Dear Interested Reader,
A most interesting story about the 320th FAR, from their history in Vietnam to their present role in Iraq. The 10th Cav. Regt. enjoy the sweet side of their mission, delivering playground equipment and school supplies to kindergartners. New road creates path to a better life for area residents of Balad. Suspected criminal leader captured, along with other terrorists; and weapons caches seized. CF further degrades Iranian lethal aid network.
Joanna
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Nov. 3, 2008
Blackanthem Military News
Bastogne artillerymen fall back on traditional role during raid
By Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny
Soldiers from Alpha Btry, 2nd Bn, 320th FAR, run out of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Op Balls Jackson I, Oct. 9, 2008. The artillery Soldiers role in the op was to set up and fire an artillery barrage in order to deny enemy extraction routes for an air assault op 10 km away.
AD DUJAYL - Over the course of 7 years during the Vietnam War, the 2nd Bn, 320th FAR earned the nickname, "Balls of the Eagle," where they earned 15 campaign streamers, 2 Valorous Unit Awards, and a Presidential Unit Citation.
During those rain-filled, muggy days in the jungles of Vietnam, an artillery Soldier was primarily focused on providing timely, lethal fires in support of ground forces. The role of the traditional artilleryman in Afghanistan and Iraq has evolved in recent years though, and so too has the artillery Soldier.
Today he finds himself conducting counter-insurgency ops. This change in mission has often taken him away from what he knows best...putting 'steel on target.' Falling back on the traditional role as cannon crew members, Soldiers from Alpha Btry conducted an artillery raid Oct. 9, 2008, in support of an assault force during Op Balls Jackson I, an air assault op in the Jazeera Desert.
Two 105mm Howitzers were lifted via CH-47 Chinook helicopters to an isolated, predetermined landing zone. The combat-loaded, air assault Soldiers jumped off the back of the Chinook helicopters and began preparing their firing positions, just as their Vietnam-era brethren did more than 40 years ago.
"The artillery support during the op gave us the ability to block the enemy extraction routes during the assault, keeping the enemy isolated on the objective," said Capt. Adalberto Rodriguez, Alpha Btry cmdr. "It gave us battlefield supremacy."
According to the Maj. Timothy Frambes, 2-320th EO, the location in the Jazeera Desert has become an AQI support zone, where they have sought safe haven from CF ops. He said due to his bn's efforts with increasing the security in the population centers in the area, the enemy has sought refuge in the desert, and the air assault op allowed Alpha Btry the element of surprise. "The enemy loses his advantage when we arrive by air to root him out of his hiding places," said Frambes. "The demonstrated lethality, accuracy, and speed of an air assault, combined with artillery fires, completely evaporates the pool of support formerly given to them."
Not every artillery unit in the Army performs these types of ops; however, artillery units in the 101st Abn Div pride themselves on them. Numerous training hours are devoted on perfecting each and every individual task associated with such a highly-complex op. Gun teams must be precise, fires must be coordinated and the air assault force must be swift and agile because lives are in jeopardy, if one element is not on target.
A 'gun team' from Alpha Btry, brace for the concussion of an 105mm howitzer. during Operation Balls Jackson I Oct. 9, 2008. The artillery Soldiers role in the operation was to set up and fire an artillery barrage in order to deny enemy extraction routes for an air assault operation 10 kilometers away.
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
MND-B Soldiers work with school for playground equipment, school supplies
FOB FALCON -
SSgt. Christopher Boyer, a fire support specialist assigned to Troop B, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, carries children's chairs into the classroom at the Al-Akmar Kindergarten School, Oct. 27 in southern Baghdad's Mechaniks community.
(Army photos by Sgt. David Hodge)
A class of Iraqi kindergarten students assemble around a table in new chairs. Soldiers from the 1st BCT, worked closely with neighborhood leaders to bring new playground equipment and supplies to the school.
Two Iraqi children enjoy a new swing set.
