Ten Toes Up

Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | A Soldier from the 172nd SBCT wipes the hand of a suspected terrorist who was captured during a night raid. The individual tested positive for bomb making residue on his hands. (photo by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle, 138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Jan. 15, 2006)  

MOSUL, IRAQ

01.28.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq (Jan. 15, 2006) " Usually at around 10:30 p.m. most people are getting ready for bed after a long day at work. The work day is done and its time to think about settling down; letting go of the stress and anxiety for another day.

For Soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), their night has just begun. There will be no sleep for these Soldiers tonight.

"Looks like it will be a long night for everyone, but we are prepared for what we have to get done," said Staff Sgt. Jose Cruz, team leader, Company A, 3rd Platoon, 172nd SBCT.

They are scheduled to go on a night raid to capture suspected terrorists in the Al Sharkya and Nabi Younis neighborhoods in Iraq. Their target is an assassination cell that operates out of the Mosul area that actively targets coalition force supporters; namely Iraqi Army, and Iraqi Police personnel. The cell is also known to attack targets of opportunity that provides them a lucrative source of income.

Before they leave for this late night mission, the Soldiers from the 172nd SBCT practice their rock drills, a common term used by leaders to practice for the mission and to ensure everyone understands the mission. It doesn't take long to rehearse so that these Soldiers know exactly what to do accomplish their mission.

Soldiers rehearse for every mission they go out on. It is a necessity to be prepared for what they will encounter, whether it is good or bad. They must know exactly where to go if they get separated or how to react to small-arms fire.

"It is a good way to get prepared for any mission, it kind of gets your head in the game and thinking about everything that can happen," said Sgt. Cruz.

At 11:30 p.m., Soldiers get in their Stryker vehicles and head out to their assigned areas.

One team will meet with the Iraqi Army; the other will meet with the Iraqi Police. Tonight's mission will be a joint effort between Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Coalition forces. "This is their country, they are the ones that have to learn how to do this, and this is a great opportunity for them to get confidence and possibly help bring down a terrorist cell," said Capt. William Harris, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd SBCT.

Capt. Harris spends several minutes explaining the night operation to an Iraqi Police supervisor to inform him of the selected targets. He informs him that he must know where all his people are at all times and they must be extremely careful with the handling of their loaded weapons.

This assassination cell had been threatening Iraqi citizens not to vote during the December, 2005 Iraqi elections and had published and distributed leaflets in the Maham Rasheed area. The cell was threatening to behead anyone who participated in the elections or were friendly with Coalition Forces. "We put together a target packet that helps us identify who we are going after, and what we can expect for the people we are searching for." stated Capt. Harris.

With all the teams mission-briefed, they headed out to their destination. It's 12:30 a.m. and the teams are ready to meet their objective. In a line formation they exit the Stryker and line up against a wall. The only thing they see and hear are dogs barking; they suspect their arrival was detected. They want to seize their targets by surprise and catch, them fast asleep and cozy in their beds, with ten toes up.

It is now 1:00 a.m. and the strike teams are in place to enter the house. They are in their house entry formation, just the way they practiced. The team leader gives the order to enter. One team member pushes open a door which leads into an outdoor courtyard.

Slowly the team moves toward the house, cautiously surveying their surroundings.

Once positioned near the front door of the house, Soldiers immediately enter shouting "Get on the ground, get on the ground!" Within seconds the Soldiers have nabbed the occupants and emerge with three Iraqi men; slowly placing them on the ground in kneeling and sitting positions.

Now that the Soldiers of the raid team have their targets in custody, they radio in to the raid commander that they met their objective. Capt. Patrick Flynn, platoon leader, 4th Platoon, Company A, arrives at the house with a confidential informant who gives positive identification of two of the men. It is two suspects that Coalition forces were targeting on this raid. This part of the mission is a success; their planning and rehearsals have paid off.

The two men are arrested and escorted to another house were another team was also successful at finding suspected terrorists. Each individual suspect is tested for bomb making residue and photographed. They are blindfolded, placed in a Stryker vehicle and taken to a coalition holding facility.

The night of hunting suspects is still not over for the 172nd SBCT Soldiers. They have not captured everyone they are looking for; there are still a few more houses to search.

They re-position on another house in the same Al Sharkya and Nabi Younis neighborhood, this time their attempts to gain access are not as easy. They have a hard time getting in because of a big, locked steel door. It took the raid team several minutes to breach this house. Once inside, the raid team finds an entrance leading to an upstairs apartment with several Iraqi woman and children, and three Iraqi men. One of the men willingly comes out with his hands on his head, ready to be arrested, knowing they have finally caught up with him. The other two men are detained, arresting one and releasing the other.

This night operation was a huge success for the 172nd SBCT and ISF. They captured every suspect of the target organization. "We had a very successful mission. We were able to capture all the terrorists we were out looking for, everyone did an awesome job," said Capt. Flynn.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2006
• Date Posted: 01.28.2006 12:05
• Story ID: 5234
• Location: MOSUL, IQ