Fort Lewis soldiers run into danger

Spc. Brian Carter knew this was bad.

Carter, of Lakewood, was up in the hatch of his Stryker on Saturday, staring down one of the most dangerous roads in Iraq.

Experts were about to blow up an improvised explosive device found under an overpass. The Stryker vehicle from Fort Lewis was blocking traffic and providing security.

“I got a bad feeling about this,” said Carter, who is with Comanche Company of the 1st Battalion of the 23rd Infantry Regiment.

Enemy planners like to set up rooftop snipers in the same area they plant roadside bombs, Carter explained. They know the Americans will come out to deal with the explosives.

Carter was right. Just minutes after he spoke, a loud rifle crack erupted to the right of the vehicle. The bullet slammed into the eight-wheeled armored vehicle known for its ability to withstand enemy weapons more lethal than this.

The bullet made a sharp ping as it hit. A slight vibration traveled up and down the vehicle’s spine. A few feet higher and the sniper might have killed someone.

“The good thing is that most of them can’t shoot,” Carter said as a plume of black smoke rose from the general direction of the shot.

Through it all, the Stryker vehicle stayed put.

“Nobody could tell where the shooter was, and my element couldn’t pull off and leave the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) guys,” said Lt. John Rogers of DuPont, who commands this Stryker and the rest of 4th platoon.

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