Local Soldiers Disrupt Weapons Supply in Iraq

By Cpl. Dustin Weidman

Digging to disrupt.

Sgt. Neil Mesick and Spc. Jason McElroy search for a weapons cache in the early hours of the morning Photo: Cpl. Dustin Weidman, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - Sgt. Neil Mesick and Spc. Jason McElroy search for a weapons cache in the early hours of the morning, during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad. Mesick, a resident of Wahiawa, Hawaii, and McElroy, a native of Milwaukee, are both infantrymen assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. During Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave, the MND-B Soldiers from 1st Bn. 21st Inf. Regt., joined with their Iraqi Army counterparts from the 24th Battalion, 6th IA Division, to search targeted areas historically used by terrorists in the vicinity of Abu Ghuraib to plant improvised-explosive devices and transport weapons and militants to Baghdad. The one-day operation netted 20 caches throughout the Abu Ghuraib area.

Say again?

Sgt Chris Chaparro, a native of Rancho Cordova, Calif., double checks a hole with his metal detector before Spc. Ricky Lyles, a native of Pharr, Texas, digs any deeper. Photo: Cpl. Dustin Weidman, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - Sgt Chris Chaparro, a native of Rancho Cordova, Calif., double checks a hole with his metal detector before Spc. Ricky Lyles, a native of Pharr, Texas, digs any deeper while searching for a weapons cache during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad. Both Soldiers are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. During Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave, the MND-B Soldiers from 1st Bn. 21st Inf. Regt., joined with their Iraqi Army counterparts from the 24th Battalion, 6th IA Division, to search targeted areas historically used by terrorists in the vicinity of Abu Ghuraib to plant improvised-explosive devices and transport weapons and militants to Baghdad. The one-day operation netted 20 caches throughout the Abu Ghuraib area.

Picking away

Staff Sgt Jacob Aliksa, a native of Honolulu, uses a pick axe to loosen the ground while searching for a weapons cache during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad. Photo: Cpl. Dustin Weidman, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - Staff Sgt Jacob Aliksa, a native of Honolulu, uses a pick axe to loosen the ground while searching for a weapons cache during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad. Aliksa is a squad leader assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. During Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave, the MND-B Soldiers from 1st Bn. 21st Inf. Regt., joined with their Iraqi Army counterparts from the 24th Battalion, 6th IA Division, to search targeted areas historically used by terrorists in the vicinity of Abu Ghuraib to plant improvised-explosive devices and transport weapons and militants to Baghdad. The one-day operation netted 20 caches throughout the Abu Ghuraib area.

Sunrise

The residents of Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad, woke to the sight and sounds of more than 300 Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior." Photo: Cpl. Dustin Weidman, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - The residents of Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad, woke to the sight and sounds of more than 300 Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, and their partners from the 24th Battalion, 6th Iraqi Army Division. Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave, the MND-B and IA Soldiers searched targeted areas historically used by terrorists in the vicinity of Abu Ghuraib to plant improvised-explosive devices and transport weapons and militants to Baghdad. The one-day operation netted 20 caches throughout the Abu Ghuraib area.

Search

Staff Sgt. Anton Kiren, a resident of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, digs for a possible weapons cache that was pointed out by Spc Ricky Lyles, native of Pharr, Texas, during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf Photo: Cpl. Dustin Weidman, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - Staff Sgt. Anton Kiren, a resident of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, digs for a possible weapons cache that was pointed out by Spc Ricky Lyles, native of Pharr, Texas, during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad, Oct. 4. Both Soldiers are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regimen, "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. Gimlet Tidal Wave, joined Soldiers from 1st Bn. 21st Inf. Regt. with their Iraqi Army counterparts from the 24th Battalion, 6th IA Division to search targeted historic areas around Abu Ghuraib used by terrorists to plant improvised-explosive devices and transport weapons and fighters to Baghdad. The one-day operation netted 20 caches throughout the Abu Ghuraib area.

Steady

Pfc. Jordan Eddy, native of Lakewood, Colo., and gunner for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, crosses the river on a pipe Photo: Cpl. Dustin Weidman, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - Pfc. Jordan Eddy, native of Lakewood, Colo., and gunner for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, "Gimlets," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, crosses the river on a pipe during a dismounted patrol during Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave in Aqur Quf, northwest of Baghdad. During Operation Gimlet Tidal Wave, the MND-B Soldiers from 1st Bn. 21st Inf. Regt., joined with their Iraqi Army counterparts from the 24th Battalion, 6th IA Division, to search targeted areas historically used by terrorists in the vicinity of Abu Ghuraib to plant improvised-explosive devices and transport weapons and militants to Baghdad. The one-day operation netted 20 caches throughout the Abu Ghuraib area.

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