Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | 1st Lt. Justin Anderson, an infantry platoon leader from Fort Meyers, Fla., assigned...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – The second night of Operation Tuskers Chamberlain differed from the previous night's order of events in one major aspect. Iraqi national police of the 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, were operating apart from the Soldiers of Company B, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment.
The operation, which began during the early morning hours of, May 11, is the battalion's primary effort to disrupt special groups criminals and terrorists working in the area around the Risalah beladiya in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad, said 1st Lt. Justin Anderson, a platoon leader assigned to Company B of the "Tuskers" Bn., 64th Armor Regt., attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
The battalion began security operations upon arriving in Iraq's capitol in November 2007 to build upon security and stability for the Iraqi people living in West Rashid and to empower Iraqi security forces to take the lead in maintaining and enforcing the Rule of Law, said Anderson, a graduate of West Point.
During the first six months of operating in support of MND-B, Tuskers Soldiers conducted clearing operations throughout portions of West Baghdad, setting up T-wall Barriers and ISF checkpoints, said Anderson, a native of Fort Meyers, Fla.
The current operation is modeled after the unit's previous successes, he explained.
"This is really the first battalion-level operation that we have done in Risalah since we have been here," Anderson said. "We're hoping by targeting all the high-level ... extremist groups, we can drive them out of the area."
The operation is already a success, said Sgt. Brent Grable, an infantry team leader assigned to Co. B, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt.
"Last night (May 11), we caught guys with blueprints of Bradley Fighting Vehicles and how to attack them," exclaimed Grable, who hails from Phoenix, Ariz. "I guarantee that we saved lives. Whether it was Iraqi or American – that is why we're here."
In recent months, the companies of the Tuskers Battalion have discovered significant weapons caches, to include Iranian-made munitions, in the southern Baghdad communities that comprise greater West Rashid, said Grable.
Operation Tuskers Chamberlain is not much different than the daily routine for the Bandit Company, except that the Soldiers are operating on better intelligence of specific areas and possible targets as part of a concentrated battalion effort, working with ISF to secure the area, said Grable, adding that he loves being in the service and has a long-term goal of becoming an infantry sergeant major in the next 12 to 14 years.
"The scenario we're actually seeing: people who were once al-Qaida members, that used to fight Americans, are now manning checkpoints because they are tired of people getting pushed around by special groups and al-Qaida in Iraq," he said. "That is what it is going to take to change the attitude (of American Soldiers and ISF): more Iraqis stepping up and doing the right thing."
The Soldiers of Bandit Company like going out to make a difference for the ISF and the people of Baghdad, said Grable, who explained that he has been blessed with good leadership during his two deployments and four years in the Army and is hoping to impart some of his experiences on both his Soldiers and the ISF.
"There are a lot of guys out here who are out here for the right reasons," Grable said. "They are putting their lives on the line to try and make a difference. Soldiers are out there doing the right thing."
Spc. Ricky Phillips, an infantryman from Allenstown, Pa., assigned to Co. B, is one of those Soldiers, said Grable.
"My mission, as an infantryman, in my team is to supplement my team leader," said Phillips, whose father is currently serving in the U.S. Navy and is also deployed in support of the Global War on Terror. "As he gives an order, my job is to make sure that it is carried out to the fullest."
Phillips said that his job is to maintain and provide security for his squad out in sector and make sure that everyone is doing their job – even the Iraqi national police and Iraqi army soldiers.
"I definitely am able to assist in making this a reality by integrating them into what we do – being the example," said Phillips, who is serving his first deployment since he joined the Army in 2006.
Phillips stated that he has seen a lot of improvement in the ISF in his area since he first arrived in Iraq six months ago.
"I think coming into this area, we saw that IA and INP in the area are a lot more developed than in our last sector," he explained. "For instance, when the INPs actually enter and clear a house, they work formations, searching for weapons and intelligence and diligently questioning personnel. They are pretty much doing most of the work."
"Iraqi security forces are in the lead during this operation," said Capt. Sean Chase, commander of Co. B, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt. "The 1st Bn., 5th Bde., 2nd National Police Division, has performed very well during this operation thus far. They operate as an entirely autonomous element and require very little support from us for their operations."
The ISF is not turning a blind eye to the activities of special groups criminals in the area, and the only way that certain factions will continue to exist is for local leaders to cooperate and reconcile with the government of Iraq, the ISF and the Iraqi people, said Chase, who hails from Seattle.
Reconciliation means that the Iraqis must recognize the violence and the killing that has occurred in the country during the past five years and take steps to prevent it from happening again, explained Chase, a graduate of Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in economics.
"The more that the ISF establishes its legitimacy as an even broker and peace keeper, the more people will realize that they can either stop the violence and reconcile with U.S. and INP forces or they will be detained," he added.
As security operations, such as Operation Tusker Chamberlain, continue in support of the 1st "Raider" BCT, Soldiers of Co. B, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., continue to support the battalion in its mission to increase security in west Rashid, said 1st Sgt. Thomas Price, Co. B.
"The Soldiers have done an extraordinary job," said Price, a combat veteran of 20 years, from Valdosta, Ga. "I'm amazed at what they've done. They're knowledgeable, well-trained and prepared. They're rehearsed, and I don't see any issues."
The 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt. is part of the 4th BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., and currently deployed for a 15-month rotation in support of MND-B and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2008 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 19384 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 214 |
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