Posted on 10/27/2006 6:11:18 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Cautiously passing through the trash strewn streets of southern Baghdad, it is hard to distinguish what could be mixed within the seemingly innocuous garbage, but a few things do stand out in the minds of the patrolling Soldiers; filled burlap bags with wires protruding from the surface and large, black trash bags mean trouble.
Improvised Explosive Devices placed by a cowering enemy, sit waiting to be detonated against the next passing victim, hidden from the eyes of the Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces trying to protect the local citizens.
“At times, when it gets mentally challenging, when activity is high and you find a lot of IEDs, sometimes you just ask yourself ‘when is it going to stop,’” said Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Lewis, platoon sergeant, 2nd platoon, Company E, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
The engineers of Co. E have worked tirelessly since December of 2005 running route clearance missions throughout Baghdad. Using Bradley Tracked Armored Fighting Vehicles, RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicles and a Mine Protective Clearance Vehicle, or “Buffalo,” they are able to create freedom of movement for all coalition troops, said 1st Lt. Jesse Bisnette, platoon leader, 2nd platoon, Co. E, 1st Bn., 12th Eng. Bde.
With 40 weeks of patrolling under their belt, the company has conducted more than 440 route clearance missions, covering a total of 17,650 kilometers throughout Baghdad. To date, the company has investigated more than 3,100 suspicious items, locating more than 70 IEDs.
Bisnette said the mission has been a success thus far, but stressed victory can not be claimed on the amount of explosives found.
“The success of the route clearance mission is not totally contingent on how many IEDs we find. If we go out and we don’t find anything on the route, it’s still an accomplishment,” he said. “We provide a means for Coalition Forces to travel along those routes. It’s better when we find IEDs, but it doesn’t mean it’s not a success. We provide freedom of movement.”
Their eyes are constantly on the road, looking for suspicious objects. If they deem it a possible threat to the Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces, they interrogate the object, which means literally probing it with the arm of the Buffalo.
If an IED is detected, an Explosive Ordnance Detachment is called to the site, and the engineers continue to sweep the location for secondary IEDs. Occasionally, the combat engineers will receive a call that a combat patrol has encountered an IED. Before EOD arrives, they will sweep through the area to remove any potential secondary explosives, knowing their vehicles can handle more of an explosive impact.
“We’d rather find them before they find somebody else. Even when they do detonate on us, although it can be mentally challenging, we can take a better hit then someone else,” Lewis said.
The missions have been quite challenging for the engineers, stated Staff Sgt. Lorin Strange, Bradley squad leader, Co. E, 1st Bn., 12th Eng. Bde.
“One of our very first times out, we found two IEDs. We took our position; brand new to all this,” Strange said. “There was all this traffic, and we started taking sniper shots and rocket propelled grenades. One stopped right behind the rear Bradley and didn’t explode.”
“While all this is going on, there are these two IEDs sitting in front of us, primary and secondary. It was crazy.”
Though Strange finds it mentally challenging at times staring at the road for six hours straight, he and his fellow Soldiers have a mission to support; and they know the entire brigade depends on their skill and determination.
“I’ve seen the worst of what can happen out there, and my inspiration is to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” he explained.
To ensure quality of life and motivation is high for the Soldiers during their deployment, once a week, Lewis and Bisnette try to give each squad one day off to rest from their challenging tasks.
Also Lewis often switches the crews around to give them a chance to work with other individuals within the platoon. This allows the platoon to become very versatile, giving them the chance to work with and become proficient with each item of equipment they use in the road.
When this deployment is complete in Iraq, the Soldiers agree they will leave with a sense of relief, but ultimately a sense of accomplishment. Lewis and Strange both feel it will be a relief returning home to their families and out of harm’s way, but with the realization that they made a difference in saving people’s lives
A hard and dangerous job. Thanks to the engineers!
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