From the Front: 04/30/2008

News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.

In their own words:
Sergeant Grumpy: Medics lead the way - The NY Times has a touching slide show about a medical clinic run to help the people of Sadr city. There are hundreds of great stories of Army Medics and Doctors who have treated Iraqis with compassion and kindness that never get told. At least here is one. “An Iraqi boy who was shot by insurgents while walking to a bakery is brought in to the clinic for treatment. According to eye witnesses the attackers shot seven children, killing four.” Mahdi Murderers. When a young child who was shot or a wife who was badly burned is treated, all the vapid debate in Washington, all the stupid heated arguments by the uninformed on the left and the right, all that goes away. (READ MORE)

LT Nixon: Iraq News (30 April) - The Good: Iraq's major source of income is oil exports, and with the crackdown on militias/smugglers in Basrah coupled with the high price of crude, they are set to reap a windfall of dinars. Whether or not their government spends it wisely is a whole nother ball of wax. US involvement in Sadr City is deepening (which used to be off-limits more or less), and with that there will need to be a whole new level of service initiatives along with the combat operations. More good news from Basra as there are a resurgence of weddings (despite the author of this blog being grouchy about such occasions back in the states). The Bad: Another female suicide bomber strikes, this time attacking in Diyala province. (READ MORE)

Yellowhammering Afghanistan: Playing with new toys - We recently received some new toys and, unfortunately, have had opportunities to break them as we break them in. The Afghan National Police mentor team and the Afghan National Army embedded training team each received two MRAPs each. The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected armored vehicles, as the name implies, are meant to be safer than the up-armored Humvees against both mines and ambushes. Though we are leaving, I got to spend some time as a truck commander, a driver and a gunner in the new vehicle. The MRAPs have had a good track record in Iraq over the last several months and they have started arriving downrange in Afghanistan. (READ MORE)

Fearless 1st Marines’ blog; 'All-access Pass’: Fallujah bridge demilitarized - FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 24, 2008) – Coalition and Iraqi Security forces are diligently working together to aid Iraq in its pursuit of becoming an independent state. Progress is being made daily with keeping al Qaeda in Iraq at bay and transferring security responsibilities to the Iraqi people, allowing Coalition forces to focus more on demilitarizing positions and transitioning out of Iraq. An example of such progress is the demilitarization of Fallujah’s New Bridge by the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment April 24. Formerly used for military traffic only, the bridge has now opened it’s roadways to the rest of city’s populace. (READ MORE)

Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Sisters of Fallujah break barriers, build security - FALLUJAH, Iraq – Entry control points (ECP) throughout Fallujah are designed to protect the city from harm and prevent people from transporting illegal contraband such as weapons and explosive materials. Coalition forces discovered the enemy exploiting the cultural sensitivity precluding the search of females by having females carry contraband into the city. Coalition forces then employed female search teams from units such as Combat Logistics Battalion-1 to alleviate the threat of women being used to sneak contraband such as electrical devices, wires, and other bomb making material. This still posed a problem as the female Marines could only be pulled away from their primary duties for short periods. (READ MORE)

Tina Susman: Girls go to war, on the sports field - Najaf is best known for its holy Shiite shrines and lately for the fear and intrigue that have taken hold among its religious leaders as different factions compete for power and influence over Iraq's Shiite south. But this week, it has become the center of a different kind of competition: among girls and young women vying for athletic awards from the minister of education. The eight-day competition began April 26 and has brought teams from 11 southern and central provinces to compete in volleyball and soccer. Suaad Saqab Kamil, who oversees women's sports in the Ministry of Education, said it's the first time the competition has been held since the start of the war five years ago. (READ MORE)

DocintheBox: Playing with new toys - Sorry about the blogging hiatus, I’m in the process of shutting down my old laptop and getting my new one spun up and backing up everything twice. This is the first laptop that I’ve actually maxed out the RAM and it books. I’ve taken it though it’s paces and haven’t been able to find anything that really slows it down. Even when it had 2 gigs of RAM, editing a half hour movie only caused a few second pause and processing the movie? 15 minutes. There still is a dent in my wallet but like everything, it’s a speed bump in the past since I did have the spare change sitting around. There were no loans or credit card payments to worry about. (READ MORE)

Badger 6: Compare and Contrast - This Individual Ready Reserve Soldier with the one I posted about yesterday. This Soldier and his wife are clearly less than thrilled and I understand that. If you browse away from this blog thinking I think people should be happy about being called out the IRR, then you are missing the point. Commentor Trailblazer had different point of view, which, if I read him correctly is that there are more people who could serve on active duty. I don't disagree that it would be a desirable to have more people want to serve in the US Armed Forces, but absent compulsory military service that is not going to happen. I think most people that want to serve in the military do anyway. (READ MORE)

