Photo By Luis Delgadillo | Pfc. Joseph S. Brown (left) and Pfc. Kyle Rowin (right), infantrymen with Bravo...... read more read more
Sgt. Luis Delgadillo
Task Force Marne Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MURRAY, Iraq -- It's typical around this time of year for the early morning sun to turn the outside temperature up to more than 100 degrees.
Today is no different, except these days Company Bravo, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, patrols the banks of the Tigris River—turning the heat up on al Qaeda in Arab Jabour.
Operation Guardian Torch, conducted by the 2nd BCT, is a key part of the 3rd Inf. Div.'s Operation Marne Torch.
Guardian Torch aims at seeking and destroying al Qaeda elements in Arab Jabour and finding weapons caches.
"This area is considered by most intelligence, to be the home source for (vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices) and high explosives throughout all of Iraq," said Sgt. Luke J. Hitchcock, a second platoon team leader in Co. B. "We're trying to wipe this area clean of all of that, so we can deter and stop IEDs and explosives in Iraq."
Capt. John T. Newman, company commander for Co. B, said al-Qaeda in Iraq has had free reign to exploit Arab Jabour due to the lack of U.S. and Iraqi military presence.
"The insurgents are utilizing this area to push weapons and people up into Baghdad so we're trying to cut off their supply line," he said.
Newman says that thus far the people of Arab Jabour have been friendly and though some residents have left the area, most local civilians are very glad to see U.S. and Iraqi troops.
Despite the welcome, Arab Jabour remains a very dangerous place for Coalition Forces.
"The more of a presence that we show here and the more friendliness that we show them, the more willing to work with us they will be," said Hitchcock, a native of Bolivar, N.Y.
He said that in the past insurgents were threatening local civilians, but since his unit's arrival, the local civilians say the threats have stopped.
Hitchcock said that the most rewarding part about his job is seeing the Iraqi people when they're happy and working with the Iraqi army to help clean the country up.
Though Co. B will not stay in Arab Jabour once the operation is completed, elements of 1-30th will stay to hold the region.
"Our sister companies are staying in this area for the long haul," said Newman.
Newman said that the next goal for Arab Jabour is to stand up a provincial government and police force that can enforce the rule of law.
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2007 11:54 |
| Story ID: | 10958 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 560 |
| Downloads: | 240 |
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