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Iraqi Security Forces Work With Coalition Forces in Legion Pursuit II Print E-mail
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
By Spc. Anthony Jones
145th Mobile Pubilc Affairs Detachment

Iraqi Army Soldiers, pictured here on a patrol in February, are participating in joint patrols with Coalition forces throughout Iraq and taking on an increased role of responsibility for the security of their country. U.S. Army photo.
Iraqi Army Soldiers, pictured here on a patrol in February, are participating in joint patrols with Coalition forces throughout Iraq and taking on an increased role of responsibility for the security of their country. U.S. Army photo.
 DIYALA — Before the sun rose the morning of March 26, Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, were already on the move, heading for the villages of Abu Bakr and Abu Awad.

The Soldiers, commanded by Capt. Matthew D. Mackey, were beginning Operation Legion Pursuit II.

The top three key tasks of Legion Pursuit II were to project and sustain Iraqi Security and Coalition forces in the area, conduct a detailed census of the towns and to provide humanitarian assistance in order to bolster ISF and local national relations, said Mackey.

“To accomplish the first task is to project ISF and Coalition forces combat power in the sector; go out there with the people and stay out there for an extended period of time,” said Mackey.

The force projection was intended to be provided by combat air support and the large amount of ISF and coalition forces. However, once at the village of Abu Bakr, the Soldiers noticed the target area was now covered by farmland that they didn’t want to destroy. After a short deliberation the air strike was called off and artillery fire was coordinated, firing into an unused area of the river valley.

In order to complete the census, Coalition and Iraqi Army Soldiers moved from house to house using satellite images that labeled each building in the two villages. Overall, between Objectives Cypress and Oak, Oak being another village south of Abu Bakr and Abu Awad, 422 buildings were searched. Included in that number were houses, animal pens and other standing structures.

“As a squad leader, I would greet the village people, ask them their concerns, comments, if they’re getting enough food and where they’re getting their water from,” said Staff. Sgt. Ian H. Martinez. “From there I would write down their personal information, who was the head of the household, how many males or females lived there and how many children were there.”

Early in the first day of the operation the villagers were curious when the Soldiers began moving from house to house, but by midday and into the second day word had passed about the ISF and Coalitions forces intentions in the area and the villagers began to open up to Soldiers from both forces.

“They have seen us patrolling before, but usually we [were] doing a quick pass,” said Mackey. “I saw no hostility; once they understood why we were there they were very open and supportive. One woman said she was very happy we were working with the IA and she hoped that someday the IA could be at the level of Coalition forces, which I think they are getting there.”

After clearing both villages and the wadi’s, deep canyons caused by erosion leading to the river valley, the IA dropped off food supplies in the villages.
 
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