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DEL.ICIO.USFlying Red Dog Air with the 101st
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lutayfiyah, Iraq - The cords insurgents often use to detonate their bombs are bright red. Be on the lookout for them along roadsides.
Be respectful when you interview Iraqi women. Most are honest and will give you tips about insurgents.
And watch for pigeons taking flight as you enter towns. Insurgents use them to signal you are coming.
Louie Favorite/AJC
Soldiers of the 48th and 101st searched this car and its occupants because the car fit the description of one known to have been used by insurgents. More photos
Sfc. Chris Cleary, 37, of Calhoun, was giving a new soldier some advice this morning. Sitting next to Cleary in his Humvee was Spc. Jaime Lara, 20, of El Paso, Texas. Lara is a medic with the Fort Campbell, Ky.-based 101st Airborne Division. Soldiers from the 101st have been arriving here in large numbers to replace Cleary and fellow Georgia National Guardsmen with the 48th Brigade Combat Team.
After spending five months just south of Baghdad, the Georgians will be assuming new missions at other bases across Iraq. Many have already moved.
Meanwhile, Cleary and other soldiers in his unit are pumping vital information into their replacements. Soldiers from both units have been pairing up and patrolling through Lutayfiyah on foot at night and during the day.
As the two sat in their Humvee this morning, Cleary pulled a flat, silver-colored knife out of a strap on his body armor and held it up to Lara.
“You need a flat knife,” said Cleary, who leads his unit’s “Red Dog” platoon. “I have opened many a door with this. It does a pretty good job. Six dollars. You can’t beat it.”
As the two talked, a roadside bomb exploded outside their base. They could see a smoke cloud rising in the distance. Cleary told Lara that it won’t take him long to receive a combat metal in this town. Insurgents frequently attack U.S. soldiers here with roadside bombs and mortars.
“There is always something going on,” said Cleary, an engineer for the city of Calhoun.
Lara learned that the hard way on only his second day at Cleary’s base. On Thursday, insurgents hit the base and an adjoining Iraqi Army compound with eight mortar rounds, injuring two Iraqi soldiers. Lara helped treat the more seriously wounded of the two.
On that day, Lara survived his first mortar attack and treated his first trauma patient. Today was his first patrol outside the wire.
“We have a lot to learn from them,” Lara said of Cleary and the other battle-hardened Georgians. Many of Lara’s fellow paratroopers, however, have already served in Iraq. They took part in the 2003 invasion. Despite their extensive experience, the 101st veterans have been quietly observing the Georgians, listening intently to their advice about this new terrain.
With Cleary by his side, Lara and several other soldiers patrolled around Lutayfiyah today, searching suspicious cars and hunting roadside bombs. Cleary pointed out craters from roadside bombs and places where U.S. helicopters could land and pick up wounded soldiers.
As they entered downtown Lutayfiyah, the two spotted a spray of gray and white pigeons flying from a rooftop. The sight infuriated Cleary. He parked his Humvee and marched into the building with Lara guarding his back.
Cleary climbed a few flights of stairs and found a man on the roof with some pigeon cages. Through his Arabic interpreter, Cleary warned the man never to “slap” his pigeons again when his men roll into town.
“Why are you letting everyone know that I’m here?” Cleary asked the man.
The man smiled and pleaded ignorance, saying he wasn’t signaling anyone.
Cleary and Lara searched the man’s home and then proceeded through town. As they neared their base, Cleary warned Lara: “Don’t ever let your guard down. Always have that (medical) bag ready to rock.”
Their patrol was over. It was a successful day. No one got hurt. Cleary turned to Lara again: “Thanks for flying Red Dog Air. Hope you got something out of it.”
Lara: “Heck, yeah.”
Comments
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By OD's Mom
October 23, 2005 12:47 AM | Link to this
Great article on SFC Cleary. Thanks, Mr Redmon..we’ve been waiting a long time for some articles from Lutayfiya. Chris, we’re proud that our son serves with you and we’re proud of you. I pray for you by name daily. Stay safe.
By Alison
October 23, 2005 04:27 AM | Link to this
These articles are the best. I am in Boston, and my fiance is in Iraq. Reading these articles makes me somehow feel closer to him; pleae keep up the good work!
