Story by: Sgt. Sean Kimmons
HAWIJA, Iraq -- Due to recent insurgent activity within this Sunni Arab city, Task Force 1-27 Infantry conducted a multiple-day offensive security operation called Operation Wolfhound Power beginning Nov. 11.
Operation Wolfhound Power was launched to root insurgents out of the city of about 85,000 residents, following insurgent attacks which injured three TF 1-27 Inf. Soldiers and 10 Iraqi National Guard troops on Nov. 11 and 12.
"We've been trying to prevent an uprising," said Spc. Victor Salazar, an infantryman with Company B, TF 1-27 INF. "We can't search every house in Hawija, so we're doing mounted and dismounted security patrols, and searching for and detaining suspects."
Another element TF 1-27 Inf. implemented during the offensive operations were their sniper teams.
"We've been fairly successful using our designated marksmen and being able to engage at longer ranges," said Maj. Mario Diaz, the S3 for TF 1-27 Inf.
The sniper teams also provided early warning and surveillance to maneuver infantry elements below their observation points.
Combat medics were heavily relied upon too, especially during the first two days of the operation.
Spc. Stan Matlock, a combat medic with Company B, TF 1-27 INF, tended to Iraqi National Guard troops who were wounded in the insurgent attacks, also civilians caught in the crossfire.
"It was important to let [the injured ING troops] know that we are all on the same side," Matlock said. "It meant a lot to them to be seen by an American medic, because they're not used to receiving high-level medical care."
Plus, Matlock said he built a special bond with the ING troops he treated and they became more motivated to fight alongside him against the insurgents.
According to the Geneva Convention, U.S. Army combat medics are even supposed to provide medical care to wounded enemies, if accessible.
"We treat the guys, we injure," Matlock said. "We had a guy who threw a grenade at us and we treated him after we lit him up. It's something that many other Armies don't do."
Soldiers of Company C, TF 1-21 Inf. also lent their support to Operation Wolfhound Power by helping secure the city of Riyadh, a Sunni Arab town east of Hawija.
The operation will be ongoing until insurgent activity has been terminated in Hawija and its surrounding areas, Diaz said.
| Date Taken: | 11.11.2004 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2004 15:07 |
| Story ID: | 635 |
| Location: | HAWIJA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 489 |
| Downloads: | 338 |
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