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TF Danger Soldiers crack down on
illegal weapons
Story by Sgt. Matthew Acosta
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAQUBAH, Iraq -- As the war in Iraq continues, efforts are being
made to reduce the amount of available weapons used for terrorist
attacks on both the Multi-National Forces and Iraqi civilians through
frequent searches of civilian homes.
Soldiers of Task Force 1-6 Field Artillery and members
of the Iraqi police conducted a raid, Operation Centaur Showdown, Feb.
8, in Mufrek, Iraq, in search of illegal possessions or unregistered
weapons. The raid's purpose was to also discourage any enemy activity
in the area.
"Legally, its ok to have one AK-47 and one full
magazine per household as long as it's a registered weapon," said Sgt.
1st Class Jamie Loy, platoon sergeant, Brigade Reconnaissance Team,
3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. "But, what we're looking for are
unregistered weapons, bomb-making materials, explosives or anything
the every day civilian shouldn't have."
Loy said Iraqi civilians who want to own an AK-47 need
to have the weapon registered with the local Iraqi police station.
Civilians need to bring their identification and weapon to the police
station so the serial number can be recorded and matched to the
identity of the owner.
The Soldiers have been working closely with the Iraqi
policemen during these raids, teaching policemen what to look for and
where to look to find weapons and other illegal items.
With the support of M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, gun
trucks equipped with Browning M-2 .50 caliber heavy machineguns and
Mk-19 automatic grenade launchers and various other crew-served
small-arms weapons, an estimated 55 Soldiers and 60 Iraqi policemen
searched a 100-home neighborhood of Mufrek, a small Iraqi suburb of
Baqubah.
"One goal of the raid was to successfully intermix
Iraqi policemen to go in as a 'soft knock' instead of tearing the door
down and entering the houses," said Sgt. Brian R. Peterson, team
leader, BRT. "It feels so much better having them go in (the houses)
and deal with the people they should be dealing with, instead of us."
Peterson said working side by side with them makes the
raids more comfortable, and that between the interpreters and Iraqi
police it makes the missions run much smoother.
Having the policemen there puts Iraqi faces on the
missions, said 1st Lt. Christian Boggiano, platoon leader, BRT. They
know the people and the area and can talk with the homeowners.
Together it makes for less apprehension between the Soldiers and the
civilians.
The search yielded a variety of weapons that could have
resulted in more deaths if they had fallen into terrorist hands.
The confiscated weapons were brought to the local
police stations where they will be held until the owners go to the
station and register the weapons. Upon registration the weapon will be
returned to the owner (AK-47's only). If the weapons are not properly
registered, they will be turned over to the Iraqi Army for use.
"Working together with the Iraqi forces gives me hope
for this country so they can take care of it on their own," said Pfc.
William Baisley, rifleman, BRT.
According to the task force situation report, the
American and Iraqi combined raid produced more than 65 unregistered
weapons, to include two sniper rifles and a complete set of ballistic
body armor.
Although the raid resulted in numerous confiscated
weapons, the mission was completed without any enemy contact or
incidents.
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Text for release and opsec review provided by the 1st Infantry
Division Public Affairs Office. For more information, please contact
1ID PAO at firstid.pao@us.army.mil OR CALL 703-621-3944.
Release #A050211b |
