Press Release
April 03, 2007
SSG Brown and SSG Oberneder of Alpha Company 414th Civil Affairs BN, speak with a local Iraqi concerning ongoing security operations at the Adahamiya DAC building.
Baghdad , Iraq - Operations concerning the security of Baghdad are ongoing as the surge of troops continues here on the ground. Almost daily new faces are showing up and being utilized to secure and hold key neighborhoods of Iraq ’s capital. While the insurgents haven’t given up, progress is being made. Recently on a mission that took me back to the neighborhood of Adahamiya where both myself and one of my soldiers were shot by a sniper in October of 2006, my governance team attended a security meeting at the District Advisory Council (DAC) building to discuss how the Baghdad Security Operation was being received. Our security escorts on this mission were new guys from a Brigade Combat Team out of the 82nd Airborne Division. As we prepared to depart on what would be their first mission outside the wire, I looked into the youthful eyes of those boys who would be manning their Humvees as we convoyed to our meeting. Standing before me were soldiers of average age and common last names. They were the sons, brothers, husbands and fathers to their loved ones back in America , and they were just starting what would probably be the longest year of their life. Having volunteered twice to get where they are now, the first time was when they joined the army and a second time when they attended Airborne School . Every one of them in their early twenties dressed head to toe in the Army’s newest camouflage and body armor. Bearing the weight of their individual combat loads consisting of weapons, ammo, smoke grenades and other miscellaneous specialized gear, some shifted back and forth in an attempt to adjust and endure the strain of listening to the convoy brief. Placing their helmets on and tightening chinstraps as the briefing came to an end, their convoy commander, a young sergeant himself, asked if there were any questions. Literally being the old man at 36 in this group of soldiers, I explained the best ways in and out of the DAC compound where we would be traveling to attend our meeting. With head nods and fingers tracing map routes laid on the hood of the Humvee, I further explained my personal thoughts about exactly how much I liked this area in Baghdad . I quickly reminded everyone that we must be prepared for all eventualities. Most of all, I reminded them that everyone starts at the same point. “A year ago I was you and going on my first mission, too,” I continued. “No matter what happens, we complete the mission and get through this day. Stay focused, rely on your training, and do your jobs.” Their sergeant gave the order to load up and our convoy rolled down the street and out the gates.
Stepping from the Humvee upon arrival inside the walled compound of the DAC building, I brought my M4 carbine to my shoulder and quickly scanned the adjacent roofline on my side. As the Humvees took up positions for security, the convoy sergeant approached and confirmed what I suspected. The other CA Team and security escorts hadn’t arrived yet. We were the only coalition forces there. I then found and spoke with the Department of State Foreign Service Officer from the Governance Section of the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team that I worked with to inform him of our current situation. We decided that he and I would take two soldiers into the DAC hall, do introductions and take some atmospherics prior to the beginning of the meeting. The convoy sergeant would secure the outside and wait for the other convoy. The DAC hall was crowded with numerous Iraqis waiting to see their public officials. After posting the two guards outside the office door, I escorted the Foreign Service Officer inside so he could begin speaking with the District Chairman through our interpreter. Since the conversation was going well, I went back outside to check on everyone else and was much relieved to see an American convoy entering through the gates. As I turned around, I literally bumped into my old roommate and fellow team sergeant from Alpha Company. That big Wisconsin smile and accent are hard to miss. “What’s up, buddy?” he said as I extended my hand. “Adahamiya looks great!” I replied pointing to the numerous bullet holes on the second floor of a building across the street. “Best it’s ever been. Well, sometimes the natives get a little restless,” he said smiling as soldiers throughout the compound began taking positions to ensure 360 degrees of security. He and I returned inside and began speaking with a few local nationals as the officers started their security meeting. Many times while out among the Iraqis, civil affairs specialists engage in conversation with locals to get a feel for conditions at the street level. This type of firsthand reporting can be especially useful when determining the progress and situation developing on the ground and especially during the security operations now taking place. Like most meetings in Iraq , starting on time is always a challenge. Today would be no different than any other meeting I’ve been at over the last year. As the meeting was starting late, I knew we were in for a long afternoon.
