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'Fox' roams the country

by Lance Cpl. Erik Villagran

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, are overcoming different terrain to accomplish their mission.

Lance Cpl. Jeremia D. Jones, a 20-year-old rifleman attached to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, prepares to go down a steep hill while patrolling Nov. 7. Marines patrolled the streets and countryside of Sitcher, Iraq. They searched marketplaces and vehicles for weapons or anything suspicious. (photo by Lance Cpl.Erik Villagran)

Marines from F Company conducted a foot patrol through the roads and countryside of Sitcher Nov. 7.

"The patrol was in support of another platoon," said Cpl. Layne R. Fenimore, a 21-year-old assaultman from Bradenton, Fla. "We wanted to see how the people reacted to what we searched after we left."

Marines set off on foot to avoid some of the dangers of traveling on main roads. Common hazards along roads in the area are improvised explosive devices. They also wanted to reach their objective without making detours.

"We stayed on foot so we could cut through the villages," Fenimore said. "There is also a high risk of IEDs along the roads in the area."

Marines moved into a rural area to search for anything suspicious. Marines had to travel on various types of terrain once they left the main road. They climbed hills, sunk into soft sand, jumped over irrigation ditches and sloshed through mud to reach there objective.

Marines stopped at a little marketplace and conducted a search. They asked questions of the owners of two markets and had them open all the doors of their shops. They searched each room of the marketplaces but didn't find any contraband.

"We chose random places to search," said Pfc. Mathew L. Merryfield, a 23-year-old rifleman from Rocky Mount, Va. "We just wanted to see how they would react to our searches."

Vehicles in front of the two markets were also searched for anything illegal. Marines looked for weapons, IED-making materials or anything that didn't belong. They questioned the drivers and let them go.

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