Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 2 Issue 06 Page 1 oct. 17, 2008 An “Above the Rest” Soldier of the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division aboard a UH-60 Blackhawk he- licopter during an Air Assault mission onto the banks of the Tigris River. The Soldiers conducted Operation Deadbluff along with Iraqi Army Soldiers, in an effort to reduce the number of enemy weapons caches in the area. Operation Deadbluff Takes Flight in Bayji Capt. Michael Sykes, 1st Battalion, 327th night wondering if this is the night that the Story and photo by Infantry Regiment. “What they don’t realize, 101st will come to pay them a visit,” he Sgt. Rick Rzepka said. 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division is that we are highly mobile through the use of the Air Assault and are training the Iraqis The mission, dubbed Operation Deadbluff, to do the same,” he said. was one of many operations carried out s security continues to improve across A recent Air Assault mission, conducted by the battalion in order to sever enemy Iraq, insurgent networks are becoming A by Iraqi Army Soldiers and Soldiers from the weapons trafficking in the area. “The enemy desperate in their attempts at proliferating 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment of the doesn’t just stick to cities,” said Rottenberg, weapons and ammunition. 101st Airborne Division, aimed to track down “so we don’t either.” Because they have been marginalized enemy weapons caches being stored along In utilizing the Air Assault, Rottenberg’s within Iraqi society and are under constant the lush banks of the Tigris River. ‘Mad Dogs’ have gained the upper hand. By pressure from Iraqi Security Forces and “Our intent is to deny them a place to taking the fight to the enemy, the Soldiers of Coalition Soldiers, enemy fighters are call home,” said Capt. Jeffrey Rottenberg, the 327th go after them from all sides, said frantically seeking to hide large quantities of whose ‘Mad Dog’ Company has been Rottenberg. “The major advantage gained weapons in the hinterlands of Iraq’s north. battling extremist fighters for more than a through Air Assaults is the ability to move a “Often the insurgency will attempt to year. “The enemy here goes to sleep at utilize rural areas to hide weapons,” said Deadbluff Continued on Page 3 Page 2 oct. 17, 2008 Spartan Soldiers ‘drop in’ on small fishing village Story and photo by By Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division PAO ince the Vietnam War era the air Sassault has been used to surprise enemy combatants with the primary objective of killing or capturing them. The thumping sound of thousands of helicopters combat-loaded with troops descending from the sky delivers a tremendous shock to the enemy. For commanders in Iraq today the focus still remains killing or capturing the enemy during air assault operations, however, there is more to consider. Whether it is the 65-year old woman sleeping on a mattress in the front yard or the 7-year boy silently sleeping in the Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, run bed beside her, air assault troops must to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during extraction from Operation Marathon Oct. 6, 2008. bring more tact to the fight while closing in on the enemy. our company to be the ones to come miles away from their headquarters During a recent air assault operation back.” near Tikrit. Oct. 6, 2008, Soldiers of Bravo Company, According to the Task Force Spartan The ability of the air assault allows 1st Special Troops Battalion closed in on commander, Lt. Col. Rick Rhyne, it was for Task Force Spartan Soldiers to “drop the enemy during Operation Marathon. imperative that his Soldiers adhere by” on anyone, anytime, at the location During the operation though, it wasn’t to the people’s needs and treat them of their choosing; yet the “Stalker” what these Soldiers did while sweeping with dignity and respect. He said that Soldiers of Bravo Company are not your the village for Al Qaeda fighters, it mishandling civilians on the battlefield typical air assault force. The company was their actions after that made the can create more animosity towards is primarily responsible for handling a difference. Coalition forces. vast majority of the Bastogne Brigade’s “It wasn’t too surprising that once “We are going to this objective to intelligence functions. we isolated the objective and identified search for two terrorists,” Rhyne said In preparation for the operation the there were no hostiles, the villagers during a pre-mission briefing to his company conducted a two-week train would be very inviting,” said Capt. Brian Soldiers. “Let’s not create more by up where they trained in close-quarter Hayes, Bravo Company commander. mistreating good people.” combat; platoon, squad and team level In fact, the children were unusually The Spartan Soldiers air assaulted tasks; and also practiced on proper air well behaved. The family was very nice to a small fishing village on the eastern assault techniques. and even asked that if Coalition forces shore of Lake Tharthar with the intent of return to the village, that they wanted showing a presence in an area several Spartan Soldiers Continued on Page 3 Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Sgt.1st Class Kevin Doheny Sgt. Rick Rzepka Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Layout and Design: Spc. Ryan Elliott, 14th PAD Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 oct. 17, 2008 about them, it becomes somewhat of a Deadbluff from Page 1 guessing game,” he said. lot of Soldiers quickly, with little warning to For more than a year, 1st Battalion, 327th the enemy.” Infantry Regiment has detained hundreds The element of surprise is one brick on the of suspected insurgents and has taken road to success here. Another is having thousands of weapons out of the hands of the actual intelligence on enemy weapons the enemy here. locations from sources on the ground. “Our guys have performed at a high level, “The key to finding caches is the Iraqi under austere conditions,” said Sykes. people themselves,” said Rottenberg. “While there has been some adversity, there “Unless you have someone inform you has also been a great deal of success,” he said. A “Above the Rest” Soldier of the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division takes up a fighting position. The Soldiers conducted Operation Deadbluff along with Iraqi Army Soldiers, in an effort to reduce the Photo by Sgt. Rick Rzepka number of enemy weapons caches in the area leader. “Seeing the ground and planning people in the village. Spartan Soldiers from Page 2 this mission allows both intelligence leaders “The people really wanted to cooperate “We had a vigorous and quick train-up,” and Soldiers know what assistance is with us because our continued presence said Hayes, “but we are dealing with smart needed and what intelligence gaps need to has had a positive influence on their village,” Soldiers that pick up things quick, so we be filled without them being requested.” said Buzbee. “It’s important for all Soldiers to were able to cover a lot of ground in a short Hayes said that most of his Soldiers remember that many Iraqis are just normal amount of time.” have been out in sector and have had people trying to get on with their lives.” According to Hayes, this operation interactions with Iraqi civilians before. This showed the flexibility of his Soldiers. He experience in dealing with the Iraqi culture said that intelligence Soldiers are often benefited them once the initial assault was in harm’s way conducting their technical conducted. skills, but this operation should further their His first sergeant agreed. comprehension of the counter-insurgency “It will prove valuable that they have fight. seen the other side of the Iraqi people,” said “These Soldiers, from the intelligence 1st Sgt. Dean Buzbee, Bravo Company.” analyst to the UAV operator to the supply Most Soldiers of our Soldier have been clerk, now have a detailed understanding exposed only to the Iraqis they read about of what it takes to plan and execute an in significant activities [SIGACTS] and operation,” said Hayes. intelligence reports. It’s easy to forget “The perspective of executing this that those are such a small percentage of mission will help intelligence professionals Iraqis.” to understand how to provide better support Buzbee said the operation was a success to the war fighter by actually seeing the because of the level of competency of ground,” said 1st Lt. Dezi King, platoon his Soldiers and the way they treated the Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny Page 4 Homefront News oct. 17, 2008 ELECTIONS suggested the state had lost track of hundreds Polling has shown the race to be of sex offenders. virtually even, foreshadowing a possible rerun (Seattle Times) Gov. Christine Gregoire and Rossi, meanwhile, pinpointed the low of the 2004 election, which Rossi lost by 133 challenger Dino Rossi clashed in their final point as Gregoire's ads which accused him of votes after two recounts and a lawsuit.