Paratroopers team up with Iraqi Army in Operation Arctic Sunrise

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Butler | Bellowing smoke from a fire caused by an improvised explosive device fills the sky over Southern Baghdad.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.15.2006

Courtesy Story

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Marcus Butler
4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Before the sun rose over the walls here, paratroopers from the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) were putting on their tactical gear and making final checks before starting their foot patrol.

Simultaneously, other elements from the squadron already outside of the FOB were moving into place and getting ready to execute the biggest mission for the 1-40th Cav since being deployed to Iraq.

Marching right through the front gates of the FOB and around barriers at other checkpoints scattered throughout the town, these paratroopers moved onto the streets and into the fields of Iraq to get into position and wait for the mission's execution time.

Once the time arrived, Operation Arctic Sunrise was a go.

Operation Arctic Sunrise was a squadron- sized mission consisting of two weeks of preparations that focused on helping Iraqis secure their neighborhoods by gaining intelligence and disrupting anti-coalition activities south of Baghdad. Slated to last between five to six days, Operation Arctic Sunrise was a combined effort involving more than 10 moving pieces.

"The elements involved in this mission were Troop A, C and D along with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. Other assets to the squadron for this mission included attack aviation, explosive ordnance disposal ... and civil affairs teams," said Capt. Derrick Goodwin, assistant operations officer for 1-40th Cav.

With dawn creeping over the horizon, the morning light was broken by the silent shadows of the paratroopers and their Iraqi Army counterparts.

"During this operation, the squadron conducted over 15 patrols with our Iraqi Army brothers. The cooperation between the United States forces and the Iraqi forces, without a doubt led to a majority of the mission's productivity," said Goodwin.

Also, coalition forces distributed over 50 humanitarian aid packages containing food, water and medicine to the local civilians, he said. The packages provided were to help supplement certain areas since many of these items are not readily available to the area or cannot be afforded by the people.

The overall mission for the 1-40th Cav. while deployed in this area is to provide a secure environment for the Iraqi people in south Baghdad.

"Operation Arctic Sunrise helped to accomplish the mission by removing a sizable cache of improvised explosive device making material, detaining 11 individuals believed to be involved in insurgent activities and improved the living conditions for the Iraqi people in the area," said Goodwin.

Along with the humanitarian aid packages, troops escorted local national contractors throughout the town to repair damaged roads and installed a transformer to increase the towns energy output.

With days of indirect fire from mortars, improvised explosive devices as well as small arms fire from enemy snipers, the combine coalition forces pushed through the adversity and accomplished the mission.

"We believe that the mission was a success," said Goodwin. "There are less bad guys on the streets as well as less equipment to conduct anti-coalition activities, and most importantly, we brought every paratrooper home."

• Date Taken: 12.15.2006
• Date Posted: 12.15.2006 10:43
• Story ID: 8576
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