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| Afghanistan | |
| U.S. Paratroopers Complete Operation Pizmah | |
| 2006-01-06 | |
| DEY CHOPAN, Afghanistan — As Operation Pizmah drew to a close Dec. 15, the U.S. soldiers of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment could see their efforts reflected in friendly smiles and cooperation from the citizens of Zabul Province. "This area was pretty much neglected by the government," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Julio Nazario, 1st Platoon sergeant, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, and a Miami native. "Most of what the government has seen here is due to my platoon." The mission of Operation Pizmah was for elements of B Company to reestablish a coalition presence in the districts of Dey Chopan, Argandab and Khaki-Afghan. Nazario's platoon came from Forward Operating Base Baylough to Dey Chopan on Nov. 30 to support Operation Pizmah and ensure that the villages are prepared for the winter. "The reception of the people was not too soldier-friendly initially," Nazario said. "We started our mission by conducting patrols and encouraging support for the government with the people." Nazario's platoon has patrolled as much as 70 kilometers per week in the Baylough Bowl, a 5 kilometer-wide area. In the latter half of the operation, coalition forces saw increased hostile resistance in the area. Nazario said most of the anti-coalition opposition came in the form of three-to-five man teams of enemy intent on disrupting and discouraging support for the local government. In June and July, however, coalition forces in the area saw the most anti-coalition activity of the year, Nazario said. Between the months of June and September, Forward Operating Base Baylough took fire from 48-107 mm rockets, 39-60 mm mortars and numerous rocket-propelled grenades. Since the area was made safer for coalition forces, Nazario's soldiers have helped to open two schools and a district headquarters for the Afghan National Police, and worked to train police and Army National Army soldiers. "For (our platoon of Afghan National Army), we started from basic training, like for any U.S. soldier," Nazario said. Before the Afghan National Army soldiers started to patrol with Nazario's squad, they were taught about weapons systems and movement through the field, Nazario said. From then on, they became a consistent part of the coalition security element, he said. "If the [Afghan National Army] and [Afghan National Police] have the logistical support they need from the government, they'll be good to go," Nazario said. Nazario said he hopes Zabul Province continues to receive support from the coalition and the local government as he and his soldiers head back to Forward Operating Base Baylough to continue peacekeeping operations. "(The people) can sleep relaxed and not worry about Taliban coming in and harassing them," he said. "The government's here to help them out, and if they ever need us, we're just a few kilometers away." Check pics at link.
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| Posted by: Anonymoose |