The Angry American: TWOTS - Blessed are the days that we are released at noon. By the way which is like everyday so far. It sure is nice too let me tell you. Today we did PT for the first time as a squad (which is a bit of a fluke cuz were not supposed to do organized PT until after block leave). I've been running and biking a little on my own to try to get back into shape. Apparently humping around all sorts of heavy shit is a lot different then running in short shorts and a PT shirt. I took the guys on a slow run around the hill. As we neared one of the motor pools and explosion went off which for a split second had us ducking our heads a little. "Thats fucked up!" was the consensus. It was pretty funny though. Block leave is getting closer to becoming a reality and I very much so plan to set up a slide show on here if anybody still reads. (READ MORE)

Major John: Having Drawn Breath - I am back at the Iraqi Army location where I normally work. I managed to spend a couple of days at a much larger, British run place - while it wasn't exactly a vacation (I ended up doing a bit more work than I had anticipated) it was nice to be someplace where everyone spoke English - of a sort, heh heh. I am still working on comprehension of some of the stronger Scottish accents and terms. Now comes the work of incorporating the lessons the Iraqi Army has learned from Basrah. Also, tying up some loose ends (they still are running some ops) and making sure everyone is up to date with equipment and such. Should keep us busy for a while to come. (READ MORE)

Phil Peterson: In Pictures: MEDEVAC missions in Afghanistan - At Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, more than 90 percent of the Medical Evacuation, or MEDEVAC, missions are to help Afghans, both local nationals as well as Afghan National Army soldiers. The patients who take these flights have medical emergencies and need to be transferred to a full-service hospital. The hospital at Bagram Air Field is prepared to handle most medical issues that may arise in the field or on base. The MEDEVAC crews transfer everything from very ill children to gravely wounded soldiers and civilians. The medics are as efficient as they are compassionate. Despite tight quarters, the medics attend to their patients’ medical needs while making their patients as comfortable as possible. (READ MORE)

Matt Dupee: Kapisa province: The Taliban's gateway to Kabul - One day prior to the deadly Taliban assault against the heavily guarded April 27 Mujahidin Victory parade in Kabul, a US raid 75 kilometers north of the capital attempted to disrupt an insurgent commander’s operation to disrupt the ceremony. US and Afghan forces conducted a search of several compounds in the Tag Ab Valley, an infamous insurgent stronghold in Kapisa province, in an effort to locate a Taliban leader suspected of facilitating a number of deadly attacks against security forces and who was suspected of planning an attack against the Mujahidin Victory celebration. The raid also aimed to disrupt local insurgent roadside bomb cells. A suicide bomb vest was discovered during the search and removed from the area. (READ MORE)

David Wood: Rules of engagement - When the Alpha Company’s position here in Garmsir came under RPG (rocket propelled grenade) and small arms fire, the effect was like thwacking a beehive with a baseball bat. Angry Marines boiled up in a swarm, weapons up, ready for revenge. I mean, one Marine wondered, who’d be dumb enough to fire at a bunch of Marines … and MISS??? The attackers appeared to be two young men on a motor bike. A couple of Marines who’d been on watch, on the roof of a mud-walled farmer’s compound, had seen them a quarter mile away, riding back and forth, eyeing the Marines. One Marine said he thought one had something on his back that looked like an RPG but he couldn’t be sure. (READ MORE)

Toby Nunn: Daddy OUT! - Reagan does a great job of sending me pictures of everything I am missing at home. Our little creepy crawly (born on Halloween) Scarlett is already sitting up on her own and can stand semi assisted. I look at the pictures often ranging from peanut to little person often to keep things in perspective for me. I have also been thinking about some of what has gone on around me now and in the past. I also read a great post by Bouhammer (1SG Troy Steward) not too long ago talking about his feelings as his son followed in his footsteps and headed to combat. I have pondered this myself several times about what I will say to the boys when that conversation comes up, will I support it or will I discourage them. One thing that I never really thought about until recently was what would I say if Scarlett asked me or joined the military. (READ MORE)


Back but still writing:
This War and Me: An Important Tool - Sorry it has been so long since my last entry. I have been doing well. It has been almost three months since I returned to the US and I think I have fully adjusted. I owe most of it to my girlfriend who has been with me through it all. There was a time early on when large crowds made me uncomfortable and I spoke of how 'over alert' I was. We went to the mall one day and had lunch at the food court. I remember her talking and I was listening to her and scanning the room with my eyes looking for I don't know what. Then I noticed her reach over and hold my hand and just looked at me and talked to me in a calm voice as her eyes stared right into my soul. Everything around me just faded away and I couldn't focus on anything but her. (READ MORE)

