Marine Corps Moms .com
June 19, 2004
Update from the RCT-7
Here's the latest from Col. Tucker:
.....First weeks of June saw a spike in IED activity in the AO. Still not a very successful tactic for the enemy in these times, and we have had some great successes capturing or killing the ones making or planting the IEDs. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) continue to make great strides forward and we are seeing more cooperation, professionalism and competence in the Iraqi Police, ICDC, and Border Guards as equipment comes on line, training continues, and their leaders look towards the challenges assumed when Iraq becomes responsible for itself on 30 Jun.
Pretty heartening to watch the ISF and Marines working together. Brothers-in-arms attitudes and perspective forms, they begin to assume responsibility for each other, and cultural barriers disintegrate. Spent (once again) 6 hours or so at a Sheiks house waiting for them to kill and cook the goat last week…and the guys in my Detachment spent that entire time engaged with a group of ICDC soldiers speaking the common language of infantrymen with a group of men they couldn't talk to. Mostly they show each other pictures of girlfriends, wives and kids or take turns showing off weapons systems. But they leave friends. And when they come back they are remembered and welcomed.
The RCT executed a very successful operation in the central part of the AO in early June…captured a couple of the terrorist cell leaders we have targeted for 4 months and 3d ACR targeted for 7 months previous. Amazing to see the communities open up when those who intimidate and torture are taken away. - More
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