Air Force Airman gives on-the-ground account of Iraq explosion–Part 1
Explosion at Sadr City District Area Council (DAC) Hall-Part 1
By: TSgt Cohen Young, Air Force Public Affairs Agency
The 24th of June began like any other day that I had experienced in Iraq, specifically in Sadr City, which was so non-typical in comparison to my fellow combat cameramen stationed in other locations. I was scheduled to go outside the wire twice on this day. I would have the opportunity to go to my first city leader meeting, which meant that I would get to take off my helmet and possibly enjoy some air conditioning while documenting a piece of history. My afternoon mission would take me out to the local community and amongst the Sadr City children and residents. I would have to be relentlessly on guard because of the constant threat of snipers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). My mission, though, was to document coalition, Government of Iraq and local resident interaction no matter what in the blistering heat, which at this time would easily reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit. (Above: Iraqi soldier stands guard at Sadr City DAC.)I was looking forward to the laid back meeting coverage even though it didn’t seem like a typical combat camera mission. I was asked by Major Duane Kelley a week prior if I would want to come along to this meeting and I thought about it and agreed to accompany him. It would be his first meeting because he had only been at this location for two weeks. It would be my first meeting as well. I had also been asked by the Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (EPRT) leader in Baghdad, to attend the meeting as it would illustrate some of the positive changes occurring in Sadr City.
That morning, Maj. Kelley, my videographer and I joined the team EPRT and his staff in going to the Sadr City District Area Council (DAC) Hall. We left around 0900 and would unexpectedly return around 0930. We arrived outside the Hall at 0905 and the security detail rushed us into the main building due to recent shootings. The security team immediately stepped inside the building and went to their left and did a quick walk through the office of the temporary chairman. I asked what went on in this particular room and was told that it was just an initial meeting place before continuing on to the meeting hall.
(Above: Iraqi's check information posted at Sadr City DAC.)
Maj. Kelley was standing by, so I told him that I would go outside the office door and get some coverage of people entering the building while he waited for the start of the assembly meeting. He was okay with that and decided to take a seat in the left corner of the room. We walked past a few people and made an immediate right as we stepped outside the room. I stopped at a table just feet from the office door. I looked at the entrance of the DAC Hall building and began taking photos.
(Iraqis file into the building to attend the meetings. This is from TSgt Young's vantage point right before the explosion.)
We had been outside the office for about 20 seconds or so and I was on my seventh or eighth photo when suddenly there was a loud boom as the room that we just stepped out of exploded. There was smoke everywhere and I could hear yelling and crying at this point. During this time, I stood in complete amazement and was stunned momentarily and I kept thinking, “What the hell just happened?” I then snapped out of it and took a knee against a far wall. I looked around to see where anyone was, but couldn’t see anything due to the smoke. I then switched my weapon to the “fire” position.
After that, I noticed some light coming from the front entrance and there was an Iraqi man meandering through the door and shouting with his hands on his head. I couldn’t tell if he was in shock or just acting and trying to get people to come in his direction. I immediately referred to my previous training in which after an explosion, suicide bombers routinely like to lure people in so they can set-off a secondary explosive; therefore, I raised my weapon and yelled at the man to go back outside the door and he did.Come back next week for the conclusion of TSgt Young's story about Sadr City.
All photos courtesy of TSgt Cohen Young.
Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs Agency.