Dear Interested Reader,
My favorite story of the day is the homecoming event for some of the 76th Bde Soldiers returning from Iraq, which is appropriate for Veterans Day. If you've witnessed one, you know that you'll never forget this sight of families being reunited. Enjoy! Backpacks, school supplies and food are distributed to needy children by TF 1st BN. Reliable electricity and dependable clean water (what we take for granted) will soon be enjoyed by millions of Iraqi families. An outstanding story of one man's pride in the accomplishments of the U.S. Army Corps of Engrs., especially regarding the renovation of Al Hillah Hospital.
Joanna
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Nov. 11, 2008
Blackanthem Military News
76th Brigade Soldiers return from Iraq
By Sgt. Jeff Lowry
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - In Indiana military history, the return of 53 troops from the 76th IBCT and its deployment to Iraq represents the largest deployment for an Indiana National Guard unit since World War II.
"I think that not just myself, but the Soldiers and Marines are making a real impact and doing a good thing," said Pvt. Freddie Basnight, a radio and telephone operator with Company E, 113th Support Bn while deployed. "I think we're on the right path."
Other 76th Soldiers agreed. "It was very fast, and it was very rewarding," said Lt. Col. Ross Waltemath, the Bde's personnel officer. "We still have a lot of work to do, and get the rest of the brigade home.
This is the first of more than 3,200 Indiana National Guardsman scheduled to return over the next 4 weeks. During the Bde's deployment, it supported security missions, aerial recon missions, presence patrols, convoy escorts, and high profile reconstruction efforts to the Iraqi economy.
A.J. Silva sleeps in his father's arms, Lt. Col. John Silva.
Photo by Spc. William E. Henry
Kolton and Mason Newlin greet their father, Kenneth D. Newlin.
Photos by Staff Sgt. Tina Griffin
Maj. David L. Mathieu embraces his son, Andrew.
Chief Warrant Officer Nicole Carmody, a military personnel technician, hugs her daughters, Kayleigh and Justess.
Photos by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry
Morris Waltemath hugs his son, Lt. Col Ross Waltemath, personnel officer, as Ross Waltemath's daughters, Victoria and Madison watch.
Sgt. Charles Nale tries to kiss his daughter Zoey.
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Iraqi Students receive backpacks, more
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
BAGHDAD - Youngsters cry out with their hands in the air trying to get the teacher's attention. One is selected and he marches up to the blackboard to recite the day's lesson written there. When he finishes, the teacher praises him and he returns to his desk, a grin on his face. School is back in session here in Sadr City, and the students couldn't be happier.
MND - Baghdad soldiers visited an elementary school, Nov. 3 in the Sadr City District of Baghdad to see its progress and distribute backpacks, school supplies and food to students in need.
Within the past 6 months, the schools of Sadr City have seen a complete renovation in preparation for school this fall. Walls were rebuilt and painted, windows replaced, electrical lines installed and clean water piped in. Teachers, most of whom are female, have been hired by the GOI to teach full time.
Soldiers from 1st Bn, 6th Inf Regt, 1st Armor Div, were invited by members of the GOI to see the schools at work. Classes are held in the morning for boys and in the afternoon for girls; both sessions are packed. Every class was filled with 30 to 40 1st, 2nd or 3rd graders.
"It felt great, seeing the smile on the kids faces and giving them something they needed," said Staff Sgt. Robert Gray, a Soldier from TF 1st Bn, 6th Inf. Regt. Many of the students are orphans, their parents killed by insurgents trying to gain power through intimidation. The schools themselves used to be unusable. Insurgents chased the teachers out and used the schools as places of torture, for weapons storage and as a place to hide. The principal selected 30 students with the greatest needs to receive a brand new backpack with pencils, pens and a notebook and pencil case.
The Soldiers also passed out bags of food and water to the children to take home to their families. Sgt. Mario Braxton, a TF 1st Bn Soldier was especially proud of his work at the school. "Being an orphan myself, it feels good to give back and show the kindness that was shown to me," Braxton said.
