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DEL.ICIO.USPatrols find bombs but win hearts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Curtis Compton/AJC
Lt. Stephen Johnson, 24, of Rome, gets a smooch from 2-year-old Nada. His squad makes frequent stops by her home near Baghdad, to deliver candy and toys. After more than 20 visits, it was the first time Nada warmed up enough to reward kindness with a kiss.
Baghdad, Iraq — Inside the commander’s turret of his Bradley Fighting Vehicle, 1st Lt. Stephen Johnson of Rome was on high alert.
His eyes scanned the right side of the road and the pavement ahead of the armored vehicle on patrol in Baghdad, looking for mines and bombs.
To Johnson’s left, his gunner, Sgt. George Runkle, 22, a Georgia Southern University student from Lawrenceville, cautiously eyed the median for improvised bombs.
For these soldiers from the Georgia-based 48th Brigade Combat Team, it was just another day in the war. One minute they were looking for roadside bombs, the next, they were trying to win the hearts and minds of the citizens who live along this main supply route.
Up ahead, several children ran to the edge of the pavement, knowing that the passing soldiers would toss out candy and food. Johnson pointed at the children and waved.
“If I had kids I wouldn’t let them anywhere near this road,” he said, shaking his head.
Johnson’s driver, Spc. Jesse Wilkins, 24, a self-employed carpet installer from Covington, had to steer around one of the more aggressive boys, who jumped into the road to snatch the bulk of the goodies before running off.
“I wouldn’t want to ride with anyone else,” Spc. Robert Lloyd, 31, of Sandy Springs, the crew’s radio operator, said of Wilkins. “He’s the best driver in the company.”
As the light began to turn golden over the long, flat, desolate road, the Bradley crew renewed its focus. The patrol’s most dangerous time was fast approaching.
“The sun seems to set much quicker over here,” said Johnson, 24, a Carson-Newman College student. “The activity picks up just before sunset. It seems to be when they are putting them [roadside bombs] out.”
He pointed out a nearby light pole where the crew found a bomb the previous night.
“It was a 155-millimeter artillery round wrapped in a brown paper bag. They know we use this spot to turn around a lot,” Johnson said.
The next day, insurgents planted a daisy chain of bombs at that spot. The four bombs were wired to explode in rapid succession, destroying anything nearby. Another squad out on patrol ran over the bomb, but it failed to detonate.
Although these soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, have been patrolling this dangerous supply route into Baghdad for seven months, none has been killed.
“The good Lord is looking out for us,” said Johnson. “Every crew has been hit a couple of times. What makes us successful is noticing the changes. Seeing what wasn’t there the time before. We hope we find the bombs before they find us.”
But it doesn’t always happen that way. Sgt. Leroy Kirkpatrick, 55, a Vietnam veteran from Lawrenceville, was slightly burned on his face and hands when a suicide bomber drove a car into his vehicle.
“The whole Bradley was covered in a ball of flames,” Johnson said.
Kirkpatrick returned to duty a week later.
The Bradleys rolled on, passing farmers irrigating their fields, children playing soccer with a ball that Johnson’s men had given them during a previous patrol, roadside stands hawking gasoline and soft drinks, and a shepherd tending his flock.
“These people live their lives no matter what happens,” said Johnson.
The soldiers have met most of the families who live along their route. They work hard to foster goodwill as they focus on their little piece of the road.
Near one adobe house, the Bradleys pulled off the road. Waiting in the yard was 2-year-old Nada. She had heard the vehicles approaching and came out to greet them.
“This is our favorite little girl,” Johnson said as the Bradleys came to a stop. “We have to stop over here at least once a week.”
The soldiers showered Nada with candy and stuffed animals, then each took a turn holding her in their arms and taking pictures.
It’s a scene that has repeated itself multiple times over the past seven months. But this time it was different. This time Nada kissed Johnson on the cheek as he held her.
For her, and for the Georgia soldiers, it was much more than a kiss.
It meant Nada had finally lost her fear of the American soldiers.
Comments
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By Shiv
December 14, 2005 08:19 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the great story! God bless the troops for the terrific and difficult job they are doing.
By familygirl
December 14, 2005 08:58 AM | Link to this
What a wonderful story!! This is great work, Curtis! It is stories like this that gives me comfort while my husband is deployed. What a sacrifice our soldiers are making, but what glorious things they are accomplishing. May God’s peace surround us all during this Christmas season of separation!
By Mark
December 14, 2005 09:02 AM | Link to this
Stay safe my brothers. Sounds like you’re doing a good job so far.
