Distant, impersonal attacks in Afghanistan

U.S. forces rain down artillery on enemy in Narang Valley


Distant, impersonal attacks in Afghanistan
By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, May 21, 2008

NARANG VALLEY, Afghanistan — The CH-47 Chinook landed on the dusty hilltop shortly before midnight.

About 30 soldiers from 3rd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment leapt out in a swirling maelstrom of grit kicked up by the massive bird’s twin rotor blades.

The troops were expecting action. The latest intelligence indicated that enemy fighters had emplaced a heavy machine gun and an 82 mm mortar in the nearby hills. As many as 40 enemy fighters were reported in the area.

The mission had been planned for nearly a month, so it came as no surprise that advance word may have leaked to the enemy.

"Over time, maybe somebody told one of their buddies who worked in the chow hall, who told someone else (who told the enemy)," said 1st Lt. Brendan Kennedy, leader of 3rd Platoon.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54956