'The Real 24': From Iraq to the Homefront
Twenty-four hours in the life of soldiers at war and their families at home.
Jan. 21, 2008 — -- It's midnight at Combat Outpost Battle in the West Rashid neighborhood of Baghdad. The soldiers of the 28th Infantry Regiment's Battle Company are about to launch a raid. A tip has come in that a cache of weapons is hidden in an abandoned home nearby.
The video clip above features some candid moments with Nikki Kolowich, as she talks about family life away from her husband, Nick, currently serving in Iraq.
CLICK HERE to see pictures of the combat outpost.
Company Commander Capt. Brian Ducote briefs his men on the situation.
"First platoon, you are going to go in the hot side," he says. "Make sure we get in and get what we need. Detain any people who are associated with the cache if they are there."
Ducote, a 31-year-old West Point graduate, has been leading the 130 men of Battle Company since the surge began nearly a year ago. Tonight, he has concerns about the informant who says he will lead them to the weapons.
"Never used him before," he says, "so I don't know how much we can depend on him and his information."
Staff Sgt. Nick Kolowich, 28, will lead the squad that will enter the house first. He gives his men final instructions using a map propped on the hood of his Humvee before leaving base.
"We're going to swing back around, back up to the north, come around these abandoned houses and drop down the first road we know is open," he says.
The video clip, left, is a sneak preview of Martha Raddatz's full report on "World News With Charles Gibson" tonight at 6:30 ET
But almost as soon as the soldiers leave the base, the plan changes. The informant has backed out. He will not be meeting the soldiers to show them where to go. Driving through the night, the soldiers of Battle Company are suddenly more alert.
"He obviously knows where he is sending us and we don't know who he's told we are coming," Kolowich says. "You never know. We could be walking into an ambush."
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