Students look up from their lessons.
(Army photos by 2nd Lt. Gordon Bostick)
Capt. Aaron Newcomer, cmdr, hands a backpack to an Iraqi student, and shakes hands.
Capt. Newcomer gets an Arabic lesson from Iraqi second graders.
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Sab Al Bour Residents Emerge from Darkness, See Light at End of Tunnel
By Ken Griffin
CAMP TAJI — Only a year ago, reliable electricity in Sab al Bour was just a dream. The city, just north of Baghdad along the Grand Canal, was practically deserted, with only diehard residents and pockets of insurgents sticking around in the dark. As of Nov. 8, residents in this small agricultural city are literally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, according to sheik al Tamimi, an influential leader in the area. Outside the city’s new electrical substation, the sheik spoke literally and metaphorically about the town’s emergence from darkness.
“We had evil forces trying to kill Iraqis … and they destroyed all essential services,” he said, describing insurgent attempts to control the city and population. “Today, we are calling for unity between all people of Iraq.” The top CF leader in the Taji area said he believes peace and stability starts with electricity, and was at the event to congratulate Sab al Bour on its achievement. “Reliable and sustainable access to power allows businesses to flourish, water to crops, schools to educate our children and light on the dark nights of the Iraqi winter” said Col. Todd McCaffrey, cmdr. of 2nd Stryker BCT “Warrior,” 25th ID. “Sab al Bour is now postured to accept the return of its rightful residents.”
The rightful residents McCaffrey referred to is a large portion of Sab al Bour’s citizens that fled due to violence and lack of essential services. The internally displaced people are now returning at a rate of up to 50 families per week. If the substation opening only meant more electricity, it would be meaningful enough, but the impact of this substation doesn’t stop with keeping the lights on. It will have a direct and immediate positive effect on other essential services in the area.
First, there’ll be more drinkable water. Purification stations of course rely on electricity to produce potable water. Even more significantly, irrigation pumps in the area will work harder and longer. Soon, passing helicopters will notice large swaths of farmland turn from a dirty brown to lush green, all thanks to the substation, said Capt. Mark Gillman, the engr. at Warrior Bde, in charge of electrical reconstruction. “The pump station, due to power improvements, will irrigate thousands of acres of farmland with little interruption from blackouts,” said Gillman, who provided oversight and expertise for the otherwise Iraqi-ran project.
Because the Sab al Bour area depends heavily on agriculture, the local economy should get a noticeable boost. Gillman, explained how all of the intertwined projects, which depend on electricity, are part of a “tailored network. It started with the Ministry of Electricity, which brought up to 30 people in here at a time. They really set the pace for the other ministries,” Gillman said. “There was a lot of GOI support for this small, mostly Sunni community.”
Attendees marked the substation’s opening with a ribbon-cutting, tour and then singing and dancing. As they celebrated their victory and announced the lights were on to stay, they proclaimed they could move on to other goals. “Now we will ask for other things – forgiveness and unity,” said the last speaker at the event. “Let’s now bring together all Sunni and Shia in Iraq.”
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Dependable Clean Water Source Coming Soon to Basrah
By A. Al Bahrani
BASRAH — Two million Basrah residents will soon have a more-dependable source of household water for cleaning, cooking, bathing, and washing.
A project, scheduled to complete next summer, will connect permanent power to the Sweetwater Canal Pump Station #2. About 70 Iraqis are on the crew installing a new switch gear room, 2 5 megavolt amp transformers and 2 new 1.5 megavolt back-up generators.
“The project is directly impacting Basrah’s economy,” said Iraqi engr. Sattar, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engrs. “Local Iraqis are on the construction crew earning steady paychecks and most of the construction materials are being purchased from area businesses,” he noted.
