Iraq War Vet Tells What It Was Like at MTC Veterans Day Celebration
By John Oxford, The Moultrie
john.oxford@gaflnews.com
MOULTRIE — A veteran of the War in Iraq told a group of about 150 faculty and staff at Moultrie Technical College about a typical week in Iraq
Capt. Brian Lasseter
Capt. Brian Lassetter, commander of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade, said the job to find insurgents and terrorists is not easy. When he first arrived in May 2005, his unit was assigned to secure 12 villages in 202 square kilometers southwest of Baghdad
"We're there to kill the enemy," Lassetter said, "but we're also there to make sure Iraq
Before the soldiers go out on any kind of mission, Lassetter said there has to be a lot of planning and a good knowledge of the area where they are going. To try and neutralize the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the soldiers search several of the town's businesses, including welding shops, barber shops, mosques, factories, mechanic shops and even schools.
Bravo Company took about six weeks to significantly influence the insurgents, Lassetter said, which included 59 different engagements. As many as 200 soldiers and Iraqi civilians went on missions to reach the people.
"It was the civil military piece that often wins the sites," Lassetter said.
Lassetter said soldiers would fly over an area in helicopters to survey the village or town they were going to before moving in on the ground. It is the ground missions where the IEDs are used, he said, but rarely did soldiers get attacked on the first day of their operation because insurgents had not learned their route.
The Iraqi civilians made a huge difference with missions because they helped capture insurgents, Lassetter said. The unit captured a man who had shot his 10-year-old niece, a farmer turned over a former CIA operative of Saddam Hussein as vets dewormed his sheep, and a father turned over an insurgent after soldiers and Iraqis helped reconstruct his son's injured thumb.
The father, who hated the Coalition Forces, told the soldiers he did not know why they helped his son with his thumb, Lassetter said. He told them he would not have done the same for them, but he earned their trust.
"Sometimes you have to love the enemy more than they hate you," Lassetter said.
Lassetter said the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment captured 178 insurgents while they were deployed in Iraq
CCHS Color Guard
MTC Faculty, Staff, Student, & Guest Veterans
By John Oxford, The
john.oxford@gaflnews.com
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Capt. Brian Lasseter |
Capt. Brian Lassetter, commander of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade, said the job to find insurgents and terrorists is not easy. When he first arrived in May 2005, his unit was assigned to secure 12 villages in 202 square kilometers southwest of
"We're there to kill the enemy," Lassetter said, "but we're also there to make sure
Before the soldiers go out on any kind of mission, Lassetter said there has to be a lot of planning and a good knowledge of the area where they are going. To try and neutralize the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the soldiers search several of the town's businesses, including welding shops, barber shops, mosques, factories, mechanic shops and even schools.
Bravo Company took about six weeks to significantly influence the insurgents, Lassetter said, which included 59 different engagements. As many as 200 soldiers and Iraqi civilians went on missions to reach the people.
"It was the civil military piece that often wins the sites," Lassetter said.
Lassetter said soldiers would fly over an area in helicopters to survey the village or town they were going to before moving in on the ground. It is the ground missions where the IEDs are used, he said, but rarely did soldiers get attacked on the first day of their operation because insurgents had not learned their route.
The Iraqi civilians made a huge difference with missions because they helped capture insurgents, Lassetter said. The unit captured a man who had shot his 10-year-old niece, a farmer turned over a former CIA operative of Saddam Hussein as vets dewormed his sheep, and a father turned over an insurgent after soldiers and Iraqis helped reconstruct his son's injured thumb.
The father, who hated the Coalition Forces, told the soldiers he did not know why they helped his son with his thumb, Lassetter said. He told them he would not have done the same for them, but he earned their trust.
"Sometimes you have to love the enemy more than they hate you," Lassetter said.
Lassetter said the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment captured 178 insurgents while they were deployed in
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MTC Faculty, Staff, Student, & Guest Veterans |
