Dear Interested Reader,
We have two outstanding stories and photos, one about our paratroopers celebrating airborne history, the XVIII Airborne Corp's birthday. Our other story takes us on a mission called Operation Himera, by way of photos showing our troops and the IA targeting know AQI hideouts. We're also treated to schools being refurbished in time for the new school year. Large munition caches seized, and criminals and terrorists detained.
Joanna
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Aug. 23, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Camp Victory paratroopers celebrate airborne history, XVIII Airborne Corp's birthday
Story, photos by Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp
CAMP VICTORY - A two-fold ceremony took place at the Al Faw Palace here, Aug 22, one which celebrated a historic birthday as well as honored all airborne-qualified servicemembers from past and present.
The XVIII Airborne Corps turns 64-years-old Aug. 25, while the first official Army parachute jump celebrated its 68th anniversary Aug. 16. Both milestone events were celebrated in ceremonial fashion at the palace - complete with a birthday-cake cutting, a video on the history of the airborne force and a performance from the 82nd Abn Div's All-American Chorus.
Paratroopers from all branches of service attended the ceremony, including past XVIII Airborne Corps general officers - former XVIII Abn. Corps Cmdr., retired Gen. William F. Kernan, and MNF - Iraq Cmdr., Gen. David H. Petreaus, who was chief of staff for the Corps from 2000 to 2001.
Presiding over the ceremony was the MNC - Iraq comm. gen., Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III. "Since World War II, our airborne forces have earned an impressive reputation," Austin said. "They are known around the world because of their discipline, their tenacity and their will to win." And that will to win has carried over to the Iraq theater of ops, he added.
"The Sky Dragons of the XVIII Airborne Corps and all paratroopers have continued to maintain a professional, warrior reputation through their actions here in Iraq - which is extremely important in a counterinsurgency environment," Austin said. "As I walk through markets in places like Mosul and Sadr City, it is clear to me that Iraqi citizens have faith and trust in our troopers - and that is absolutely necessary for us to achieve our goals."
"It feels great to be able to take part in history, and it was a nice surprise." said 20-year-old Oce, an 11-jump veteran. "I was made aware yesterday that I was going to be able to take part in the cake cutting, and I'm really glad I did." While one young paratrooper took part in the ceremony, a veteran of 269 jumps veteran did as well. "You can't help but feel proud to be Airborne during a ceremony like this," said Chaplain (Col.) John P. Hash, MNC-I chaplain, who gave the invocation.
The ceremony was complete as the Army, the XVIII Abn. Corps and the U.S. colors marched from the rotunda, but it was a final word from Austin, said during his speech, which highlighted that which all in attendance were there to celebrate: "... Airborne!"
Sgt. Julius Toney, a member of the 82nd Abn Div's All-American Chorus, marches in place while singing cadence.
Staff Sgt. Carey Brown, a member of the 82nd Abn Div's All-American Chorus, sings 'Carolina on my Mind' in tribute to the home of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
Sgt. Jay Goldsborough, a member of the 82nd Abn Div's All-American Chorus, addresses a crowd of servicemembers gathered to celebrate the first official parachute jump, which took place Aug. 16, 1940, and the XVIII Abn Corps' 64th birthday.
Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III shakes the hand of fellow paratrooper, Spc. Eric-Brandon Oce, MNC-I security and intel, following the cutting of the XVIII Abn Corps' birthday cake.
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IPs, MND-N Soldiers target known AQI hideouts
A Soldier from the 1st Special Troops Bn, 1st BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), braces himself during an early morning joint-air assault with IP in the desert areas near Thar Thar Lake in the Salah ad Din province, Aug. 21. The op, called Operation Himera, targeted known al-Qaeda hideouts.
(Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny)
A group of Soldiers from the 1st Special Troops Bn, provide security while other Soldiers and IP clear a known al-Qaeda hideout.
Soldiers from 1st Special Troops Bn, pull security with their IP counterparts while waiting for helicopters to take them to another al-Qaeda hideout.
