With the Marines in Ramadi
From “Hurricane Point” -- Despite the sobering loss of three Marines from Charlie Co., 1/6 killed here two nights ago, the missions into town continue on a 24/7 basis.
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Military.com | Andrew Lubin | October 27, 2006
This morning I’ve been invited to accompany two platoons from Weapons Company in their latest “disruption” mission. 2nd Lt. John Dalen Bunch put me in the lead Humvee, and briefed me on their assignment. “We’ll be looking for IED’s and rocket launchers,” he said, “and we’ll be making house calls to work on our census data as well as gauge who’s a friend and who’s not.” Behind us, in the following Humvees, were Cpl Matt Castoro from Jackson, NJ, and LCPL Walt Adams ( Georgetown, De). With LCPL Mitchell Caluri ( Bangor, Me. ) driving our Humvee, and LCPL Paul Spinelli up in the turret, we saddled up and our four Humvee’s rolled into town.
The main street in Ramadi is “MSR Michigan” (main supply route). It’s the major highway out of Baghdad that runs west through Fallujah into the desert, back into Ramadi, and then out to the western desert region. It’s the main route for weapons, IED’s, insurgents, and American supply convoys, so it’s vitally important in the battle of these cities.
Within the city of Ramadi, “Route Michigan” is a flat, dusty, garbage-strewn four-lane highway, and many of the side streets have been blocked either by concrete barriers (installed by Marine Engineers in order to control security) or cars shredded and destroyed by IED’s or RPG’s in the last few years. The light and power poles tilt at crazy angles, with their wires dangling. According to Weapons Co commander Capt Todd Mahar, keeping control of this road is an important facet in keeping the insurgents and their IED’s out of the city.
As our convoy crawled down Michigan, Lt Bunch reminded Caluri and Spinelli to keep their eyes peeled for loose wires on the ground, bags, fresh dirt, and anything that might look suspicious. “They’ll even cut holes in the floorboards of their cars,” he told me, ‘and drop small IED’s through the holes onto the road.” Everything here looks suspicious, I thought, and began to study the road also.
Less than five minutes, or a half mile down Michigan, a huge blast sounded directly behind us. Lt Bunch was on the radio immediately…” PaleRider, who’s hit, what’s your status?” he shouted into the radio. Everyone was OK, he learned immediately. An IED had exploded approx 100 meters behind us, between Humvees 2 and 3. Both suffered cracked glass, but fortunately, no one was injured and so the convoy again moved forward.
There were considerable amounts of people gathered on the residential side streets, and we turned down one of them. A few small storefront markets sold melons, chickens, rice, fruits, sundries, and sodas; the shops here are similar to a bodega, including the socialization that a family-owned shop provides. The children shrieked and ran to our vehicles screaming at us, waving, smiling, and hoping we’d throw them soccer balls, school supplies, and other items. “Seeing the people outside with their children is great,” Lt. Bunch explained, ‘it means that there are no IED’s planted on this street.” “It’s also a way to gauge attitudes,” LCPL Caluri added, “ it’s when folk pull their kids indoors that we begin to worry.” But despite the IED, this was a friendly area, and so the Marines waved and tossed their give-a-ways to the children.
But there was a different tone a few streets over, as our small convoy was eye-balled defiantly. “Stop here.” Lt Bunch ordered, and we pulled over, dismounted, and knocked on the door of a house in order to chat with the owner. Inside, the reception was chilly.
Despite the best efforts of the Marine translator, the owner was surly; the women and children were uncooperative, and the overall attitude was one of unconcealed hostility.
“We’ll be back, the Lt. told me.” if they’re not actively involved in the opposition, they know who is,” and then we were off to visit yet another house.
That’s how the war is fought now, according to the 1/6’s Executive Officer, Maj Daniel Zappa; “it’s a combination of IED’s, quick gun battles in the streets, and then handing out school supplies to the kids twenty minutes later.”
Or as your Marines in Ramadi joke, ‘it’s just another day in paradise.” It can bring tears to your eyes, though, when you see how well they perform.