mySSnews

13 Oct 08
Forward Operating Base Falcon

We were running behind schedule. Not only that, but the regular route we take to get to Patrol Base Jedi was cordoned off – an EFP (Explosively Formed Projectile – the worst of the IEDs) had just went off and we had to take an alternate route. I didn’t want to be late; our brigade commander from the 101st Air Assault Division was flying in to check out the progress on our patrol base.

The alternate route we took had been “Red” lately (meaning it was not advisable to take that road due to IED activity) but that day it was just “Amber”so we took it. Rarely does a road/route around here get “Green” status anyway, so taking an “Amber” route was no big deal.

As our mounted combat patrol of MRAPs converged on PB Jedi, I was looking at my watch, “We should get there about 10 minutes before ‘Rakkasan 6’ arrives; that gives us just enough time to secure the LZ,” I thought to myself.

Within a mile of our destination I bark out over our internal headsets, “Put me up on the Rak freq.” I wanted to talk to the inbound birds to get their ETA. The gunner (SFC Colon) switched the freq. for me. Gunners are closest to the MRAP bank of radios and they are always pulling duty of changing radio frequencies.

As soon as SFC Colon switched the freq. I could hear the pilots: “… inbound in 3 minutes.” Damn! He’s early! Fortunately, we were just pulling inside the outer perimeter.

“Truck 1 and 2, take 10 o’clock on the LZ, Truck 3 take 4 o’clock.”

“Roger, Jedi 6,” was the reply from my guys.

“Inbound aircraft, this Jedi 6. Your LZ is secure.” I could see them in a descent already.

“Roger, Jedi 6,” was the reply from the air mission commander of the Blackhawk helicopters.

Within 60 seconds of us arriving at the LZ, the UH-60s had landed and I was out there to greet Rakkasan 6. Timing is everything.

Once the dust settled – literally – I took Rakkasan 6 (the brigade commander) around to show him the progress on our patrol base. Everything is on schedule. But I couldn’t wait to show him the big enchilada: The big cache of weapons and explosives that our Iraqi unit had recovered from a tip an informant called in. Jackpot!

The Intelligence Officer from the Iraqi Army (IA) brigade we advise has been on a tear recently, getting info on these caches. And even better, with each tip we get and cache we discover, we are detaining personnel with knowledge of other caches in the area. It’s been like a domino effect. We have been rolling up some key individuals in this IED/weapons network and taking a lot of dangerous IED-making materiel and weapons off the streets.

While I was showing the recent cache to our brigade commander and relaying the details of the find, I get word that the local media will arrive shortly with their TV cameras. This is perfect — getting the good word out to the public, and proudly showing the Iraqi Army did it all themselves.

One of my first thoughts was to protect our interpreters during the interviews. Our ’terps all have secret identities. All of them have cover stories they tell their friends and family as to where they work. Even in 2008, it’s not entirely safe for them to tell everyone they know what they do for a living – being an interpreter for U. S. Forces. All of our ’terps have “stage” names. During TV interviews, they stay off camera and interpret discreetly from a short distance.

By the time you read this, we will have been deployed for over 10 weeks. We are 20 percent complete with our tour. Time flies when you’re busy like we have been. I really try not to start counting the days – but everyone does it. You can’t help but think about these little milestones.

The Halloween decorations are up in my trailer. It’s little stuff like decorations that help to stay connected to home. It’s fun trying to explain the concept of Halloween to the Iraqis. “Okay, what you do is to dress up in a scary outfit and then knock on people’s doors to get free candy!”

Before I close out this episode, I want to thank some people who have been sending us great stuff: Randy Rushin, Kate Dennis (Hola!), Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parker, Jane Goldsmith, Bernie and Susie Thesing, and the Sulphur Springs Tops Chapter 1719 – The Jedis thank you all! I’m sure I’ve forgotten some people (sorry), but thanks to everyone who has sent us cards, letters and care packages. And to the Murphys who I used to live next door to: Thanks for sending these articles to my Mom in Florida.

Until next time, this is Jedi 6, out …

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