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A Soldier’s Story First Sgt. Robert Jennings |
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Troops call police
to handle most
violence among Iraqis
21 Sept 1930 hours » Two explosions are heard from the patrol base. I walked into the radio room and listened as reports came in from the rooftop observation posts in the city. Our head interpreter, "Mike," called the police to investigate. One of the observation posts reports it sounded like a rocket propelled grenade being fired.
Soldiers on call loaded their assigned trucks and prepared to move out. The police reported that an RPG was fired at a police outpost. No casualties because the missile missed and hit the building behind them. The soldiers in the trucks were ordered to stand down and restage equipment.
We are using the local police to take care of most of the firefights and attacks when it's Iraqi on Iraqi violence. We try to stay in the shadows and observe their actions. This is new experience and trade for most of them. Our whole mindset behind putting them to the grind is when they can do all their duties proficiently unsupervised, there will be no need for American forces here.
24 Sept 1330 hours » BOOM and ZIP, the sound of a 107 mm rocket flies over the patrol base from the river bed toward the airbase. I listened for an impact as I ran toward the radio room to report to higher-ups: "no impact explosion."
The radio is busy with reports. I was correct; it was fired from the river bed. The round zipping overhead has become a familiar sound. It has been a few months since we have had one of these fired in the daytime. The round did land on the airbase with no explosion. Thankfully, no casualties were reported.
Other than the two previously mentioned occurrences, this has probably been the slowest week we have had in months. We have continued our regular patrol routines with no resistance or engagements to report. As we near both the elections in the U.S. and here in Iraq, things may change.
The insurgents here know that our elections are in a few months and may cause problems to bring the focus back on them. With the widespread and instant media coverage of every U.S. soldier injured or killed, it keeps these terrorist in the limelight where they like to be.
There was some good news received this week. We heard some tentative dates of our possible departure and return to Hawaii.
We may be spending Christmas here, but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel. I've learned in my 20-plus years in the Army that everything is tentative until my boots are climbing the steps to get on the aircraft. I will "tell all" as dates are confirmed.
So wives and husbands of soldiers deployed from 2nd Brigade, get in contact with your FRG (Family Readiness Group) points of contact. You can never start too early in preparation for our return.
God Bless and Aloha.
Reality check
for soldier in Iraq
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Blais said when he found out he was deploying, he envisioned a much more rural fight, similar to Afghanistan's long-range patrols and vast, open areas. He said, "My initial reaction when we hit the ground was shock. It wasn't what I was expecting. The standard of living is so much different. What Iraqis see as important things in life are far different than what Americans do."
He continued by saying, "Now that we've been here awhile, I see a far more structured society than when we arrived. It seems like more Iraqis are looking to take responsibility for the rebuilding effort."
I asked Blais what has been the saddest thing he has seen here in Iraq. He said, "We were at the hospital on patrol one night and a pickup truck pulled up with an injured innocent bystander of a car bomb. This kid was about 18 and his mom was cradling him in the bed of the truck. It was heart-wrenching watching the mother's reaction after they pronounced him dead on arrival."
I asked what the most rewarding thing he's seen. He said, "Watching the new soldiers in the platoon develop. As we have gotten further into the deployment, they have been given greater responsibilities and have shown themselves equal to the tasks."
He added, "Working with all my guys in the platoon has really been an honor."
He finished his interview by saying "Hi" to all his family and friends in Massachusetts. "Love you, Mom, and don't worry, Dad, my six is clear."