IED crap shoot

The last few days have been a little hard on everyone. However, despite the loss of one of our guys, Bravo is now back and the platoon is right back into the fire. I can't really get into details but I can say there is a new approach around these parts that I think will have a productive outcome. We continue to patrol long into the day looking for insurgents, caches, and IEDs. Yesterday Alpha section was gone from 0800 until 1800 patrolling in, around and generally everywhere. Red and Disco were on this one. On their way back the ANA decided it was time for a break. This was around 1600. Well, I'll be damned if one of the ANA soldiers didn't scuff his foot across the ground when he went for a seat and uncovered a wire. Turns out, they were sitting right on top of a 155mm artillery shell all hooked up and ready to go. Red and Maddin pushed forward to investigate and they ended up uncovering a receiver, a battery pack, and a wire that extended for 100 meters. I'm not sure why it didn't go off, but I reckon it was incredibly lucky. They ended up dealing with it by blowing it in place. It sent a plume of smoke into the air which I could see from the rooftop of our PH. It is truly an IED crap shoot out here. Everyone here is motivated to get to the bottom of this persistent problem and we made significant progress today.
Our patrol left early this morning and was cut short. Dorner and I were attached to Bravo with MCpl Johnson leading his guys. Winthers was on point and talking to him later tonight, he mentioned that his ass was puckering around every corner. He was second in the order of march when Sgt. Faught got hit. Solid job on getting right back into it. This is what we do and this is whats expected. So we made it into the village and Capt Oneil began questioning a few locals standing around. We pushed on further and the last few guys in the patrol mentioned someone was shadowing our move through town. We stopped, turned around and questioned him. He wasn't making much sense so we GSRd his hands. Well, turns out, our Afghan shadow had HME all over his hands. Needless to say, off he went to a place where he gets 3 warm meals a day and a barrage of questioning. The kids all went crazy as we moved with him through town. His nieces were balling there eyes out. Meanwhile, about 500m away, the guys in the tower spotted a guy on his cell phone as we left for patrol. They thought nothing of it, until he gave the phone away as we approached. We passed right by him not knowing he was talking on a phone. Well, they went out and GSRd him as well. Turns out he had HME all over his hands too. So they GSRd the teen he gave his phone to. Guess what? Yep, they had traces of a certain acid used to make homemade detonators all over their hands. Busted. Off they went too. We then proceded to test everyone in the vicinity of the shop that sits in front of our PH. No more detainees, but it definitely sent a message.
Myself and Dorner have been working together for the past week or so, Red and Maddin made up the other fire team. Gonna switch it up in the next couple of days. Dorner will be working with Red (acting 2 IC) and I with Maddin. Looking ahead, all of us will be busy and patrolling non stop. We're looking to get a different type of explosive to try on the mud walls. Dorner and I were experimenting with det cord the other day, trying to see what amount is required to blow through a wall. Well, it took a lot of det cord and c-4 isn't always the best alternative. We requested an explosive with a lower velocity of detonation to see if it will heave the wall away, instead of violently blasting holes. Should be a good test and will let you know how it went.
I have a month to go until vacation. I am in need of one right about now. Riley should be back in the next little while, and Bergeron shortly after. The next to go is Maddin and he'll be off to Japan for saki and sushi and who knows what else. Sgt Fyffe ( Hawk) is still in Bela**** and nursing his ankle back to health. I've talked to him a few times and he's anxious to get back out here. Who could blame him? IEDs, insurgents, not to mention a plether of wells to go into.......He's on vacation in the week or so. Anyway, thats about it for now.......its starting to really warm up now in these parts and I think the winter is slowly making its way out......gonna be a hot spring in more ways than one........ until the next, out