| FOB RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq, July 28, 2006 - Iraqi policemen,
along with Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers from Company
B, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment and 519th Military Police
Battalion, both of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division,
disarmed a roadside bomb and captured a sniper suspected of shooting
a civilian interpreter accompanying the soldiers in eastern Baghdad
Sunday. While patrolling the New Baghdad area, Soldiers of Company B observed a bomb by the roadside and called in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to safely destroy the bomb in place. "I saw the suspicious item on the side of the road, and we stopped to secure the area," said SFC Elsen Peter, platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon, Company B, 3-67 AR. As the soldiers secured the site, a shot rang out and hit their interpreter in the arm. Soldiers from Company D, 3-67th AR, arrived to assist with security and attack aviation helicopters flew in to provide security from the air. The Company B Soldiers evacuated the wounded interpreter. "SPC Brandon Mills did a great job assessing the injury and stopping the bleeding. The medics left the field dressing he put on in place because it was so well done as our interpreter was evacuated to the combat hospital," said Peter. "My soldiers performed well. They took care of our interpreter with care at the scene, then evacuated him," said CPT Ryan Stamatis, commander, Company B. Soldiers from the 258th MP Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, detained one local national and confiscated two .22 caliber rifles with scopes, two air rifles with gunpowder, a .22 caliber pistol, approximately 2,000 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, two weapon silencers and three additional high-power scopes. Together with Iraqi police officers, they found the material in a room with a broken window, which allowed for direct vision of the interpreter's location when the sniper fire occurred. Company B completed a search of the suspected sniper's house with the 258th MP Company and Iraqi police. "The combined aspect of the Iraqi police helping find the shooter shows the (Iraqi Security Forces) taking the lead to protect the Iraqi people and provide better security. The Iraqi police are doing their job well," said Stamatis. The incident remains under investigation by Iraqi authorities. |
