Criminals and Weapons...

SPC Chris Stevenson, Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment works inside a Stryker vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq.

Evening - thanks to those who left comments, sent notes and shared words of encouragement and prayers for our family - they mean a lot and I am touched by your thoughtfulness. We are hanging in there...we'll get through it...

Tonight's blog...

Not a lot of news to sift through but the info hounds did uncover a couple of articles. The first one is a good look at the work performed by 1st Squadron, 2nd SCR in eastern Baghdad, Iraq.

Tip of the hat to all of these warriors from the 2nd SCR for the impact they are having...well done!


Enjoy...

American Forces Press Service

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
7 February 2008

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi and coalition security forces conducted an operation targeting special group criminal elements today in eastern Baghdad. Sixteen criminals were initially detained, one died later from wounds received during the operation.

The operation involved Iraqi forces and coalition soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

As ground forces approached the target house they came under attack by small arms fire. Iraqi and coalition forces returned fire in self-defense, mortally wounding one terrorist. A woman also sustained a minor injury and was treated on site by military medical personnel. No Iraqi or coalition forces were injured during the operation.

The operation targeted members of a special group believed to be responsible for multiple indirect fire and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, as well as the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi citizens.

“Criminal elements who insist on ignoring al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr’s ceasefire pledge remain a threat not only to the citizens of Baghdad but to the security of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. James Hutton, MNC-I spokesman. “We will continue to work aggressively to disrupt their networks and bring these criminals to justice.”

============================

MND-B Soldiers recover large cache
by PAO MNF-I
MND-B PAO

BAGHDAD (Feb. 6, 2008) - Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers seized a large weapon and bomb making cache in Abu Ghraib, west of the Iraq Capital Feb. 4.

The Soldiers from 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment were conducting search operations in the area as part of an ongoing operation when the unit recovered 13 120 mm mortar rounds, 132 82 mm mortar rounds, 51 60 mm mortar rounds, three cans of 120 mm mortar fuses, 23 boxes of mortar fuses, three mortar sights, 35 82 mm mortar primers, six 60 mm mortar primers, 22 40 mm mortar primers, a 120 mm tube, 130 blasting caps, 30 rifle rocket-propelled grenades, 24 RPG warheads, an RPG sight, two bags of RPG propellant, 12 RPG propellants, four artillery fuses, four anti-personnel mines, two 57 mm rockets, 126 fragmentation grenades, three Russian grenades, 600 yards of detonation cord, a variety of machine guns, seven cell phones, four IED switches, 26 30 mm anti-aircraft rounds and 17 .50 cal rounds.

An explosive ordnance disposal unit destroyed the cache with a controlled detonation.

"This was significant cache find," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, MND-B spokesman. "The recovery and destruction of these items does contribute to the overall security of the Iraqi people - our number one priority."

This is part of Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers on going offensive operations in support of Operation Phantom Phoenix to kill or capture al-Qaeda and Shia/Sunni extremists to deny them rest and sanctuary in Baghdad and the surrounding rural areas. AQI terrorists and other extremists are the root cause of the most horrific attacks against Iraqi civilians, security forces and coalition troops.

=========================

Chris, we love you son! I think of you often throughout my day...you are always on my heart....

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman