A day at Khabari Crossing

Courtesy Photo | A disabled Caimen is returned safely to Khabari Crossing at Khabari Crossing, Kuwait.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

10.02.2011

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division

By: Spc. Matthew Dale and 1st Lt. Jeremy Mollinger

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Soldiers of the West St. Paul, Minn., based Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment have finished a third of their yearlong deployment in Kuwait.

Alpha Company soldiers play a vital role in the smooth transport of men and material between Iraq and Kuwait by conducting security at Khabari Crossing in addition to vehicle recovery. This task is pivotal in facilitating the logistical operations in support of Operation New Dawn.

Spc. Arnet of Maple Grove, Minn., enjoys driving his humvee into Iraq. “The rush from the first time going in was exciting.”

These sentiments are common for the infantrymen of Alpha Company, many of whom are excited at the prospect of doing what they were trained to do. Others are thankful for the peace and quiet they’ve has encountered so far. Though the remainder of the deployment is uncertain, the soldiers of Alpha Company are prepared to face any challenge that presents itself to them.

On one mission, Alpha Company’s 3rd Platoon undertook a quick reaction force recovery mission to retrieve a downed Caiman. This mission took 3rd Platoon to the limits of their area of operation. Tasked with this mission at the tail end of their shift, they performed admirably despite the grueling hours.

Four hours after they began their mission, Staff Sgt. Jacob Nies of Mapleton, Minn., safely returned with his security team after recovering a damaged Caiman to Khabari Crossing for further transport and repair.

After mission completion 1st Lt. Jeremy Mollinger of Lino Lakes, Minn., leads his men through an after-action review. These reviews are done right after training or missions while the memories are still fresh so good ideas aren’t forgotten.

Though this was 3rd Platoon's first expedition into Iraq, it is also the company's longest recovery mission in terms of distance and time. Both non-commissioned officers and lower enlisted participated enthusiastically in the discussion, highlighting both areas to improve upon for the next mission and strengths to be sustained.

The soldiers made sure they’d rehydrated after working for over 16 hours straight. Despite the long hours, the soldiers of Alpha Company remain diligent, disciplined, and professional.

“Though this mission isn’t glorious in terms of what others before us have done,” Mollinger said. “All the soldiers in this company know how important it is with the drawdown and we’re proud to do it. We do the best we can for as long as we have to – these men have demonstrated that today.”

“The QRF missions are kind of long, but at least you get the thrill that something could happen” adds Spc. Christopher Korte of Minneapolis, Minn., describing his eagerness to close with and destroy the enemy. “Thrill is what I look for.”

Though they are back at base, the duty day is not yet over. The men pour over every section of their assigned vehicle to ensure their vehicles are ready for the next mission. Issues with vehicles and equipment are a common threat in the inhospitable desert environment so they have to check their vehicles constantly.

With a smile on his face, Spc. Weineke of Blaine, Minn., returns to his vehicle with his fellow soldiers. The sun beats down, the heat continues to radiate, and the soldiers of Alpha Company, 2-135 Infantry stay positive and stand ready to face another day.

• Date Taken: 10.02.2011
• Date Posted: 10.12.2011 04:15
• Story ID: 78351
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW