Sadozai Toorjan could not explain why he rode a bicycle away from the village of Hajji Mussah.

"Where were you going?" asked MSgt. Joseph Stalinski as Sgt. Nicholas Martinez thoroughly searched him.

Toorjan looked puzzled for a moment and then spoke a few words in Pashtun.

"He says he's going to his uncle farm," Khan, the interpreter, said.

His answer did not make sense.

"It seems quite a coincidence that you decided to leave when we showed up," Stalinski commented as Toorjan was led to a wall and told to sit down.

Hajji Mussah is known for hosting the Taliban.  To put a dent in their operations, Charlie Company, 5^th Battalion, 20^th Infantry Regiment devised a simple but effective plan.

While 2^nd and 3^rd platoons converged from the north and west, 1^st platoon took up a holding position to the east.

All three platoons are in Charlie Company, which is commanded by Capt. Nate Smith.  1^st Platoon is based at HR2, or Haji Rahmuddin; the other two platoons are located at command outpost, or COP, Pashmul South.

Think of the company's plan as a door closing on fingers, and the Taliban are the ones being squeezed between the edge of the door and the doorjamb.

"We'll be here to catch the ‘squirtters,'" explained 1Lt. Ben Westman, 1^st Platoon's commander.

As the 2^nd and 3^rd platoons began to slowly move through Hajji Mussah and conduct searches, Toorjan and three others - Abdullah Manan, Lalmoh Manad and Bakhet Mohammad - decided to make a run for it through a wadi, or dry river bed.

Right to us.

Once caught, they were thoroughly searched.  Their finger prints were checked through a data system called SEEK, and if there was any information on them it popped up.

After the check, all of the detainees had their eyes scanned as a cross reference to their fingerprints.

Toorjan's name - and several other names he likes to go by - came up.

All four men were placed under guard, put in the shade and given food and water.

We held our position for the rest of the day while 2^nd and 3^rd Platoons slowly and painstakingly made their way through the village.

At times there was gunfire, and once clearance was given, the platoons fired back.

Occasional explosions rocked the ground as IED components and weapons were destroyed in place.

Two Kiowa helicopters provided air support.  At times they dropped flares and came in very low to give the suspected Taliban fighters something to think about.

During this time, Afghani citizens approached our checkpoint.  Members of the Afghan National Army, or ANA, conducted the searches before allowing them through. 

After conferring with higher headquarters, Stalinski flex cuffed Toorjan.

Later in the afternoon, a group of about 10 Afghani civilians approached our site.  They claimed they were the family of Toorjan, and they said that he was not Taliban.

One little boy - Toorjan's brother - sat down next to him and refused to move.  For his own safety, he was forcibly removed by an Afghani.

"It's best he not be around here if there's more gunfire," Stalinski said.

Once 2^nd and 3^rd Platoons had finished their clearing operation, Martinez placed Toorjan and a Stryker which took him away for further questioning.

Shortly before dark, 1^st Platoon returned to HR.  Although pleased with the mission, many believed there was more to do.

"We'll be back there," SSgt. Chad Boyd remarked.  "They certainly will be."

Photo:

Expray & Search:  Pfc. Steven Lyden checks a man's hands for explosive residue while Sgt. Nicholas Martinez searches another man during an operation designed to flush out suspected Taliban fighters.