Iron Brigade marksman: 'Not what I expected'

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Andrew Winscombe is an expert marksman in Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, based out of Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad. The area used to be called the Triangle of Death, but due to renovations of the civilian infrastructure and increased agricultural efficiency, Winscombe has been utilized more as a security detail and on route-clearance missions than in a blind with a rifle. Winscombe is a native of Spanish Fork, Utah, and is on his first deployment to Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.16.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

By Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD – This isn't what he thought it would be like.

Such is the case for Spc. Andrew Winscombe, an infantryman and expert marksman, after he arrived to Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.

Winscombe, who is serving on his first tour of duty in the Middle East, is assigned to the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, which is attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

"From what I saw on the news and the stories told by Soldiers who were deployed in the area before, I thought I would be seeing some heavy fighting pretty much every day."

Winscombe comes from a family with military history in dangerous places. His father served with the elite 1st Special Forces Group in Operation Just Cause during the 1989 expedition to Panama, and his grandfather served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

"I didn't ask for dad's permission to join,' said Winscombe about his decision to swear the oath of enlistment, "but he was a big part of going airborne."

His father told him, "Airborne opens doors."

"As an infantryman, you can only go to certain units, but airborne can go anywhere," said Winscombe.

He laughed as he added: "I was always a bit of a pansy in regards to heights – it was one way of dealing with it."

Winscombe said he wanted to deploy right out of airborne school but was instead posted to Korea for his first duty assignment before transitioning to Fort Riley, Kan., and the 1st CAB, 63rd Armd. Regt. It was at Fort Riley that he volunteered for advanced marksmanship training.

He said he was a bit intimidated by the school's mystique, but his mantra of "You can do anything; you just have to put your mind to it," pulled him through the tough course, which includes many things other than shooting.

He is now a marksman for Task Force "Dragon" on a deployment that has been far from what he said he pictured in his mind. Continued operations that include humanitarian events, infrastructure renovations and improvements to the local economy have rendered his position as a marksman all but obsolete.

"This is not the traditional infantryman's job," he said, speaking of the mission he has performed since October. "It's not: 'There are 15 bad guys, now there are none."

The Spanish Fork, Utah, native, said his missions now include a different skill set with challenges all of their own, such as long and dull route-clearance patrols, looking for improvised-explosive devices and acting as a security element for his unit leaders when it conducts civil meetings amongst the local populace.

He said he was happy progress has been made. Although he hasn't been deployed before, he said his fellow Soldiers, who are on their second or third rotation, share their comparisons to previous deployments with him.

The area where his unit is based at, south of Baghdad, is located in what was once known as 'the Triangle of Death,' and his fellow Soldiers have shared their stories of previous deployments in the area. The constant and heavy fighting of their previous deployments isn't there, said Winscombe.

"We went to the Qa Qa apartments during Ashura," he said, speaking of a presence patrol his platoon had gone on two weeks prior during a religious observance. "It used to be one of the worst kinds of places to go. We were just there for people to see. We were up on the roof to say: 'Hi. We're here.' We didn't do anything, just watched the people in the area."

"It was really good to see the kids playing out front. That probably hasn't happened in years. We are making a difference over here. I'm just glad I can be part of it."

Even though Winscombe has not been able to execute the lethal skills from his advanced schools, he has continued to perform whatever duties have been assigned him and with good results.

"Soldiers like Andrew Winscombe are the most valued asset in the armed services," said 1st Sgt. Raymond Nunweiler, the senior non-commissioned officer for Company A, and a native of Lancaster, Pa. "He brings a hard work ethic and a desire to accomplish difficult tasks as well as values that embody our great nation."

The Utah native willingly lends his assistance to any Soldier that needs the help. His unit has used his skills and outlook to teach newer members of his platoon the ins and outs of the Army and to bring Soldiers like Pvt. Carlos Luna, from Los Angeles, Calif., up to speed.

"Andrew is always willing to help out and is very knowledgeable," said Luna.

Winscombe has pushed himself and volunteered for many things, asking to be held to a higher standard by applying for the tougher jobs and schools, such as airborne and sniper training.

• Date Taken: 01.16.2009
• Date Posted: 01.16.2009 05:09
• Story ID: 28906
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