Dear Interested Reader,
Troops get ready for Thanksgiving dinner and all the fixings, but I couldn't lift one of those turkeys! A children's fair takes place in Salhiyah. Thanks to the Civil Service Corps, 2 new schools open. Renovations and improvements brighten lives in Sadr City. Micro-grants continue to help economic growth in New Baghdad. Large weapons caches seized and suspected terrorists are captured. From Afghanistan, the 634th SECFOR Co. takes over Camp Eggers force protection for the 436th Co.
Joanna
______________________________
Nov. 27, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Soldiers Prepare for Thanksgiving in Northeastern Baghdad
By Scott Flenner
Pfc. Katty Marie Le Blanc and Spc. Reuben Jones, display 8 turkeys that will be used for the brigade's Thanksgiving dinner throughout the Adhamiyah and Sadr City Districts of Baghdad.
Photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav
FOB WAR EAGLE — Soldiers from the 3rd BCT, 4th ID, will enjoy a feast of fresh turkey with all the fixings this Thanksgiving holiday.
Three months ago, food service technicians and officers began planning for this celebration to ensure that every Soldier operating in their area was provided with a traditional Thanksgiving meal, Nov. 27.
Warrant Officer Darryl Goddard, a food service officer with 3rd BCT, who has been planning the Thanksgiving dinner here, is ready for the challenge of feeding more than 300 Soldiers. “I am ensuring that Soldiers at FOB War Eagle and 4th ID are supported with a little taste of home … and I am working diligently to ensure they get the necessary feeling of home here in Iraq.”
That taste of home includes more than 800 pounds of fresh turkey, which will be prepared and fixed at the larger dining facilities and then pushed out to the smaller COPs and JSSs.
“Every Soldier will get a good Thanksgiving dinner based upon patrol schedule,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey, who serves as the senior enlisted leader for the 3rd BCT. “It will be a continuous operation throughout the day.”
But turkey is not the only traditional food being served to the troops this holiday season. Sweet potato pie, apple cobbler and Baskin Robin’s ice cream are other treats to accompany the feast.
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MND-B Soldiers conduct children's fair in Salhiyah
BAGHDAD -
A group of Iraqi children line up to receive gifts during a children's fair Nov. 20 in northwest Baghdad's Salhiyah neighborhood. The event consisted of a live band, Iraqi actors, singers and comedians for more than 100 children and parents. "This was a great Iraqi led event," said 1st Lt. Nicholas Anderson, a civil affairs officer, 4th Bn, 42nd FAR, 1st BCT, 4th ID. "It's always a pleasure to see the local community pull this type of event together."
(Army photo by Capt. Michael Roscoe)
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2 CSC schools open in Sidera, TaqTaq Villages
HAWIJA - Two schools from the Civil Service Corps program celebrated their grand opening Nov. 23, near the city of Hawija in the Kirkuk province.
Sidera Village and TaqTaq Village, 2 areas once claimed unsafe by both contractors and the Iraqi govt, have opened 2 schools. Now they will have the capabilities of training more than 180 locals on road repair, painting, canal maintenance, municipal clean up, and administrative duties.
"This program will provide employment and training for 12 months with the effective establishment of an org. that will continue to train members of the communities, providing employment and economic benefits to the people of TaqTaq and Sidera," said Lt. Col. Kenneth R. Casey, cmdr. of the 1st Bn, 67th Armor Regt, 2nd BCT, 4th ID.
These 2 villages have come a long way in such a short time, that this accomplishment shows a bright future for the locals. "In the past, the areas of Sidera and TaqTaq had a lot of al-Qaeda influence, but there was a big battle 6 months ago that rooted them out," said Capt. Larry Brown, cmdr. of Co. A, 1st Bn, 67th AR Reg. With security in place, the locals in these villages can now focus on rebuilding the community, he continued.
"The Civil Service Corps is a testament not only to the will and enterprise of the individual, but the support and growth of a society that has turned its back on the terrorists who attempted to derail the progress being made, for the very people they have claimed to represent," said Casey.
Lt. Col. Kenneth R. Casey signs 2 certificates representing the approval of the grand opening of 2 schools. On his right and left sat the CSC contractors Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed and Mr. Shihab Ahmed for Sidera Village and Tag Tag Village.
(Army photos by Spc. Karla P. Elliott)
Lt. Col. Casey prepares to cut the ribbon.
