U.S. soldiers still under fire in Iraq

Scott Fontaine | The News Tribune

SALAH A-DIN PROVINCE, Iraq _ A faint boom echoed through the calm. For the soldiers of the 571st Sapper Company from Fort Lewis, Wash., it was unmistakable.

"That was a bomb, wasn't it?" asked one soldier riding in the lead of a six-vehicle convoy.

"Roger, that was a bomb," another replied.

Seconds later, the radio call verified it: A roadside explosive had detonated under the convoy's rear vehicle, a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle.

Radio chatter also confirmed that no one was injured.

It was first time in more than two months that the Fort Lewis-based company's 2nd Platoon had been hit.

What happened over the next two hours Wednesday night _ between the blast and the platoon's return to Joint Base Balad _ highlights the advances made in countering roadside bombs and the new rules under which U.S. troops are operating in Iraq.

Read the complete story at thenewstribune.com

tool goes here

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

We welcome comments. To post one, you must sign in using either your McClatchyDC login or your login for Facebook, Twitter or Disqus. Just click the appropriate box below.

Please keep your comment civil, short and to the point. Obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. If you find a comment abusive or inappropriate, please flag it for the moderator by placing your cursor on the comment, then clicking the "flag" link that appears. Thanks for your participation.