YUSUFIYAH, IRAQ: In the ten days following the incident on
Malibu Highway near Patrol Base Inchon; American soldiers have searched every
house in this area for the three captured GI s.
The countryside has presented greater difficulties. The Iraq of the Euphrates River valley resembles Viet Nam more than the
generally perceived desert landscape of Iraq.
Palm trees tower over the
lush cropland, canals and pastures north of Highway Malibu, the most dangerous
stretch of road in the country. The many
sizeable irrigation canals that thread through this fertile area are lined with
tall reeds. In many areas they reach a
height of over 12 feet, providing excellent cover for snipers; and those
setting IED s or laying mines.
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| Tenth Mountain Division soldiers searching for missing soldiers. |
“We’re going to drive down
Malibu for a klick of so, then sweep those fields and orchards to the North on
foot” said Lt. John Moynihan, leader of
3rd Platoon, Charlie Co. 431 Battalion. “I know it’s been covered at least once, but
it’s nearly impossible to give it a thorough going over” said the Boston native
and Norwich University graduate.
It’s getting very hot,
pushing 100 degrees, but the men are eager to get moving. After all it’s their sister company, Delta of
the 413 Battalion, that lost four men and had three captured last week. There is a heavy commitment throughout this
Brigade that no one is going to let up till the fate of the missing men is
known.
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| US GIs patroling area around the Euphraties river in an area that resembles Viet Nam. |
Highway Malibu which runs
between Combat Out Posts Malibu and Inchon, has had the highest number of IED s
per mile in the country this past year.
It remains also, according to Lt. Moynihan, in the center of the busiest
infiltration route of foreign insurgent fighters into Iraq. The Euphrates River is less than a mile
South and it’s clear sailing from the west shore to Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Platoon Sgt Chris Bailey
waves the men off the highway. “We’re going to walk down this farm lane for
half a klick, then fan out. Keep your eyes peeled for any evidence of IED s, suspiciously disturbed earth that might
harbour a mine and any possible scrap of evidence that may have come from the
missing men.”
These fields and pastures in
the vicinity of the highway have workers and assorted farm animals scattered
throughout. This is some indication that
it should not be that dangerous regarding mines or IED s. Snipers could be a problem throughout these
farm lands with the heavy vegetation along the borders of the fields and
canals.
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| Same patrol on different trail. |
The soldiers complete their
sweep of the open field, then form up in smaller groups moving single file
through orchards and palm groves. Mostly
women and kids are working the fields. A
good crop of alfalfa stands along many of the canals and the women have it cut,
bunched, and loaded on carts for the
ride home. A number of young girls are in the field helping and none of the
older women are covered in the manner if women seen in the towns.
“Ok men, let’s gather up here
and follow this lane back to the highway” said Lt. Moynihan. “We didn’t find anything other than a few
pieces of old uniform, but they’re not the type we use. At least we know this area is free of IED s
and snipers.”
Time is running out on the
likelihood that the troops from Delta Company will be safely found. On returning to Inchon, another platoon is
marching three suspects into camp. They’ve
been picked up in the village of Qaraguli and are from the tribe of the same
name, according to Capt. Chris Sanchez, Civil Affairs Officer in
Yusufiyah.
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| Captured locals waitint for a chopper for transport to an interrogation center. It was not allowed to take pictures of identifying features of prisoners. |
“They are from the tribe of
the same name” he said. “That brings the
number of detainees who are felt to have had a role to play in the capture the
GI s to 28” said Capt. Sanchez.
Perhaps one of these last
three suspects will provide the clue that will crack this investigation wide
open.
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