TF Duke 'Vipers' Take Fight To Enemy
(May 1, 2011) | 
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| | KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan (4/28/2011) – Success in all
wars, regardless of how large they may be, frequently comes
down to the collective actions of individuals and small
units. |
Soldiers of the 1st
Battalion, 26th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke,
pull security during a meeting between leaders
of U.S. and Afghan forces and the local
government in Khowst province, Afghanistan,
April 17, 2011. Photo by Army Pfc. Donald
Watkins |
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Recent joint operations in eastern Afghanistan
involving U.S. Army Soldiers of the 1st
Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force
Duke, and the Afghan National Army's 3rd Koy,
3rd Kandak, 1st Brigade, laid the groundwork for
future missions in Afghanistan.
The
recent success of Operation Maiwan in March
resulted in the confiscation of large weapons
caches and deprived insurgents of weaponry and
supplies to use |
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against coalition forces. That success carried
over to the planning and execution of a
follow-up mission, Operation Maiwan II, April 13
to 25. |
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According to U.S. Army Maj. Damon Harris, a native of
Leland, Miss., and the brigade operations officer of the 3rd
BCT, 1st Inf. Div., TF Duke, Operation Maiwan II had two
main objectives: the interdiction of insurgents and the
clearance along key routes through Paktya and Khowst
provinces.
The goal, said Harris, was to not only
establish long-term security along Route Alaska with the new
Afghan Border Police's checkpoint, but to also increase
security by reducing improvised explosive device threats.
“Route Alaska had been what we considered a ‘Tier 1'
site for IEDs,” said Harris, meaning it was considered a
road that coalition forces were most likely to encounter an
IED upon.
Resolution or improvement in the situation
would have to come from those closest to the problem.
The Front Line
The Company B soldiers of the 1st
Bn., 26th Inf. Regt., also known as Viper Company, are three
months into a year-long deployment. Assigned to the Saberi
District of Khowst province, their mission largely focuses
on helping to keep the peace in the area through joint
patrols with Afghan National Security Forces.
In
addition to the goals set up by Harris, the Vipers were to
continue training with elements of the ANSF and interact
with Afghan citizens to build trust, respect and
friendships.
“If freedom of movement can increase,
that will be huge, especially without any route clearance
patrol being needed,” said U.S. Army Capt. Aaron Tapalman,
commander of Viper Company and a native of West Alexandria,
Ohio.
Building and permanently staffing the new
Afghan Border Police checkpoints along Route Alaska will be
one measure of success, he said.
More importantly,
ensuring the various elements of the ANSF are
mission-capable will continue to be a high priority during
the operation.
“We've put a greater focus on
training the Afghan National Army,” Tapalman said.
The People
Tapalman, along with two of his Viper
Company platoons and other attached soldiers, found
themselves in the village of Yaquabi, April 14, which until
2007 had been the district center.
In addition to
meeting with the villagers in the Yaquabi bazaar, the ANSF
and U.S. Army soldiers also searched shops in the area.
The ANSF led the searches to inspire trust and
confidence in the villagers who saw their own countrymen
taking the lead in the operation.
While the searches
were being conducted in the bazaar, Viper Company passed out
candy to local children and passed out radios to gathered
villagers.
The visit helped build the support and
respect needed to garner information on insurgent activity,
said Tapalman.
“We're looking for that one win to
build on,” said Tapalman, alluding to the ripple effect of
citizens coming forward to inform ANSF or coalition forces
of insurgent activity.
The Challenges
The
following days of Operation Maiwan II, included joint
searches of Kulats, or residential compounds, in the area.
In deference to the customs of the villagers, ANSF
elements led the search of homes, while Viper Company
followed as observers.
The security forces targeted
Kulats known or suspected of being used to harbor insurgents
or improvised explosive device factories.
The
relative morning calm of April 15, however, was disturbed by
the sound of an explosion. One Viper Company platoon on
patrol was struck by an IED, injuring three personnel.
All elements searching the Kulats immediately converged
on the area of the explosion and formed a security perimeter
around the site.
A medevac helicopter evacuated the
casualties for further medical treatment, and the Viper
platoons maintained their security perimeter until an
explosive ordnance disposal team completed their
investigation of the site. Ultimately, the wounded were
treated for minor injuries and returned to duty shortly
thereafter.
The Aftermath
The ANSF and
coalition forces held a shura, or meeting, with village
representatives that afternoon at a nearby school to discuss
local matters and the attack earlier that day.
ANA
1st Sgt. Raza Khan, 3rd Koy, 3rd Kandak 1st Brigade and
Tapalman emphasized the reasons why coalition forces are in
Yaquabi.
“We're not here to stay forever, or turn you
away from Islam,” said Tapalman, who was frequently
interrupted by applause from the villagers.
Khan
said he appreciated the chance his soldiers had to spend
time among their own people.
"The Yaquabi Shura gave
us the chance to connect with the elders and men of Yaquabi
like we hadn't been able to in the past,” he said.
While the final measures of success for Operation Maiwan II
have yet to be determined, the soldiers assigned to Viper
Company said they took satisfaction not only from long, hard
days of patrolling and meeting the people in and around
Yaquabi, but knowing one of their primary objectives was
met.
"It was a very good operation, well planned and
executed,” said Khan.
U.S. Army Maj. Nate Tagg, a
native of Butler, Pa., and the daytime chief of operations
for TF Duke, watched the events of Operation Maiwan II
unfold. He said he liked what he saw.
“The ANSF was
really taking the lead,” said Tagg.
“The joint
efforts led to the unit's largest seizure of dangerous
materials in months,” he added. “They confiscated more than
10 tons of ammonia nitrate and other materials and
established a permanent checkpoint for Afghan Border
Police.”
Harris also found much to be proud of.
“It [Operation Maiwan II] caused significant positive
effects,” he said, citing the successful installation of
‘Salerno Boxes' near culverts along Route Alaska. The boxes
are designed to deny insurgents access to the culverts,
where IEDs might be installed.
According to Harris,
the checkpoint seemed to make the enemy re-evaluate Route
Alaska as a thoroughfare.
“All accounts of the
operation thus far have been extremely positive,” he said. | |
By
Army SSgt. John Zumer
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Infantry Division
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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