaconda, Iraq.

The operation, dubbed "Balls DiMaggio", is a large-scale operation solely focused on the security of the local population; it is being executed with continuous, 24-hour, combat-security patrols with the intent of denying and deterring IDF attacks targeted towards Iraqi civilians and personnel located on the JBBA.

"We have had great success in reducing attacks of all types within our area of responsibility; however, at this time, IDF is affecting the local populace more and it is detracting from economic opportunities and injuring civilians," said Lt. Col. John F Dunleavy, battalion commander for the 2-320th FAR.

Since 2004, over 2500 IDF attacks have occurred on or near the JBBA. In the last 6 months alone, six Iraqi children have been killed and numerous civilians have been wounded due to insurgent indirect-fire attacks. The 2-320th FAR hopes to prevent these kinds of incidents from happening in the future.

"IDF in vicinity of this area has gone on since the war began, but we feel we have the momentum to crush it ... I want to get after the enemy and attack these IDF shooters," said Dunleavy.

In addition to interdicting IDF attacks during "Balls DiMaggio", Soldiers from the battalion have also been focusing on exploiting weapons caches, capturing munitions financiers, and eliminating any weapons trafficking occurring in "AO Balls".

"We are doing this operation to deter mortar attacks and keep the JBBA and the local people here safe; tracking down the mortar tubes and weapons caches the enemy uses really helps us do that," said Pfc. Casey Burkheen, an ammo team chief with the "Balls of the Eagle" battalion.

Burkheen acknowledged that this operation has been very strenuous and demanding, but said that conducting "Balls DiMaggio" was worth it because it's helping protect the local populace.

"The main reason we are doing (Balls DiMaggio) is stop the terrorist activities in this AO. Our goal is to keep the streets safe so the Iraqi government can continue to build a better country," he said.

Dunleavy agreed with Burkheen and went on to add that though this is not a major operation in regards to troop movement or a lot of traditional indicators, it is the focus and the assets the battalion is leveraging which make it significant.

He added, "We have done several operations of all types since our deployment began. The diversity of these is full spectrum, but the primary goals never change ... security of the population, pursuance of the enemy, and facilitation of the local government and security forces."

The battalion has thus far been successful in decreasing enemy attacks in their AO since arriving in theater. According to statistic's given from the battalion's intelligence center, the "Bastogne" artillerymen have seen a 27.5 percent decrease in IDF and a 50 percent decrease in improvised explosive device attacks since 2007.

Dunleavy hopes to continue that downward trend with this operation.

"We will leverage the relationships we have with Sons of Iraq, the Iraqi security forces, and the local population and government leaders to provide intelligence, gather sources, and jointly, when possible, attack targets."

He added, "Iraq is on the verge of great change and it is starting at the local level. We are getting after it during this operation, and we are taking it to the enemy."