Most Dangerous Job; 38th Engineers Clear Routes of IEDs for Stryker Brigade

By Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,

A Soldier from the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., prepares to drive the RG-31 multi-purpose mine protection vehicle during a route clearing mission near Taji, Iraq, Aug. 13. The RG-31 is one of four specialized vehicles the unit utilizes to clear roads of improvised explosive devices in the Stryker Brigade's area of operations.

The weighty task of clearing IEDs from all the routes in the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division's area of operations falls on the shoulders of the 38th Engineer Company. On a daily basis, the engineer Soldiers are out on the roads working to ensure they are safe for the rest of the brigade to travel on.

"My whole company and I take it very personally every time the brigade loses a Soldier to an IED," said Capt. Adam Harless, commander of the 38th Eng. Co. "A lot of my guys would like to be on the roads 24-7, because it seems like the times a unit gets hit is when we haven't been on that road."

Harless is a testament to the dangerous nature of the 38th Engineers' work.

On Thursday, the commander traveled back to the United States to receive further treatment of a leg injury obtained when an IED went off near him.

"The blast got me pretty good," Harless said, referring to the Aug. 7 incident. "I felt like I got blown up, but I felt okay. I was able to walk. It was the adrenaline, I guess."

The full extent of his injuries are unknown at this time, but the commander said he had a bad concussion and he may have a torn his Anterior Curciate Ligament (ACL).

"I just want to get it fixed and then come back," the Chester, Va., resident said adjusting the knee brace that barely conceals the bruising on his leg. "Me and my guys will never quit."

A Stryker vehicle from the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., stops along a road near Taji, Iraq, during a route clearing mission Aug. 13. Strykers provide security for other route clearing vehicles during the dangerous mission of clearing roads of improvised explosive devices.

Harless' attitude is typical of his engineer Soldiers. They seem to understand the importance of their work, and despite its dangerous nature, morale remains high.

"We are able to keep our morale up." said Sgt. 1st Class Wade Lawson, platoon sergeant with the 38th Engineers' 2nd Platoon. "The most rewarding part of the job is knowing that Soldiers in the brigade are able to travel up and down these routes safely. I have a lot of guys that don't really know me, but they know that I am part of the route clearing team, and they have come up and thanked me for keeping the roads safe."

While the engineers don't always find an IED on their patrols, many times they do. Lawson, a resident of Pittsburg, Pa., told the story of finding four IEDs in one day, all of which were spaced 100 meters apart from each other.

"It's a good feeling knowing that we have saved some Soldiers lives," he said.

Brigade commander Col. Jon Lehr said the 38th Engineers are the Stryker brigade's "unsung heroes."

"Those guys go out there everyday and put their lives on the line clearing routes, and I will tell you they are having an impact," said Lehr, a resident of Dover, Pa. "If it wasn't for them, we would have a lot more successful enemy attacks against us. I am amazed everyday with their bravery. I wish I had nine 38th Engineer Companies."

In order to do their mission, the 38th uses a wide variety of specialized vehicles. These vehicles include: the RG-31 and Cougar reconnaissance vehicles, the Husky rolling mine detector, and the Buffalo route clearance vehicle.

The engineers travel slowly along the routes, stopping to check out any suspicious object.

"We spend a lot of hours in the truck," said Sgt. Joshua Brown, 2nd Platoon team leader. "Sometimes it's five or six hours, but some have lasted 19 hours. We've taken a few hits, but by the grace of God no one has been killed."

Brown, of Cincinnati, Ohio, said the toughest part of the job is knowing that "we go out and hunt for the most dangerous thing in country. We are a small piece of the big picture, but we are a key element. It's good knowing that other elements in the task force can get down their routes safely and accomplish their mission."