Soldiers, NP Secure Town for CLCs in Jama Taha

Sgt. Dylan Newton, from Burlington, Vt., a tanker in Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, pulls security on top of a home in Jama Taha, a small village outside Jisr Diyala. Company D Soldiers conducted a cordon and search with Iraqi policemen from the 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, Jan. 8.

A woman in Jama Taha, a small village outside Jisr Diyala, speaks with 1st Lt. Erik Miller, from Franklinville, N.J., the platoon leader for 2nd platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, during a cordon and search operation there, Jan. 8.

Spc. Aaron Cardinal, from Mill Creek, W.Va., a tanker in 2nd platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, interacts with a child in Jama Taha, a small village outside Jisr Diyala, during a cordon and search operation there, Jan. 8.

By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – U.S. Soldiers conducted a cordon and search with Iraqi policemen from the 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, in Jama Taha, a small village outside Jisr Diyala, Jan. 8.

The Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, also assisted the area’s local citizens by setting up four checkpoints around the village.

“We’ve been there a few times in the last month to get the know the area,” said 1st Lt. Erik Miller, from Franklinville, N.J., platoon leader for 2nd platoon, Company D. “The intent of today’s mission was to set up checkpoints and make sure the locals understood why we were here. We searched houses to make sure the area was clear of any caches.”

Miller and his Soldiers were happy with the way the searches went and felt the citizens understood why they were there.

“The people were very cooperative when we asked to search their homes,” said Spc. Aaron Cardinal, from Mill Creek, W.Va., a tanker in 2nd platoon. “When we asked to see the weapons they had in the house, everyone took us right to them. (Every family in Iraq is allowed to keep one AK-47 in their home for protection.) I was really surprised how friendly everyone was.”

Soldiers in Company D’s scout platoon help set up Hesco barriers along the four routes that lead into the village. The Concerned Local Citizens will begin using the barriers to help provide security for the town.

“My guys really enjoy dismounted patrols and getting in there with the people,” Miller said. “They enjoy interacting with the locals and talking with the kids.”

The 3-1 Cav. Regt and 1-15 Inf. Regt. are assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March, 2007.