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thedrifter
06-26-07, 02:05 PM
BLT 3/1 making serious headway in CHINA SHOP
Sgt. Andy Hurt

COMBAT OUTPOST GOLDEN, Al Anbar Province(June 25, 2007) -- Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, are making serious headway conducting counter-insurgency operations in support of Operation CHINA SHOP.
Beginning June 24 elements from the battalion, including Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon and Weapons Company, began a large-scale sweep throughout Iraq’s Al Anbar Province intending to disrupt insurgent networks.

The first day of the operation turned up two large vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (car bombs) under construction in a factory, along with a handful of explosive devices already placed on roadways within the area of operations.

Continuing the sweep this morning, the BLT discovered three large weapons caches.
The first cache reportedly contained more than 121 IEDs, more than half of which were already armed. The devices included “speed bump” IEDs, often placed or buried in roads. A shallow grave was also reported in the vicinity of the cache, although battalion staff members are not certain if any human remains were found.

The second find was the largest of the three. A house search uncovered a room containing a high-explosive stack nearly three feet high draped in a United Nations flag. Battalion personnel estimate the material could have been used to construct more than 80 large IEDs. An F-18 Hornet dropped a GBU-12 (500 pound) bomb on the house, uncovering more materials which are currently being handled by Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians from Combat Logistics Battalion 13.

The third cache was discovered in a house pointed out by interpreters because a bus, reported stolen, was parked outside. In the house, Marines discovered various small arms munitions, a rocket-propelled grenade, 10 pressure plate IEDs and other bomb making material.

Lieutenant Col. Phillip W. Chandler, battalion commander, described the day’s finds as “exceptional.”

“We came here to take the accelerants away from the enemy, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said, “Each one of those devices was meant to kill a Marine or a Soldier.”

Operation CHINA SHOP is part of ongoing operations in the Al Anbar Province designed to sever insurgent supply routes and safe houses. Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, will continue operations as long as necessary to accommodate future Coalition Force capabilities in the Province.

“It was a big day,” said Chandler, “and I’m extremely proud of the boys out there.”

For more information about the warriors of Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, and the Fighting 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, visit the unit's Web site at www.usmc.mil/13thmeu.

Ellie