From MNF-I, Concerned Local Citizens Group Finds Large Weapons Cache.
BAGHDAD — Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) in Tuwaitha, a village southeast of Baghdad, discovered on Jan. 1 one of the largest weapon caches found since the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed to the Mada’in Qada nine months ago. The cache consisted of two five-gallon jugs of homemade explosives, seven 85 mm rockets, one 73 mm rocket, ten 82 mm mortar rounds, two 57 mm mortar rounds, two 60 mm mortar rounds, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and two 40 mm explosive projectiles.
“Every time a Concerned Local Citizen brings in ordnance it saves Soldiers’ lives,” said Maj. Desmond Bailey, from Wetumpka, Ala., the operations officer for 3-1st Cav. Regt.
“This demonstrates that more Iraqis are on the side of peace.”
Last fall, Company D conducted Operation Tuwaitha Sunrise, which partnered the unit with CLCs in an effort to drive insurgents from the area.
“The Concerned Local Citizens program is highly successful, which is clearly evident based on the amount of ordnance discovered by the Tuwaitha CLCs,” said 1st Lt. Timothy Eng, from San Jose, Calif., an engineer in Headquarters Troop, 3-1st Cav. Regt.
The 3-1st Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
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