2nd FSSG Marines, soldiers alerted to weapons caches 

Soldiers with the Texas National Guard and Marines from 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), discovered significant weapons caches near a primary school, slated as a polling site, here after being alerted by local Iraqi citizens who had been harassed and intimated earlier by insurgents to include an RPG attack against the school. The cache complex, found in multiple underground locations and a house, netted buried mortar rounds, assorted ammunition, anti-election propaganda and terrorist paraphernalia. A search of a nearby house also reveled 82 mm mortars, mortar tubes, improvised explosive device, RPGs and launchers, satchel charges, blasting caps, 82mm shells, grenades and fully loaded automatic rifles and heavy machine guns. In addition to 122mm rocket motors, there were numerous newly packaged two way radios used for IED attacks. The search also discovered home made rocket launchers on a nearby roof oriented toward the town’s school, which was to be used by the Iraqi government for the election.In addition to the ordnance that has been secured and slated for disposal, coalition forces also found computer equipment, medical supplies, phones, and batteries, spools of wire, ski masks, and flak vests. Coalition forces continue to receive more tips from local Iraqis in locating arms caches as Iraqis take a more aggressive stance at ridding their communities of insurgents and terrorists.For more information, contact Lt. Jorge O. Escatell, public affairs officer, 2nd FSSG, at escatelljo@cssemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil .