31st MEU Marines clear grove in Hadithah

[SR-25]

Submitted by: 31st MEU
Story Identification #: 200512155613
Story by Lance Cpl. Will Lathrop



AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Jan. 12, 2005) -- Marines with 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, assigned to 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, made their presence known during a patrol in the city of Hadithah Jan. 12.

Leaders dispatched a mounted patrol to a local palm grove after receiving information about possible insurgent activity there. The patrol arrived quickly and dismounted from their vehicles using tanks and helicopters for cover. A large section of the grove was quickly cordoned off and Marines began a detailed search.

Walking through a palm grove along the edge of the Euphrates River, Marines searched for weapons and insurgent hideouts, while greeting locals and asking them for additional information that would support the initial report.

“We went to sweep for enemy activity and presence, and we also wanted to make our presence felt,” said Cpl. Ben McGuire, a 25-year-old Red Oak, Texas, native and assaultman, Mobile Assault Platoon 3.

While the Iraqis were surprised with the sudden arrival of the Marines, they were hospitable and obliged the Marines with fresh fruit and curious looks.

“I think we made good relations with the civilians, and everything went smoothly,” McGuire noted.

The search was prompted by information about a cave in the area being used to hide insurgents and weapons, but the cave was never found.

“We didn’t find the supposed cave, but we found supplies to make bombs and an explosives manual in a field,” said Sgt. Bill Henderson, a 27-year-old Austin native and patrol leader, MAP 3.

The patrol was a significant demonstration of a new capability for the unit. It was the first time the Marines, mostly reservists from Texas, had patrolled with tanks and a helicopter section.

“I think people were impressed... tactically, it was a good use of combined arms and assets,” Henderson said.

The Marines made the sweep hasty but thorough, backtracking over their steps and rummaging through trash piles and compost heaps. The engineer detachment with the patrol scanned suspected areas with their metal detector but found nothing.

When it was determined that the area was clear, the Marines withdrew from the grove and returned to their base.

“We didn’t find a whole lot, but nobody got hurt so it was a good day,” Henderson said.