Pre-dawn mission brings positive results

Photo By Spc. William Hatton | Oakland, Calif., native Spc. Michael Royster, Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, provides security during a night mission in Baghdad's Al Mansour neighborhood April 3. Royster and his unit went from house to house asking residents for information on a suspected insurgent.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.10.2007

Story by Spc. William Hatton 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Pfc. William Hatton
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – During an early morning in Baghdad's Al Mansour neighborhood, the streets were quiet and vacant as Spc. Michael Royster, along with his squad from 4th Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, made their way from building to building in search of insurgents.

With their night vision devices aiding the search, Royster and his buddies moved through the alleyways with absolute precision. After their leadership received reports of potential insurgents responsible for various attacks, a target was given and orders were received to bring in those connected to the violence.

This search just adds to a long list of missions that Royster, an Oakland, Calif., native, and his unit have executed over the last 10 months. Royster's Soldier story began with his right arm raised, taking the oath to fight for his country.

"It just seemed like it was something I should do," Royster said. "I was really angry about 9/11 and felt like I needed to do something about it.

"One of the things I remember most when I started to join was my father telling me his feelings that every man should serve his country at least once in his life," he recalled. "I thought about that a lot as I was joining."

Royster moved from building to building, asking residents for information that might aid in their search for insurgents. Thoughts of family, and their safety back home, help move him along, he said.

Another thing that has helped Royster and his unit go out on missions and not lose their focus is a sense of humor, Royster said.

"We take our jobs very seriously and when comes down to it, we work hard to get the job done," Royster said. "But, one way we get through it all is by joking around."

Though there is a time for laughter for Royster and his team, their smiles soon receded as they moved into the home of one of the suspected insurgents.

After searching the house and investigating the suspect, Royster said the unit discovered a large amount of money, and an excessive amount of identification cards.

With the light breaking at dawn, the quiet and vacant street slowly came to life with the daily rush.

With a successful mission in the books, families living in Al-Mansour will be a little safer now that a threat has been taken away, Royster said. His team could be proud, and the jokes could begin anew.

• Date Taken: 04.10.2007
• Date Posted: 04.10.2007 09:49
• Story ID: 9837
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