By Marilyn
October 23, 2005 08:33 PM | Link to this
My fiance’ is in the Red Dog Plt and would like to thank Jeremy Redmon and Louie Favorite for coming and writing about the Red Dogs. The pictures taken of them on patrol in town are awesome and the articles are great as well. Thanks again!
By Carl
October 23, 2005 09:13 PM | Link to this
My son serves with Sgt. Cleary and he asked that I pass on his thanks for Jeremy Redmon and Louie Favorite coming to their FOB and filing a report on what is happening there. He spoke very highly of you. I would like to add my thanks as well for helping to keep us informed. I must admit that I have been very disapointed by the previous coverage but you gentlemen are a breath of fresh air. Thanks for filing reports from areas that others opted to ignore.
By Jack Mangus
October 23, 2005 09:40 PM | Link to this
Redmon referring to Lara’s “fellow paratroopers” is probably not correct in that the 101st Airborne Division is now an Air Assault unit, meaning they are carried into battle by helicopters, not parachutes. While more than a few have earned their parachutist badges, most have not.
By LT Carden
October 24, 2005 09:51 AM | Link to this
The Red Dogs are still maintaining the highest standard. SFC Cleary and all the Red Dogs make me proud and this article brings me closer. I will be back with you guys in a couple more days. Keep your heads low and shoot straight. Red Dog 1 out
By Veronica Sosa
October 24, 2005 05:41 PM | Link to this
God Bless all those men out there. My son is with the 327th. Keep praying for all of the men from 101st. I am starting a support group called MOSES which stands for Mothers of Screaming Eagle Sons. If anyone is interested you can reach me at vsosa1@msn.com or fax me at 1-866-896-8803.
By Beth
October 24, 2005 08:58 PM | Link to this
Great article! We all need to remember our soldiers and what they are going through. And they still try to have a sense of humor! Way to go CC Mojo.
By Teresa
October 24, 2005 09:49 PM | Link to this
SFC Cleary is my brother. I live in Colorado and was not there to see him leave. I’ve talked with him via email but I can’t tell you how proud I am to see this story and pictures showing what a great job he and his men are doing. I’ve called everybody I know to tell them to go to AJC.com and check it out. I’m so proud! Thank you so very much for this information about him.
By Amanda
October 24, 2005 11:40 PM | Link to this
Thanks to the AJC for the great articles. Living in Colorado and going to college in Nebraska, it’s great to keep track of my Uncle Kissyfur (SFC Cleary). It makes me so proud of him fighting over there. Keep up the good work!
By Link's Sister
October 25, 2005 12:41 PM | Link to this
My brother is there with SFC Cleary and it is great to hear about them. Thank you to the AJC for sending reporters over to cover the guys on their daily life, it makes it seem as if they are not that far away. To all of the 48th…you are in our prayers daily. We appreciate what you are doing for us. Godspeed.
By gary proctor
October 25, 2005 08:13 PM | Link to this
this is a great article on sfc cleary and the 48th brigade. sfc cleary is one of my best friends.he and i have “hung out” together for alot of years.i know he is staying as safe as he can. i look forward to his return so we can “hang out” some more.and remember chris, “yall keep em straight up air”.
By SFC Cleary
October 26, 2005 06:56 AM | Link to this
To all who have commented in my favor,Thank you, but please…the respect is due for all of the RED DOGS. I am only lucky enough to have a platoon as great as these guys here. Jeremy, thanks for getting it right. The Red Dogs pride themself by being out of the light…low profile…we do our job, and we do it well. I am so proud of these guys…they will never know…The Red Dogs owned Lutafiyah…
By The Erwin family
October 26, 2005 04:41 PM | Link to this
Very informative article On Sfc Cleary and his dangerouse duties. Our thanks to him and the 48th. It is comforting for us at home to hear about positive stories about our American Heros who are so bravely serving our great country. Our son in currently serving with the 101st Avn Regt in Iraq. We extend our thoughts and best wishes and are very thankful to the ALL the troops serving our great country. We are very proud of you all. May the Angels surround and protect you, unitl you reunite with your families.