THE TENSION: Marine Patrols Crack Down on Insurgency in Iraq

Lance Cpl. Benjamin A. Zellman, 23, a scout from Herndon, Va., with Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd LAR Bn., Regimental Combat Team 5, posts outside of the door while Marines in his team search a house in western Anbar province, Iraq, July 29, 2008. The operations consist of the Marines with Delta Co. driving around the desert villages engaging with the citizens. They search the houses searching for any trace of previous insurgent activity to prevent enemy influence in the province. (Photographer: Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson, Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

Dispatches from the Front:

AL ANBAR, Iraq, Aug. 2, 2008 -- As Operation Iraqi Freedom evolves each day, coalition forces are still conducting operations to defeat the insurgency.

Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd LAR Bn., Regimental Combat Team 5 is cracking down on the insurgency by patrolling through the towns outside of Akashat, Iraq, and establishing a local presence.

Delta Co. is a reserve light-armored infantry unit based out of Quantico, Va. The Marines are currently attached to 2nd LAR Bn. in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We’re trying to find any information to fight the insurgency that remains in this area of operations,” said Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Salas, 21, a scout team leader from Stafford, Va., with Delta Co. “It helps fight the war if we show our faces around the area and provide the people protection.”

The operations consist of the Marines driving around the desert villages and talking with the citizens. They search the houses for any trace of previous insurgent activity to prevent enemy influence in the province.

“These people that live in this area are citizens who make an honest living farming or herding. It’s our job and the Iraqi security force’s job to ensure they aren’t influenced with corruption,” said Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Webb, a scout with Delta Co.

“I understand those houses are in the middle of the desert, and all these people want to do is have a good life for their families,” Webb said. “We’re visiting and talking to those people because it’s easy for those smugglers or insurgents to take advantage of them.”

Since the beginning of the deployment, the company had been able to provide security for the villages, train the Iraqi police and issue medical attention to all who need it. The Marines know that ridding the remaining insurgency from the area will be the foundation for bringing security to the province.

“If the people help us stop the insurgency, it will bring stability in the region and build infrastructure for the future,” said Sgt. Ernesto Dorado, 26, a scout team leader from Anaheim, Calif., with Delta Co. “We went from being a [security] force to being advisors to the ISF, and now it’s time to finish the job.”

The Marines will conduct these missions until the day they re-deploy back to the States. According to them, they know they will continue to make a difference in the western Al Anbar province.

“In the end, it will bring peace to this nation,” said Webb, 23, from Alexandria, Va. “The people trust us because we try to help them at any opportunity we have. By finishing off the insurgency, we are doing another thing to help.”

(Story by Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson, Regimental Combat Team 5.)