Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD - Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, pull security while...... read more read more
By Cpt. Douglas Herrmann
1st BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.
BAGHDAD - Capturing terrorists, destroying caches and saving lives may seem like a challenging feat, but it was all in a day's work for Soldiers of Multi-National Division " Baghdad's 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment.
While conducting a search for weapons caches March 9, Soldiers from Company B were called upon to help a young boy who was badly burned from a household accident. The burn victim's brother and father waved down the Soldiers and asked for help.
After a medical examination of his wounds, the Soldiers decided to evacuate the boy to a local field hospital.
"Upon examining him, I determined that the burns, which were several days old, had developed serious infections that could be life threatening," said Pfc. William Pickett, a medic with Co. B, 1-87 Inf.
Najim, the badly burned 12-year-old boy saved by the 1-87 Inf. Soldiers, is expected to make a full recovery. His father and brother explained that Najim had been burned after spilling paint chemicals on his legs and getting too close to an open flame.
"I was struck when I first saw his burn wounds," said 2nd Lt. Casey Dalrymple, platoon leader, Co. B, 1-87 Inf. "I have two nephews about the same age as the boy, and it made me think of them."
Najim's father told the Soldiers how truly grateful he was that the Soldiers saved his son's life, said Dalrymple.
"Saving this boys life was an emotional event for our soldiers," said Phillips. "I'm confident this also had a positive impact on the local people."
Twenty-four hours later, the same Soldiers from Co. B, 1-87 Inf., were conducting a deliberate search for enemy weapons caches when they discovered a vehicle-borne improvised-explosive device in the making, but no one at the scene.
After further investigation, the Soldiers uncovered a weapons cache near the vehicle.
Soon after the Soldiers began searching the area and uncovering the cache's contents, the terrorist responsible for the VBIED returned to the scene.
Surprised by the Soldiers, the terrorist turned to flee but was caught and taken into custody.
"After catching him, we discovered he was the number-two man in a local terrorist cell that makes IEDs," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Phillips, of Fulton, N.Y.
In addition to the IED, the Soldiers found more than 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, assault rifles and explosives detonation devices.
An explosives ordnance team was then called in to destroy the cache, preventing further use by anti-Iraqi forces.
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2006 12:05 |
| Story ID: | 5960 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 165 |
| Downloads: | 82 |
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