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Renovations, improvements in Sadr City brighten hopes
BAGHDAD - In a combined effort between both Iraqi and American forces, the people of Sadr City have benefited from renovated and re-opened schools, new parks, improved medical facilities, more consistent electricity and better trash removal services.
The area where these improvements have occurred is referred to as Operational Environment Gold, named after the infamous wall that separates the southern third of this northeastern Baghdad district and provides a security buffer. "It also had an impact on the GoI, as they have watched our support to the local govt down here in the south part of Sadr City. We can also start to see some progress in the northern parts, or the parts beyond the Gold Wall as we call it," said Col. John Hort, cmdr. of the 3rd BCT, 4th ID.
Since May, more than 100 projects have been completed with assistance from the 926th Engr Bde. Additionally, the Striker Bde and the 926th Engr. Bde., who work jointly in OE Gold, have handed out microgrants to local businesses.
These improvements to the area have not gone unappreciated. In addition to the increased revenue in the area, there has also been an increased desire for similar projects to take hold in areas north of the infamous wall.
"Unfortunately, reconstruction north of the Gold Wall is going slow. However, I know Dr. Sumad (Chairman of the GoI's Sadr City Reconstruction Committee) is committed to success. It is my hope that soon all the citizens of Sadr City may experience the improved security and economic blessings of OE Gold," said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, cmdr. of 926th. "The assistance and reconstruction efforts in OE Gold by 3rd BCT, 4th ID and TF Gold have dramatically improved the quality of life for local residents," Talley said. "OE Gold residents are saying 'NO' to the militia and the old ways of Sadr City and 'YES' to progress."
Col. John Hort challenges an Iraqi shop owner in the Sadr City district's Jamilla Market to a friendly arm wrestling match during a patrol there Oct. 30.
(Army photos by Maj. Michael Humphreys)
Col. John Hort walks with an Iraqi child. Improvements to the once impoverished district have led to an increased level of prosperity not enjoyed here since the pre-Saddam Hussein regime.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons, munitions throughout Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Nov. 24, IA soldiers and Soldiers of Co D, 1st CAB, 63rd Armor Regt, 2nd Bde, 1st Armor Div, discovered a weapons cache south of Baghdad at 9:30 a.m. The cache included 11 artillery rounds, 34 57 mm rockets, 2 boxes of 25 mm and 30 mm ammo, a can of pellets, 2 spools of TNT and 44 various artillery rounds.
At 10 a.m. IA soldiers received a tip leading them to a cache in Karkh. They found 2 mortars, a fuse and an illumination round hidden in a trash pile in front of an apartment building. The IA turned the cache over to the 2nd BCT, 1st ID.
At approx. noon, Soldiers serving with 2nd Sqdrn, 14th Cav Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID found weapons north of Baghdad. The cache consisted of 2 anti-aircraft guns with 2 additional barrels and a tripod.
Soldiers serving with Co C, 1st Bn, 14th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, received a cache from IA soldiers north of Baghdad at approx. 7:30 p.m, consisting of 7 machine guns, 6 rifles, 7 RPG launchers, 6 RPG warheads, 15 RPG boosters, 2 RPG sights, 30 half-loaded AK-47 magazines, a mortar sight, 1,000 rounds of AK-47 ammo, 10 MK-19 rounds, 7 sticks of professional grade TNT, a feed sack full of TNT sticks, 300 meters of detonation cord, 2 IEDs, a remote control device, 20 hand grenades, 9 57 mm projectiles, various rocket components, and a bag of fuses.
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7 suspected criminals arrested in central Iraq
BALAD - A reported Special Groups leader and 2 others were arrested Nov. 21 in Al Qurna during an Iraqi SOF op. The suspected SG leader has allegedly worked with Iranian intel for 3 years and helped smuggle weapons, money and info into Iraq to facilitate SG activities.
In a separate op, IA soldiers, operating under the authority of a Diwaniyah judicial warrant, arrested a suspected criminal who reportedly was trained conduct assassinations of ranking ISF officials.
In an unrelated op in Hashimiyah, an Al Hillah SWAT team, acting on a warrant issued by the Ministry of the Interior, arrested another suspected criminal during a raid to disrupt criminal ops in Babil province.
On Nov. 20, ISOF captured another suspected criminal during an op in West Rashid, Baghdad.
In an unrelated op, an Al Hillah SWAT team detained another suspected SG member in Hayy Askari. This suspected criminal is believed to have ties to transporting weapons, kidnapping and IED attacks against ISF.
