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thedrifter
04-07-03, 06:29 AM
April 06, 2003

After fierce fighting Saturday, a calm Sunday in Karbala

By Matthew Cox
Times staff writer

KARBALA, Iraq — What a difference a day can make.
Saturday when American troops moved into town, they spent eight hours in a series of running gun battles that sent civilian residents scrambling for cover.

Today, troops with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 1st Armored Division quickly became the only show in town. Civilians crowded onto street corners, eyes squinting and necks craned, anything for a glimpse of American soldiers patrolling their streets.

Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st air-assaulted by helicopter in here Saturday to take over from elements of the 3rd Infantry Division. Bradley fighting vehicles and M1 Abrams tanks from C Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment supported the Screaming Eagles as they fought to clear enemy-infested areas.

But instead of finding a secure city, they were greeted by bursts of machine gun fire, falling mortars and a hail of rocket propelled grenades.

There still was a small amount of RPG fire this morning as soldiers moved to patrol the city, but that quickly gave way to calm streets.

Soldiers moved a bit more than two miles, searching schools and other buildings. All along their route, large groups of Iraqis stood by, staring curiously at the heavily armed Americans.

One teen-age Iraqi girl smiled and described her feelings about the Americans in broken English. “Yes. Good. Help us. We love you,” she said shyly.

But as nice as the reception seemed, soldiers, wary of another attack, spent most of their time telling Iraqis to stay back.

An interpreter hired by the Americans, a man of Kuwaiti-decent, made the scene intense at times, screaming in Arabic into a megaphone at Iraqis, who quickly darted away in fear.

Sgt. Thomas Slaton, a forward observer for B Company, said he felt sorry for the people here.

“I feel so bad for the kids in this country,” said the 32-year-old Dover, Del., native. “A lot of these kids that are 5 and 6 years old have already seen stuff that you shouldn’t have to look at even if you live to be a 1000.”

After a long day of searching, Bravo and Charlie companies settled into one of the city’s many walled school compounds for the night.

While still remaining vigilant, the air of nervous energy seemed to melt away as a crowd of Iraqi young people stood outside the wall and cheered and clapped.

Sempers,

Roger