Soldiers from the 1st Special Troops Bn, and their IP counterparts regroup after clearing an al-Qaeda hideout. The early-morning air-assault op was aimed at clearing 2 hideouts in 2 separate locations.
The rotor wash from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter blows sand and dust on Soldiers from 1st Special Troops Bn, and their IP counterparts, as they wait for another set of helicopters to take them to another al-Qaeda hideout.
Capt. John Gabriel, cmdr. of Co A, 1st Special Troops Bn, pulls security Aug. 21 as two UH-60 Black Hawks prepare to pick up his Soldiers. Gabriel's Soldiers, combat engineers from the 1st BCT assaulted 2 known al-Qaeda hideouts in different locations during the operation.
Soldiers from the 1st Special Troops Bn pull security as a UH-60 Black Hawk prepares to pick them up.
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Schools refurbished in Abu T'shir
FOB FALCON - MND - Baghdad Soldiers gathered with community leaders for a luncheon to celebrate the summertime renovation and reopening of 2 schools in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, Aug. 21.
Lt. Col. Troy Smith, cmdr. of the 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., spoke about the great contributions made by the many contractors. "This is a great step to work towards the future in Abu T'shir," Smith stated. "Everybody wants to continue to improve the area."
The contractors made many improvements on the schools through the summer, such as new furniture, air conditioners and remodeled sewage systems.
Dawood Salman, a civil engineer and mgr. of the Muath bin Jabal Secondary School, which is equivalent to an American junior high and high school, managed many projects for the school during its 45-day makeover. "When kids return to the school and see it is in good condition, they will be very happy," Salman explained. "It also makes the teachers have better lessons for the kids."
"The future is in your hands," Smith said to local leaders at the luncheon. "I have no doubt the future is bright." The 2 schools are tentatively scheduled to reopen Aug. 25.
Capt. Kris Howell, cmdr. of Troop C, 7th Sqdrn, inspects renovations to the Muath bin Jabal Secondary School Aug. 21 in the Abu T'shir community of southern Baghdad.
(Army photo by Sgt. David Hodge)
Capt. Howell speaks with a local leader from southern Baghdad's Abu T'shir community.
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National Police seize large cache in New Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Aug. 21, NP uncovered a cache of 87 122 mm artillery rounds in Muhalla 739 of the Al Jadida area in New Baghdad. The rounds included 11 illumination artillery rounds and 76 explosive artillery rounds.
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MND-B Soldiers detain key suspected criminal leader in New Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Soldiers attached to 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div (Lt), detained a suspected Special Groups criminal leader, Aug. 21 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad.
Soldiers from 1st Bn, 66th AR, conducted an op in the Fedaliyah area of New Baghdad resulting in the detainment of a key suspected Special Groups leader allegedly involved in IED attacks in the Fedaliyah and Riassa areas, and having links to other key Special Groups criminals.
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MND-B Soldiers discover munitions in Rashid district
FOB FALCON - MND - Baghdad Soldiers discovered a munitions cache, confiscated hand grenades and detained 2 criminals in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, Aug. 21.
Acting on a tip from a SoI, Soldiers from Troop C, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav. Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, discovered 10 landmines and a tube of propellant in an abandoned house.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brent Williams)
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MND-B Soldiers detain suspects across Rashid, ISF dismantle booby trap
FOB FALCON - Aug. 20, at approx. 9:30 p.m., Soldiers from HHD, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected terrorist in East Rashid's Masafee community linked to attacks using IEDs and suicide vests in Baghdad.
At approx. 11 p.m., Soldiers from HHT, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, working on actionable intel arrested a suspected Special Groups criminal in West Rashid's Hadar neighborhood.
Meanwhile in the Risalah community of southwestern Baghdad, Iraqi NP discovered a homemade booby trap, at approx. 10 p.m. The NPs immediately dismantled the bomb and confiscated the bomb-making materials, consisting of a fragmentation grenade, 2 60 mm mortar rounds, and a can of homemade explosives.
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