706th EOD Co. helps in IED sweep
1st Sgt. Robert George, first sergeant, Co. B, 3rd Bn., 509th Inf. Regt., gives an Afghan boy a high-five during a dismounted patrol in Kuygar village, Afghanistan, June 14.
Story and Photo by
Staff Sgt. Frank Inman
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Soldiers with the 706th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Comapny, 303rd EOD Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, assisted in disabling an improvised explosive device, or IED, in Kuygar Village, here, June 14.
Earlier in the day, Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, and the 3rd Coy, 1st Kandak, Afghan National Army, or ANA, had discovered an IED while on patrol in Kuygar Village.
Villagers approached and informed the patrolling ANA soldiers that insurgents had placed the IED near a culvert.
“The villagers trust the ANA in our area; the ANA regularly get information from the people,” said 1st Lt. Jeffery Dannemiller, platoon leader, 2nd Plt., Co. B, 3rd Bn., 509th Inf. Regt.
The initial mission called for ANA soldiers to patrol Kuygar Village in the early morning hours to push insurgents out to one of three blocking positions set up by the paratroopers. Once villagers told the ANA about the IED, the mission changed. However, discovering an IED is still considered a success, said Dannemiller.
Once paratroopers secured the village and location of the IED, Soldiers from the 706th EOD Co., 303rd EOD Bn., 45th Sust. Brigade, arrived and safely detonated the IED, which contained 60 pounds of explosives.
Staff Sgt. Caleb Wood, 706th EOD Co., 303rd EOD Bn., 45th Sust. Brigade, approached the IED with caution before disabling the pressure plate trigger.
“Anytime we take an IED off of the battlefield without any men or equipment being damaged is a success to me,” Dannemiller said.
Category: Deployed Forces, News
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