By a mom
December 14, 2005 09:47 AM | Link to this
We have a special guy in the 1/121 and want to let all of you know how proud we are of your team..God Bless you, and you are in our dailly prayers
By Dorothy Sturdevant
December 14, 2005 10:14 AM | Link to this
It’s about time some positive things are printed about the war! Alot of the soldier who return even get depressed reading and listening to the all the negative stuff that is printed or reported, when there is so much good that is going on over there that no one knows about except for the them. I praise our soliders and their families for the sacrifices they make. Nobody wants to go to war, but that is a risk that is known when a person signs up for the service. My family and I wish all our miliary personnel and family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and to let you know that you are in our prayers everyday.
By R2
December 14, 2005 10:31 AM | Link to this
What a touching story! Keep it up guys! Hey Lt. Johnson Nada knows a cutie when she sees one even at 2!!!
By Jenni
December 14, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this
Great story, thanks for printing it…how sweet it is. Kids really are sweet….
By Grateful
December 14, 2005 01:16 PM | Link to this
I have no one in this outfit but I love each of you even if you are personally unknown to me. You are the US Military. You show the Iraqi people strength in the job you do and love and compassion in your treatment of their children. Thank you for all you do. Stay safe.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who are serving in the Military especially those serving with the 48th Brigade Combat Team.
God, protect these warriors and have your Angels keep them safe. Bless the families who will be without them this Christmas and let it be the only Christmas they will be gone. Peace on Earth to All People.
By Gail Johnston Garrett
December 14, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this
Thanks for printing the article & picture of my nephew Lt. Stephen Johnston and his little friend Nada. Our family is very proud of him and his fellow soldiers in the 48th. Keep up the good work. We are praying their safety.
By steve johnston
December 14, 2005 09:18 PM | Link to this
By Steve and Deborah Johnston Thank you, Mr. Compton, for the fine article that illustrated so well the diverse jobs our soldiers do each day. It showed how diligent and professional they must be and yet how compassionate they are. Thank you also for the wonderful picture of Nada and our son. We will always treasure it. We look forward to similar articles about the positive things our troops are doing all over the country. We will continue to pray for all these fine men as well as the election process in Iraq.
By 48th soldier's wife
December 15, 2005 09:21 AM | Link to this
Thank you for telling about some of the “good” that is happening in Iraq. Keep up the great work guys. May God keep his hand upon you and bring you home safe.
By Harold Henry
December 16, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this
What a great article! Thank you Curtis Compton for picking up on this story. Now that the elections have been completed with great success, our brave Georgia soldiers can note with pride the special role they played in training the Iraqi Army to provide security. …
By Dan Williams
December 16, 2005 04:29 PM | Link to this
It is good to see coverage like this about our troops efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Too often it is just the “if it bleeds it leads” stories. I’d like to see more of the stories like this one on how our Soldiers are doing their jobs and “Winning the Hearts.”
LTC Dan Williams
By Concerned for Child
December 18, 2005 11:53 PM | Link to this
The Humanitarian sides of what our soldiers do goes untold much of the time. It is always good to read and hear about the way American Soldiers touch the lives of the local people. However, printing the child’s picture and supposed name, might pose a danger to that special child. Do please remember, that insurgents read the blogs as much as Americans. And Iraqi families can become targets just for being friendly to the American soldiers. Its sad, but its the reality of the mindset of the terrorists. Nothing hurts an American or American soldier more, than knowing they may have cost the life of the very people they grow fond of and assist through the rough and terrible conditions there in Iraq. Please be ever mindful of the people that have to stay behind, when our soldiers come home.
By James Hudgins
December 19, 2005 02:08 PM | Link to this
MAY GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS!!! Thank you, Mr. Compton, for writing this article. I am a VERY proud brother-in-law of a 48th Soldier, and too much of the good that they are actually accomplishing every day is going unnoticed and unreported by our media.
If you need a visual to pray for our Soldiers, just remember the picture of young Nada and Lt. Johnston above. These kids’ lives are going to be changed forever because of the efforts of Lt. Johnston and the rest of the finest Soldiers and Marines the world has ever known.
I look forward to more articles from “outside the lines” like this one in the future!!! Keep up the good work!!!
By George Runkle
December 22, 2005 12:56 AM | Link to this
It was good to read about my son’s (SGT George Runkle) Bradley, and little Nada. You guys have done a great job in reporting the day to day life of our soldiers in Iraq. Thanks! Lt. Col. George Runkle USAFR (Ret.)