A Soldier from Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, watches the street during a patrol in the Karkh District of Baghdad ,Sept. 8.
photos by Spc. Alexis Harrison, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
By Spc. Alexis Harrison
2nd BCT,1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – Patrolling the streets of the Iraqi capital is common to just about any cavalry squadron, infantry battalion, troop or company. Now add in regular rotations through a Coalition outpost, where you live next door to the local populous, and you have what many leaders call a “projection of force” to deter would-be terrorists from inhabiting quiet neighborhoods.
Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany, is only about a month into their tour here, but have already been tasked with running COP “Remagen” and patrolling the streets of the Karkh District in central Baghdad.
The stay at the outpost wasn’t quite what the infantrymen imagined when they first heard they were headed to the capital for a 15-month deployment.
During their last rotation, they were in Mosul fighting a much different battle. Although the environment is far different from their last rotation, the troops don’t take what little amenities the outpost has to offer for granted.
Soldiers pack their bags for what usually amounts to four days of rough living at the outpost. Laptops, DVD players and music top the packing list to keep the troops occupied in between patrols through the city.
They can expect no showers for days; no internet to chat on or to surf; just the bare minimum of lights and air conditioning give the Soldiers a little comfort during their four-day stay out amongst the people.
Hot chow is one of the highlights of the night. It’s only brought out once a day although the post is manned 24/7. The Soldiers scarf down their meals usually right before a walk through the streets to interact with locals to see just what is on the minds of those they live among.
“This rotation is more about the hearts and minds of people in Iraq,” said weapons platoon leader Staff Sgt. Anthony Torrescanu, a Las Vegas native. “Now that we’re not fighting constantly we can find out the needs of the people and how to fulfill those needs.”
The 1st Platoon leader, 1st Lt. Ken Schmidt, said that the area is calm enough for them to start getting locals the things they need.
“I wasn’t expecting to be in an area as calm as this,” said the Allen Park, Mich., native. “But now we’re able to focus on projects that bring a little comfort to the people because of the security in the area.”
Schmidt said that while walking around in the neighborhoods of Karkh, he is frequently stopped by residents willing to talk for a few minutes about the gratitude they have for the troops being there and keeping them safe. He said they also act as spokesmen for what is really happening in the area, in terms of what needs to be fixed and who might be causing trouble.
This is Schmidt’s first tour into Iraq like many of the troops in his platoon. Although the area is relatively safe, the veterans of the Mosul days remind the young Soldiers to be vigilant and always be prepared for the worst.
First-timer Pfc. Michael Anastasio said that many of the things he sees are more amazing than he ever imagined. Kids play in the streets without care and fearlessly ask the Soldiers for candy and soccer balls. He admits that none of this matches the stories of the hard fighting the infantrymen faced last time in Mosul.
Aside from the infamous Haifa Street, where fierce gun battles tore apart the area this past winter, the troops also trek down many of the side alleys and streets that make up a large portion of the “old” city.
Here several blacksmith and woodworking shops keep regular hours despite the sometimes-blistering heat. During foot patrols, the Soldiers take a few moments to watch the shopkeepers perform their skills at molding wood and steel into usable items.
More walking and more water follows as the troops make the rounds through the streets talking to people and getting mobbed by small children.
After this patrol, the Soldiers didn’t have to go back to the outpost. They were on their way back to Forward Operating Base Prosperity, their more permanent home. After boarding their Strykers, the infantrymen lightheartedly discuss what they plan to do first: shower, eat, sleep and call home top the list of things to do before they go out the next day for another patrol.
“We don’t take the little perks on the FOB for granted after living out at the COP,” said Pfc. Lucas Morse, an M-240 gunner from Grand Rapids, Minn., who is also on his first tour. “We just take it one day at a time.”
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Robertson, a Portland, Ore., native with Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, maintains radio traffic during a patrol on Haifa Street in the Karkh District of Baghdad Sept. 6.
Allen Park, Mich., native 1st Lt. Ken Schmidt, a platoon leader, talks to a Karkh District resident in central Baghdad about a generator placed in the area Sept. 8. Schmidt and troops from Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, are relatively new to the Karkh area and are already hitting the streets, interacting with residents daily.
Guam native Sgt. Steven Cruz from Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, checks security through the scope on his M-4 rifle during a patrol in the Karkh District of Baghdad Sept. 8.
Soldiers from Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, walk through the “old” city in the Karkh District of Baghdad Sept. 8.
Sgt. 1st Class Stanford Cunningham, a platoon sergeant and native of Atlanta, watches a young Iraqi boy pound steel into chainlinks during his platoon’s patrol through the market area in the Karkh District of Baghdad Sept. 8. Cunningham is a member of 1st Platoon, Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, based from Vilseck, Germany, but operating in central Baghdad with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
