Dear Interested Readers,
The largest EFP cache to date found in MND-C area of Operations! Still more caches found and some high level terrorists captured or killed. Iraqi police show continued signs of improvement; and a heart warming story of the Air Force dedicating Davis Combat Clinic to Medic, Army Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis. It's so nice to honor our special heroes in special ways, always to be remembered.
Joanna
________________________
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
April 7, 2008
Iraqi Army finds second cache in Shakariyah
CAMP STRIKER - For the second time in a week, IA soldiers uncovered a weapons cache in Shakariyah, April 4. A local sheikh led the soldiers to the site where they found potential IEDs.
The cache contained 120 mm mortar rounds, 57 mm rounds, more than 20 anti-personnel landmines, a propane tank and miscellaneous explosive materials.
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Criminal killed in foiled assassination attempt
BAGHDAD - One criminal was killed and 2 were wounded in a failed assassination attempt against a high-level police official in Babil Province, April 5.
The attack was directed against the convoy of the Hamza chief of police. The convoy was ambushed by the 3 criminals, but it was repelled by IP. There were no IP casualties and the chief of police was not injured in the attack.
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IP update CF on station operations
BAGHDAD - IP at the Al Nashir Police Station in Mosul continue to show signs of improvement during a recent assessments visit by CF military police. Soldiers from the 552nd MP Co conducted a station assessment visit April 4 at IP Stations and checkpoints in and around Mosul.
The Al Nashir IP Station has moved to a new location in Mosul which allowed the IP to interact more closely with local citizens. "A lot of places we visit, things seem to be really coming together," said Spc. Nicholas Nielson, MP Soldier. "The IPs are becoming more capable of handling ops and policing procedures on their own and have a good concept of their responsibility to protect the citizens."
The MPs used the Handheld Inter Agency Identity Detection Equipment system. This system is used to store accountability data on people, which allows the CFs to work with IPs in determining top priority criminals and other policing functions.
"Many of the checkpoints are new in this area," said 1st Sgt Milton Cowart, a unit first sgt. "So, basically, we evaluate the checkpoints handled by the IPs and ensure that they are doing what they're supposed to."
Spc. Nicholas Nielson, MP Soldier, talks about policing techniques with an IP.
Spc. Rene Douglas, MP Soldier, discusses detainee info prior to entering the data.
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ISF find largest EFP cache to date in MND-C
FOB KALSU - A local tip led Iraqi SF to the largest EFP cache found to date in MND-Center's area of op, April 2. The munitions were discovered in a 6-ton truck in a garage in al Qasim, containing more than 1000 EFP components, more than 3000 pounds of explosives and multiple 107 mm rockets and stands. The cache also included more than 200 C-4 demolition charges, more than 10,000 feet of detonation cord, more than 2,000 projectile boosters, 10 devices used to detonate IEDs, 250 PKC rounds, and a myriad of land mines and mortar types.
"The ISF continue to confiscate the lethal tools of the enemy, disrupt the enemy's freedom of maneuver, and apprehend key members of the (criminal) leadership," said Capt. Michael Ranado, 4th Bde Special Troops Bn, 3rd ID spokesperson. "The IP and IA have successfully provided security for the people of the Babil province and continue vigilantly to do so."
The cache was moved to the Joint Coordination Center in Hillah.
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MND-B Aerial Weapons Team kills 9 criminals
BAGHDAD - An AWT from MND-Baghdad killed 9 Special Groups criminals who attacked IA soldiers with rocket-propelled grenades in Baghdad, April 6.
After they were observed firing rocket-propelled grenades at the IA soldiers, the AWT engaged the attackers by firing a Hellfire missile killing 3. The team identified 4 more criminals fleeing the scene and attempting to their hide weapons in a vehicle. The AWT fired a missile and destroyed the vehicle, killing 6 criminals.
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Detainee information leads NP to cache
FOB HAMMER - IP secured a weapons cache April 4 in Jabr al Ansari after receiving information from a detainee. The cache consisted of rockets, PKC machine guns, a SGM light machine gun, a mortar tube, mortar and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
Master Sgt. Dave Eastabrooks, with the 3rd Bde, 1st NP Training Team, packs weapons found in the cache.
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MPs carry out Police Training Team operations
Sgt. Matthew Greedys, MP Soldier positions the Handheld Inter Agency Identity Detection Equipment to input biometric data from a detainee at the Al Nashir IP Station in Mosul, April 4.
Pfc. Melissa Portillo, combat medic provides medical aid to a detainee at Al Nashir IP Station.
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Air Force dedicates combat clinic to fallen 1-10th Mtn. medic
KIRKUK - The U.S. Air Force dedicated their new Davis Combat Clinic at FOB Warrior to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis during a ribbon cutting ceremony April 6. Davis was a combat medic with Charlie Co, 10th Bde Support Bn, 1st BCT, 10th Mtn Div, attached to the brigade commander's personal support detachment. She was killed when her patrol struck an IED during combat ops Nov. 5, 2007, south of Kirkuk.
"The dedication and naming of the Davis Combat Clinic is a small tribute to the sacrifice Staff Sgt. Davis gave in the defense and service to the nation," said Lt. Col. Joseph R. Novack Jr., Bde Support Bn cmdr. He also noted while Novack had many memorable traits, the two most notable imprints she left with him were her, "Passion for being a medic and her smile."
The smiling image of Davis that adorns the entrance to the clinic would, "Welcome patients to one of the best level II medical facilities in Iraq." He said future patients would be greeted with that image and should be comforted to know they will be in good hands. "She would have it no other way," he said.
This was Davis' third tour in Iraq. She leaves behind her husband, Thomas, and three sons.
The smiling image of Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis.
Col. David Paschal, 1st Bde, 10th Mtn Div cmdr, and Soldiers and Airmen of FOB Warrior in Kirkuk attended.
The Davis Combat Clinic opened its doors April 6, 2008.
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ISF detain one suspected criminal element leader, five others in separate operations
BALAD - Iraqi SF, advised by U.S. SF, detain a suspected criminal element leader and 5 additional suspects in 2 separate ops, April 4.
In Baghdad, Iraqi SOF captured a criminal element leader suspected in attacks against Iraqi and CF. He is also believed to extort money from ISF and local nationals in the area. Another suspect is being held for questioning. During the op, ISOF received small arms fire and returned fire killing one.
In the Shuhada area of al-Kut, a SoI reported a weapons cache to the al-Kut Iraqi SWAT unit. At the location, Al-Kut ISWAT found and confiscated a 60mm mortar system, AK-47 assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers, RPG rounds, RPG boosters, and cases of small arms ammunition. Four suspects at the scene were detained for questioning.
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