U.S. Army Sgt. William J. Hartman stands watch over a pit full of Iraqi mortar rounds waiting to be destroyed by a civilian explosive ordnance disposal team at the Akudar Ammunition Depot located in central Iraq. Hartman is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 112th Armored Regiment, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division. U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Tony Montez More Photos
Texas Guard Soldiers Patrol Deadly Grounds
Soldiers of the 56th Brigade Combat Team guard a desolate desert area strewn with unexploded ammunition to keep it out of the hands of insurgents.
By U.S. Army Master Sgt. Lek Mateo, Texas National Guard 56th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office �The security mission that we perform is very important because we prevent the insurgents from getting their hands on the explosives to make (improvised explosive devices) so that they cannot harm other soldiers or civilians,� Mouton said. Sgt. 1st Class James J. Evrard, of Austin, Texas, acknowledged that the soldiers� living conditions are austere and dangerous because of the tons of old and unstable land mines, artillery shells and mortar rounds stored within the site. Nevertheless, they have come to call the dangerous playground their temporary home. Evrard knows that guard duty can be boring for his soldiers, who are tank crewman accustomed to going into combat with their M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. But he stressed to his soldiers that by keeping the ammunition out of the insurgent�s hands they are helping to save American lives. �We have a lot of ammunitions out here that the insurgents would like to use to build (improvised explosive devices),� Evrard said. �We are here to prevent that.� Spc. Michael E. Langley, of Engleton, Texas, said that this is his first overseas deployment and that it was interesting for him to see how much ammunition is stored at the facility. The specialist said he and his team members are well aware of the dangers that are hidden in the desert sand below their feet every time they go out and patrol the perimeter to prevent people such as local Bedouins from wandering onto the site. �There is a rule that we all live by, especially at night,� Specialist Langley noted. �That rule is that you do not get off the trail with your vehicle because of (unexploded ordnance).� The specialist added that he and the other soldiers take their job seriously and know that they are helping to save lives. �I definitely think that this is a vital mission,� Langley said. �I would rather us be out here guarding this munitions than have one of the rounds taken away and be used against our soldiers.�
AKUDAR, Iraq, April 26, 2005 � Texas Army National Guardsmen play a deadly game of Russian Roulette every time they go to work because the sandy ground that they patrol is strewn with unexploded ammunition. The soldiers, who are members of 3rd Battalion, 112th Armored Regiment, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, are tasked with the huge job of guarding the remnants of a large ammunition storage depot located in the desolate desert of central Iraq. The depot houses tons of ammunition slated to be destroyed by specially trained civilian contractors.
�We have a lot of ammunitions out here that the insurgents would like to use to build (improvised explosive devices). We are here to prevent that,� U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James J. Evrard Printer-friendly Version
Although the area is remote and the hours are long and monotonous, the soldiers maintain their vigilance in keeping intruders out of the dangerous area. They realize that the deadly cargo stored here can be used to make improvised explosive devices to harm other soldiers and innocent civilians. U.S. Army1st Lt. David E. Moulton, of Houston, Texas, knew that he and his men had a challenge ahead of them when they first saw the vast, fenceless complex that stretches more 50 kilometers. �When we first got here, we saw a lot of ammunitions all over the place,� Moulton said. �Everywhere you drove you saw UXO [unexploded ordnance] on the ground scattered throughout the area.� He said he reminds his soldiers constantly not to drive off the traveled roads and to drive only on the pre-designated paths. Otherwise they might roll over unexploded ordnance and set it off. The lieutenant emphasized that the mission is not as glamorous as other combat missions, but the responsibility that he and his men have been assigned is vital and that they are doing a small part to battle against the insurgents. Email A Copy

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