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Strykers join Iraqi forces for operation

Nov-30-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, The News-Miner

Soldiers from two battalions of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright Army Post participated in a large offensive operation earlier this month to root out insurgents and secure the Syrian border in Iraq.

Soldiers from the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry and the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry participated along with nearly 2,500 other members of U.S. military forces, according to Lt. Col. Mark Freitag, who spoke from Iraq with reporters Tuesday. Operation Steel Curtain began Nov. 4 and lasted 18 days.

"What was special about the operation was that it was, in all circumstances, a combined joint operation," said Freitag, commander of the 4-14.

The two battalions along with Iraqi forces were among the 1,000 soldiers conducting operations north of the Euphrates River. The 4-14 and 2-1 were mainly responsible for clearing the town of Ramana near the Syrian border. The U.S. and Iraqi forces detained 96 suspected insurgents during their operations, according to Capt. Rusty Topf, commander of B Company with the 2-1.

Freitag said the U.S. and Iraqi forces suffered no casualties and did not face heavy fire except for an improvised explosive device that detonated near Topf's vehicle. [...]


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