FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, Afghanistan— Nine Afghanistan civilians were found dead after a 60 pound improvised explosive device exploded beneath their truck Aug. 11 on Highway 1 in the Kandahar province.
According to Staff Sgt. Bryan Oxner, Alpha Company 3rd Platoon sergeant from the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, their trucks had just passed through the area when an IED hit the civilian truck.
"We had just driven over that section of road and were about three kilometres down the road when we heard a large explosion," Oxner said. "From what we could tell, the truck was carrying mostly women and children when it was hit."
The 1-12th Battalion routinely clears Highway 1, the country's main road between Kabul and Kandahar, the country's second largest city.
"Because of road construction on Highway 1, all traffic was diverted off the road," Oxner said. "It was there that the insurgents were able to plant the bomb."
Oxner's platoon immediately secured the area as Afghan national police began the process of removing the bodies and debris.
The 1-12 Infantry is one of six battalions of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (L), 4th Infantry Division and has been placed under Task Force Kandahar's control for their 12-month rotation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.