mar272829

Tenting it in the desert

March 27, 2003

Sent out on my first combat patrol. Everything went good. PFC Whitetooth lost a plugger [GPS unit, they are big and clumsy]. We found a big ass goat. My track had a crew change and we found out we are going to be attached to tanks. Just my track. Ready to roll, may go pack to find the plugger. I don't care (if we find it or not). Finally found the damn thing at 1151.

March 28, 2003

Sit in a defense all day.

0145 Reveille

0215 On tracks

0230 Start tracks

0300 On road

(move) north 70 clicks. Three towns we have to clear. Are they Pro-Saddam or forced to fight for him?

First City, Hajil, low threat, one shot fired.

Second City, Afak, Medium threat, firefight with Huey support

Third City, High Threat, rear security for tanks, fire support, gas station

Military have own uniform, try to pick up their pattern. ROE (Rules of Engagement) back off the shoot first, ask questions later. Go in, make presence known and clear the militias.

(if) Gunmen behind a civilian, kill both. [Tim says this was a common tactic, military using civilians as shields].

March 29, 2003

Hajil

Stayed with tanks, rolled out at 0230 ran north to a cloverleaf, turned east. First town we cleared an old barn that these people also sleep in. It was across a canal. Tank captains kept yelling for us to clear` houses. Then we crossed the road. We found our house all locked up so we made forced entry. Next town, we stopped at canal bridge. My squad dismounted for front flak security. We took an RPG round from the town, tanks returned fire.

I shot at the man with the RPG, 14 times, but so did the tanks, so who knows. He was in palm trees with lots of berm and a canal on the left. [Tim says that tanks were hitting targets at 900 m].

Tanks shot a man speeding away in a car behind two trucks with RPKs [roof mounted machine guns], medivaced man after taking two rounds.

Blew the door on the gas station and we are acquiring fuel at this time [gravity gas tanks]

Shot my Abbey, Jodi, and Jenna rounds. [Tim's first three bullets in his magazine were named after his daughter, wife, and step daughter. He would write their names on the bullets, just like you see messages on bombs]

We are turning civilian traffic around, shooting (at them) if need be. [It amazed Tim that civilians showed no fear and would drive with and between Iraqi Army, putting themselves in imminent danger].

We stretched concertina wire across the road. The next car was a taxi that wanted through. So I shot as close to the car as I could.





			Tenting it in the desert

	March 27, 2003 Sent out on my first combat patrol. Everything went good. PFC Whitetooth lost a plugger [GPS unit, they are big and clumsy]. We found a big ass goat. My track had a crew change and we found out we are going to be attached to tanks. Just my track. Ready to roll, may go pack to find the plugger. I don't care (if we find it or not). Finally found the damn thing at 1151. March 28, 2003 Sit in a defense all day. 0145 Reveille 0215 On tracks 0230 Start tracks 0300 On road (move) north 70 clicks. Three towns we have to clear. Are they Pro-Saddam or forced to fight for him? First City, Hajil, low threat, one shot fired. Second City, Afak, Medium threat, firefight with Huey support Third City, High Threat, rear security for tanks, fire support, gas station Military have own uniform, try to pick up their pattern. ROE (Rules of Engagement) back off the shoot first, ask questions later. Go in, make presence known and clear the militias. (if) Gunmen behind a civilian, kill both. [Tim says this was a common tactic, military using civilians as shields]. March 29, 2003 Hajil Stayed with tanks, rolled out at 0230 ran north to a cloverleaf, turned east. First town we cleared an old barn that these people also sleep in. It was across a canal. Tank captains kept yelling for us to clear` houses. Then we crossed the road. We found our house all locked up so we made forced entry. Next town, we stopped at canal bridge. My squad dismounted for front flak security. We took an RPG round from the town, tanks returned fire. I shot at the man with the RPG, 14 times, but so did the tanks, so who knows. He was in palm trees with lots of berm and a canal on the left. [Tim says that tanks were hitting targets at 900 m]. Tanks shot a man speeding away in a car behind two trucks with RPKs [roof mounted machine guns], medivaced man after taking two rounds. Blew the door on the gas station and we are acquiring fuel at this time [gravity gas tanks] Shot my Abbey, Jodi, and Jenna rounds. [Tim's first three bullets in his magazine were named after his daughter, wife, and step daughter. He would write their names on the bullets, just like you see messages on bombs] We are turning civilian traffic around, shooting (at them) if need be. [It amazed Tim that civilians showed no fear and would drive with and between Iraqi Army, putting themselves in imminent danger]. We stretched concertina wire across the road. The next car was a taxi that wanted through. So I shot as close to the car as I could.