Charlie Troop Joins with the IA for Cordon and Knock

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wojciechowski | Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 2-9 Cavalry question a local resident through an interpreter during a joint "Cordon and Knock" operation.  

09.06.2006

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wojciechowski 

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

by Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski
133rd MPAD

MUQDADIYAH, Iraq (August 24, 2006) – Intelligence drives kinetic joint operations between coalition forces and the Iraqi Army and are key to weeding out insurgent cells throughout Diyala Province.

The Soldiers of Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division joined forces with elements of the 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division on an intelligence driven mission to find an individual from the areas most wanted list and question some locals about the area.

The group rolled out with the Iraqi Army Humvees in the lead. Following along a canal road the group stopped in the targeted neighborhood which was close to a cemetery, the joint patrol dismounted their vehicles and approached the houses.

Pfc. David Johnson of the Charlie Troop, 2nd Sqdrn., 9th Cavalry, has the important job of knowing the routes to the objective and having a heads-up of what to look for on the roads.

"We didn't end up finding the guy but what did get a lot of good information and pictures of the area that will help with future operations," said Johnson who hails form Lewiston, Maine.

Sgt. John Brenan a gunner and team leader for Charlie Troop said, "We started to patrol around the town to get to know the people and to gather more information and basically let everyone know we are there to help. We also got some good information and seen where some of the known terrorists in that area lived," said Brenan who is from Fort Carson, Colo.

Although the target individual was not found on this day these types of presence patrols help gather more valuable intelligence, build the confidence of the Iraqi Army and the trust of those they protect.

• Date Taken: 09.06.2006
• Date Posted: 09.06.2006 09:18
• Story ID: 7614