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Iraqi SF seize weapons caches, capture 2 suspected terrorists in northern Iraq
BALAD - IA soldiers captured a suspected AQI/ISI terrorist during a raid Nov. 21 in Al Zirai. This op targeted terrorist leadership and operational capability in Ninewa province. The detained individual was suspected of facilitating foreign fighters, displaced insurgents and equipment moving through Mosul.
In a separate op, the IA detained an alleged AQI Foreign Fighter Facilitator in the Farhatiya area, Nov. 20.
In an unrelated op, on Nov. 20, Mandali SWAT discovered a weapons cache in the Mahmoud Salman Dahash Village. The cache contained a variety of IED making materials.
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Micro-grants help economic growth, support citizens in New Baghdad
FOB LOYALTY - During the past year, CF have helped to stimulate the Iraqi economy through issuing micro-grants to local eastern Baghdad businesses. As of Nov. 16, Co C, 2nd Bn, 30th Inf, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div alone has processed 20 applications in the New Baghdad district, said 1st Lt. Grant White, a Co. C plt leader. There are at least 25 more applications still going through the investigations process, he explained. "With every micro-grant we are able to complete, you can see a difference," he said. "Shop owners walk a little taller in the street when they are able to support their families properly, and supply their neighbors with the merchandise they are demanding.
Co. C Soldiers recently patrolled Muhallas 740 and 744 to check on business owners to whom they have issued micro-grants. These small businesses include pharmacies, fruit stands, carpentry shops, fabrication shops, generator repair shops, sandwich shops, photography shops, medical clinics, bakeries, hardware and corner stores. White said some of these shop owners have been able to hire additional workers who were previously unemployed, and buy more merchandise that was unavailable to meet public demand in the past. Once they began to turn a profit, they were able to open another shop in either the same location to supply a different service, or in a different location.
"We are providing basic fundamentals to the Iraqi economy; supply and demand," said Sgt. Corious Thomas, a Co. C forward observer.
"People demand resources to provide for their survival. We simply facilitate the primer to the process. Now when on patrol in a Muhalla, we don't see as many people standing outside their homes because they are at their new jobs. Being able to build a rapport with the local population is a valuable asset," White said. "The micro-grant process is working to discourage citizens from working for the enemy, showing them that there are alternative means of income other than helping those who are trying to harm them."
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Blackanthem Military News
634th SECFOR Co. takes over Camp Eggers force protection for 436th Co.
Capt. Michael Mattingly, cmdr. 436th SF Co, wraps up his company's guidon at the transfer of authority ceremony, Nov. 19 at Kabul Afghanistan Int'l Airport. The 436th, a Texas Army National Guard co. based out of Laredo, provided force protection for Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan at Camp Eggers. The company was relieved by the 634th SECFOR Co., an Illinois Army National Guard company based out of Joliet.
(photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Cliff Williams)
KABUL, Afghanistan - The 634th SECFOR Co. now has command and control of the Camp Eggers Force Protection and Quick Reaction Force, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan.
In order to prepare for their new mission, the 634th underwent months of mobilization training including 60 days of training at Fort Bragg N.C. The soldiers of the 634th trained closely with their counterparts in the 436th, a Texas Army National Guard company based out of Laredo, to fully understand how to perform their duties.
"The 634th is more than capable and willing to complete the mission at hand," said 634th Cmdr. Capt. Matthew T. Morse. "We've trained well with the 436th co. for the past few weeks to ensure all aspects are covered while we are here in Afghanistan."
The 634th is among 2,700 soldiers of the Illinois National Guard being deployed. The U.S. military is readying itself for an expanded presence in Afghanistan. Some states, including Illinois, have seen their largest Guard and Reserve call-ups since World War II.
"I came to this company 6 months ago," explained 1st Sgt. Richard Dickey. "This company has done so many great things, and I am extremely proud of them. Now they get to go back home to Texas with their family and friends."
"Today is a very sweet day as we say good bye to the 436 and welcome in the 634," said Maj. Tanya M. Hightower, Camp Eggers' garrison cmdr. and guest speaker for the transfer of authority ceremony. "The 436 was involved in an ever-changing environment with response to various circumstances along with keeping over 1,600 personnel safe."
Capt. Matthew Morse, 1st Sgt. Richard Lozano, and Spc. Adam Peterson, present their company guidon to the 436th SF Co. during the transfer of authority ceremony.
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