Dear Interested Reader,
On this tragic day in our history, I hope that the media will come through as Americans, and share these remembrance ceremonies from Iraq with the American people. Some of our troops enlisted the day after 9-11, and their stories should be heard. I'm hoping we will have these stories in coming Updates. We honor our fallen with positive success stories. As security continues to strengthen, it is marked with rebuilding. Logistics Symposium brings together 170 senior logisticians and Iraqi advisors from all across Iraq.
Joanna
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Sept. 11, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Media Advisory: MND-B to conduct Patriot day observance
WHO: MND - Baghdad and the 4th ID
WHAT: Patriot Day Observance commemoration. Maj. Gen. Hammond is the guest speaker
WHEN: Sept. 11 at 9 a.m
WHERE: MND - Baghdad Headquarters on Camp Liberty.
WHY: To honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives during terrorist attacks in Pennsylvania, New York and the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001. During the ceremony, the flags in front of the div. HQ will be raised and lowered to half staff. Three wreaths will be placed to remember the 3 attacks that day. Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the div.'s senior enlisted leader, will place a flag flown over ground zero in New York in honor of the div.'s observance.
NOTE: Maj. Gen. Hammond and Comm. Sgt. Maj. Gioia will be available for interviews after the event. Several MND-B Soldiers, who were directly affected by the attacks, will also be on hand to share their experience and their families' experiences.
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Media Advisory: 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony
WHO: All media
WHAT: 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony; guest speakers include Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, MNC - I comm. gen. and Col. John A. Lenk, senior military corps safety officer, and survivor of the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon.
WHEN: Sept. 11, at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory
WHY: To reflect on the events of 9-11, remember those who perished, and honor the memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives in service to their country.
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Shulla receives much needed facelift
BAGHDAD - The GOI has begun sponsoring multiple projects in the northwestern Baghdad neighborhood of Shulla to improve essential services and quality of life. One of the most prominent projects is a sewage line repair project and market revitalization taking place within Shulla.
They are currently excavating a trench on a road to make a series of repairs on the sewage pipe. They are also giving the market along the road a "facelift." The sewage and market project will not only make Shulla more appealing to live in and to visit, but it will also improve the essential services as well.
The new market will boost the population economically, said Basim, a local vendor in Shulla. He shares the same view as other local nationals, that it is a relief to finally see progress stemming from the GOI that will create immediate returns for all of Shulla's residents.
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Logistics symposium brings all players to table
BAGHDAD - More than 170 senior logisticians and Iraqi advisors from across Iraq gathered Sept. 4 and 5 at Hope Chapel to discuss the best practices, policies and the way ahead during MNC - Iraq's second quarterly logistics symposium.
MiTT cmdrs. and advisors from the battalion, division and brigade levels, and G4s from each division and MNF - West, briefed on the Iraqi partnership, training, maintenance and issues occurring in their areas of operation.
"We gathered everybody from across theater to check the progress of our logistics partnership initiative," said Col. Ronald Pulignani, G4 advisor, MiTT, Iraqi Ground Forces Command. "All the
MNDs provided an update on their logistics partnership programs."
Brig. Gen. Keith Walker, comm. gen., Iraqi Assistance Group, hosted the conference and provided Iraqi logistics partnership updates for MNC-I. Maj. Gen. Timothy McHale, CJ1/4/8, MNF - Iraq and the senior logistician in country, gave updates on his role in the overall partnership.
The symposium laid the groundwork for an IA staff exercise occurring in October to examine and improve IA logistics systems, during which the IA will look at its systems from the strategic and tactical levels.
Some of the Iraqi army's systems observed included its repair parts system, reporting systems, standards to evaluate logistics systems, national requirements needed to maintain its army, how to develop mobile training teams for its divs. and how to incorporate logistics into its warfighter exercises.
"Overall, it was an outstanding conference," Pulignani said. "Everyone left better informed and ready to move the logistics partnership initiative forward."
Brig. Gen. Keith C. Walker, provides opening remarks.
(Army photo by Spc. Christopher M. Gaylord)
Maj. Gen. Timothy McHale, CJ1/4/8, MNF - Iraq, takes a question from an attendee. McHale, the senior logistician in country, provided updates on his role in the overall CF and Iraqi logistics partnership.
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Soldiers Reopen Road, Stimulate Business in Iraqi Market
Photo and story by Army 1st Lt. Dan Rullo
Army Pvt. Joshua Pinson (right) and Army Pvt. Zackary Grove (left), along with their interpreter, meet with Iraqi children while on a patrol in northern Baghdad’s Shaab neighborhood, Sept. 6, 2008.
BAGHDAD — News of the grand reopening of Aden St. on the Suk Shelal Market in the Shaab neighborhood here was greeted with great enthusiasm from the public. Many shop owners said the increase in vehicular traffic will be good for their stores, since many more individuals will see the marketplace. As a result, there is a renewed sense of vigor and excitement as store owners build new advertising signage to attract people driving through the area. Local merchants said the opening of the road will make commercial travel and transportation of goods and services easier throughout the northern Baghdad neighborhood.
Amil Duragi, a store owner, said he was excited at the prospect of potentially thousands of passersby seeing his storefront for the first time in several years.
Many said that when the Iraqi and CF work together, as they do in Shaab, great things can be accomplished as they strive to achieve a thriving, yet secure, outdoor market such as the Suk Shelal Market.
“The reopening of Aden St. in the Shulal Market will send a message to the people of Baghdad that the GOI and the CF have faith in the current security situation and the effectiveness of the Iraqi police,” said Army 1st Lt. Matthew George, 3rd BCT, 4th ID.
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No Boundaries
Beneath the streetlights of northwest Baghdad's Hurriya neighborhood Soldiers with Co A, 1st Bn, 502nd Inf Regt grab hold of concertina wire. Soldiers plan to gather up as much concertina wire as they can and use safety cones in its place whenever possible in an effort to beautify Hurriya.
Photo by Sgt. Paul Monroe.
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Grounded
Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Sqdrn wait out a haboob, Sept. 9, 2008. Haboobs are sandstorms that result from the collapse of thunderstorms and the resulting downdrafts. The dust carried by a haboob can rise several km in the sky, and winds can travel upwards of 30 mph. The F-16 in the foreground is deployed from the Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing, based in Syracuse, N.Y. The F-16 in the background is deployed from the South Dakota ANG's 114th FW.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley.
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