Southern Arab Jabour Receives Vehicle Launched Bridge
Forward Operating Base Kalsu
There was definite progress made recently near Southern Arab Jabour by Coalition Forces. Coalition Forces from 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division worked to set up a vehicle launched bridge.
The new road that was enabled by the portable bridge solves a formerly impassable thirty-five foot gap. “This has to be the very first time I have helped launch a bridge since the Operation Iraq Freedom One,†said Army Combat Engineer Sgt Jake Morales. Along with fellow engineer Staff Sgt Tommy Mays, they are the only soldiers with the group who have done this before.
Working with precision, Staff Sgt. Tommy Mays and Morales eased the two-piece structure into place. This is the first time in five years that Morales has put a bridge into place like this. Despite the long time between events, Morales and Mays operated like a well-oiled spring, putting the large hydraulic lifting arm equipment into play.
Local Iraqi landowners were not very pleased at first to see the bridge, not totally understanding the reason for its existence. 1-30th Infantry Regiment Commander Army Captain John T Newman talked with locals, reassuring them that they will be taken care of and compensated for any inconvenience or loss of land, or mobility.
Sgt Morales was pleased to see the successful bridge placement. “The bridge and this brand new road with allow for much easier movement of our troops,†said Morales.
