RCT-6 engineers demilitarize Coalition outposts in Ramadi

Story by Sgt. Dorian Gardner

RAMADI, Iraq – Combat engineers from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, gathered their vehicles to take part in an ongoing mission to remove barriers from the city streets and outlying areas of Ramadi, Iraq, June 09, 2009.
Affectionately known as “Operation Jackhammer,” the mission focused on ridding residential areas in and around Ramadi of the security paraphernalia that was once a necessity during more dangerous times in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.  The removal of blast barriers and concertina wire not only helps remove the most visible face of war from communities, it simultaneously allows Coalition Forces to improve force protection at Iraqi Security Force outposts.  
Following in the footsteps of previous units that began this process, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines is seeing this operation through to the finish.
    Marines drove through Ramadi to the outlying suburbs where they dismounted at Outpost 293, an old Coalition position.  Traveling with flat-bed trucks and fork-lifts, the Marines quickly began gathering all barriers on sight.
    “We are cleaning up the old signs of war, and trying to restore some semblance of normality,” said Capt. Mike Vanderweide, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine’s engineer platoon commander.
    While this mission took place within proximity of Ramadi, Coalition Forces are working to demilitarize other cities throughout Al Anbar, to include Fallujah and Karmah.    
Anticipating an end of Operation Jackhammer before July, Marines are racing against the clock to remove all barriers and help restore a sense of normalcy within Anbar’s cities.