Published: March 31, 2006
Nebraska's Alpha Troop 1-167 Cavalry Find Weapons Cache, NW Ramadi
RAMADI, Iraq - Soldiers from Alpha Troop 1-167 Cavalry from Nebraska, attached to the 2/28 Brigade Combat Team (2/28 BCT), discovered a significant weapons cache on the morning of March 30, 2006.
Members of Alpha Troop 1-167 Cavalry (from left to right) Sgt Daniel Walford, Nebraska, Sgt. Randall Barnason, Nebraska, Sgt. Thomas Scanlon, New York & Staff Sgt. Tyler Powell, Nebraska proudly display the part of the weapons cache they helped discover
Photo: A Troop 1-167 Cavalry |
The Nebraska Soldiers discovered the weapons cache, while conducting Counter Insurgency Operations (COIN), in the Zangora area northwest of Ramadi; a former insurgent stronghold.
"By earning the trust of the local Iraqi citizens, a small child felt safe enough to tell our Soldiers of possible weapons buried somewhere in the field. Not all of the people here are bad, but the insurgents continue to live and hide amongst them. The innocent Iraqi citizens want the area to return to a sense of calm and normalcy," said Alpha 1-167 Cavalry's 2nd Platoon Leader 1st Lt. Jacques Smith.
The weapons cache consisted of: various USSR vehicle screening smoke grenades, numerous USSR PG-2 propellant charges, Chinese projectiles, and abundance of large caliber ammunition rounds.
Members of Alpha Troop 1-167 Cavalry (from left to right) Sgt. Thomas Scanlon, New York & Staff Sgt. Tyler Powell, Nebraska proudly display the part of the weapons cache they helped discover on the morning of March 30, 2006.
Photo: A Troop 1-167 Cavalry |
Lt. Smith and his Platoon discovered the weapons cache, during a joint mission, with the Soldiers from Bravo 1-104th Cavalry of Task Force 1-172 AR. Capt. Jeff Searcy, Company Commander of Alpha Troop 1-167 Cavalry from Nebraska, attributed the success of the cache find to the persistence of the Soldiers becoming more familiar with their battle space.
"Successful COIN Operations like this are occurring throughout the 2/28 BCT Battle space. Our actions are causing the insurgents to run out of places to hide. It is our combined Armed Forces team that the insurgents can't stop," said Capt. Searcy.
Once the cache was secure, the Brigade Quick Reaction Force (QRF) led by 2nd Lt. Mathew Misfeldt, Alpha Troop 1-167 Cavalry's 1st Platoon Leader, escorted the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD) to the cache site. EOD conducted a controlled detonation in order to destroy the weapons cache.
There were no casualties or equipment damage to Coalition Forces.
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