21 September 2005
UXO
"UXO" is unexploded ordinance. UXOs are typically rounds from artillery or mortars that were fired but for whatever reason, the rounds themselves did not explode on impact. UXOs are frequently used in IEDs, so they are sort of a big deal in the sense that if they are not taken care of (exploded, disarmed, etc.), they can be the next IED that one faces.
This last week, I was involved in a reconnaissance and security element (RSE) mission. RSE missions typically involve clearing a route for a convoy prior to the convoy getting there. RSE missions also typically require setting up traffic control points at major intersections or areas of vulnerability along routes.
It was a typical warm morning, somewhere between 100-105, when we were responding to a potential IED. As we were heading out, there was this boy trying to wave us down. Because of our priority mission at the time, we had to pass him by. As we were heading to the IED location, we were called off of the potential IED mission (an element that was closer to the site was called to investigate the potential IED). So, we headed back on the same route. As we passed through the area, we saw the boy again, making the same animated motions. We pulled over to talk to the boy. He was very distressed looking. He was adamantly pointing toward a certain direction and speaking very fast (we had no idea what he was talking about).
We pulled out our trusty visual translator (pictures to English words). The boy feverishly paged through it. He then pointed to a shoulder fired missile picture and then appeared to point toward a berm about 200 meters away. This got our crew alert.
We then mounted our vehicles and the boy then appeared to point at something closer. We drove a very short distance and the boy pointed toward the ground, about 20 meters to his front. We dismounted again and saw a mortar round laying on the ground. Here's a picture:
There were also some metal objects protruding the ground within a few meters. We then called up a UXO report to our higher headquarters.
While we were calling in the report, some Brits showed up in the area. The Brits actually "own" the area in terms of it being under their control and supervision. We showed them the UXO. By how they handled the situation, I'm not sure that these particular soldiers were that well trained in dealing with UXOs. Any way, during this process, the boy said that there was nothing behind the berm. We investigated the area and confirmed.
As a reward for helping us out, I gave the boy an MRE, a Gatorade and some money (he asked for two dollars so that he can have some shoes). Here's a picture of the boy with his reward:
The boy was so happy. He proceeded to tell us (as much as we could discern) that he was going to find a whole bunch of bombs and that he'd have to bring a wheel barrel out with him to carry away all the meals, Gatorade and money that he would get. Ahh yes, an entrepreneur in the making.