A Battlefield Tourist: Marine KIA Creates Dilemma For VMI - On April 17th, in Panjwaii District, Kandahar Province, a US Marine convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, killing two Marines and wounding two others. The convoy was on its way to southern Helmand Province where the 26th MEU has recently started combat operations to retake the Taliban-held town of Garmsir. The Marines killed included the top-ranking enlisted man for the 24th MEU, acting Command Sgt. Major, 1st Sgt. Luke Mercandante. Before joining the 24th MEU, Mercandante served as an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute for three years. (READ MORE)


News from the Front:
Iraq:
MND-B soldiers relentless in pursuit of criminals - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers killed at least six criminals, detained three, and destroyed anti-Coalition force arms overnight and into the early morning of April 30 in separate incidents in Baghdad. At approximately 10:40 p.m., April 29, while patrolling in Istiqal Qada, MND-B soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 68th Combined Arms Battalion, were investigating the site of a reported improvised explosive device when they spotted two criminals attempting to recover an explosively formed penetrator. The 1-68 Soldiers engaged and killed the two men. An explosive ordnance team responded and disposed of the IED. (READ MORE)

Sons of Iraq capture key terrorist - BAGHDAD – The strong working relationship between Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq) led directly to the capture of key terrorist at approximately 9 p.m. April 28. During a meeting with a local sheik and other citizens, a Sons of Iraq member indicated that a known key terrorist was nearby. The SoI member detained two suspects and turned them over to MND-B soldiers for further identification. (READ MORE)

Two wanted men captured in northern Iraq - BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured two wanted men and detained two additional suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives in northern Iraq Wednesday. Continuing to use information gleaned from an operation Apr. 21, Coalition forces captured two suspected AQI terrorists in Mosul. One of the suspects is a wanted man who is believed to directly conspire with several senior terrorist leaders in the city, including one who is known to conduct attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security forces. (READ MORE)

Explosions target ISF and civilians in northern Kirkuk City - TIKRIT, Iraq – Kirkuk’s Provincial Joint Communications Center reported two attacks utilizing Improvised Explosive Devices occurring in the northern portion of Kirkuk City, April 29. The first attack occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. with early reports stating three Iraqi Army personnel and six civilians were wounded. The IED was placed on a route frequented by morning commuters. (READ MORE)

Tikrit SWAT unit capture leader of AQI cell - BAGHDAD – The Tikrit Special Weapons and Tactics unit, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a suspected Al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader during an operation in the Qadasiyah neighborhood of Tirkrit, approximately 96 miles north of Baghdad, April 28. Tikrit SWAT conducted the raid to detain the leader of an improvised explosive device cell known for conducting attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces between Tikrit and Coalition Operating Base Speicher. (READ MORE)

Tip leads to anti-aircraft gun, ammunition in Jurf - BAGHDAD – A tip led Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers to a cache containing an anti-aircraft gun and over a hundred 37 mm rounds April 27 in the al-Hujierr area of Jurf as Sakhr, 40 kilometers south of Baghdad. Soldiers from 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, used intelligence gathered from Sons of Iraq to locate the cache. At the site the unit was assisted by a local resident who had an excavator to help them dig. The unit later compensated the resident for his help. (READ MORE)

Iraqi humanitarian operation helps citizens (Jadidah) - TIKRIT, Iraq – A successful Iraqi-led humanitarian operation was held in the town of Jadidah, Mosul Province, April 29. The operation, a gathering between Iraqi Army leadership, the Jadidah sheik and informal leaders, was held to counter al-Qaeda in Iraq’s information operations, defaming Iraqi and Coalition forces. Over 200 children and over 130 adults received humanitarian assistance in the form of dry foods, water, vitamins, clothes, comfort items, toys and athletic gear. (READ MORE)

Iraqi Lieutenant Gets Prosthetic Limb from Coalition Forces - FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — At approximately 12:46 p.m., Jan. 10, everything changed for one Iraqi Army Special Forces platoon leader. While on a joint mission with Coalition forces, the 8th IA Division Soldier was struck by an improvised explosive device as he crossed a pedestrian footbridge on the east side of Route Minnesota in the Chaka Four Region. (READ MORE)

Refurbished school opens in Salman Pak - The only secondary school for girls in the Salman Pak area opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 24. Leaders of the Salman Pak Council, the Iraqi Army, the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, gathered in Salman Pak for the ceremony, which marked the completion of a $200,000 project initiated Feb. 28. (READ MORE)


Afghanistan:
Detained Zabul province militant identified - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition forces have released the identity of an insurgent detained during an operation conducted last month to disrupt militant operations in Zabul province. The insurgent, Hajji Abdul Majid Khan, was apprehended during the operation in Qalat District. Khan, 55, was detained March 3 during an operation targeting him. (READ MORE)