Just before dawn, an Iraqi officer approached Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Regiment, and began pointing at the nearest U.S. vehicle. Using a simple gesture and stating one Arabic word, "Mutarjim," meaning interpreter, the Iraqi officer asked if the U.S. forces had brought one and if they were ready to begin the mission. The Iraqi officer from 5th Iraqi Tank Battalion needed the interpreter so he could communicate with his counterpart, 1st Lt. Erich Roush, a native of Milwaukee, who is a platoon leader in Troop C.