Dear Interested Reader,
There's a wonderful example of support for our troops and their mission by the community of Hortonville, Wis. Solar lights makes a big difference in the Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliyah. The Bayaa Clinic in West Rashid is getting set for updated equipment, new exam rooms, and other improvements. Large weapons cache seized.
Joanna
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Sept. 18, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Wisconsin Native Helps Iraqi Schools with Support from Home
By Maj. J. Frank Garcia
Samantha Schroth, a local 4-H member and Hortonville High School student, helps unload donated school supplies, June 12, 2008, in Hortonville, Wisc.
Photo by Capt. Casey Plamann
BAGHDAD — Capt. Casey Plamann, a school teacher from Hortonville, Wis., presently serving as a civil affairs info mgr. and planner with the 2nd BCT “Strike,” 101st Abn Div (AASLT), in northwest Baghdad, took a great concept and initiated action. Plamann developed a program that will include routine communication and donations of English school books and supplies. It is based on the Strike Bde school partnership strategy in the area of ops. The strategy was designed to develop educational capacity within the Baghdad districts of Khadamiyah, Mansour and Kharkh.
“Col. Bill Hickman, bde. cmdr. wanted to go beyond the ‘brick and mortar’ concept and actually foster relationships and cooperation inside the classrooms,” Plamann said.
English language teaching aids and assorted school supplies, totaling a staggering 27,000 pounds, recently arrived in Baghdad. The supplies were moved from Wisconsin to Fort Campbell, Ky., and then on by military transport to Iraq.
A presentation ceremony is scheduled for, Sept. 23, 2008, to schools in northwest Baghdad. Dr. Afrah, an official from the Iraqi Ministry of Education, will participate in the ceremony. The books will be presented to Afrah on behalf of the students and teachers from Wisconsin. They will be distributed to schools in Baghdad by early October, so they are available for the beginning of the Iraqi school year.
“Many volunteers back home took this idea and ran with it,” Plamann said. Many offered help, but one in particular truly stimulated interest and support from home. “The assistance provided by John Maino of WIXX radio was immeasurable,” Plamann said. “He conducted daily, on-air promotions for the text book and supply donation during his radio show.” Plamann also participated in 2 radio interviews with Maino in order to explain the program to radio listeners. He said he enjoyed speaking to the listeners and emphasized the importance of helping Iraqi children understand the English language.
The program is designed to eventually be self sustainable. The partnership schools will dictate their own program once communication is established, he explained. U.S. Soldiers will be required initially to facilitate communication and answer questions that the schools may have. Plamann said he plans to deliver emails to both Wisconsin and Iraqi teachers to facilitate communication and understanding.
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Solar Lights Bring Security, Normalcy to Northwest Baghdad
By Dan Martin Jr.
Solar lights light up a road in the northwest Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliyah, Aug. 28, 2008.
Photo by Maj. Frank Garcia
BAGHDAD — Even with the numerous power generation projects in place here, constant and reliable power is not always guaranteed. When the streetlights are out due to power outages and broken or stolen bulbs, not only can the enemy perform their destructive tasks, but citizens are unable to roam, attend gatherings or shop at the endless open-air markets.
In neighborhoods across northwest Baghdad, specifically Ghazaliyah, a new solar-powered lighting system is being placed along streets, in neighborhoods, and in popular areas to bring a bit of normalcy back to these areas, allowing people to continue life after the sun goes down.
“The logic behind it was getting lights out on the streets at night,” said Maj. Tom Nelson, engineering officer for the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT). More than 16,000 solar lights are planned to be installed throughout Iraq. In northwest Baghdad, they plan to place them along main routes in Kadhamiyah and, according to Nelson, there is an upcoming project involving solar energy to power a medical clinic in Ameriyah.
In the areas where the lights have been installed, the immediate benefits are apparent, said Nelson. During the holy month of Ramadan, most of the residents stay indoors and save energy during their daytime fasting. When the sun goes down, the newly placed lights provide a much safer environment for people to go about their business.
To prevent theft or destruction of the lights, special screws hold the lights in place and bullet-proof glass is used as a cover. “Street lights are an essential element of providing security for the population. They provide ISF checkpoints without night-vision capability the ability to observe the dead space created by the darkness,” said Capt. Thomas Melton, cmdr., Co A, 1st Sqdrn, 75th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. “They also reduce the enemy’s ability to emplace IEDs and conduct attacks because they take away his concealment.”
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MND-B Soldiers, NP search for weapons
CAMP TAJI -
Sgt. 1st Class Omar Ashley, an inf. plt. sgt. with Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, helps Iraqi NP search houses and empty lots, Sept. 10 to find illegal weapon caches in Istaqlal Qada's Hussaniyah town, northeast of Baghdad.
(Army photo by Spc. Brian Pierce)
Sgt. Ryan Ruz, an infantryman with Co A, helps Iraqi NP search houses and empty lots.
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Baroness of Winterbourne Evaluates Medical Clinic Condition
By Capt. Jeffrey Tounge
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne is briefed on the proposed necessary improvements for the Bayaa clinic in West Rashid, Sept. 14, 2008. The improvements would include exam room and equipment updates and minor repairs to the facility.
Photo by 2nd Lt. Matthew Addison, 1st BCT, 4th ID
FOB FALCON — Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, a British politician and a member of the House of Lords, visited the Bayaa medical clinic in the western Rashid District, Sept. 14.
CF and other assistance groups are developing plans to improve the capabilities of the Bayaa clinic to ensure residents of West Rashid have adequate health care services available.
“A project of this caliber and capacity is best handled by outside agencies that are accustomed to these specific requirements and improvements,” stated Capt. Nate Rawlings, civil affairs officer, assigned to 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID. The clinic is limited by outdated equipment, inadequate exam rooms and limited capabilities to house patients overnight; the staff at the Bayaa clinic is also not able to handle severe trauma or emergency care, he said.
The Soldiers of 1st Bn. have made the Bayaa clinic a priority and are working diligently to acquire the appropriate level of assistance for the clinic, said Rawlings.
Baroness Nicholson, an international humanitarian especially for youth in care, devoted specific attention to the Bayaa clinic. The Baroness’ attention to the clinic shows a great improvement by the community and the SF in Bayaa, said 2nd Lt. Matthew Addison, fire support officer, Co. D, 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID. “The Baroness visit shows the commitment of both CF and the international community to the people of Iraq, their health and well-being,” said Addison, who has been involved in the development of this clinic. He was proud to see this magnitude of attention brought to such a worthy cause. “The nature of security in Bayaa has dramatically improved from earlier levels, and the Parliament member’s inspection of the area is an opportunity to advance the medical care available to the people,” he explained.
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MND-N Soldiers discover weapons cache in Salah ad Din
TIKRIT - Sept. 16, Soldiers with A Co, 1st Special Troop Bn, 1st Bde, 101st Div, discovered the cache while conducting a joint op at approx. 2 p.m.
The cache consisted of 320 82 mm mortar rounds, 6 120 mm mortar rounds, a 130 mm artillery round, a RPG launcher, and 2 50 pound bags of unknown explosives.
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