News 11/6/04

From CNN:
Insurgents struck a military convoy near Ramadi on Saturday wounding 20 Marines, a U.S. military official said. Ramadi, like Falluja, is in al Anbar province.


Rory, we are praying for you constantly. Be safe!

Article

Here's more detail on the IED that was diffused in Ramadi. This comes from the Desert Strike page:

2BCT Soldiers risk lives to save children

[11/5/2004]

Source: Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sutton

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq -- A 2nd Infantry Division unit today discovered and diffused an explosive-laden youth center in Ramadi that was rigged by insurgents to detonate and set to kill dozens of Iraqi children.
“This is what the terrorists and insurgents are doing to their own people,” said Col. Gary S. Patton, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division commander.
1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment discovered the explosives in the youth center during Operation Tiger , a brigade-level operation to sweep parts of the city for improvised explosive device cells, weapons caches, and enemy fighters.
The unit reported the youth center was booby trapped and triple-wired, meaning there were three ways in which the explosives could detonate, so even if one of the rigs was discovered, backup triggers could still detonate the explosives.
Capt. Charles Romero, a 2nd BCT battle captain, said the center had explosives rigged to detonate when the lights were turned on, by remote control, or by wiring that ran from the center to a nearby mosque, where the unit discovered the firing mechanism.
“Today we saved dozens of children’s lives,” said Patton. “We did this by several brave Soldiers entering the youth center at great personal risk to themselves to diffuse the explosives.”
“Our Soldiers are really pumped about this mission,” said Lt. Col. Justin Gubler, commander of the battalion that diffused the youth center. “Today they know they really made a difference.”
Elsewhere in Operation Tiger, the brigade discovered a large quantity of munitions and weapons at another local mosque.
“This mosque was serving as a military arsenal,” said Patton. “Weapons and ammunition were buried beneath every inch of the compound of this mosque.”
A search of the mosque’s compound yielded more than two tons of ammunition, explosives, complete mortar systems and RPGs. Artillery rounds, assault rifles and various IED-making materials were found, as well.
The cache is the largest found at one time on a brigade-level mission since 2nd BCT arrived in theater in August. Several battalions have discovered other caches on their own missions, but none of this scale.
Mosques normally have protected status under the Laws of War. However, whenever they are used for military purposes by the insurgency, they lose protection. Insurgents and local religious leaders have been repeatedly warned not to use mosques to store military weaponry or use them to shield fighters.
Fifty suspected insurgents were also detained during the sweep under suspicion of anti-Iraqi force activity.
The brigade is responsible for quelling the insurgency in Ramadi and outlying areas within Al-Anbar Province and providing safety and security in the area so the provincial government can establish local control.

We Heard From Rory...

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you know that we heard from Rory. He called Sarah Wednesday morning (see her update), and I also got a short email from him early Thursday morning. Rob Brooke, his bunk mate had two days off to rest up and I am hoping that Rory also got some time off as well.

We love you guys! Be safe.

News 11/5/04

Booby traps found

In Ramadi, U.S. forces said they defused explosives rigged to detonate inside a youth center used by dozens of children. Tons of explosives were found hidden in a mosque.

The humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders said it will stop working in Iraq because of escalating violence. The group has been there since December 2002. The group said the "warring parties have repeatedly shown their disrespect for independent humanitarian assistance." (Source: CNN)

2nd BCT soldier WIA cheered at NFL game

According to the U.S. Army News Service, Sgt. Orlando Gill of the 2-17th Field Artillery, was celebrated in a ceremony at the Washington Redskins/Green Bay Packers football game on 10.31.2004. Sgt. Gill's leg was amputated after an RPG exploded near him on 10.02.2004 in Ramadi. There are pictures of Sgt. Gill and other celebrated soldiers at the bottom of the page linked above.

Articles

The NY Times has a story on the 2-17th Field Artillery as they counteract insurgent mortar attacks on bases around Ramadi, with one picture and several soldiers quoted.

This is a separate article from last weeks Chicago Times Article that featured the 1-9th Infantry and 2-17th Field Artillery working together.

Sgt. Fortune

Deepest condolences to the family of SGT. Maurice Keith Fortune, 25, of Forestville, Md.
SGT Fortune, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, and lost his life on October 29, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

We send our most heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the Fortune family and also to his friends and fellow comrades.


Other News:
11/1/04
Iraq: Seven, including cameraman, killed in Ramadi
Six Iraqis were killed and 15 others injured in another day of clashes in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, hospital officials said.

Also in Ramadi, an Iraqi freelance television cameraman was killed Monday while filming the clashes between U.S. soldiers and Iraqi resistance fighters, police and hospital officials told The AP.

Diaa Najm, in his early40 s, was shot in the head and the back on a street near his home in Ramadi, police Capt. Naser Abdullah said. (Albawaba.com)

Rory's Okay...

Hi gang,

The 2-17 FRG site has added some new pictures. Rory isn't in any of them unfortunately. :( But it gives you more of an idea of Rory's surroundings.

The good news is that the father of another soldier in Rory's unit emailed me and said he heard from his son Dan this morning. Dan said that both Rory and Rob are fine and safe. So I was happy to hear that.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow everyone!

PFC Downing

The Department of Defense announced yesterday the death of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Stephen P. Downing II, 30, of Burkesville, Ky., died Oct. 28 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, from small arms fire while conducting combat operations. Downing was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, Camp Hovey, Korea. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and 2-17 comrades.

Given the actitivity in Ramadi and Fallujah, the coming days will likely be difficult and communications maybe slim. Hang on and try to think positive thoughts everyone. We love you Rory.