AJC.com > Iraq coverage > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USChallenging duty at the checkpoint
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Taji, Iraq - Highway One, Iraq’s first national highway known by the U.S. military as Main Supply Route Tampa, cuts through the battered nation from its northernmost towns to the Persian Gulf in the South.
Its six lanes are often clogged these days with supply trucks and passenger cars at checkpoints set up at the on- and off-ramps and at dangerous locations under bridges and overpasses that provide launching points for insurgent attacks.
Louie Favorite/AJC
Spc. Corey Thomas of Toccoa keeps a close eye on a main North South artery in Iraq, from Checkpoint 57.
More photos
Checkpoint 57 Alpha sits on Highway One in Taji, about 15 miles north of Baghdad. Soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team took over the checkpoint about three weeks ago. The Iraqi Army runs the traffic control point while the Georgia soldiers provide security and lend support when needed. Most days are relatively quiet; the hostilities come in spurts, the soldiers said.
But on Saturday, the recent spike in violence caught up to soldiers of the Springfield-based Alpha Battery of the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment.
A series of incidents from drive-by gunfire to Iraqi Army soldiers shooting a traffic violator frazzled some of the soldiers.
“I just got out of basic training in December,” said Pfc. Matthew Simmons, a student from Clarkesville. “This is all new for me. I’ve never even seen a man shot before.”
Alpha Battery soldiers have set up a mobile command center under a massive highway bridge that crosses over a wide irrigation canal. They keep close watch over activities at the checkpoint from posts high up a nearby dirt hill that runs parallel to the highway.
U.S. officials fear insurgents will step up hostilities ahead of the Oct. 15 constitutional referendum in an effort to mar the democratic process. In the last four days, more than 200 people were killed and 600 wounded in a series of shootings and bombings throughout Iraq.
Highway One is crowded at rush hour — it’s the fastest way for Iraqis to commute to Baghdad from northern towns and villages on the capital’s outskirts.
Before sunrise Saturday, Alpha Battery soldiers spotted a man with a rocket-propelled grenade, who was quickly captured by U.S. soldiers from another unit patrolling the area. A few hours later, when traffic was heavy on the highway, the Georgia soldiers came under fire from a car on the bridge.
Soldiers said a 1st Battalion, 118th Regiment security patrol caught two Iraqi men suspected of firing the shots.
Just after noon, a man stepped out of his car at the checkpoint. Iraqi Army soldiers asked the man to get back into his car but he began running over the dirt hill.
Iraqi Army soldiers shot the man when he ran down the other side of the hill, military officials confirmed. The Georgia soldiers treated the injured man the best they could and had him evacuated by chopper to a hospital. The man was bleeding heavily.
“He went from a Middle Eastern brown to Casper white,” said Staff Sgt. Tazz Hardwick, a corrections officer from Savannah who was in charge of the Georgia security team.
A second Iraqi man was found dead in the back of a black BMW that came through the checkpoint. One of the passengers claimed the man was his friend and that the Georgia soldiers had shot him.
“We didn’t fire a single shot,” said Hardwick, adding that there was confusion about how the man wound up in the BMW with a bullet in his head. Hardwick wrote up his account of the incidents for his commanding officers but he himself was puzzled over when, how and why the man had been killed.
“There was no interpreter on site,” Hardwick said. “We’ve encountered situations where we need an interpreter and we don’t have one.”
Many of the Iraqi Army soldiers and local residents don’t speak any English.
“It can be a dangerous situation out there,” Hardwick said. “Sometimes nobody knows what’s going on.”
“Usually, it’s not like that out there,” he added. “But today was tough.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Debra Williams
September 18, 2005 01:29 AM | Link to this
My name is Debra Williams, I am very concerned about my brother in law in Bagdad. They were sent over there as maintainace, in the 1/108th/ 48th armory. But my main concern is They are in St. Michaels is a red zone, where they have to wear heavy protection to go to the batroom. Now they are being forced to do their twelve hr. shifts and 1 Hr of PT with no body armour , What gives, Do they not care about them.
By a proud SSgts wife
September 18, 2005 07:10 PM | Link to this
Thank you for showing what our guys at Taji are REALLY doing! We very rarely get to hear about them so it was nice to “connect” with them today.
