Military

DATE=3/7/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHAN/FIGHTING (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-287289

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The fighting in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan between U-S led coalition forces and al-Qaida and Taleban fighters has been particularly fierce. V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida says reporters got a sense of just how fierce from an American soldier just off the frontlines.

TEXT: Army Sergeant Robert Healy says it was like being dropped into a hell-hole --- fighting so fierce he says the truth would be unsettling to his family.

///HEALY ACTUALITY///

I probably wouldn't tell my mom the exact truth because I wouldn't want to worry her too much but basically once we got off the aircraft, the aircraft lifted off, which is very fortunate that they were able to get out of there, we'd walked for about 30 seconds to a minute we just started getting a barrage of R-P-G [rocket-propelled grenade] rounds and small-arms fire.

///END ACTUALITY///

Sergeant Healy spoke to reporters at the Pentagon by telephone from Afghanistan. He was among the hundreds of U-S soldiers who launched Operation Anaconda last week after being dropped by helicopter into the snow-dusted mountains south of Gardez.

The Sergeant says the al-Qaida and Taleban forces who targeted his landing zone were well-armed. He says they rained mortars right on his arriving unit, causing several casualties.

///HEALY ACTUALITY///

It was actually one of the mortar rounds that hit within the area where we were at. That hit about six guys on that one and probably about ten seconds later another round came and took out about another six personnel on that one.

///END ACTUALITY///

Sergeant Healy, a 17-year Army veteran, was among the injured. But he says most of the wounds were minor.

///HEALY ACTUALITY///

The injuries were just all shrapnel to different parts of the body. The body armor saved the torso area so nobody sustained bad injuries around the chest or stomach. Most of them were to the legs and arms.

///END ACTUALITY///

Units like his quickly received air support that Sergeant Healy says kept the al-Qaida and Taleban fighters at bay.

Military officials say scores of the hostile forces have been killed in the operation while American casualties have been limited.

But Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says none of the al-Qaida or Taleban have shown any interest in surrendering, suggesting they are prepared to fight to the death. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/PT