Spc. Matthew Wester
100th MPAD
May 29, 2005
SEARCH
TAJI, Iraq -- American humvees take up positions on both sides of a dirt road two hours before dawn.
Iraqi Soldiers stream out of a truck following the glow of their squad leader's chemical light and run in a column to search a house.
The palm grove across from the house is next. The troops are determined to scour the entire area for illegal munitions and insurgents.
Elements of 1st Battalion, 13th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and 5th Battalion, Iraqi Army cordoned and searched a rural area near Taji on May 28.
"The purpose of the operation was to search suspected locations where anti-Iraqi forces construct vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices or improvised explosive devices," said Capt. Charles Querriera commander of B Company, 1-13 Armor Bn. "We are contributing to the larger effort of disrupting AIF operations."
"It's a collective operation with the American forces," said the operations officer for 5th IA Battalion. "Now we control this area and will follow the terrorists wherever they are."
"We're trying to incorporate the Iraqi Army into our operations so they can get experience in conducting these operations," said Staff Sgt. Michael D. Schnurr, a tank commander for 1st Battalion, 13th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and a Johnstown Pa., native.
"The Iraqi Army is building trust with the Iraqi people," he said. "They're getting out there and experiencing the security techniques and measures they need to take back this country."
Iraqi citizens showed their trust in the 5th IA Bn. by supplying them intelligence about the activities of terrorists in the area.
"We have some local sources who deal with us because they refuse to have the terrorists here," the Iraqi operations officer said. "They are cooperating with the Iraqi Army to get rid of and eliminate the terrorists."
The local people are mostly farmers, and the combined force of 1-13 Armor Bn. and the Iraqi Army's 5th Bn. searched the orchards, fields and groves in the area as well as the houses.
"It's a lot different than the city," said Sgt. Raymond Salgado from Carolina, Puerto Rico and an armored crewman for 1-13 Armor's B Company.
Salgado said the terrain is very different from the urban areas he has operated in and talked about how he had to jump over an irrigation ditch to search a suspicious haystack.
Querriera said there are advantages to working in these areas.
"With the help of aviation, it's easy to pick up people trying to get out of the search area," he said.
"This is the second time in Iraq for this unit. The first time, we were in more of an urban area," Scnurr said. " This is where tankers and infantry make their business, out here in the rural areas."
After a thorough search of the farms and fields, the Iraqi and American troops rallied back at the edges of the cordon area.
Curious kids watched from the road as the Soldiers headed back to their vehicles in the mid-morning heat.
Although no weapons were found or detainees taken during the operation, valuable information was gathered which can be used in the future.
"After the operation we were able, through the Iraqi Army, to gather intelligence on other suspects and locations of other possible weapons caches." Querriera said. "The intelligence gathered will most likely lead to future search operations and I hope the Iraqi Army come along."
The Soldiers of B Company would welcome that.
"My soldiers and I enjoy working with the Iraqi Army," Querriera said. "They know when something isn't right before you do so they are our own early warning system. Even my guys feel better having them with us."
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2005 07:13 |
| Story ID: | 2059 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 18 |
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