'Operation Sapper Torch' denies terrorist concealment

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Sgt. Dominic Johnson, native of Houston, Texas, serving with the 66th Engineers Company, "Sappers," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, sends an explosive stream of flaming petroleum, scorching reeds along commonly used route exposing the sides of the road where terrorists previously hid improvised explosive devices.  

TAJI, IRAQ

08.29.2008

Story by Sgt. Whitney Houston 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Whitney Houston
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Engineers with the 66th Engineers Company, "Sappers," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad conducted a controlled burn on a route used by Iraqi security and coalition forces Aug. 26, 2008.

The flamethrower's fire was to devour reeds which provided concealment for terrorists that have planted many improvised explosive devices along the route.

"What we've done essentially is a controlled burn to get rid of a bunch of reeds in a past enemy engagement area, voiding concealment," said Capt. Joe Byrnes, native of Boulder, Colo., serving as the executive officer for the 66th Eng. Co., "Sappers," 2nd SBCT, "Warrior," 25th Inf. Div., MND-B, as he stood next to a crater in the road made from a previous IED explosion.

A joint security station, called Mushada East, has been placed on the route to provide security along one particular route; however, coalition forces at the JSS couldn't see through the tall reeds. So this operation called, "Operation Sapper Torch," will provide that line of sight.

"There is a joint security site here, full of coalition forces and all of these reeds in the area don't allow them to see any enemy movement. So we've come out here with a flamethrower to burn it all down giving the coalition forces a clear view for at least 500 meters out," said Byrnes.

Ordinarily, the 66th Engineers would use bulldozers, and other landscaping equipment to get rid of the reeds, but there were a lot of obstacles like canals which nullify their equipment. So, as a last resort, they sought out the appropriate equipment to burn it.

"We had to borrow the flamethrower from the Marines in Camp Fallujah," said Byrnes, "we usually use dozers and other types of equipment to knock down reeds. But the terrain won't allow it because there are a lot of canals, so we had to resort to burning [the reeds]."

The 2nd Engineer Company, 34th Engineer Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division was also involved in the operation for safety and logistical purposes.

"The Iraqi army helped provide some engineering equipment like dozers, as well as, show a friendly presence for any local nationals that come on site," Byrnes said, "They also helped provide security by cordoning off the area to make sure the area was clear of any type of explosives or personnel before we conducted the burn," he added.

Operation Sapper Torch was a success in that it evoked the initiative of the IA and local nationals, showing forth evidence of a joint movement against terror.

"The IA, and local leaders are really taking initiative," said 2nd Lt. Ty Padilla, native of Topeka, Kansas, serving in the 66th Eng. Co., "Sappers," 2nd SBCT, "Warrior," 25th Inf. Div., MND-B, "they really wanted to come and help. The IA offered us anything that we really wanted, and it was the same thing with the sheiks. So hopefully this is a step in the right direction, or a building block for better things to come."

The usual mission of the Sappers is to teach the IA route clearance as opposed to "route sanitation," [which they were doing by burning the reeds]. But this special mission has proved to be good training for the IA soldiers.

"We've done a lot of clearance training, and operations with the IA on Camp Taji," said Byrnes, "we embed their sergeants and their lieutenants into our route clearance patrols so they can learn how to properly clear the roads," he added.

"Operation Sapper Torch" succeeded on many fronts with the IA and coalition forces. It also stripped of foliage that terrorists could potentially use as cover in the future, making Route Coyote a more efficiently patrolled and safer road for all travelers, both Iraqi and coalition forces.

• Date Taken: 08.29.2008
• Date Posted: 08.29.2008 05:12
• Story ID: 22990
• Location: TAJI, IQ