Throughout the day, I coordinated with the convoy sergeant concerning the status of his soldiers. We both checked on his men a number of times to ensure they were alert and aware of their surroundings. The only problem we had during the meeting was that one of the Humvees started to smoke because of a little fire in the engine compartment. With the help of a few soldiers, this was quickly put out and the drivability for the return convoy was quickly assessed. It was determined that the Humvee would be able to make the trip back without being towed, just no AC for the guys inside. Back inside the DAC hall and after another hour of trying to understand broken English with a heavy Arabic accent, the security meeting was finally over. About this same time, I heard a muffled and distant boom outside. As three soldiers came inside and ran up the stairs to the roof of the DAC hall, we were given the report of two IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices) detonating near our location. One of the soldiers returning from the roof said that another convoy had been going through the adjacent traffic circle to the DAC hall when one IED was used on the lead Humvee and a second on a Bradley fighting vehicle. The patrol was able to continue movement and did so without sustaining any casualties or any further engagement. Looking at my old roommate I said, “The natives are getting restless again, glad the meeting is over, I’m going to grab my Department of State guy and return to base. I’ll see you next time.” As he smiled he replied, “You betcha, take it easy and see you at BIAP ( Baghdad International Airport ) someday.” The convoy sergeant began to ready his soldiers outside for departure as I found my Department of State Officer and his interpreter, helping them both by putting their body armor back on for our return movement.
As the convoy readied to leave, I thought how strange that during this whole time in Adahamiya I hadn’t heard any gunshots yet. Alpha Company has always referred to this part of Baghdad as the Wild West. Of course that means the insurgents are the Indians and us being the good guys, we are the Cavalry. This adversarial relationship has caused much conflict in the past. However, today Adahamiya had been very quiet, almost too quiet in fact. Even with the two IED attacks from earlier, there just hadn’t been the normal sporadic gunfire that had made the Wild West famous. Counting heads and making sure everyone had their sensitive items, the Humvees began to roll. Out the compound gates and taking an immediate right, the normal street clutter was shattered by a distinct three shot burst that was all too common. As I glanced up at the turret gunner, his voice cracked while he spun around to his rear. The convoy radio was instantly alive with the phrase, “Shots fired, Shots fired!” being repeated over and over. The turret gunner reported he didn’t see anything and had no positive identification on the shooter. A few seconds passed and there was nothing. Members of the convoy were talking back and forth when I interrupted and said that the shots were more than likely just Iraqi Police clearing vehicles out of the traffic circle near the DAC hall. I then further explained that a single three shot burst is most often fired by the Iraqi Police who are trying to “encourage” drivers to move along that have lingered too much at intersections they are providing traffic control over. I reassured the convoy sergeant, whose vehicle I was riding in, that the shots heard were exactly that and nothing more. I further stated he and his men would soon get used to it and be able to distinguish the difference between encouraging traffic to move vs. angry shots directed at them. He gave me the strangest look before he turned back around to peer out his front windshield. Other than the half dozen or so near misses on vehicle strikes during the return convoy, the trip back was otherwise uneventful. You see, a Humvee is extremely wide and the traffic here, well on a good day it’s like a continuous rush hour. Maneuvering Humvees in Baghdad requires skill that most soldiers usually receive through on-the-job training. It just takes time to gain the necessary experience required to complete daily missions. All in all, the day’s mission was a success. We went, we came back, and no one was hurt or killed. Sometimes experience can be had without much cost, today had been one of those days.
As I slammed shut the heavy armored door of the departing Humvee, I thought how during my deployment I’ve experienced and learned many things. One of the most important lessons being the understanding of how most everything can be placed into one of two categories here in Iraq. It’s either a problem or it’s an issue. A problem is something of dire consequences that usually begins or ends with a boom or a bang. These problems demand your complete and full attention and require decisive action. Issues are simply everything else. I hope this lesson is learned and stays with the new 82nd soldiers. As talk of our replacements and rotating home is commonplace now, even though no exact date has been set, the challenge to finish strong and not become complacent remains paramount in our daily thoughts and actions. But every once in awhile, I think of home and all the fun I’ll have dealing with issues again whether in Jefferson City or at my house. I never thought I’d look forward to the day when issues would become a welcomed occurrence.
Until next time, be safe and God Bless.
While catching a â €śhop” on the Iron Horse
Express,
Representative/Staff Sergeant Jason Brown along
with another soldier head back into action in
Baghdad .
