Obedi region safer for displaced families to return

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Tami Hillis | Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Townsend, 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Spc. Matthew Dunn, from Lake Orion, Mich., an M-249 gunner with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, currently attached to 4th BCT, cross a ditch during a foot patrol in the Obedi region of Iraq, March 8, during Operation Varsity II.  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

03.17.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Officer

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi army and coalition forces found a weapons cache during Operation Varsity II, one of the final strikes against al-Qaida in Iraq in the region of Obedi, March 8.

The cache contained 10 60-mm mortars, three 82-mm mortars, two boxes of 7.62-mm anti-aircraft rounds, three grenades and one complete 60 mm mortar system.

IA soldiers from 2nd battalion, 2nd brigade, 8th Iraqi army division and Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, currently attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted the daytime foot patrol to clear the area of remaining AQI resources and munitions.

"This was a final strike on the al-Qaida network that's been basically plaguing all of our patrols in that area," said Capt. James Browning, commander of Company A. "I've been here for about a year now, and what we've seen is this area has been a safe haven for al-Qaida and they were capable of bringing in munitions from multiple different areas."

The mission for Company A was to clear 19 houses in the area. The second house the unit came across was known to be used as an AQI safe haven. The cache and a cement bunker were both located in the area surrounding the house.

"We had the IA with us that day and they did a phenomenal job; removing all munitions from that site," said Browning, a Waynesville, N.C., native. "We also found some rather disturbing defensive positions, which seemed like they were fairly-well kept and recently used."

The main push to clear the area was to allow families who were displaced more than three years ago to come back to their homes. Of the 19 homes, three of them had been destroyed almost beyond recognition.

"The other 16 homes were somewhat livable and easily repairable, so when families come home they have something to come back to," Browning said. "We know the area is very fertile, so we know that they will have the capability to grow pretty much anything."

During Operation Varsity II, the Soldiers saw one family who had returned.

"The husband wasn't there, but the spouse and the children were there getting it prepared for the husband to come home," Browning said. "That's exactly what the purpose was and the fact that we got to see a little bit of it the other day was good."

The success of the operation was attributed to a good plan prior to the operation and a good partnership between U.S. and IA Soldiers.

"I worked with Capt. Yeahyahey (company commander in 2/2/8 IA) in a series of missions over the past couple of weeks with his platoons," said 1st Lt. Jason Dupuis, 2nd platoon leader, Co. A. "But this time it was his entire company. The IA was leading the way."

During Operation Varsity I, the unit focused on specific targets, specific individuals.

"We actually policed up around 40 suspected al-Qaida members, which actually resulted in four HVTs (high value targets) and the IA identified the others as local supporters or low-level henchmen of the al-Qaida network," Browning said.

Operation Varsity II built on the success of the prior mission.

"I think the Varsity series and the other operations leading to this were all a success, and this will lead to the success of what we're calling Marne Rugged," Browning said. "From what we're seeing in the planning and the preparation, it's going to be a success because of all the input that's been given through Iraqi army, Iraqi security forces and coalition forces all working together. This is really going to be a huge joint operation that will deny the enemy sanctuary in the last final location in (our area) which they have a place to stay."

• Date Taken: 03.17.2008
• Date Posted: 03.17.2008 09:37
• Story ID: 17408
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