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NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (May 13, 2008) - Soldiers from
1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry and Legion Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd
Infantry teamed with members of the Afghan National Army and Afghan
Border Police for Operation Mountain Highway II in eastern Nuristan
province in late April.
The operation started April 22 when Soldiers from International
Security Assistance Force and the ANA made a simultaneously night
air assault onto three mountains above Gowerdesh Bridge.
Afghan and American Soldiers created Observation Posts Mace,
Hatchet and Brick, which enabled the ABP and ANA to drive up from
the south and seize the bridge April 26.
"It was (a very) synchronized air assault to get everybody in,"
said Capt. John Williams, commander of the 1-91st's Headquarters
and Headquarters Troop. "Over four months of planning was put into
this operation."
During the planning phase, ABP members participated in training
on weapons, vehicle searches, first aid and reacting to enemy
contact, said Capt. Kafi Gwira, an ABP embedded tactical trainer
from Chicago. The ABP were also issued new uniforms, weapons,
ammunition and equipment for the operation.
"We got them ready to seize the bridge for good this time," said
Gwira. "The ABP will now maintain a presence at the bridge at all
times."
The ANA built three local observation posts near the bridge
during the first few days of the operation, which were handed over
to the ABP a few days later.
"The reason why this bridge is so critical is that it's one of
the last ones left for insurgents to use," said Williams. "If they
can't use the Gowerdesh Bridge, this severely limits their
capabilities in this area."
The bridge has been a key altercation point between insurgents
and Afghan forces over the last year. Numerous firefights between
ISAF and insurgents have occurred near the bridge, and last summer
insurgents drove off the ABP and destroyed their security
checkpoint.
"They need strong positions, which is why we provided the
engineers to build the bunker positions at the bridge," said
Williams. "They also needed local OPs, which we're building near
the bridge. So now we can see all the area around us. The enemy
can't come here unimpeded like they have been."
ISAF forces will continue to operate two of three larger
observation posts to support the ABP, but once the bunkers and
fighting positions are built the ABP will take over operations
there.
Operation Mountain Highway II is an ongoing operation, but
Williams said it's already considered a great success.
"Since we have secured this bridge, we can now bring development
to this region," he said. "We can fix the road and bring economic
and government development here. The insurgents have lost the upper
hand in this area."
The 1-91st is part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, a
U.S. Army Europe unit based in Vicenza, Italy.
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