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Patrol walks a fine line in Mosul

Dec-20-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, News-Miner

MOSUL, Iraq--Pounding the pavement in this northern city of 2.5 million requires some savvy, the kind employed by Sgt. John Boxrucker and his platoon.

Boxrucker and soldiers with 1st platoon, Alpha Co. regularly patrol what the sergeant calls one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. His unit is part of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Mosul residents, Boxrucker noted with sarcasm, aren't always happy to see his patrol. "Oh, they like us," he said Monday in his gravelly voice, drawing on a Marlboro before heading out to the neighborhood.

The 1st platoon has drawn fire countless times in this neighborhood of upscale homes rising behind concrete walls and ornate gates. Three soldiers were seriously wounded Sept. 19 in a firefight in this neighborhood, although one is set to return to duty in the coming weeks. The lack of battle scarring on the area's outer appearance belies the potential danger. Likewise, the soldiers find it difficult to find leads to the sources of trouble. They talk amicably with locals, sip tea, and exercise the art of conversation while trying to maintain friendly relations but ferret out problems at the same time.

Boxrucker planned to walk the neighborhood Monday and talk to locals, trying to get tidbits of information he could about shootings or suspicious activity in the area. [...]


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