TF Marne troops fly into sanctuary, seize cache

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hutto | Pfc. Landon Jernigan, Cantonment, Fla., of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment pulls security in a door way during an air assault operation southeast of Baghdad focused on militant safe havens and weapons smugglers Aug 16. The mission supported the Multinational Division-Center's Operation Marne Husky and resulted in the seizure of a significant weapons cache.  

COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY, IRAQ

08.20.2007

Story by Spc. James Hutto 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

by Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY, Iraq – Using the element of surprise, coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent and found a weapons cache during an air assault mission in an area southeast of Baghdad, Aug. 16.

After clearing 13 buildings, Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, found four 125 mm tank rounds, two 60 mm mortars and significant amounts of mortar charges used to make improvised explosive devices.

"This was a successful operation," said 2nd Lt. Eric Miller, the battle captain for 1-15th Inf. Regt. "By disrupting extremist activity in the area we demonstrated our flexibility and ability to go where the bad guys are."

According to Miller, this was the Company's fifth successful air assault mission in the area.

Maj. John Cushing, operations officer for 1-15th Inf. Regt., explained that there has been very little coalition force presence in the target area. That can lead to an incomplete intelligence picture, he said.

"Operations like these allow us to confirm or deny the intelligence that we do have," said Cushing. "It also lets the people of that area know that we can come down there and see them whenever we want."

The mission was dubbed Operation Dragon Fox and part of the Multinational Division-Center's Operation Marne Husky. MND-C launched the new offensive Aug. 15, focusing on enemy sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad. This operation is a key part of Multinational Corps-Iraq's Operation Phantom Strike, and will target militant safe havens and weapons smugglers, in an effort to disrupt the flow of bombs and weapons reaching the Iraqi capital.

1-15th Inf. Regt. is part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Benning, Ga.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2007
• Date Posted: 08.20.2007 12:23
• Story ID: 11888
• Location: COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY, IQ