'Dealers' discover significant stockpile

Photo By Michael Molinaro | FOB KALSU, Iraq--Communication equipment, enemy propaganda, pre-made roadside bombs initiators, and various roadside bomb components were discovered March 8 by elements of 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. (U.S. Army courtesy photo.)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

03.12.2006

Story by Michael Molinaro 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Cpl. Michael Molinaro
2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

FOB KALSU, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces may not always apprehend the terrorists they are targeting on every mission, but finding the items that kill innocent people and Soldiers is a victory in itself.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache Wednesday near the Euphrates River, south of Baghdad; capture of the cache will dramatically affect terrorists' capability of emplacing roadside bombs in the area.

"Finding a cache of this proportion is a significant victory," said Capt. Matthew Koehler, commander, Co. B, 1-67 AR. "Not only does it take weapons used to do harm out of the terrorists hands, but it also lets the terrorists realize that they are finding fewer and fewer places to hide."

Pfc. Jason Chambers, infantryman, Co. B, 1-67 AR, was occupying an observation post when the alert Soldier noticed something out of place in the distance.

After carefully inspecting the area, he and another Soldier discovered the cache consisting of roadside bomb-making materials.

Chambers and the Soldier moved away a safe distance, notified their chain of command of their find, and provided security until help arrived.

Once Soldiers from Co. B cordoned off the area, an explosive ordnance disposal team arrived at the scene and quickly realized the enormity of the cache Chambers had found.

Communications equipment, enemy propaganda, pre-made bomb detonation initiators, and various roadside bomb components were prevalent.

The cache consisted of 30 antennas, 595 relays, 1,000 transistors, one Kenwood charger, three Kenwood batteries, two remote-control timers, one cell phone, 64 two-way radios and two bags of bomb-making material.

EOD technicians estimated that the cache seized took 637 roadside bombs from terrorists' hands.

• Date Taken: 03.12.2006
• Date Posted: 09.11.2006 16:34
• Story ID: 7705
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