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COURTESY OF 1ST SGT. ROBERT JENNINGS While on patrol in Bajiwan, Iraq, 1st Sgt. Robert Jennings spotted two boys and gave them lollipops. They took the candy, sat down next to the road and started eating.

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Anti-terror operations
with Iraqis hurt enemy

» 16 Jan. 1815 hours: We just received a report from police that an Iraqi soldier was wounded while fighting off four kidnappers at his residence. This has been a common practice in and around Baghdad, but it is the first kidnap attempt on a soldier in this area.

» 16 Jan. 1830 hours: Police just called to inform us of an attempted carjacking. The driver was killed and the passenger injured. The police are conducting a full investigation.

We have been expecting this spike in violence, like the two prior incidents, as the elections near. We have relied heavily on the police for protection of the city. We have not decreased our patrols, but we can't cover the entire city. The police have gone through some extra training over the last few weeks in preparations for the elections. We will soon find out how effective that training was.

» 17 Jan. 1130 hours: We just received a report that the chief of human rights and his son were killed this morning in southern Kirkuk.

Again the enemy is focusing on soft targets. Targets with little security that they think are working with coalition forces. It's a crying shame that they would kill one of their own countrymen that is lobbying for all Iraqis.

» 19 Jan.: Charlie Company, along with police, conducted a raid in the southern portion of the city. The targeted individual as well as his two brothers was detained on charges of kidnapping, smuggling weapons and harboring foreign fighters.

» 20 Jan.: Alpha Company, along with the police SMT (similar to SWAT), conducted a raid in the northwest portion of the city. A few minutes after dismounting the vehicles, both objectives were secure and the suspects were being taken to the front yard for questioning.

They are all suspected of bombing oil pipelines and placing roadside bombs. Assorted information and anti-Iraqi propaganda were just some of the items seized on the objective.

This was a successful mission because we put SMT up front and let them conduct the entry and initial search. We followed them and supervised their detailed search. As we continue operations like this, it is very important that we continue to let the Iraqi authorities lead the missions under our supervision. We are really trying to train ourselves out of a job; but we are there in force, just in case anything goes wrong.

» 20 Jan. 0853 hours: Iraqi soldiers engaged a man trying to set a roadside bomb near a traffic control point. After the area was secured, Iraqi bomb experts moved in and defused it.

» 20 Jan. 1910 hours: Our police called to say they found a man shot twice in his car. Our interpreters called the hospital and found out he was dead on arrival. He was identified as a police station chief from a small village just northwest of the city.

» 20 Jan. 2000 hours: I think back to one year ago at this time. We were at Schofield Barracks telling all the family members they had to leave the area so we could finish our final equipment draw and inspection. It seems like an eternity, one year and still going.

» 21 Jan.: Charlie Company, Head Quarters Company and Iraqi security forces conducted simultaneous raids to detain individuals suspected of assassinating intelligence operatives.It only took a few minutes from the start until all objectives were secure and personnel were in custody. All personnel targeted were rounded up and enough contraband was found to ensure these guys don't get out for a while.

It's been a pretty long year since we've been gone. Most of the soldiers are unfazed, but you can see the toll in some of their eyes. With the elections only seven days away we will continue to stay on the tail of the enemy day and night.

Florida soldier battles
terrorism on Iraqi soil

Jason Manchester

Manchester said he joined the military to fight terrorism. He said, "I was hoping I would get a chance to deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq." He added, "This deployment has also been very sobering. I married just before we left. It's hard to say goodbye to someone you love so much."

Manchester said that reality set in immediately upon arrival to Iraq. He said: "We were woken up the first morning by a rocket and mortar attack. There was no doubt that I was in Iraq."

Manchester talked about what he's seen develop since he's been here.

He said, "I can tell that our rebuilding efforts are working. I really think this country has a bright future as soon as security has been established."

I asked Manchester to tell me one of the most memorable things that's happened to him here. He said, "There's been a few. The day John Amos was killed by the suicide car bomber was something I will never forget. I also enjoyed handing out clothes to the displaced civilians that lived in the tents."

Manchester finished his interview by saying hello to mother Cynthia, sister Jennifer in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., dad Russell, in Astor, Fla., and his wife, Sarah, back in Hawaii.