Soldiers, Marines Team Up to Secure Camp

U.S. Army Sgt. David C. Harrington, of Henderson, Texas, and assigned to 3rd platoon,

Company B, 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment, 56th Brigade Combat Team,

36th Infantry Division, reviews the mission plan with his team of soldiers

and Marines before starting their joint Army-Marine

security patrol in western Iraq.

U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo More photos

Soldiers, Marines Team Up to Secure Camp

"War Horses" and "Devil Dogs" maintain vigilance

while performing camp security in western Iraq.

By U.S. Army Master Sgt. Lek Mateo 56th Brigade Combat Team Texas Army National Guard
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq, Oct. 18, 2005 —

U.S. Army Sgt. David C. Harrington felt a tight knot in his stomach as he gave the command over the high frequency radio for his team to start up their heavily armed Humvees and move out on their patrol.

"Granted, we're Army and Marines. But we don't look at the uniforms because we see each other as one team."

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. William E. TuckerHe has been on many of these patrols before, but this mission is different because for the first time, he will be in charge of the mixed group of U.S. soldiers and Marines cramped inside who are responsible for the force protection of the sprawling Marine camp located on a high dusty plateau near Lake Habbiniyah in western Iraq.

As the late afternoon sun beat mercilessly on them, the small armada of Humvees exited past the rows of razor sharp concertina wire at the camp's heavily fortified entrance and started its sweep of the rural roads nearby, looking for tell-tale signs of improvised explosive devices that may be hidden in the trash along the shoulder.

A native of Henderson, Texas, and a soldier assigned to the 3rd Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th infantry Division, Harrington acknowledged that he felt very nervous at first leading a dangerous mission with a diverse team of soldiers and Marines.

But that nervousness went away as he relied on his leadership training and the team members's experience to help him complete the mission. "It feels good to be here performing my job as an noncommissioned officer fighting alongside with other soldiers and Marines who come from different backgrounds who are trying to accomplish the same goals," Harrington said.

Rest of the story.