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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Jul 3, 2009 - 7:37:28 PM |
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“Rescue me O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day ... who plan to trip my feet.”
- Convoy prayer
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| From left, Spc. Donald Cunningham of Towanda, Kan., a gunner with 2nd Platoon, 731st Transportation Company, assembles his .50 caliber machine gun with the help of his vehicle commander, Sgt. Gary Wenke of Wichita, Kan. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte) |
Blackanthem Military News, LSA ADDER, Iraq – Sgt. Jasmine J. Jaheeb, a chaplain’s assistant with the 11th Transportation Battalion, handed out prayer cards as the Soldiers put on their armor for the long drive ahead.
She said some Soldiers stick the card in their windows – a reminder that even if they don’t always have control over a situation, it’s still under control by someone.
“It’s good to know that something as small as a little card can get you through,” Jaheeb said.
The 11th Transportation Battalion from Virginia Beach, Va., officially began its convoy protection mission in March, a newcomer to the desert of southern Iraq and its dangerous roads.
The unit, which has already come under small arms fire and multiple improvised explosive device attacks, is a mix of active duty and National Guard Soldiers from several different states. One of those components is the 731st Transportation Company from the Kansas National Guard.
Spc. Donald Cunningham of Towanda, Kan., a gunner with 2nd Platoon, was about a week into the mission when a rock the size of a cement block was thrown from an overpass and struck him in the back of his helmet. Although he was later diagnosed as receiving a concussion, he dismissed it as not being that serious.
“It was a little bit of a wakeup call,” Cunningham said. “Complacency is a big issue for some … It certainly made me more aware of the environment.”
His vehicle commander, Sgt. Gary Wenke of Wichita, Kan., said one of the differences between his training and his experiences guarding convoys is how fast a situation can change. An IED you miss on one trip may be used against you the next trip, he said.
“You just have to stay on top of everything,” Wenke said.
The civilian convoys they protect travel to bases throughout southern Iraq, but also go west to places such as Al Taqueddum and north to locations such as Logisitcal Support Area Anaconda. The distances mean long hours on the road for the convoys and their security escorts.
Wenke, for one, is used to traveling. In civilian life, he works as a transport driver, hauling tractor trailer loads on regular 500-mile round trips. He said one advantage to the convoy security work is how the Soldiers keep each other alert through constant communication, which also helps the time pass more quickly.
“We’ve got a lot of good people we’re working with,” he said.
The Soldiers joked with each other as they prepared their vehicles for the next trip, playing songs such as “I’m a Fobbit” while they assembled and checked their heavy machine guns.
Spc. Christopher Leech of Minneapolis, Kan., who works as the gunner for another vehicle, said the platoon has bonded from the start.
“It makes missions run a lot smoother,” he said.
Lt. Col. Tammie J. Pettit, the commander of the 11th Trans. Bn., said many of her Soldiers have shown themselves to be natural leaders, regardless of their rank and what they were doing prior to the deployment.
“I’m pleasantly surprised at how well the units are doing,” she said. “They’re all just pulling together.”
Pettit noted that the companies’ record of finding improvised explosive devices is already on par with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, the battalion’s higher command.
She said she has also pushed her staff members to ride with the convoys, since the experience will result in better service for the Soldiers who regularly handle security escort duties.
“The battalion isn’t just sitting back in their air conditioned offices,” Pettit said. “It’s important for them to understand what these guys are going through.”
Maj. Ralph A. Lounsbrough, the battalion executive officer, said he has been impressed by the network of organizations out on the roads supporting the convoy mission – personnel ranging from route clearance units to Iraqi Police securing checkpoints.
“It’s pretty impressive. You’re never alone,” Lounsbrough said. “There’s always someone else out there helping you do your job. It’s nice to know you aren’t out there all by yourself trying to find this stuff.”
The battalion, which is trained to run cargo transfer operations by air, sea, land and rail, found out its mission would be exclusively convoy protection in June of last year.
“We had plenty of time to change gears,” Lounsbrough said. “It really wasn’t that big of a transition for us.”
The Soldiers continue to pick up lessons with every mission they conduct.
During one recent pre-mission briefing for the 731st Trans. Co., Staff Sgt. Gerold Gibson of Wetmore, Kan., assistant convoy commander, gave members of 3rd Platoon the most recent intelligence information, ranging from locations of IED attacks the night before to suspect vehicles they should be on the lookout for.
He noted the importance of communication checks, proper escalation of force procedures, and added a warning for them to remember.
“There are no safe zones,” Gibson said.
Afterwards, Spc. Marce N. Collier of Sandusky, Ohio, who is a driver with 3rd Platoon, shrugged her individual body armor on. She was reactivated from the Individual Ready Reserve for this deployment and is still getting used to the weight of her protective gear.
The convoy preparing to leave would be her second mission outside the wire.
“It’s still fresh and new,” she said. “I’m trying to learn all I can.”
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Staff Sgt. Gerold Gibson of Wetmore, Kan. (center with notebook), an assistant convoy commander with 3rd Platoon, 731st Transportation Company, shows members of his team alerts and descriptions of suspected insurgents. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte) |
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| Members of 731st Transportation Company drive out to handle their convoy security mission. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte) |
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