IEDs can't stop supply convoy

Courtesy Photo | 2nd Lt. Jennifer Blair, 3rd Forward Support Battalion, observes as Soldiers unload Hesco barriers from a Palletized Load System at Forward Operating Base Summerall, Bayji, Iraq.  

11.18.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Pfc. Joshua R. Ford
MNC-I PAO

It was the holy month of Ramadan when Soldiers from A Company, 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were put to the test on their way to re-supply Soldiers in Samara, Iraq.

The Soldiers ran combat logistics patrols twice a week and this one seemed no different. Then the convoy came to a complete stop because an improvised explosive device had been identified a mile up the road.

While waiting for a go to continue the mission things went from bad to worse. Feeling a tremendous amount of force and hearing the sound of a defining explosion, the Soldiers from the 3rd FSB knew exactly what had just happened. They had been targeted by an improvised explosive device.

The IED had detonated behind their convoy. At this point the command decided they needed to find a different route and fast before some other enemy action was put against the convoy.

The only other route was off road, which was extremely dangerous because of the possibility of land mines and more IEDs.

"(We) could have turned back but the 3rd FSB never says no to their customers," said Spc. Mike Lynch, truck driver, Co. A.

The convoy commander decided not to stick around for another IED to detonate so they cleared a path off road.

Close to their destination the front gunner yelled "IED! IED! IED!" and as soon as the words came out of his mouth a ball of fire engulfed the road creating a barrier of fire splitting the convoy in two.

"My gunner started panicking and said "what is that? Three today?"" said Lynch.

"While I was trying to calm him down another IED was spotted in between our truck and the rear truck," said Lynch. ""Make that four," the gunner said."

Explosive ordinance disposal was called in and they took care of the problem. Fortunately the fourth one didn't detonate.

"The training that we received in the rear and in country is what saved lives that day," said Lynch.

This was just one of the sticky situations Co. A of the 3rd FSB has faced in Iraq.

Part of the 3rd FSB's mission is to supply, re-supply and retrograde units in the Multi-National Division- North Central area of operation, said Lynch.

A Company Soldiers transport ten classes of supplies that range from food to vehicles.

"We have taken just about every ground vehicle utilized by the U.S. military out on these convoys," added Lynch.

Depending on how much support is needed for one mission, the Soldiers will be on the road for four to 12 hours at a time, said 2nd Lt. Jennifer Blair, transportation platoon leader, Co. A.

"We always get the job done," said Lynch. "No matter where our mission takes us we will complete it."

"We are not out there kicking in doors or raiding people's houses. We are out there on support missions," said Blair.

In the past A Company has had to pull cooks, supply clerks and administrative clerks to act as turret gunners or Humvee drivers, Blair added.

"A Company has shown that they are an adaptable unit," said Blair.

Occasionally Co. A will have to pick up infantry Soldiers and transport them to their destination but will never assign them to a CLP, Blair said.

"Typically we bring mechanics out on these missions just in case something goes wrong with one of the vehicles," said Blair.

"It's our job to make sure the Soldiers are taken care of and to make sure they have the supplies they need to complete their mission," said Lynch.

• Date Taken: 11.18.2005
• Date Posted: 11.18.2005 15:08
• Story ID: 3789