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3/5 unveil weapons cache in Fallujah

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 20041119115816
Story by Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr.

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 14, 2004) -- Marines with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, pushed through Fallujah clearing houses along the way and finding weapons cache left behind by insurgents Nov. 11.

At the request of the Interim Iraqi Government, the battalion moved through the city as part of Operation Phantom Fury.

The Marines went from house to house, conducting detailed searches and finding more than 100 AK-47s, 40 rocket propelled grenades, hand made weapons, machineguns and other weapons.

"At first we searched the houses in a haste manner but were able to go back to make detailed searches to find hidden weapons and ordinance," said Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Thompson, a platoon sergeant with 2nd Platoon, Company I, 3/5.

The Marines search for the caches in order to keep the weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

"It is always a good thing to have less weapons on the streets and out of the hands of insurgents, the safer it becomes for the city when we hand it back over to the Iraqi people," said Staff Sgt. Louis J. Desforges, a 27-year-old native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and a platoon sergeant with 1st Platoon, Company I, 3/5.

Company I has accomplished this task faster than expected and have been able moved onto other objectives.

"I am extremely impressed with my Marines, they have gone above and beyond expectations," said Thompson, 29, a native of Orlando, Fla.

"The success of the company can be contributed to the hard training and their determination to get the mission accomplished," said Thompson.

The Marines making the detailed searches understand that though the rooms might have been cleared they should not be content. They treat every room as though it has not been searched before.

"No one is getting complacent, we are aware of the danger that we face and treat every situation seriously," said Cpl. Marcel F. Sincich, 20, a native of San Diego and a squad leader with Weapons Platoon, Company I, 3/5. "We are pushing the enemy, at times it is hard physically and mentally but we are winning the battle by eliminating their resources."

When sizable ammunition is found the experts are called in to transport and dispose of the ordinance in a safe manner.

"To deny the enemy weapons that can cause damage saves Marines lives," said Master Sgt. Leon L. Austin, 39, a native of Huntsville, Ala., and an explosives ordinance disposal specialist with 1st EOD Platoon, Regimental Combat Team 1. "What matters most is that any items that get destroyed can't be used against us."

The battalion has been apart of an ongoing effort to get rid of the insurgents remaining in Fallujah.

"If we take the enemy's ability to fight away from them they are forced to give up," said Sincich. "Without their weapons there isn't anything to keep them stable."