Dear Interested Reader,
Outstanding progress is evident in Kirkuk province, while a wonderful program called Operation Iraqi Children, is distributing school supplies. A kindergarten school has a grand reopening in Ghazaliyah, while displaced Iraqi families are returning to their homes. Terrorists and criminals are detained or killed, and large weapons caches continue to be seized.
Joanna
______________________________
Aug. 21, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
A Return to Normalcy in Kirkuk
Photo and story by Spc. Jason Jordan
Maj. Peter Colt, 443rd CAB, plays with young Iraqi children in Gaydah village, which is in the Kirkuk province of northeastern Iraq. Colt, along with 2nd Bn, 22nd Inf. Regt. Soldiers, met with the village leaders recently to discuss developments and projects that will benefit the area.
KIRKUK — In the southern Rishad valley of Kirkuk province lies the remote village of Gaydah, located several miles off the nearest main road and even further from the nearest substantial city or district.
Already accustomed to seclusion, the village residents were surprised when Soldiers from the 10th Mtn Div showed up in their community in February. The residents were more surprised when they announced that they would set up ops there; living and working with the residents for the next 2 months.
Operating from within a schoolhouse in the area, the Soldiers spent the next several weeks meeting with the villagers, providing humanitarian aid, rebuilding infrastructures, and planning future civil service projects. The mission complete, Soldiers left. But they returned Aug. 20, along with members of the 443rd CAB, to receive updates and determine plans of action.
“The people of this village have been wary of the CF for the past several years because they have seen units come and go, and promises made that were never fulfilled,” said Capt. Gregory Hotaling, cmdr., Co D, 2-22 Inf. Regt. “We wanted to assure them that we were different, and to help prove our resolve, we lived among them in their impoverished community; experiencing for a short time the life they have always known.”
The community welcomed their friends back with open arms, grateful to see the Soldiers had kept their promise. Leaders with the 2 units spent several hours inside the village mayor’s home, discussing the current situation of the area and future projects – while other Soldiers spent time talking and playing with the children outside.
Among the key issues discussed was the plan for a complete transfer of authority regarding the Iraqi infrastructure and planned projects. “One of our main goals at this point is to put control of all future developments into the hands of the Iraqi people,” said Maj. Peter Colt, 443rd Bn. “We want Iraqi people in charge of Iraqi projects – using Iraqi money and Iraqi workers as soon as possible, which will further stabilize the country and allow our forces to withdraw. ”
Relationships such as the one occurring between U.S. Forces and the village of Gaydah are emerging all over the country, signifying the kind of change the world hoped to see when ops first began here.
Such changes have been increasingly evident in the Kirkuk region, where CF have witnessed security gains measured as a 67% reduction in total attacks across the province, according to military reports.
“No matter how big or small our ops might be, we remain dedicated in our efforts to help the Iraqi people gain a new life,” said Sgt. Kody Lunstrum, 2-22 Inf. Regt. Lunstrum’s sentiment is echoed by his fellow Soldiers, who witness the positive changes that the rest of the world cannot see. “When I talk to my family and friends back home, they want to know what it’s really like over here and if we are truly making a difference,” Hotaling said. “Each time, I have explained to them the kind of change they have not witnessed yet. Battles and lethal ops have long ago ceased to be priorities. Our focus now is a return to normalcy – living and working and interacting with the Iraqi people. Positive changes are happening every day. They might not be big or flashy, but they are making lasting improvements that have already put victory for the Iraqi people within their reach.”
-30-
Operation Iraqi Children Delivers in Baghdad
By Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
Sgt. Michael Daniels, a MP Soldier with the 716th MP Bn, 18th MP Bde, hands out school supplies.
BAGHDAD — Aug. 13, during an assistance mission named “Op Iraqi Children,” Soldiers from the 18th MP Bde lent a hand in the delivering of the school supplies to the local orphanage, as Soldiers from the 42nd FAR and IP teamed up to help the children prepare for school.
Op Iraqi Children, which began in 2003 and was founded by Laura Hillenbrand and Gary Sinise, is designed to distribute donated school supplies to needy children in Iraq, Afghanistan and Djibouti. “Op Iraqi Children is a wonderful way for the people of the U.S. to help the children of Iraq, and by doing so, we are helping our Soldiers, who are working so hard over there,” said Sinise, on the Operation Iraqi Children Web site.
The IP and MND-B Soldiers will hand out more than 3,000 school supply kits that were donated to the children in Baghdad. The kits contain: a pencil bag, composition books, notebook paper, colored pencils, large eraser, a small pencil sharpener, pencils, ruler and scissors.
“The kits have been a huge hit with the local children,” said Capt. Nate Brookshire, 716th MP Bn. “The kits have also given the maneuver units and Police Transition Team a positive avenue to interact with local children with our Iraqi counterparts.” The 716th PTT has handed out more than 400 kits since mid-July to the children in Salhiya while on community policing patrols with the Salhiya IP.
-30-
Kindergarten school in Ghazaliyah reopens after refurbishments
BAGHDAD - Following months of refurbishments, the Al Yasmeen Kindergarten School in the northwest Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliyah reopened during a ceremony, Aug. 17. The school was previously closed due to extensive damage throughout the facility.
"The refurbishments included such things as trash removal, a fresh coat of paint for the classrooms and the building, refurbished bathrooms, new carpet, a playground and equipment for the gymnasium," said Capt. Joseph Sincere, with 1st Sqdrn, 75th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT). There was also extensive damage to the roof as well as missing or broken windows that needed to be replaced, said Sincere. New water tanks were also installed as well as new furniture for the administrative offices.
