10th Mountain Division finds, destroys explosives
March 23, 2006
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq (ARMY NEWS SERVICE, March 23, 2006) – Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, discovered four caches in Abu Ghraib during a five-day period beginning March 11.
The caches contained 32,000 pounds of explosives. Officials believe the sites were possible cells of operation for improvised explosive devices due to their seemingly hasty placement.
“Since we began exploiting these caches, the number of IEDs in our own area of operation has dropped to almost zero,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Brown, commander, 2-22 Inf. He added that finding the caches has “greatly reduced the enemy’s ability to impact Iraqi and Coalition operations – making the area safer for everyone, including the civilian populace,” Brown added.
Among the weapons discovered were hundreds of mortars, rockets, artillery rounds, grenades, 50 gallon drums full of rocket-propelled grenade heads, 30,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, topographical maps and a book on Wahabi beliefs, he said.
The Soldiers estimate there were around 150 mortar rounds, 60 RPG rounds, 130 grenades, 120 rockets, charges for rocket and mortar heads, along with radios, batteries, electrical wires and 40 pounds of C-4 explosives. There were also several launching devices for the mortars, rockets and grenades.
An explosives ordnance team destroyed the caches with controlled detonations.
“We conduct our mission each day with steadfast determination and persistence,” said 1st Lt. Kristofer Deniger, medical platoon leader with 2-22 Inf. “On days like this when we have success in our fight we disrupt anti-Iraqi forces and help prevent further harm to the local citizens and our Soldiers.”
(Editor’s note: Spc. Jason Jordan writes for the 1st BCT PAO, 10th Mountain Division)
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