Behind Friendly Lines: Delta Dawgs Go The Distance to Support The Fight In Operation Mai Wand

Photo By Sgt. Matthew Clifton | Sgt. Jeremy, McQuown, team leader, Headquarters Platoon, Troop Delta, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, sets up an improvised chow line for his comrades in Charlie Troop in the Andar District of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, June 6. Hot chow is just one of the many services Delta Troop provides their brothers in the field.  

GHAZNI, AFGHANISTAN

06.09.2007

Story by Sgt. Matthew Clifton 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

GHAZNI, Afghanistan – When thinking of a military offensive operation, one's mind may immediately form pictures of Soldiers on the front lines fighting the enemy in a heated battle.

While this is almost certainly the very nature of offensive operations, these front-line Soldiers would not be able to fight and defeat the enemy if they were not adequately supplied.

This is the job of Delta Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment. Part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Delta Troop's mission is to provide their brothers-in-arms with the commodities needed for not only fighting the battle, but winning it.

This resupplying mission applies to the everyday support Delta provides for the 4-73rd Cav. during their deployment in Afghanistan, but takes a more tangible and immense form during times when offensive operations increase the need and scope of logistics. Such was the case in June for Combined Operation Mai Wand.

"We have three troops, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, who we run supplies to on an average of every three days," said 1st Sgt. Khanh Huynh, non-commissioned officer-in-charge, Troop D, 4-73rd Cav. "We stage ourselves out of [Forward Operating Base] Sharana where we pick up the supplies our troops need."

This resupplying effort is crucial to the cavalry's mission in Mai Wand, which calls for the cavalry's line units to prevent insurgent movement out of the battle-space while the Afghan national army clears the area.

In order for the troops of the 4-73rd Cav. to prevent this movement, they must stay ever vigilant, over watching their area, scanning for Taliban movement.

"If we don't want the enemy to leave the area, then [our troops] can't leave the area, even to get supplies," said Spc. Joe Cosper, a chemical specialist whose main job in Afghanistan is driving supplies for the 4-73rd Cav. "We (Delta Troop) know how hard it is for our guys staying out here, and it makes us work as hard as we can to support them."

In fact, Delta Troop is the "workhorse," of the squadron according to Lt. Col. David Woods, commander, 4-73rd Cav.

"These guys are animals," Woods said. "If it weren't for Delta Troop bringing supplies to our guys, there would be no operation because we would not be mission capable."
This sentiment of appreciation for Delta Troop is not limited to the commander, but is apparent on the faces of all the Soldiers in all the troops when Delta rolls to a stop at their locations, bringing with them the promise of at least a few creature comforts from the FOB.

Although the supplies may not seem like much at first, water, food, fuel and the occasional hot meal and sodas are the driving momentum that keeps the cavalry running smoothly and effectively, both through morale and necessity.

"We take a lot of this stuff for granted. When we're on the FOB we never think about how important it is to have water; we just grab a bottle off of the pile," Cosper said. .

"But for our guys out there, if we're not there to re-fill their supply, not only would they have to abandon their post, their lives could potentially be put in jeopardy."

The positive attitude of Delta is unwavering and has even restored his faith in the Army. Everyone works as a team; everyone knows their roles and most importantly everybody know why they must work so hard, Cosper said.

Although Delta is not on the front lines, their job can be just as dangerous and difficult, as Delta sees most of their time on the road, continuously driving from one location to the next. They are sometimes out so long their mission carries them into daybreak of the next morning.

The long distance they must travel leaves them open to attacks from improvised explosive devices.

"It's hard on my guys, I know, but they never complain and they know there is a purpose to what they do," Huynh said. "We try to have fun and joke around when its appropriate, but the length of these trips can test anyone."

Indeed, their resolve is put to the test, for the troop routinely must travel many kilometers over the rough Afghan terrain. They are lucky if their route contains only a fraction of road travel, but for the most part they drive across bumpy fields and wind through rocky mountain passes.

"Sure, its hard, but when we work so well as a team, it takes some of the pressure off," Cosper said. "This job needs to be done, and it will be done whether or not we have a good time doing it.

The key is to realize the effect our mission has on the people we work with and the people we are working for. When you do that, all the hardships take a back seat to your motivation to do the best you can."

• Date Taken: 06.09.2007
• Date Posted: 07.05.2007 09:54
• Story ID: 11132
• Location: GHAZNI, AF