From MNF-I, Concerned Local Citizens Deliver Weapons Cache to Battery Commander.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER — Members of a Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) group seized a large cache of munitions east of the city of Al Nijidat, southeast of Forward Operating Base Hammer, Dec. 26.
The cache consisted of 23 rocket motors, two 82 mm mortars, four 81 mm illumination shells, one rocket-propelled grenade, one 115 mm high-explosive tank round, one 106 mm high-explosive anti-tank round, and several other explosive items, including an artillery fuse.
The CLC group delivered the cache to FOB Hammer where Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., and commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, met with the group.
“The CLC allow us to focus more on governance and economics,” said Cannon.
“The fact we have help out there with security allows us to maintain our focus on essential services and the local Iraqi government.”
Cannon notified explosive ordnance disposal specialists from the 789th Ordnance Company (EOD), from Fort Benning, Ga., who received the cache items. The EOD unit secured the munitions for future disposal.
Cannon believes the CLC provides his unit, recently transitioned from detainee operations in Bucca to the 3rd HBCT’s area of operations, with vital information.
“They know the area better than we do,” he said. “We’ve only been here a couple of months; they’ve been here all their lives.”
The 1-10 FA Regt., and the 789th Ordnance Co. (EOD), are assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
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