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FOB MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq (April 27, 2008) - In an effort to deal a
blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) west of Mahmudiyah, the 2nd
battalion, 25th brigade, 6th Iraqi Army (IA) Division established
permanent battle positions in the Sa'id Abdullah Corridor (SAC),
April 24.
"Until only a few short weeks ago, this road was an area where
American and Iraqi Soldiers only went expecting a fight," said
Capt. Dennis Call, from Albuquerque, N.M., leader of 4th Platoon,
Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "In the past, we did a
number of air assault raids, dismount patrols - always on the edge,
knowing the history of the area."
No one knows better than Spc. Roy Corpier, a team chief with 4th
Plt., Btry. A, 3-320 FA. Corpier, a native of Sedalia, Mo., stepped
on a pressure-plate improvised explosive device in November, losing
hearing in his right ear.
"Any time we went into the SAC we could expect to get into
something," Corpier said. "The operation over the past couple weeks
has silenced AQI in the area."
After the IA completed clearing operations April 15 in support
of Operation Marne Piledriver, they made preparations to control
and secure the area on a permanent basis. The Soldiers established
battle positions to guard lines of commerce and serve as an
operations base for missions into the surrounding area.
"I wouldn't have expected to be setting up out here," said 2nd
Lt. Mohammed Shakur, 2/25/6 IA Div. "I find it amazing how much
safer this area has become, and only in a few weeks time."
After months of intensive kinetic operations into the SAC, the
completion of battle positions throughout the heart of what used to
be an AQI area of support is significant, but not the final
step.
"This is only the start," Call said. "For this to actually work,
patrols need to constantly move out from the battle position and
engage the populace on a regular basis."
The following weeks will see an influx of IA support to the
populace as the area takes advantage of the newfound security and
begins to rebuild.
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