Dear Interested Readers,
We have a good mix of positive stories, from our troops assisting Iraqi troops with successful outcomes to bringing medical attention to villages that haven't seen a doctor in 10 years! There's also a great story as food and water comes to the rescue!
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
April 1, 2008
MPs assess IP stations, checkpoints in Diyarah
BAGHDAD - Soldiers from the 230th MP Co conducted station assessment visits at 2 IP stations and 1 Iraqi Highway Patrol checkpoint in Diyarah March 24 and 25.
As part the assessment, an MP platoon conducted a joint patrol with IP through a local market in Diyarah. The IPs and MPs demonstrated their ability to protect the community under the common rule of law. The joint patrol gave the MP Soldiers an opportunity to see the IPs interact with citizens.
"It really feels like progress is being made," said Cpl. Christopher Mathewson, a Soldier who was on the patrol. "We don't have to do everything for the IPs; they seem to be able to handle things on their own for the most part, and we just guide them along."
The MPs also discussed improvement projects for the IP station and new areas of training with the station cmdr. "The IPs generally pick up and enjoy the on-the-job training we provide to them contrary to the classroom sessions they receive," said 1st Lt. Caleb Oman, a plt leader with the co. "There is a lot of potential for progress."
After completing the station assessments, the platoon visited the highway patrol checkpoints. "As far as the training is going, the IPs seem very receptive to the guidance provided to them," said Oman. "The station assessments observed during this visit demonstrated the improved capabilities the IPs bring to Diyarah while providing a more positive outlook for the citizens of Diyarah's future," Oman said.
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6-8 Cav. Regt. holds first Combined Medical Engagement in Busayefi
FOB KALSU - Working with Iraqi civilian and U.S. military medical personnel, CF in Busayefi hosted a Combined Medical Engagement March 29.
"We just came into this area and we're trying to build a relationship with the people," said 2nd Lt. Josh Duke, medical plt leader, 6th Sqdrn, 8th Cav Regt.
Busayefi is an area once dominated by AQI; roads were littered with IEDs that made travel to larger communities with medical facilities difficult. In late December, Coalition and IA forces began clearing the area of AQI and other insurgents, and now security in the area continues to improve with the SoI and Coalition presence.
It had been years since some of the residents had seen a doctor. One man said he hadn't seen a doctor in 10 years, and was grateful for the medical aid.
A medic from Co A, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion (CAB), currently attached to 2nd BCT, said the CME helps give civil affairs teams an overall health assessment of the area. "We can learn about the health and welfare of the children, as well as the families and the area," said Sgt. Charles Howell. "This also lets the people know that we do care about them."
Howell said the first step in rebuilding Iraq is developing a strong relationship with the community. These CMEs are a way to strengthen ties between CF and local citizens. "We're all here for one common goal, and that is to make Iraq better," Howell said.
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IA, CF kill 3 AQI, destroy bunker near Baqouba
TIKRIT - MND-North Soldiers killed 3 enemy personnel after locating a weapon cache and an AQI bunker in Bojima, near Baqouba, March 30.
During a joint clearing op, IA Soldiers began taking small arms fire. A Coalition AWT spotted the armed personnel fleeing from the contact location and engaged the individuals, killing 3 and wounding a fourth.
Iraqi Soldiers and 4th Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, from Fort Lewis, Wash., destroyed a heavy fortified bunker, 2 82 mm mortar base plates, a 60 mm mortar base plate, and a 60 mm mortar tripod. Two propane tanks and a fire extinguisher, suspected of containing homemade explosives, were also destroyed.
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Soldiers patrol in Abu Jassim
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Iraqi Army leads push to restore security in Mahmudiyah
By Pvt. Christopher McKenna, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)
BAGHDAD - IA soldiers are securing the city's neighborhoods with support from Red Knight Rakkasans of 3rd Bn, 320th FAR, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div (Air Assault).
