Operation Forsythe Park

Operation Forsythe Park
Date 26 April 2007-5 May 2007 Location Albu Bali, Iraq Result Immediate relief of insurgent, Al Qaeda, and other criminal activities in the area
Belligerents
United States Republic of Iraq	Iraqi Insurgency Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Commanders and leaders
Col. John Charlton	Unknown
Strength
450	Unknown
Casualties and losses
6 Killed	Multiple Killed

A operation Forsythe Park in Albu Bali, located 15 kilometers northeast of Ramadi was completed on Wednesday 5 May 2007 in Ramadi, Iraq by approx 450 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces

The Mission

Al Anbar Provincial Security Force 2, Iraqi Army demolition experts and U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Task Force Pathfinder (with elements from the 321st Engineer Battalion and C company 397th Engineer company) conducted the weeks long clearing operation, targeting one of the remaining hotspots in the brigade’s area of operations. TF Pathfinder spent long hours conducting route clearance, often on mission for more than 24 hours at a time, clearing IED threats so that Provincial Security Force 2 could complete their mission.

Operation Forsythe Park started in the early morning hours of 26 April with multiple Coalition Soldiers being injured in the opening minutes of the Operation by IED's that had been emplaced months, even years ahead in certain areas designed to keep Coalition Forces out of the area.

There were many acts of Valor performed by Soldiers daily that have yet to be recognized for the sacrifices they made so the Coalition Forces could complete the objective.

“We had seen an increased amount of enemy activity in this region over the last three weeks,” said Col. John Charlton, commanding officer for 1BCT. “Once we set the conditions and built sufficient combat power, we took the fight to the enemy and provided much needed relief to the population.”

"During the operation, Coalition forces were attacked almost daily by rocket propelled grenades, small arms fire, IED's ranging in size from 10 pounds to 150-200 pounds of explosives. There was also the constant threat of snipers, heavy machine gun fire, and improvised rockets." Said Master Sergeant David Johnson of B Company 321st Engineer Battalion, TF Pathfinder. Call sign Wolf-37. "We would take over for another team that had been working on clearing the roads, and we would have vehicles blown up by an IED that had been dug into the sides of the elevated roads, that left no visual clues, before we had reached the limit of advance from the previous route clearance team. Speed was a killer, 1-2 miles an hour was a good pace and the Soldiers in the lead vehicles got very good at their jobs of spotting thin copper wire, or what was referred to as a 'snail trail' in the dirt roads, or cracks in paved portions."

Result

The multiple day operation marks the eighth large-scale operation for the brigade this year. The police and soldiers discovered multiple weapon caches, including 28 improvised explosive devices, three 14.5 mm anti-aircraft guns, five mortars, 300 pounds of homemade explosives, 2200 gallons of nitric acid and 200 blasting caps. Six coalition service members several Iraqi Soldiers and police, along with multiple insurgents were killed during the operation.

Units

United States Units

• 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
• Firepower Control Team 6, Detachment F, 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
• Task Force Pathfinder ( 321st Engineer Battalion, C/397th Engineers)

Iraq Units

• Provincial Security Force 2, Iraqi Army

See also

• Al-Qaeda in Iraq
• Operation Fardh al-Qanoon
• Operation Phantom Thunder
• Operation Arrowhead Ripper

References

• Release RELEASE No. 20070504-17 Official Website of the Multinational Force - Iraq

[Personal mission notes from Master Sergeant David Johnson]