Chargers destroy IED cache in cave complex at NTC

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Hallock | First Lt. William Ryan, 3rd platoon leader, Charger Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, calls in over the radio for the enemy’s position in the Mojave Desert at the National Training Center Aug. 14. Intelligence provided the company with the location of an improvised explosive device cache in a cave complex in the mountains.  

JBLM, WA, CA, UNITED STATES

08.19.2011

Story by Spc. Ryan Hallock 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Calif. - Dust from a desert road gets kicked up into the air. Through the cloud emerges a Stryker armored fighting vehicle, headed into the mountainous region of the California desert. Soldiers from Charger Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, are inside with full magazines loaded, ready to achieve their day’s mission. The sun beat down through the top hatches upon their faces.

“If you see a lake, tell him to pull over,” said Pvt. Corey Teed, a saw gunner from 3rd Platoon, C Company, as sweat poured down from his helmet to his eyes.

The squad wasn’t headed for a swim though. They were headed straight for the enemy, hidden deep in a cave in the mountains at the National Training Center Aug. 14.

“Today’s mission was to search and attack,” said 1st Lt. William Ryan, 3rd platoon leader, C Company. “We had intel saying there was an enemy IED cache sight.”

Roadside bombs threaten the local citizens and these missions are in support of village stability operations, said Spc. Jason Wilson, radiotelephone operator.

The Stryker vehicle came to a halt at the base of the mountain. As the back hatch lowered, thoughts of hometowns and cool lakes shifted from their focus. Prior to engaging, the soldiers had to positively identify the enemy.

“Relay the enemy’s position,” yelled Ryan over the radio, as he and his soldiers sprawled for cover behind a ridge.

Positive identification of three enemy personnel carrying small arms came over the radio.

With confirmation from Ryan, each squad advanced toward the cave complex, navigating the desert terrain in bounding movements. One soldier lays down heavy machinegun fire, while the other rushes closer to the enemy’s position.

“We had a main assaulting force that moved in on the cave,” said Wilson, who coordinated the platoon’s movement by radio.

“My job is to provide communications to the platoon leader,” said Wilson. “People’s lives depend on communication.”

Squads charged in on the cave in rapid succession.

“We closed in and destroyed the enemy,” said Wilson.

Soldiers entered the opening of the cave that had a sign that read: ENTER AT OWN RISK. No enemies were hidden within, just bats zooming around in the dark.

They found small arms and mortar tubes on the killed in action.

“It was a coordinated effort that led to success,” said Wilson.

Wilson used the handheld inter-agency identification detection equipment to scan the KIA’s eyes and fingerprints to enter them into the database. This process helps track the movements of the enemy and confirm their movement patterns.

With the IED cache destroyed and the intelligence collected, the soldiers of Charger Company rucked back to their Stryker vehicles. Although the only lake on the way back to the forward operating base would be a mirage, the spirits remained high after the successful mission.

• Date Taken: 08.19.2011
• Date Posted: 08.20.2011 13:31
• Story ID: 75668
• Location: JBLM, WA, CA, US