Compound Clearance Operation

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, AFGHANISTAN

11.17.2009

Story by Spc. Nathan Booth 

5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, Afghanistan — The day started with an improvised explosive device.

A few mortar fins, a handful of D-Batteries, an unruly dog and two more IED strikes later, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division completed a compound clearance operation, Nov. 17.

Just another day for the Fort Lewis, Wash., based unit.

"The task was to conduct a combined multi-national inter-service clearance of the village of Eshqabad," said Capt. Jacob Saunders, an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader assigned to A Company, 2nd Bat., 1st Inf. Reg., 5th SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. "The reason was to disrupt the enemies ability to conduct operations from this town."

To assist in their mission, many support elements were sent to Eshqabad alongside the infantry soldiers.

"We had two Air Force Joint Tactical Air Controllers, a two person female search team to remain culturally sensitive while searching females, a dog team with explosive detection capabilities, battalion snipers and most importantly the Afghan national police," Saunders said.

The infantry and their enablers are creating a difficult environment for the Taliban to operate according to Saunders.

"The Taliban likes to use the constrictive terrain to their advantage. Our operations in this area have been pretty successful in pushing the Taliban out of Highway 1," Saunders said. "Because of that they will try to place IEDs in said constrictive points."

Although successful operations have pushed the Taliban away from the area, at least one soldier saw action in the town.

"We were in an orchard and there was a dog on top of a wall looking down on us," said Staff Sgt. Jared Starks, a 3rd Platoon squad leader from A Co., 2nd Bat., 1st Inf. Reg., 5th SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. "He was rabid and about to eat Sgt. [Aaron] Read, so I had to take it down."

Even with the incident, the soldiers made a positive impression on the kids of Eshqabad by handing out treats.

"I gave out candy and pens and paper to a group of kids," said Spc. Christopher Franz, a Squad Automatic Weapon gunner also attached to A Co., 2nd Bat., 1st Inf. Reg., 5th SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. "One of the older girls was really smart. She kept bringing the little kids who hadn't gotten anything to me so she could get more. She was crafty."

• Date Taken: 11.17.2009
• Date Posted: 12.21.2009 02:21
• Story ID: 42983
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, AF