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1st BCT Solders detain wanted criminals in Rashid
BAGHDAD - At approx. 1 a.m. Oct. 30, Soldiers from Co C, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 2 suspected criminals in the Jihad community of southern Baghdad.
Soldiers from Troop C, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 2 suspected criminals in the Abu T'shir neighborhood at approx. 12:30 a.m., Oct. 31. The suspects are believed to be responsible for IED attacks against Iraqi SF and local citizens.
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New road creates path to better life for area residents
BALAD - To underscore the commitment the GOI and Iraqi SF have made to the people of Iraq, 4th IA
Div soldiers supported the 561st Engineering Co and U.S. Forces, to make a previously impassable road serviceable.
This project consisted of installing a culvert and bridges over canals and ravines in the Uzaym River Valley. Completion of the work led to the ability to travel on the road, which connects Samarra and corresponding routes northeast of Baghdad. Iraqis in rural areas are now better able to meet basic needs, such as obtaining fresh drinking water and accessing emergency services.
According to Iraqi SF, many of the local residents told them they must travel from 20 to 80 km to the Tigris River to get potable water. The more secure, better accessible route increases the number of teachers willing to commute to these rural areas. This is significant in some areas, like the village of Motibiju, which has gone without teachers for their 12-room schoolhouse for more than 2 years.
"[The road] will allow farmers with their large trucks to get their crops from their villages to the markets in Samarra, Balad and Tikrit," said the captain. "This will have a huge economic impact come the next harvest season."
"There was no hope before, but projects like this return hope and make the Iraqi people feel the new GOI is more powerful in its mission to make Iraqi people's lives better," said the Iraqi army scout.
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ISF captures suspected criminal leader, terrorists during separate ops
BALAD - Oct. 30, during an op in Balad Ruz, IA elements captured a suspected Special Groups criminal battalion cmdr. The individual is believed to be responsible for conducting kidnappings, sectarian violence and smuggling.
In a separate op, Iraqi SOF captured 3 suspected AQI cell members in eastern Mosul. They are allegedly responsible for assassinations and kidnappings for ransom.
In another op, Iraqi NP arrested 4 suspected AQI cells leaders in Diyala province. One of the individuals is believed to be the regional leader of AQI in the Hamrin area and a Diyala provincial leader. Three individuals also captured are allegedly responsible for sniper and IED attacks against CF.
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Coalition Forces Strike Another Blow to Iranian Lethal Aid Network
BAGHDAD — The Iranian-sponsored Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq network was further degraded today with the capture of 6 network criminals by CF early Nov. 2, in Nasiriyah, in the Dhi Qar province.
Acting on intel info, CF targeted alleged Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq criminals in 2 separate ops in Nasiriyah.
At the first location, CF approached the location of the wanted men, and apprehended 2 individuals without incident. Four additional alleged Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq criminals were apprehended by CF at a second location in Nasiriyah.
Asaib al Haq is assessed to receive funding, training, weapons and even direction from the Iranian Quds Force, who have shown a desire to destabilize the legitimate GOI. Iraqi and CF are working together to prevent Iranian lethal aid from endangering the Iraqi people.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers find caches north of Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Nov. 1, at approx. 10 p.m., IA soldiers along with Soldiers from Co C, 1st Bn, 14th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, seized a cache north of Baghdad. The cache included 4 90 mm projectiles, 3 122 mm projectiles, a 120 mm mortar, 20 pounds of powdered aluminum, approx. 30 pounds of explosives, 10 pounds of sulfur, 4 washing machine timers, 6 batteries, 4 radios, 10 feet of red detonation cord, and an assortment of insulated wires.
Less than an hour later, IA soldiers and Soldiers serving with the 1st Bn, 502nd Inf Regt, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), responded to a tip from a concerned citizen in Kadhamiyah. Located in the courtyard of a house was an AK-47 rifle with 8 full magazines, 50 loose 7.62 mm rounds, a pair of binoculars, an IA flak vest, a RPG booster, 3 grenades with fuses, and 5 radios with chargers.
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