ING, Marines dig up weapons cache
Marine Corps News
Story Identification #: 2004112212711
Story by Lance Cpl. Zachary R. Frank
FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 21, 2004) -- In the early morning hours of Nov. 19, a platoon from the Iraqi National Guard and Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a cordon-and-knock search in south-central Iraq, uncovering a large weapons cache and capturing four detainees.
Using the cover of darkness, the ING and Marines from 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, and combat engineers from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, drove into the quiet streets of Haswah setting up blocking positions with their humvees and going house to house looking for weapons and anti-Iraqi insurgents.
"It was primarily an ING mission," said 2nd Lt. Brian A. Pell, a Huron, Ohio, native and commander of 3rd Platoon. "We were more or less just there for security."
Following up on a tip, the ING began searching a large number of houses along one of Haswah's main roads for weapons and materials used in fashioning improvised explosive devices.
Systematically, the ING went door to door searching the houses in the area.
"There were known terrorists in the area," said Sgt. Robert A. Balance, a Springfield, Ill., native and a squad leader with 3rd Platoon. "It was only a matter of time until they found the right house."
The ING found nothing in the first group of houses except the customary single AK-47 rifle, which each family can legally keep for personal protection.
Finally they found the house they were looking for.
The ING soldiers made their presence known, and a 72-year-old man approached them at the door. Being very cooperative, the man allowed them to search the house. The initial sweep uncovered multiple weapons and IED-making materials.
While the ING were inside the house, a Marine providing security outside noticed a large, bottomless drum. Upon further inspection, the Marine found that the drum contained one 155 mm artillery round connected to detonation cord.
The discovery of the unused IED led the ING to begin questioning the man and his sons. After realizing they were going to be detained, it didn't take long before they told the ING and Marines where they could find everything they had hidden on their property.
The men led the ING and Marines to an open area behind the house. They then explained that there were multiple locations underground where munitions were being stored.
"They were definitely high-value targets," said Cpl. Marc A. Nickerson, a Gilroy, Calif., native and forward observer with 3rd Platoon.
The combat engineers began scanning the soil with metal detectors to find where the underground weaponry was located.
"The combat engineers played a vital role," said Pell.
As sunrise broke, the ING and Marines began to dig, uncovering the weapons underneath.
"We believe they were the primary placers of IEDs in the Haswah area," said Pell.
After hours of digging, they began to turn up RPG launchers, AK-47s, sniper rifles, mortar rounds of various sizes, police flak jackets, night-vision equipment, armor-piercing rounds, and masses of detonation wire for building IEDs.
"Everyone was out there digging, even the (company commander)," said Nickerson.
Through patience and persistence, Iraqi security forces and their multi-national allies continue to make steady gains in their campaign to restore security and stability to the area.
In the past three weeks, ISF and Marines have rounded up nearly 250 insurgents. Since the joint force began operating together in mid-August, more than 600 criminals, terrorists and other anti-Iraqi elements have been taken out of action.
"It was all the ING," said Pell. "They should take credit for finding all the weapons."
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