Photo By Scott Flenner | An operator of the specialized route clearance vehicle, the Buffalo, with the 515th...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — Combat engineers from the 1st Platoon, 515th Sapper Company, completed another successful route clearance mission in Baghdad, April 30.
The 515th is somewhat of a special crew of route clearance personnel—special because during the past year within their deployment they have conducted more than 300 route clearance missions down some of the most dangerous roads all over central Iraq, never staying in one place for long.
"We started in Balad for a month, and then went to Adar near Tallil for four and a half months. Next came Striker then Kalsu....and now we are here in Baghdad," said Staff Sgt. Termayne Walker, from Lufton, Ga.
During their long journey transitioning from base to base, living conditions may have changed, food may have been a little different at the dining facilities, but one thing did not change, the mission.
That mission of the combat engineers with the 515th is simple — hunt down explosive devices planted along the roadside and get rid of them, making it safe for travel once again. No matter what base they happen to be stationed at when they depart for a mission, or what stretch of road they travel down that day, their presence increases safety for drivers on Iraq's roads. The 515th has just had the opportunity to see more roads then most teams.
"It is spectacular to work with Soldiers that are at this level of skill .... these guys just have it, they have it down. They have been doing this for the past year," said Guntersville, Ill. native 2nd Lt. Jacob Niewold, platoon leader, 515th Sapper Co.
The 515th was transferred to their current location on Camp Liberty to replace the 4th Engineer Battalion, 225 Eng. Brigade, Multi-National Division — Baghdad, who recently transferred combat theaters from Iraq to Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 04.30.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.02.2009 04:07 |
| Story ID: | 33117 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 206 |
| Downloads: | 151 |
This work, Sappers hunt Improvised Explosive Devices across central Iraq, by Scott Flenner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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