‘Polar Bears’ nab caches in unexpected finds

2nd BCT PAO, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI)

RUSHDI MULLAH, Iraq — U.S. forces found several large caches in twin finds on Feb. 14 along Iraq’s Mulla Fayad Highway near the village of Rushdi Mullah.
Soldiers of Company C, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) were burning reeds along the highway to destroy concealment used by terrorists when they heard explosions caused by the fires at about noon.
Upon assessment, they discovered a directional charge loaded with explosive, four empty directional charges, five tank rounds, a burned AK-47 and two magazines, two 60mm mortar base plates, and 300 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
The remainder of the cache was destroyed with a controlled detonation.
Later that afternoon, a patrol from Co. C found five more caches in the same area, which contained four 120mm tank sabot rounds, Russian tank rounds, a metal pipe, a sack of 12.7mm rounds for a DShK Russian heavy machine gun, 15 empty directional charges, five explosive-packed directional charges rigged with detonation cord, a 105mm rocket round and homemade explosive.
“We took 25 improvised explosive devices off the street today,” said Maj. Web Wright, spokesman for the 2nd BCT, of the find. “We are definitely making an impact on the Al-Qaida and former regime members’ freedom of maneuver, as well as their weapons stockpiles.”
The caches were seized and destroyed in a controlled detonation