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FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq (January 1, 2008) - Members
of a Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) group seized a large cache of
munitions east of the city of Al Nijidat, southeast of Forward
Operating Base Hammer, Dec. 26.
The cache consisted of 23 rocket motors, two 82 mm mortars, four
81 mm illumination shells, one rocket-propelled grenade, one 115 mm
high-explosive tank round, one 106 mm high-explosive anti-tank
round, and several other explosive items, including an artillery
fuse.
The CLC group delivered the cache to FOB Hammer where Capt. Chas
Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., and commander of Battery A, 1st
Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat
Team, met with the group.
"The CLC allow us to focus more on governance and economics,"
said Cannon.
"The fact we have help out there with security allows us to
maintain our focus on essential services and the local Iraqi
government."
Cannon notified explosive ordnance disposal specialists from the
789th Ordnance Company (EOD), from Fort Benning, Ga., who received
the cache items. The EOD unit secured the munitions for future
disposal.
Cannon believes the CLC provides his unit, recently transitioned
from detainee operations in Bucca to the 3rd HBCT's area of
operations, with vital information.
"They know the area better than we do," he said. "We've only
been here a couple of months; they've been here all their
lives."
The 1-10 FA Regt., and the 789th Ordnance Co. (EOD), are
assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.,
and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since
March 2007.
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