Photo By Bradley Clark | A Soldier with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat...... read more read more
By Pfc. Bradley J. Clark
4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
MOSUL, Iraq— Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, augmenting their counterparts in the Iraqi security forces, executed a series of targeted raids, beginning April 3.
The security operation was a joint effort designed to parallel the Baghdad Law Enforcement Plan, according to Ninewa Provincial Governor Duraid Kashmoula. It involved Iraqi units from the 2nd and 3rd Iraqi Army Divisions and the Iraqi police and border police, with coalition forces in a support and logistical role.
Focusing on the Mosul area, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment assisted Iraqi units in conducting raids on houses that contained suspected improvised explosive device makers and products, along with raids on anti-Iraqi forces, their sponsors and supporters.
Kicking off the week-long series of security operations was a nighttime raid on the residence of a suspected IED maker, supported by C Company, 2-7 Cavalry.
"It was a very successful raid," said Spc. Nicholas Johnson, a tanker who was the platoon sergeant's Humvee gunner with 3rd Platoon, C Co., 2-7 Cavalry. "We had good [intelligence] and good rehearsals."
"When we entered the target house," recalled Pfc. Brad Whitsett, a forward observer and dismounted patrolman with 3rd platoon, C Co., 2-7 Cav., "the target was the one who actually opened the door."
While many of the targets yielded illegal munitions and detainees, an equal amount proved to be devoid of any illegal activity. When operations don't go exactly as planned and intelligence proves to be inaccurate, the Ghost Battalion Soldiers are often able to turn a disappointment into an opportunity.
While concluding one mission that turned out to be a "dry hole" (a target devoid of any insurgents or munitions), troops from A Co. followed a motorized scooter that had a propane cylinder strapped to the back. The rider inadvertently led the Soldiers to a warehouse that contained over 300 propane cylinders. This was something that A Co. had not encountered before, according to the majority of the platoon.
"This was the first time I have seen this many in one place," said Pfc. Brian Quintana, infantryman and vehicle gunner from 1st Platoon. "Usually we just see one or two in people's houses because they use them to weld stuff for their own personal use. In the long run, it's beneficial [to remove them] because this means there are less-effective car bombs and IEDs out there."
Quintana wasn't the only member of A Co. who felt this way.
"It's good to get them off the streets," said Pfc. Andrew Beesley, driver, 1st Platoon, A Co., 2-7 Cavalry. "If they are not there, then AIF can't use them. It's less items for IEDs or vehicle-borne IEDs."
The raids netted a total of 32 detainees, along with a laundry list of anti-Iraqi forces materials: over 11 million Iraqi Dinar, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, nearly 20 firearms, and over 180 illegal forms of identification.
Also found were IED and VBIED-making materials such as, three cars with Baghdad license plates, more than 250 propane cylinders, 10 hydraulic acid containers, nine hydrogen peroxide containers, nearly four dozen cell phones, two bundles of command detonation wire, and one pipe bomb with almost 30 pounds of explosives.
Iraqi media that was confiscated consisted of two personnel computers, one video camera, over a dozen compact discs, 10 digital video discs, six 8 mm video tapes, and two digital video tapes.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2007 09:22 |
| Story ID: | 9923 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 547 |
| Downloads: | 518 |
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