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WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Two platoons moved in silence and darkness through the deadly corridor within Tangi Valley toward their perches atop their respective hilltops. Once the soldiers were in place and ready to rain down precision fire on insurgents, their counterparts loaded in their armored vehicles and moved through the valley, clearing roadside bombs and enemy fighters along the way March 21.
Afghan national security forces manned traffic control points as soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Warrior, moved through Tangi Valley, seizing control from insurgents during Operation Tangi Smash.
“Our goal was to secure key terrain in the valley, including the highest points in the mountains,” said U.S. Army Capt. Mark J. Balboni, the commander of Company B, 2nd Bn., 4th Inf., 4th IBCT, 10th Mountain Div., TF Warrior.
Although the goal was straight forward, it was met with resistance.
“There was enemy contact, but the insurgents were not able to impede our movement,” said Balboni, a West Springfield, Mass., native.
Before getting to this stage of the operation, Company B first established an observation post on the western entrance of the valley.
“When we initially stood up OP Savannah, we had 12 straight days of continuous fighting,” said Balboni. “The fighting has quieted down recently though.”
Expanding the presence of coalition forces in the valley is a step toward securing the populace from insurgents.
“People have been scared to speak to us in the past,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Fernando Davis, a platoon sergeant assigned to Company B, and a Nogales, Ariz., native. “With more security, locals will be more willing to talk.”
Even talking to local Afghans requires a strategy in Tangi Valley.
“We are working with village elders from the outside to the middle of the valley,” said Balboni. “We have recently been able to speak with more elders.”
During this three-day phase of Operation Tangi Smash, TF Warrior killed at least five insurgents, detained one suspected insurgent and recovered nearly 30 command-wire improvised explosive devices.
This operation is an initial step toward a greater goal for the area.
“We will continue to grow the ANSF in this area,” said Balboni. “In the future, we would like the ANP to set up checkpoints and OPs in the valley.”
It is sometimes hard to measure the success of a mission, but as soldiers moved through darkness from their positions in villages and hilltops back to the confines of OP Savannah, it was clear the meandering road in the trough of the valley and the villages that lined it were safer than three days prior, according to the task force.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2011 17:33 |
| Story ID: | 67937 |
| Location: | WARDAK PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 355 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, TF Warrior soldiers help secure Tangi Valley, by SSG Cooper Cash, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
