3rd Infantry Division Operations - Fort Stewart - U.S. Army

78 3rd Infantry Division Operations
communication.
Security
On the same day the Division launched Marne Fortitude II,
operation Marne Thunderbolt also began. The Spartan Brigade
was once again the division's main effort in an attack on
al-Qaeda and other Sunni extremists in southern Arab Jabour.
The earth shook as Air Force bombers unleashed tons of high
explosives on known caches and suspected IEDs on January
10th. The 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, nearing the end of its own
deployment with 1st BCT in Ramadi, rejoined the division as
it attacked east toward the Tigris River. The 2nd BCT killed
three dozen enemy fighters and detained more than 50 others.
It cleared more than a 100 IEDs and 23 caches. The Spartans
helped establish 70 Sons of Iraq checkpoints and established
Patrol Base Kelsey.
On the east bank of the Tigris, the Sledgehammer Brigade
teamed with the 13th Battalion of the 1st Georgian Brigade. On
February 15th they began Operation Marne Grand Slam to clear
Salman Pak of extremists. A clear message was sent. Extremists
were denied a sanctuary. The Sledgehammer Brigade
pushed south along the east banks of the Tigris. The Spartan
brigade simultaneously cut escape routes for insurgents on the
west side of the river. Grand Slam resulted in eleven enemy
detained, seven IEDs found, forty caches cleared, 195 buildings
searched, and $1.5 million allotted for emergency repairs.
Sledgehammer established Combat Outpost Carver and continued
the effort to strengthen communities through presence and
the development of Sons of Iraq groups. Finally, a new bridge
was installed linking communities on the east bank of the Tigris
to communities on its west bank.
By every metric used to measure attacks – small arms, in-