Dear Interested Reader,
We're honoring a fallen hero by renaming a building "The Eric Burri Rigging Facility" on Joint Base Balad. Thanks to Iraqi citizens, huge amounts of weapons and munitions have been seized. Iraqi NP are using information handbills to engage locals. 1st Sqdrn., 75th Cav. Regt. has seen to another school opening, with more to follow. More progress as IA assumes control of COP Cleary.
Joanna
___________________________
Sept. 15, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Eric Burri honored with building dedication
JOINT BASE BALAD - The 824th Quartermaster Co held a dedication ceremony, Sept 11, re-naming building number 8124, the "Eric Burri Rigging Facility," on Joint Base Balad, honoring a fellow rigger who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Burri died when an IED detonated near his humvee in Baghdad, June 7, 2005 while assigned to the 623rd Quartermaster Co, 1st Corps Support Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
From the first day he joined the Army, people seemed to see something different about him. He always had a smile on his face and was well liked by his fellow Soldiers, said Capt. Lashanda Caver, cmdr. of the 403rd Inland Cargo Transfer Co who served with Burri prior to his death.
"It is truly an honor to stand before you all and talk about the Burri that I knew and without a doubt deserves this dedication," said Caver. "He not only knew and understood the Soldiers Creed; he lived his life by it." Having great pride in his work and his equipment, making sure he was always ready for the next assignment is just a few examples of what made Burri an exceptional Soldier.
"From day one, he displayed himself as a Soldier with military bearing and a Soldier who possessed complete professionalism," said Caver. "He always had a smile on his face and no matter what happened, everyday was a great day in the Army."
Chief Warrant Officer Jennings Lantz speaks during dedication ceremony.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hawkins)
The men and women of the 824th gather to dedicate and rename building.
Two Soldiers uncover a plaque dedicating building 8124.
Building 8124 was re-named the "Eric Burri Rigging Facility."
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Iraqi citizen leads IA to buried ammunition
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - An Iraqi citizen led Iraqi Army and CF to a large cache buried near Juwamisah, Sept. 11.
The cache consisted of 6 105 mm rockets, 2 120 mm mortars, 12 rocket boosters, 23 RPG rounds, 93 60 mm mortars, 77 80 mm mortars and 15 sticks of TNT.
A cell phone, washing machine timer and batteries, items used to make IEDs, were also found at the site.
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Large caches north of Baghdad contain more than 850 mortar and artillery rounds
TIKRIT - Coalition and IA Soldiers unearthed thousands of pounds of munitions north of Baghdad, Sep. 10.
At approx. 8:30 a.m., acting on tips from local citizens northwest of Samarra in the Jazeera Desert, CF were led to the site of a large weapons cache containing 350 155 mm artillery rounds, 34 80 mm mortar rounds and numerous other munitions and explosives.
In Diyala province, Coalition and IA Soldiers discovered a large cache containing more than 300 artillery rounds, more than 200 mortar rounds and charges of various sizes, and approx. 20 rockets of various types, at 11 a.m.
Also, in nearby ad Dawr at about 3:15 p.m., Soldiers were led to the site of another weapons cache site by members of the ad Dawr SWAT team. This cache consisted of various calibers of artillery and mortar rounds.
East of Samarra, Soldiers were led to a cache site consisting of 51 anti-tank mines, along with other misc. mortar rounds and detonation cord, at about 3:20 p.m.
At approx. 4:30 p.m., south of the city, citizens led Soldiers to a cache site containing 16 oxygen tanks, over 400 feet of time fuse, and 100 feet of wire used to trigger IEDs.
Soldiers from the 1st BCT, 101st Abn Div were led to this cache site, consisting of 350 155 mm mortar rounds, and other munitions.
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National Police share information in West Rashid
FOB FALCON - Iraqi NP and MND - Baghdad Soldiers used info handbills to engage the residents of Aamel and Bayaa, Sept. 11, in an effort to keep criminals on the move in West Rashid.
This op is the fourth in a series of NP-led ops, and the residents of Aamel and Bayaa remain positive and welcoming. Residents of the Tamin Market area in Hayy Bayaa thanked the NPs for the improved security and indicated they were optimistic about the recent improvements to the neighborhood.
These ops stress the importance of community involvement with info sharing and cooperation with the local Iraqi SF.
"The Iraqi NP have worked hard to develop a working relationship with the local residents," said Capt. John Matheny, battle captain assigned to the 1st Bn., 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID. "This is an important aspect of catching a criminal. When the criminals no longer find haven within the community, they are exposed and vulnerable."
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High school opens in northwestern Baghdad
BAGHDAD - The Al Ghazaliyah High School opened its doors to 600 students, the largest of its kind in the region, Aug. 30.
"Words could not describe how I feel," said headmaster Fadem Shal, in speaking of his new school in Ghazaliyah. "We have worked so very hard to put this all together and now it is finally happening."
Last year, the school opened its doors to 288 students; however, a lot has changed since then. With a large influx of residents from surrounding areas and a long stretch of relative peace, the population of Ghazaliyah is swelling. With the total student body doubling from the previous year, new requirements for teachers, special classes and expanded extracurricular activities were needed.
"Due to the war, the students could not go to school," said Fadem. "Now some have become uninterested with school work and need to more attention from the teachers. The teachers have done this without extra pay in their spare time."
Dr. Abbas, a contractor for the project, said the project is very important for the youth of the neighborhood. "I wanted to make sure that this school had everything it needed," he
said. "A student cannot learn by books alone. That is why we put in 15 new computers, microscopes, new writing boards and new desks. When a student can use this kind of equipment, he will want to come back and want to learn more."
Helping with the project were Soldiers from the 1st Sqdrn, 75th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT). "I am very passionate about the education of these children,"
said Capt. Joseph Sincere, with the 1st Sqdn. "This is the future of Iraq. What we do here right now affects the Iraq of tomorrow. The projects like this ensure that future."
Of those projects for the future, Sincere said that there would be an additional 12 schools refurbished by the middle of October with two being dedicated as schools for girls.
Sheik Razak and Fadem Shal, the headmaster, meets with Capt. Joseph Sincere to discuss future improvements for his school.
(Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Vanderboegh)
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IA assumes control of COP Cleary
FOB HAMMER - The IA assumed control over a COP in the Salman Pak area from CF
during a transfer-of-authority ceremony, Sept. 9. The 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div handed over security responsibilities.
Leaders of the 9th IA Div., local sheiks and govt leaders, along with a large crowd of soldiers and Iraqi media attended the event. Maj. Gen. al Qassim, cmdr of the 9th IA Div., addressed the IA soldiers during the ceremony on the importance of the ISF taking an ever greater lead in providing security for Iraq. "The IA has proven their skills and demonstrated their ability to defend the Iraqi people, keeping the area free of extremist forces," Qassim said.
The ceremony concluded with the Iraqi soldiers celebrating with song and dance after raising the Iraqi flag, signifying Iraq's authority over the outpost.
Three young Iraqi children wait to present the Iraqi flag to the Iraqi color guard.
(Army photo by Pfc. Michael Schuch)
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Medics work together to treat people of Fahad Fadhil
BAGHDAD -
Capt. Drew Webb, bn physician asst for 2nd Sqdrn, 14th Cav Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, explains an electro-cardiogram with a local physician from the Taji Market Clinic during a Combined Medical Engagement, Sept. 10 in Fahad Fadhil, northwest of Baghdad.
(Army photo by Spc. Christopher Long)
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