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FOB KALSU, Iraq (May 16, 2008) - A joint route reconnaissance
mission in Maderiyah, Iraq, led to the discovery of six separate
weapons caches May 13, to include 300 anti-personnel grenades.
The first cache contained one 120 mm mortar, one 100 mm
anti-aircraft round, 12 rocket-propelled grenade warheads, eight 73
mm rockets and a mortar tripod. All weapons were serviceable and
the rockets were still in their plastic containers.
The second cache recovered consisted of 300 anti-personnel
grenades, 100 meters of detonation cord, 100 rounds of PKC
machine-gun ammunition and five sticks of TNT.
"Most of the 300 anti-personnel grenades were serviceable.
Because they were found with det cord, these most likely would have
been used to booby trap homes or areas where al-Qaeda expected U.S.
or IA Soldiers to search," said Capt. Richard Aaron, commander of
Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Acting on intelligence provided by area residents, Soldiers from
Battery B, and Iraqi Army Soldiers from Company C, 5th Battalion,
25th Brigade, 6th IA Division, conducted the mission to investigate
the reported cache sites. Local Sons of Iraq were on hand during
the mission as well.
Unity between the IA and U.S. Soldiers has increased the
community's confidence, prompting citizens to step up and provide
more information on insurgent activities, said Aaron, a native of
Middleboro, Mass.
"These caches and every other cache are living proof of how
important it is for units to build relations with the local
population. Every mission that we conduct, my platoon's goal is to
reach out to the local population, talk with them and build the
trust between us," said 1st Lt. Greg Highstrom, platoon leader with
Battery B. "In return, Iraqis are more willing to help."
A third cache was discovered during site exploitation consisting
of 10 155 mm illumination canisters. Although empty, Aaron said
they could possibly have been used to construct improvised
explosive devices.
The final three caches were discovered in close proximity to
each other. These consisted of one 23 mm AA gun with a tripod, 200
23 mm rounds, an SS-30 M3 127 mm rocket and three 120 mm mortars,
all of which were serviceable.
Many of the munitions were in new condition, indicating they
were recently placed in the area, and done so with care. Weapons
found in the water were well-protected from the water, Aaron
said.
Besides reducing insurgents' ability to conduct operations and
attacks in the area, the mission's success will continue to drive
al-Qaeda leaders from the area. As arrests and finds continue to be
made, Aaron said, insurgents are leaving and ditching their weapons
in an attempt to avoid being detained.
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