AJC.com > Iraq coverage > Blog > Archives > 2006 > March > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUnit has nose, knack for finding weapons caches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Keith Hadley/AJC
Spc. Jeffery Lane, 33 of Pana, Ill., uses a metal detector to search for weapons. • Photos
Habbaniyah, Iraq — First, the Illinois National Guard soldiers found the “father load” of all insurgent weapons caches.
There were dozens of assault rifles and bombs, some rocket propelled grenade launchers, and scores of hand grenades. And that doesn’t even cover a quarter of what they found here in late January.
Five days later, they found the “mother load.” Hundreds of mortar rounds, some rockets and land mines, a 5-foot-long rocket and much more.
The Illinois soldiers stationed here have developed a talent for finding where the enemy is hiding weapons. Many of the soldiers are police officers and sheriff’s deputies back home, so they have experience gathering evidence.
Since Dec. 10, the 2nd Battalion 130th Infantry Regiment, which is attached to Georgia’s 48th Brigade Combat Team, has discovered 17 sizeable weapons caches in the Euphrates River valley between Habbaniyah and Fallujah where the insurgents are extremely active.
“We took a lot of their tools away from them. This is the stuff you see in coordinated attacks,” said Capt. Kurt Merseal, 35, of Steelville, Mo., commander of the 130th’s Charlie Company. “There is no doubt the people in this area are tied to al Qaida in Iraq.”
Insurgents often bury their weapons in plastic bags, wooden crates and barrels near clearly visible landmarks, sometimes within a few hundred meters of their homes. They keep them at a distance from their houses, Merseal said, so they can deny owning them.
Merseal’s men can identify potential hiding places by simply studying landscapes and street systems. They say insurgents like to bury their weapons in earthen berms accessible by roads.
One of Merseal’s platoons discovered a weapons cache over the weekend that consisted of 27 mortar rounds, two rocket propelled grenades, three rolls of fishing line that could be used for tripwires and three pressure plates designed to trigger roadside bombs.
Before they arrived here in the fall, Merseal’s men uncovered 17 major weapons stashes over two months in the Baghdad area.
First Lt. Russ McKelvey is known among his troops as one of the best at finding caches. He attributes much of his success to the soldiers he led in Baghdad. He added that learning some Arabic helped him gather tips.
“We were respectful of the local people,” said McKelvey, 25, a stockbroker from Roswell, who volunteered to lead a platoon of Illinois soldiers. “It builds good will with the people. They seem to trust you more.”
Sometimes the search for weapons caches is tedious and frustrating. First Lt. Robert Cosgriff’s platoon spread out across an open field south of Habbaniyah last week and scanned the earthen berms there with a metal detector. They searched along some railroad tracks and beside a murky canal. Their unit had found weapons in that area before. But they struck out this week.
“It’s hit or miss. You never know when you are going to find something,” said Cosgriff, 35, of St. Louis.
But at least his men know where not to look — for a while.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Frank
March 6, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this
Keep up the great work.
By "Momma Kat" Orr
March 6, 2006 09:26 PM | Link to this
Good job, y’all. :) We’re proud of you. :)
Momma Kat jeffskat@gmail.com
By Lincoln Six
March 6, 2006 10:26 PM | Link to this
Yup - these are the “Boys from Illinois.” They “set the standard” as one of the generals from Division once said. They found so much stuff in Baghdad that they needed trucks to haul it away. If there was a sector with a problem, THAT is where the 2-130 was deployed. They drove a certain, particular Imam crazy, they found IED’s ready to go, they found AA, they found brand new mortars - now the pressure plates and fishing wire.
They have made so many people in Illinois proud and are doing a fantastic job.
By Debbie
March 7, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
Look every one does a great job out there, lets not for get thet other unites that are attached with the 48th brigade and also are out standing soldiers….
By 48th BDE Wife
March 7, 2006 06:59 PM | Link to this
Debbie, so are you saying that we should not be reporting about this wonderful unit? They are out there making it safer for our soldiers and for the Iraqi’s.
We are ALL THE 48TH BDE!!!!!!!
By John
March 8, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
Way to Go Blackhawks, you have trully pulled your weight, thank you, every time you find a cache, its one less weapon that can hurt our boys. Mark, you got a fine group of men, thanks. Rough Riders
By Dave Stone
March 9, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this
Hey Bill C: Your mom sent me this story about your Illinois unit. That’s pronounced “ill-in-noise,” by the way. . Folks this is a Georgia boy, and one who’s ‘gettin short at that! Keep your head up Bill. We’re thinking of you back here in Glynn Co.
Dave S.
By Lea
March 10, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this
Hi Bill C- Chris forwarded this story to us - we are PROUD of you and the men and women with you - we wish you safety and a speedy return to south GA!
Lea K. little Chris’ running partner
By Davida
March 10, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this
Hi there Bill, We haven’t met yet but I hope we will soon. I am Backward Buds mom and a friend of your parents. I met your wife Christmas night at your folks home. Keep up the good work. We will be thinking of all of you.
STAY SAFE