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The 459th Engineers are at it again, however this time the environment is somewhat different. The 459th Engineer Company, which completed two ribbon bridges during combat, has now completed another float bridge in postwar Iraq. However, this time the equipment was part of the Iraq military inventory. The 459th, part of the Army Reserve’s 99th RSC, is a Multi Role Bridge Company based in Bridgeport, WV and Bellaire, OH. The unit was mobilized in early January in preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the Operation, the 459th was assigned to both the 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. It was with the 1st MEF that the unit received two simultaneous missions. Both missions were for ribbon bridges to be built on the outskirts of Baghdad. On the Nahr Diyala River, a main tributary of the Tigris River, both bridges projected combat power for the MEF into Baghdad. Almost a month later, the unit has built again. This time, adding a bridge into Baghdad to ease congestion for civilian traffic. The existing bridges on the river have yet to be repaired. “Things were really different during this build. Unlike the other mission, we had no training on the Iraqi bridge and there was no direct or indirect fire”, said Staff Sgt. Russell Craig, a Bridge Crew Chief with 2nd Platoon. The Iraqi
bridge, once manufactured by the former Soviet Union, is very similar to
the US bridge. “The bridge is an ancestor to our more modern bridge”,
stated Staff Sgt Ryan Culhane, Section Leader with the 459th. “The US
developed their version from the British, who in turn acquired their
design from Russia.” One soldier in particular, 2nd Platoon Sergeant
Robert Madden, has witnessed the bridge built before. While in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Hungarian Engineers built a full enclosure
upstream from the US Engineers on the Sava River. “The Hungarian’s use
an identical bridge to the one that we built here today,” said Madden. Soldiers of the unit were extremely eager to tackle this “new” bridge. “We were all motivated at trying something new. The NCO’s let the younger soldiers take on more responsibility during the build”, said Spc. Brian George. George was used extensively as a Bridge Boat Operator for the first time. “It was an honor to build this bridge to be used by the Iraqi people. Our soldiers did an outstanding job here today”, said Squad Leader Staff Sgt. Greg Cox. Another NCO, Sgt. James Leewood added, “What the 459th accomplished during this deployment was truly amazing”. Before the 459th could complete the full enclosure, their team of maintenance had a big task ahead of them. According to Staff Sgt Andrew LaMotte, “Members of the 459th Support Platoon played a vital role in completion of the mission”. Bridge bays had to be repaired due to bullet holes and shrapnel damage sustained during the war. Makeshift bridge pallets were also configured to haul the bays to the water. “This was a total company effort for the mission”, stated 1st Lt. Wayne Toler. The 459th will continue with their secondary mission of transportation for the 130th Engineer Brigade. No matter what the mission, the soldiers are determined to stay focused and motivated. For each day means they are one day closer to home. |
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