Iraqi Citizens Fend Off Attack Until Iraqi Army Arrives To Help
Ya know, I really do have a feeling that it won’t be long before these people can handle things just fine all by themselves.
BAGHDAD — Coalition forces saw a possible glimpse of the future in Hawr Rajab recently, when they observed Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) at a checkpoint come under attack from insurgents, defend themselves, and then receive reinforcements from Iraqi Army troops, Oct. 31.
Paratroopers of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska, currently attached to 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., Fort Stewart, Ga., observed the event from a rooftop.
Everything kicked off with a bang.
Paratroopers were en route to the concerned citizens’ southern-most checkpoint just outside of Hawr Rajab, when their casual conversations were shattered by the thunderous sound of a mortar landing nearby. The Paratroopers moved into a building to avoid any potential threats. From inside, Paratroopers began to hear bursts of small arms fire coming from the south. “Get to the roof, go, go,” one Paratrooper shouted.
In a flurry of movement, they ascended the stairs to the second floor and in seconds they were on top of the action, weapons drawn and at the ready. The momentary confusion of the gunfight cleared up as soon as communication was established with the checkpoint.
Initial reports from concerned citizens indicated the insurgents were attacking from a position behind a canal, approximately 400 meters from the checkpoint.
As 1-40th Cav. Regt. troops saw the events unfold, 1st Lt. Daniel L. Doverspike, a platoon leader for Troop A, contacted the Iraqi Army (IA) troop commanders in the area. He asked IA commanders to move the tanks belonging to the newly arrived IA mechanized company into position and assist the concerned citizens at the checkpoint.
When the tanks arrived, they engaged the enemy forces, alongside their concerned citizen counterparts.
Soon an Apache attack helicopter air weapons team from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, arrived on site and was scouring the nearby canals for enemy forces.
The insurgents retreated after a 45-minute ‘cat and mouse’ game with IA and concerned citizens, which resulted in no injuries.
The determination and team work of the IA and concerned citizens showed Paratroopers that both groups could work together effectively.
Spc. Charley Stetson, an infantryman with 1-40th Cav. Regt. said he felt his unit had done a good job of rooting out insurgents in the area around Entry Control Point 20, but the addition of concerned citizens and now the IA has helped the security situation.
Their actions during the insurgent attack gave insight into the growing relationship between the two groups.
Stetson, a native of Falmouth, Maine, said the IA’s resources add much to the concerned citizens’ capabilities and the concerned citizens add much to the IA’s knowledge of the area.
“It’s like the best of both worlds,” he said.
Capt. Frederick B. Giles, effects coordinator for the military transition team assigned to the 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division said the concerned citizens were happy about the Iraqi troops moving into the area and assisting with security.
“I haven’t sensed any tension between the CLC leadership and the IA leadership,” said Giles, a native of Honolulu.
The good relationships developing between the concerned citizens, the IA and Coalition forces in the urban farming community of Hawr Rajab may signal the beginning of a community with a secure future.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Phenomenal
another note:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071030-04
October 30, 2007
Iraqi Army discovers cache
Multi-National Division – Center
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers discovered a weapons cache in Hawr Rajab Oct. 27.
The cache was discovered by Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. The IA Soldiers found the cache independently, working off a tip from Coalition Forces in the area.
A security platoon, from the IA battalion, found 21 60mm mortars, seven 107 mm rockets, four improvised explosive device triggers, four fabricated rocket stands, six mortar fuses and two Iraqi Army uniforms.
The ordnance was destroyed in a controlled detonation
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:44 pmAt the local level, the Iraqis are doing pretty darn well for themselves. If the locals and their useless government could get on the same page….it would be a helluva accomplishment. It’s great to see Iraqis standing up to the terrorists. The best news of all is this idea has spread all over Iraq. And now even the Shia are getting into the swing of things. It won’t be long before we can leave this battlespace and chalk up the first victory in the GWOT.
It is abundantly clear that AQ is defeated in Iraq.
God Bless our military and the brave Iraqi patriots who risk everything to stand up to haj and the other irhabis in their country every day.
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 pmLately nothing but good news coming out of Iraq. The MSM remains silent.
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:39 pmDan are you still delusional? Local and Federal working togther? Is your name really Hellen Keller? Is anything different here in the States?
Dude if you ever happen through the Chicago Area email me through the site and let’s have a beer or 24!
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:06 pmHowie:
“or 24″ LOL. If I ever get to Chicago, I’ll do that. And if you ever travel to the Va. area…let me know. Bartender? Two beers please?
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:41 amur all a bunch of drunks,,give me a butterscotch malt..if ur ever in western wisc. we can go to the malt shop..now back to the war,,
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:05 pmThe only detail that bothers me about the report is that the US unit had to request the IA come in, rather than the CLC doing it themselves; that’s when you’d know if the IA and other ISF are prepared to back these locals or not.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:22 am