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HomeMEDIANEWS ARTICLESNews Article View

# Rain Or Shine: Task Force Strike Artillerymen support Mosul counter-offensive

By 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

                NORTHERN IRAQ   –              
Christmas Eve. Some of the Soldiers in U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnathan Walker’s section shiver as freezing rain continues to fall upon their position.

“Fire!” yells Walker as he makes a cutting motion through the rain with his hand. The round leaves the tube of the M777 artillery piece with its trademark boom and smoke and the artillerymen begin to move again. The soft sound of boots impacting the mud and gravel echoes through the gun pit.                U.S Army Soldiers with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Strike, execute a fire mission to support the Iraqi security forces during the Mosul counter offensive, Dec. 24, 2016, in northern Iraq. Battery C is supporting the ISF with indirect fires in their fight against the ISIL. (U.S Army Photo by 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson)                            Rain Or Shine: Task Force Strike Artillerymen support Mosul counter-offensive                            U.S Army Soldiers with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Strike, execute a fire mission to support the Iraqi security forces during the Mosul counter offensive, Dec. 24, 2016, in northern Iraq. Battery C is supporting the ISF with indirect fires in their fight against the ISIL. (U.S Army Photo by 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson)            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: 1st Lt. Daniel JohnsonVIRIN: 161224-A-NG512-033 Even though it is the holiday season the mission for the Soldiers of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Strike, continues. The Iraqi Security Forces are battling ISIL in Mosul and the artillerymen are enabling them with indirect fires.“We provide overmatch capability to the maneuver commander,” said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Young, the platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Battery C, during his rounds of the gun line. “When air support isn’t available, either due to weather or not having the assets in the area, we can bring effects onto targets. As long as there is an observer out there, we can shoot."“Task Force Top Guns” has provided fire support for ISF since arriving in early May and the battery has fired more than 4,000 rounds in support of ISF maneuver. They’re also credited with and conducting the first conventional air assault mission during Operation Inherent Resolve where they rapidly moved artillery pieces by air to set up a new firing position. At the completion of the fires the guns were moved back to their starting location.“We‘ve denied territory so the enemy can’t maneuver, obscured friendly movements, and we have precision capability, which is critical in this fight,” said Young, pointing in the direction of Mosul to emphasize his point. “If there is a target in a built up area we can hit it while minimizing damage to the surrounding area. We pride ourselves on our accuracy.” Rain or Shine

The rain picks up and a slight fog begins to form in the distance as Walker’s crew waits for their next command. The weather has changed in Iraq, and the Soldiers have switched from their summer light-weight combat shirts to wearing multiple layers in an attempt to stave off the wind-chill. “Fire mission at my command,” comes the transmission over the radio and the artillerymen spring into action, beginning the crew drill to load artillery piece just as they have done for the past eight months. The Soldiers move quickly through their tasks and Walker gives the signal once more. Another boom reverberates in the pit.“It feels good to know that we’re being called on to support the fight and we’re having an effect,” said Walker in between missions. Throughout each crew drill he encourages his men to keep up the effort. “That’s the reason why we’re out here. We do everything with a sense of urgency and there’s no room for mistakes.” Battery C has received multiple calls for fires as the ISF have moved deeper and deeper into Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq. ISIL has been dug into the city for two years and the city is the site of a major operation with the goal of liberating the city.“There’s a lot more variables in weather like this,” said Walker. “People move a little slower, the rounds are slippery, and morale may drop. It’s the job of crew chiefs on the line to keep on pushing the sections to complete the mission. Rain or shine, when we get the call, we have to react.” The radio sounds soon after. The artillerymen are once again called to action. 

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