Local citizen leads Soldiers to anti-tank mine

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

01.29.2006

Story by Sgt. Serena Hayden 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Multi-National Division - North PAO

BAQUBAH, Iraq - While conducting a route clearance mission east of
Baqubah today, Soldiers from the 72nd Engineer Company, 1st Engineer
Battalion, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division, discovered an anti-tank mine after receiving tips from a local
citizen within the area.

According to Sgt. 1st Class Sean Thomas, 72nd Engineer Company,
the convoy was about to leave the village when a local citizen stopped
them and gave them a "boom" signal. After talking with the townsperson,
the Soldiers realized there was an anti-tank mine in the area.

"This means a lot to us," said Thomas. "It means they are
trusting us and knowing that we are not there to bring them harm -- we
are there to protect them."

"To me, they don't want the terrorists around," Thomas said. "They
disrupt their business and their day-to-day lives.

The engineers conducted a controlled detonation with no damage
or injuries to the forces or the local population.

"What we found today might have just saved some lives," he said.
"This is another example of the people of Diyala taking control of their
lives and not allowing the terrorists' control over them," said Col.
David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
commander and senior U.S. Army officer in the Diyala province.
"We're seeing more and more examples of the people participating in the
security situation. They're passing out flyers telling the terrorists
to leave, and reports to the Provincial Joint Coordination Center,
manned by the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police, have increased 133 percent
over the past 45 days," Sutherland added.

As a result of these reports, the Baqubah Police were able to
foil an attempted bank robbery approximately 20 terrorists Thursday
night.

"This is an example of the improvements taking place throughout the
Iraqi Security Forces," Sutherland said.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2006
• Date Posted: 01.29.2007 13:10
• Story ID: 8979
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