Dragoons Save Local Businessman’s Cargo

QALAT, AFGHANISTAN

08.10.2010

Story by Sgt. Gerald Wilson 

2d Cavalry Regiment

ZABUL, Afghanistan- It was shaping up to be a routine Tuesday morning, August 10th, for the Regimental Personal Security Detail of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. It was convoy trip with the regimental commander and command sergeant major to survey the damage caused by recent flooding to several bridges within the Zabul province. As the convoy approached bridge 1018 they encountered a rather interesting situation.

A local truck driver was transporting a load of almonds to market. While attempting to take the bypass road near bridge 1018, the truck hit a soft patch of dirt and overturned on the embankment. As the convoy pulled to a halt, several Afghan locals could be seen carrying large sacks of almonds up from the ravine to another truck waiting nearby. That was when the Dragoons quickly assessed the situation and decided to lend a hand.

“It was the perfect opportunity for us to engage with the population,” said the 2SCR Regimental Command Sgt. Major Mark Morris, “showing them that our mission is about helping people that is what coalition forces are here to do.”

Heading up the recovery mission alongside Morris was the team’s resident combat engineer, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Abdel Phipps.

“Engineers do recovery but it is usually our own,” Phipps said. “I am well versed on it because we had to do our own recovery because it was quicker than waiting for the QRF with a wrecker.”

Phipps said though many of his team had only done this type of recovery mission in training, they all performed their jobs well.

“They did well and finally got their first real world experience,” Phipps said.

The team used three of their Strykers equipped with winches and was able to safely lift the truck back onto its wheels. According to the drive the vehicle could be driven away once he had replaced the oil lost during the rollover. In the end the truck owner and the 2SCR command team were very happy with a job well done.

“The troopers were amazing out there,” Morris said about his team. “It was an unexpected mission, so I am proud of our soldiers. They did a great job.”

“They were happy and excited to be able to help the population,” he said. “I saw the smiles on their faces when they were talking with the people; it was overall a win-win for everyone.”

• Date Taken: 08.10.2010
• Date Posted: 08.14.2010 05:53
• Story ID: 54577
• Location: QALAT, AF