24th MEU rolls up suspects on busy Marine Corps birthday in Babil province

[SR-25]

Submitted by: 24th MEU
Story Identification #: 2004111281943
Story by Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon



FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2004) -- Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's newly formed Operations Platoon nabbed two suspected insurgents during a cordon-and-search mission in south-central Iraq Nov. 10, as the MEU celebrated the Marine Corps birthday by capturing 41 militants and killing a number of others.

The two suspects, wanted in connection with attacks against coalition forces, were detained as the platoon was investigating a known point of origin for mortar attacks.

"We were given the mission to check out the area when we stopped a vehicle and asked the driver his name," said Staff Sgt. Robert M. Taylor, 30, a Charlottesville, Va., native and squad leader for Operations Platoon. "The guy was on our list of suspects, so we asked if we could look in his house. We went to his house and searched it, then detained the guy. He told us where one of the other guys we were looking for lived ... and showed us where his house was."

The Marines proceeded to his house, conducted a search, and detained the individual. Both men were held for questioning.

The mission proved to be a success for the newly formed platoon, comprised of Marines from the command element and representing military occupational specialties ranging from administrative clerks to motor transport mechanics. The platoon has been busy making its presence felt in the area, patrolling, looking for weapons caches and insurgents, establishing hasty vehicle checkpoints, and conducting cordon-and-search missions.

The duties have allowed the Marines of the MEU's headquarters to get out and do the job of a rifleman.

"So far we have been doing counter-mortar patrol, ambushes, vehicle checkpoints and some public-relations work," said Taylor. "We have just been going out and talking to the locals and letting them know we are here to help."

Some of the Marines in the platoon expressed their enthusiasm about getting off the base to do their part.

"It's great. It is awesome," said Lance Cpl. Nikolaus Gugelman, 21, a Seattle native and supply warehouseman. "We get to go out and help these people instead of just staying on the FOB day in and day out. I think the Iraqis actually feel safer with us out there."

The platoon is also starting to come together as a team.

"So far we have been performing pretty well," said Lance Cpl. David I. Mobley, 21, a Montgomery, Ala., native and administrative clerk.

"We know the basics," added Gugelman. "We listen to each other and pay attention if someone says something that we need to do. We are improving as a team. We are pulling together and doing what we need to do in time of war."

Taylor said he was very pleased with his Marines' performance so far.

"They have been doing an outstanding job," said Taylor. "They are working outside of the normal jobs day in and day out. They have taken to being grunts real well."

The success of the Operations Platoon, came on a highly productive day for the MEU and Iraqi security forces south of Baghdad.

In other action:

* Marines from the MEU's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon, patrolling in vehicles near Haswah, were engaged with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. The Marines dismounted, returned fire and swept the area, capturing one militant and killing several others. They also seized a number of machine guns and RPG's as well as 800 rounds of machine-gun ammunition.

* Iraqi national guardsmen assisting with the search found 11 anti-Iraqi forces hiding in a house with a number of recently fired weapons.

* The same Marines came under attack later by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device near Iskandariyah. The Marines dismounted again, spotted the IED triggerman and killed him.

* Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines - the MEU's ground combat element - picked up five men toting AK-47 rifles north of Iskandariyah.

* Marines from the BLT's Charlie Company, manning a patrol base near Haswah, received small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The Marines returned fire, killing one militant and wounding another. Iraqi police assisting in the search captured three additional AIF, while Marines from the BLT's Combined Anti-Armor Team and the MEU's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon captured two more men believed to be involved in laying an IED earlier in the day.

* Near Musayyib, Iraqi Specialized Special Forces, backed by Marines from Bravo Company's 3rd Platoon, captured eight insurgents, including a suspected financier of anti-Iraqi activity.

* Marines from Bravo Company's 2nd Platoon, patrolling west of Musayyib, came upon a vehicle stopped along the side of a road near several old craters left by exploded IED's. The vehicle drove away as the Marines approached. As the Marines gave chase, they took small-arms fire from the fleeing car. The Marines returned fire, killing one individual.

* Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, patrolling in vehicles in the MEU's northern sector, captured five armed militants who had established an illegal vehicle checkpoint near Yusufiyah.

* Marines from MEU Service Support Group 24 - the MEU's combat service support element - engaged six insurgents north of Yusufiyah who had fired at their convoy with small arms and RPGs. After suppressing the gunman, the convoy rolled on.

* Marines from 2/24's Echo Company, patrolling near Mahmudiyah, stopped a vehicle bearing three military-aged males. The men were carrying $10,000 in U.S. currency but no identification. They were detained.

* Finally, BLT snipers operating north of Iskandariyah observed two men attempting to place an IED near a burned-out vehicle. The Marines engaged the men, killing one and capturing the other.

Four Marines were wounded in action throughout the day, but none seriously.

Iraqi security forces and Marines continue to cast a wide net across northern Babil province in a relentless campaign to kill or capture AIF and disrupt their activity. Since the MEU arrived in July, the combined forces have rounded up nearly 650 insurgents and uncovered some 100 weapons and ammunition stockpiles.