"At this point, it has been a very impressive op on both the Iraqi and Coalition fronts," said Lt. Col. William Zemp, cmdr. of 3-320th FAR. The IA has detained nearly 200 individuals for questioning in an effort to curb the violence and criminal activity.
"You have to be proud of the progress being made so far," said Col. Dominic Caraccilo, 3rd BCT, 101 Abn. Div. (AASLT) cmdr.
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MND-B Soldiers kill criminals, hand over suspects to Iraqi Army
BAGHDAD - MND - Baghdad Soldiers engaged a criminal rocket-propelled grenade team in the New Baghdad province of eastern Baghdad, March 31. Reports indicate 1 criminal was killed and 3 were detained.
Soldiers from 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, engaged the criminals with small-arms fire. They detained 3 suspects at the scene and held them for Iraqi Army soldiers to take in to custody and question.
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Iraqi Army finds large munitions cache in truck
FOB KALSU - IA Soldiers found a large munitions cache inside a truck in Hashmiyah, March 30. The cache contained 23 anti-tank mines, 3 crates of approx. 40 pounds of explosives, 3 crates of pellet-shaped explosives, 15 81 mm mortars, 2 120 mm mortars, 1,500 DSHKA rounds, a can of 120 mm mortar fuses, 10 explosively formed projectile housings, 10 EFP discs ranging from 4 to 12 inches, a complete EFP - 6 inches in diameter, and 3 grain bags full of EFP rings, tubes and back covers.
The IA discovered the cache during intel-driven ops and searches throughout the day, said 1st Lt. Ryan Lawson, leadership engagement team leader and personal security detachment plt. leader with the 31st MiTT, 4th Bde Special Troops Bn, 3rd ID. "It's a big find for the IA," Lawson said. "They have continued for the past 5 to 7 days going after criminals quite intensively, and this is the culmination of what they've been doing, and I think it's really going to set criminals back in the Hillah and Hashmiyah areas for quite awhile."
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CF provide assistance to Iraqi SF in Kut
By Staff Sgt. Carlos J. Lazo, 214th FB
AL KUT - CF provided more than 2,000 meals and 1,000 bottles of water to al-Kut IP March 28-29. Because of the security situation and an imposed curfew, grocery stores and other food outlets were closed, said Sgt. 1st Class Herbert Tulip, senior ops NCO for 511th MP Co, from Fort Drum, N.Y.
The IPs, who were quelling violence in the city, contacted Tulip for aid in the form of water and meals. "This is the first time they requested this from us," he said, adding they are self-sufficient and typically request all supplies directly through the Ministry of Interior.
Within a few hours, the food and water was ready to be delivered. To assist with transporting the supplies, the 511th MP Co. used one of their vehicles to drive the supplies to a predetermined IP site outside FOB Delta.
The meals are known as Halal; ready-to-eat meals that contain food permissible under Islamic law. "We felt it was the right thing to do," Bailey said. "We're here to support the Iraqis." If additional support is requested, Bailey said, "We have the ability to continue if need be."
In addition to the food and water, the MPs provided the IPs with medical supplies, said Tulip. The IPs received 10 combat lifesaver bags and 5 combat lifesaver packs.
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CF detain three individuals connected to recent EFP attack
CAMP VICTORY - CF detained 3 individuals March 31 in Musayyib who are believed to be connected to a recent explosively formed projectile attack on CF. The 3 suspects are being held for questioning in connection to the attack which occurred in the area of Abu Jassim March 23.
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Iraqi Army Soldiers turn in large weapons cache
By Capt. Allison Flannigan, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)
CAMP STRIKER - The IA turned in a significant weapons cache to 187th Inf Regt, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div (Air Assault) at Patrol Base Yusifyah, March 30, after it was discovered in Qarghouli Village.
The cache included Katusha rockets, complete IEDs, mortar and artillery rounds of various sizes, 40 pounds of unknown bulk explosives, anti-aircraft rounds, gas tanks, and several hundred small-arms rounds and accessories.
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