By Sonja Bartlett
September 19, 2005 01:01 AM | Link to this
My husband is there at FOB Michaels as well as your brother in law, the 48th/108th/E Troop. I know what your brother-in-law has to do. My husband has to do the same thing you brother-in-law has to do, go out on in the village on patrols. They wear that protective gear to save their lives. It has saved my husband’s life twice after his humvee was hit by IEDs. They have to do PT for reasons 1. A way to work off or relieve the stress they face every day so they can keep their mind clear and have the ability to focus on their job. 2. To need to stay in shape so they can perform their job and come home safely. I know all they really have time there to do is their job and sleep, other than that they have the internet cafe to occupy their time. There is nothing else there at FOB Michaels for them to do they can not go out side the gates unless they are on a mission or go to another Base or FOB. Now my questions are don’t you want him to have a way to work out his frustrations to keep his mind clear so he can concentrate on what he has to and able to do his job so he can com home to your sister? Do you really want your brother-in-law to do PT in full armor in 90 and 100 degree weather and possibly suffer from heat exhaustion or worse a heat stroke? They care about them because they build a bond like you would not believe, it is a bond that no one else will understand except those that have been in the situation where their lives depends on each other, but like every wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister etc, I have to keep reminding myself they are soldiers and heroes no one forced them sign their name on the dotted line it is their choice and they knew the possible cost when they made their decision. And like you and every one else we are proud of them all.
By Stewart Rodeheaver
September 19, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this
Debra Williams, someone has misinformed you. I have spent many hours and several thousands of dollars to continually improve the Force Protection measures at Fob St Michael, and other forward FOBs as well, to make them safer and safer everyday that we have been here. The soldiers here have never been told they could not wear their body armor and in fact we make sure that they are as protected as possible, at all times. These are my soldiers, and my friends, and I protect them to the fullest, BG Rodeheaver,
By Bonnie Williams
September 19, 2005 03:22 PM | Link to this
My son is in the 48th Brigade and his birthday is on Friday, September 23rd. If there’s any way a special birthday message from his mother and family can get to him, I would be most grateful. His name is Sgt. Wanon J. Staley and he is at Camp Stryker. Also, if you can tell his fellow soldiers to wish him a happy birthday, that would also warm my heart.
Happy Birthday Wanon, we love you, miss you and pray for your safe return home. May God continue to bless and keep you.
Love, Mom and family
By Think About It
September 19, 2005 06:38 PM | Link to this
BG Rodeheaver, thank you for commenting. I am glad to know that you read this blog and learn the concerns of the families for our soldiers.
Debra, as for PT in full combat gear - that would be detrimental to any Soldier, especially in the heat of the Iraqi desert. PT in full body armor could be deadly.
Think about this - it is the luck of the draw:
The 82nd Airborne is Regular Army - a top quality outfit - posted to Louisiana after Katrina devastated American soil.
The National Guard, also a top quality outfit, who’s primary duty has always been to serve in disaster areas on our own soil, is overseas fighting the war on foreign soil. Reversal of duty. Ah, such is life in uniform!
Lord, keep them safe and bring the home safely and soon.
By reply to think about it
September 20, 2005 04:16 PM | Link to this
And now the 82nd is in Iraq. Hard to keep up with them huh?
By Think About It (again)
September 21, 2005 03:37 PM | Link to this
RE: By reply to think about it
I wrote what I did about the 82nd AB being posted to LA and the Army Guard being posted overseas as a thought of reversal of duties - such is life in the military. Troops being sent are needed regardless of what their mandate of duty may or may not be. But, I didn’t say the 82nd is in Iraq. I did read on the web a few weeks ago that the 82nd is going to be posted to Iraq.
reply to think about it commented:
“And now the 82nd is in Iraq. Hard to keep up with them huh?”
Does this mean that the 82nd has arrived in Iraq? If so, I hope God will keep them safe. Of course there are a lot of units in the 82nd like in the Guard. Is the 82nd going to replace our 48th and maybe rush them on home? Like kick them out maybe? :) (Please, don’t take that seriously - meant faciously.) Can’t think of a better outfit that the 82nd - several just as good.
The 48th has done a dang good job over there and will continue. We’re proud of them and love them.
Bless them all.