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Explosive devices and pink taxis

Photo By Matt Acosta | Staff Sgt. Derrick White, dismount troop commander, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, Task...... read more read more

BALAD, IRAQ

09.18.2005

Courtesy Story

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Staff Sgt. Matthew Acosta, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PALIWODA, Balad, Iraq -- Although the Iraqi army is well on its way to taking responsibility for the security of the area here, Coalition Forces are still patrolling Main Supply Route (MSR) Tampa and the surrounding areas, keeping the roads open for Coalition travel.

Every day, Soldiers of Combat Troop, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Liberty, mount trucks and set out to check roads and set up observation posts, with or without the assistance of the Iraqi army.

"We try to utilize the Iraqi soldiers as much as possible, taking them out on patrol and sitting back while they do most of the work leading the patrol and clearing the MSR and other known [improvised explosive device] sites," said Staff Sgt. Derrick White, dismount patrol commander, Troop C, 5-7. "But whether we have them or not, we still need to go out and make sure the roads around here are clear. Sometimes, the Iraqi soldiers are busy raiding a nearby village or patrolling other problematic areas and they can't go out with us, so we go without them."

Although the Soldiers patrol the roads several times a day, the improvised explosive device (IED) threat remains at an elevated level.

The IED attack that destroyed a Bradley fighting vehicle was on a road infamous for IED attacks against the Coalition Forces. White's platoon regularly sets up observation posts around the area looking for suspicious activity.

White said they use the area adjacent to an old cemetery for watching over the area.

"We use the highest site in the area for an observation post," White said. "From here we can see into different sections of the area we're responsible for covering and if we can see that far, we can shoot that far too."

Besides observation posts, the Soldiers conducted several random vehicle inspections and one deliberate inspection.

"The last few times we were hit with an IED, there have been reports by more than one person of a pink-colored vehicle fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed," said White. "This is the only pink car [that I know of] in Balad."

White carefully approached the driver and asked his business in the area.

The driver of the vehicle tells White he lives on the other side of Balad and knows nothing about the IEDs.

After thoroughly searching his vehicle, White let him go with a warning.

"It just seems so odd that every time we get hit, there's a mention of a pink car in the area," he said. "Pink is just not that popular here."

While the Soldiers are out on patrol, they are aware of intelligence reports that may come in as the patrol is out clearing the streets.

White said they get calls on the radio telling them to keep an eye out for specific makes and models and colors of suspicious vehicles.

From now on, White said, whenever they see the pink taxi, the driver is going to be pulled over and searched, especially if there's an explosion in the area.

Until the Iraqi army takes complete control of the road and MSR security around Balad, Coalition Forces will continue to patrol the streets looking for those who may plant IEDs, or drive pink taxis.