"I felt good about this project, in particular, because it is the only kindergarten in our [area of ops]," said Sincere. "Being able to offer these young children a good start at an education is important to me."
The squadron will continue to work with the GoI in opening additional schools in the Ghazaliyah area. "Since the beginning of our squadron's ops in this area, there have been complete refurbishments of 5 schools," Sincere said. "We also have 5 ongoing projects and 8 that are being planned."
Attendees of the reopening of the Al Yasmeen Kindergarten School enjoy a meal after the reopening ceremony.
(Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Vanderboegh)
-30-
MND-N Soldiers, ISF apprehend six terrorists
TIKRIT - An air insertion of MND - North Soldiers and Baqubah SWAT team members near the town of Abu Alapa Village in the Bani Sayd region Aug. 17, resulted in the apprehension of 6 terrorists.
Shortly after their insertion by 6 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters belonging to 3rd Assault Helicopter Bn, 1st AR, the ground forces were attacked by 4 terrorists with small-arms fire and hand grenades. After their initial engagement, Iraqi SF and CF confirmed one terrorist killed and the other 3 attempted to escape into a nearby canal.
Two AH-64 Apache helicopters belonging to the 1st Attack Recon Bn and providing aerial security were given clearance to fire on the terrorists in the canal, and killed all 3.
The ground forces continued their mission without further incident and detained 2 other terrorists, while confiscating numerous automatic weapons, RPGs with rounds and a mortar tube with rounds.
-30-
ISF, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons in Baghdad
Aug. 20, at approx. 4 a.m., IP seized 10 60 mm mortar rounds, 9 rocket-propelled boosters, a RPG warhead and an anti-personnel grenade north of Baghdad.
Soldiers with Task Force 1st CAB, 6th Inf Regt, attached to 3rd BCT, 4th ID, and IA soldiers, seized 76 120 mm mortars in the Sadr City district of Baghdad at approx. 7:30 a.m.
During cache clearance missions, Soldiers with Co C, 1st Bn, 14th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, seized a .30-caliber rifle, an anti-aircraft gun mount, 7 .50-caliber machine guns, 4 14.5 mm anti-aircraft rounds, an SKS assault rifle, 4 M86 Russian-manufactured light machine guns, 5 M86 barrels and 2 M240 barrels at approx. 10:30 a.m. northwest of Baghdad.
-30-
Displaced Iraqi families return to community
BAGHDAD - Soldiers from the 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, joined the Jihad Reconciliation Council and Iraqi SF leaders Aug. 19 to witness the return of 20 families to Hayy Jihad, in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.
The event commemorated a return to stability due to the ongoing security efforts of Iraqi Security and CF and welcomed families previously driven out of the predominately Shia community due to sectarian violence and strife, said Capt. Ryan Gavin, cmdr of Co C, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.
"The families that left, now feel secure enough to move back to the area and contacted their local leadership for permission," said Gavin. "The IA, with our support, decided the area is stable enough and the families pose no threat to the peace."
The committee returned approx. 600 displaced families within the last year, said Sheik Kwali, head of the Jihad Council, and the community hopes to welcome 240 more families to return to the Hayy Jihad area Aug. 23 during another ceremony.
SoI members help a relocated family move furniture into its home, Aug. 19.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brent Williams)
-30-
MND-B Soldiers detain key suspected criminal in Rashid
BAGHDAD - Aug. 20, at approx. 2:30 a.m., Soldiers from HHD, 1st BCT, 4th ID detained the suspect, an alleged Special Groups criminal leader, during search ops in the Abu T'shir community. The suspect is believed to be a cell leader conducting roadside bomb, indirect fire and direct fire attacks against MND-B forces.
-30-
United and Prosperous II kicks off today
IRBIL - United and Prosperous II, a provincial budget conference aimed at resolving economic barriers and identifying action steps to exploit economic opportunities within the northern provinces of Iraq, will start Aug. 20 in Irbil.
U&P II is the second conference of its kind. The conference is a venue for the provincial leadership to engage with the various ministries within the GoI on economic and budgetary issues from within their provinces.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Barzani, Iraqi Dep. PM al-Issawi, Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, the MND-North cmdr., and provincial governors from all 7 northern provinces with their deputies and council chairmen are expected to be in attendance.
-30-
ISF discovers munitions cache in Rashid
FOB FALCON - Aug. 19, at approx. 12:45 a.m., IP discovered 7 107 mm rockets, 3 107 mm mortar rounds, 17 90 mm mortar rounds, 13 60 mm mortar rounds, 6 anti-armor grenades, an anti-personnel RPG, a homemade bomb, 100 explosive fuses, approx. 200 rounds of ammo, and a two-way radio charger in the Risalah community.
"The 1st 'Raider' Brigade and ISF interact daily with the Iraqi citizens of the Rashid district," said Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT Spokesman, 4th ID, MND-B. "The Raider Bde with our ISF partners continues to provide a safe and secure environment for the people of Iraq. We are in the process of assuming tactical over watch as some of the ISF units assume the lead in southern Baghdad."
-30-
Raiders detain two, find weapons in separate operations
FOB FALCON - In the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, at approx. noon Aug. 18 in the Saha neighborhood, IP detained a suspected Special Groups leader. The individual had in his possession a 9 mm pistol, a bullet-proof vest, an SMG magazine, multiple false ID cards and more than 190 pieces of anti-Iraqi propaganda.
Soldiers from Co. D, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf., also arrested a known criminal at approx. 7:15 p.m., Aug. 18 in the Saha neighborhood. Acting on a tip, soldiers discovered an 82 mm mortar tube without a base plate at approx. 12:15 a.m. Aug. 19 in the Saha neighborhood.
-30-