Dear Interested Reader,
The 836th Engr. Co. sends their medic to apply first aid to an Iraqi child. A cornerstone is laid for the Basra Talent School. West of Tikit, Kiowas find anti-aircraft weapons in the desert. Americans of Armenian heritage can take pride in their completed successful mission. Paralegal specialists makes it easy for troops at FOB falcon to vote, and hopefully it will happen wherever troops are deployed. Suspected criminals are detained and weapons seized.
Joanna
___________________________
Oct. 08, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Patrol Stops, Applies First Aid to Iraqi Boy
By Ray McNulty
Spc. Joseph Urlacher, who serves with the 836th Engr Co, examines a boy's bleeding foot, cut by a piece of glass, on Thunder Road in Al Firdaw.
Photo by Spc. Charles Wenske.
BAGHDAD — “I noticed a knot of children gathered around a small boy who was writhing on the ground holding his foot up in the air,” said Sgt. Kevin Creasy, squad leader, who was in the lead patrol truck, 926th Engr Bde, Sept. 26. The Soldiers stopped for a closer look and quickly noticed a young boy’s foot covered in blood. “I called the platoon leader about the situation we observed and recommended that we help out and have our medic examine the boy’s foot,” said Creasy.
“I heard the little boy had a bloody foot and grabbed the medic bag not knowing what to expect,” recalled Spc. Joseph Urlacher, the plt’s medic. “On examination the boy did not look like he was in a great deal of pain, but his excessive bleeding was a concern. I got a bottle of water and some antiseptic and began to clean and examine the wound. After cleansing the wounds made by broken glass, I bandaged the foot, secured the bandage and put his sandal back on.”
The boy, a familiar sight on the route, said he was running alongside a convoy on Thunder Road in Al Firdaw when he stepped on broken glass. With a smile and a wave, the boy shouted, “Shukran” (Thanks) as the patrol resumed its route.
“I am glad I could help that boy,” said Urlacher. “I hope when he grows up he will remember the day some American soldiers helped him out. American helping Iraqis – that’s what this is all about."
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Cornerstone for Basra Talent School laid
BASRA - Local Basrawi officials and the U. S. Regional Embassy Office Director, laid the cornerstone for the Basra Talent School in the Al-Jam'eat area on Oct. 6.
The school, funded by the GOI, will cost $3.3 million and house 200 students of both sexes from 12 to18 years of age. The school will have 12 classes, a laboratory wing, a lecture theater and boarding facilities. A local Basrawi company should complete the project in 9 months.
Students must have a grade of 95% or higher and pass 2 exams consisting of 63 questions each to be accepted from the Barah, Mysan, Di-gar and Al-Mothana provinces. The first exam is administered at the provincial level and the second is administered by the Ministry of Education.
"The concept and construction of the Talent School is a team effort. The ideas behind it were developed by looking at some of the best schools in different parts of the world," said Chico Negron, the REO Director. "The United States and the United Kingdom will provide the technical assistance in the design and construction of the building. I hope that those who attend, teach and administer your school will be guided by the Arabic proverb: If you reach for the highest levels, you shouldn't settle for less than the stars," he said.
Chico Negron center left, and the Civil Military Ops Center Dir., Navy Capt. Robert Lansden, center right, watches as Basrawi Officials shake hands after covering money placed in a cornerstone for the Basra Talent School with cement.
(Army photo by Sgt. Ron Reeves)
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Kiowas find anti-aircraft weapons in desert
TIKRIT - OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters located 2 anti-aircraft guns buried in the desert west of Tikrit, Oct. 4.
Pilots from 1st Sqdrn, 6th Cav Regt, were on their way to provide aerial security for 1st Bn, 327th Inf Regt patrol, when they spotted a partially buried tarp. The tarp was covering a hole dug into the side of a hill and there were tire tracks in the vicinity.
The Kiowa pilots radioed the location of the tarp to ground forces, who moved to their location and discovered that the tarp covered a cache. Inside the hole the infantrymen found 2 ZPU-1 anti-aircraft weapons, spare barrels and almost 2,000 rounds of ammo.
An OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter flies a mission over the northern Iraqi desert.
(Photo by Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brain Grablin)
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Armenians complete successful mission in Iraq
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Paul Lafebvre, dep. comm. gen., MNC - Iraq, addresses the 8th Armenian Contingent during their end-of-mission ceremony at the Joint Visitor Bureau, Camp Victory Oct. 6. "Never forget what you have accomplished here," Lefebvre said. "You will be able to look back and know that you were part of something great; something that shaped the world for future generations. You have represented your country to the highest degree."
(photos by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey)
Capt. Ruben Papyan., 8th Armenian Contingent Cmdr. and Armenian Senior National Rep., addresses his soldiers. during their end-of-mission ceremony at the Joint Visitor Bureau, Camp Victory Oct. 6.
(photo by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey)
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MND-B Soldiers detain suspected criminals, discover weapons in Rashid
BAGHDAD - At approx. 10:15 p.m. Oct. 5, IP and Soldiers from Co D, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, attached to the 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected criminal responsible for roadside bomb attacks, weapons trafficking, and sectarian violence, while conducting a combined patrol in the Saha community.
At approx. 2 a.m. Oct. 6 in the Furat community, Soldiers from Co C, 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected Special Groups criminal during a raid.
Soldiers from Troop C, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected terrorist after allegations he was targeting a CF Soldier in the Abu T'shir community, at approx. 3:15 a.m., Oct. 6.
Iraqi NP discovered 2 57 mm mortar rounds, a 82 mm mortar system, and 50 mortar charges at approx. 10:15 a.m., Oct. 6 in the Hadar community.
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Coalition Soldiers detain suspected Special Groups criminal in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Soldiers from the 1st Bn, 66th Armored Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, attached to the 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div (Lt), captured a suspected Special Groups criminal in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad, Oct. 6. The individual is suspected of attacks on Iraqi SF and CF.
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Blackanthem Military News
Raiders make voting 'a snap' at FOB Falcon
By Sgt. David Hodge
FOB FALCON - Sgt.'s Asa Rubman and Rachel Littenberg, both paralegal specialists assigned to HHD, 1st BCT, 4th ID, noticed an overwhelming number of Soldiers uninterested in voting in the Nov. general elections and decided to spearhead a voting drive for Soldiers.
"It started out with me being annoyed with the system," said Rubman. "I registered and tried to get my ballot in May and it never came, so I started putting up flyers in case other people didn't get theirs." The flyers posted throughout the bde HQ building enticed Soldiers to stop by the legal office and spend approx. 10 minutes to exercise their right to vote.
Even after posting flyers, the 2 decided they were not reaching out to enough Soldiers and decided to take the advice of Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, the bde's senior enlisted leader, and set up a table inside the dining facility. "People normally have a block of time set aside when they go to chow, so it's easier for them to register to vote then, and just eat their grilled cheese a little faster," Rubman said. The duo provided Soldiers the opportunity to vote in the dining facility for 3 days, spending 6 hours a day there while work piled up back at the office. They also provided the necessary paperwork, envelopes and useful info regarding each state's voting regulations. In all, the effort assisted more than 550 servicemembers and civilians throughout the 3-day drive, said Littenberg.
"Everybody was really into it," said Littenberg. "I watched a major and a specialist have a twenty minute conversation while they were completing their ballots about who was a better choice for president."
Setting up in the dining facility was great, and it motivated many Soldiers to vote, said Staff Sgt. Devon Pierce, an infantryman assigned to the bde personnel security detachment, HHD, 1st BCT. Pierce, who is on his third deployment, said this is the first one in which he has found the time to vote. "I was glad to see the legal office took the initiative to put up flyers and set up a table in the dining facility," said Pierce.
Sgt. Rachel Littenberg, assists a Soldier with his voter registration.
Sgt. Robert Hooper (right), a wheeled vehicle mechanic seals an envelope containing his voter registration and ballot.
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