Prior to the war, only 12.9 million people in Iraq had access to potable water. Now, nearly 21 million people do, according to AP statistics. Once complete, the pump station will connect to Iraq’s permanent power grid, lessoning its reliance on generators. “So far, 78 km of 33kV transmission lines and 517 steel pole structures have been installed to provide power there,” he said.
Taha Yaseen, who has been the facility administrator there for 11 years, said, “these upgrades to the Sweetwater Canal Pump Station #2 are very critical. Without them, the facility would not meet its capacity. Part of the project includes about 500 meters of chain link fence to make the site more secure. Basrah has long relied on this 2-decade-old pump station to supply its domestic water needs. Once the work is finished, the pump station will have a reliable power source for round-the-clock ops, immediately benefiting families in more than 25 area neighborhoods,” he concluded.
Throughout Iraq, the U.S. Army Corps of Engrs has overseen the completion of 820 water supply projects, with another 85 projects ongoing.
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Success at Al Hillah Hospital renovation measured in heartbeats, non-stop care
Alicia Embrey
Al Hillah — How do you measure success? “Regarding the $7 million newly-renovated Al Hillah Maternity and Children’s Hospital, located in Babil Province, it’s more than bricks and mortar — it’s all about saving lives,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engrs Construction Representative Edward Jones.
Like many USACE military, civilian and contract employees serving in Iraq, Jones will soon return home knowing his efforts directly benefitted thousands of Iraqi families. “There are many stories that I will take away from this project, but there is one that will stay with me forever,” Jones said. “On our final site visit to the hospital, I saw a father hurrying in, carrying his small son. The boy appeared to be unconscious and the man was very upset.” Although worried about the child, Jones said this event gave him an unexpected understanding and closure to the project. “I was concerned for the child, but confident that he was going to receive the quality care that could make all the difference. This scene may have played itself out hundreds of times over the 4-year span of this project, but for me it was a first, and that image is a memory I’ll keep forever.”
The rehabilitation included new nurses’ stations, doctors’ offices, an operating room, patient rooms, kitchen and cafeteria. “From a construction standpoint, the facility received a face lift that includes new lighting, ceramic tile, ceilings, flooring, paint and more. Upgrades were also made to the mechanical, communications and electrical systems, including the installation of new oxygen generators, a heating/cooling system, 2 1000kVA generators, a reverse osmosis water purifier, and a medical waste incinerator. A new electrical synchronization switch gear allows multiple generators to operate together meeting load requirements of the facility,” Jones said.
“The list of hospital improvements is impressive, but the success of this project, as I see it, is measured by the people this facility helped during its renovation. This is a maternity and children’s hospital. Its name says it all. Iraqi families found quality professional medical care when they needed it, and that’s why this project touches your heart,” Jones continued. “To my knowledge this facility never closed its doors at anytime during the renovation. Considering the hospital sees an average of 500 people daily, with 300 requiring an overnight stay, keeping those doors open was vital to the well being of the entire community.”
Throughout Iraq, USACE has renovated 40 hospitals and an additional 13 are ongoing.
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Cavalry troops attack enemy's image
BAGHDAD - Although there are fewer doors to kick down and attacks to counter, soldiers like 1st Lt. Chris Ustler, a plt leader with Troop B, 4th Sqdr, 10th Cav Regt, 3rd BCT, 4th ID, operationally attached to the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div, currently stationed at JSS Washash, have not allowed the lull in violent activity to equate to a lull in ops.
His Soldiers now find themselves walking the streets of Baghdad, handing out fliers denouncing the dwindling insurgency and encouraging local civilians to report criminal and insurgent activity. "We are attacking the enemy on all fronts," said Capt. Michael Poche, the troop cmdr. "We will not allow him quarter, allow him rest. The psychological aspect of this fight is just as important as the kinetic."
Poche said he believes that with the insurgent activity declining in the area, the local populace has seen an opportunity for commerce to prosper. The area in which the troops operate is highly commercialized, and has been compared by Soldiers as the "5th Ave. of Baghdad." It is not uncommon now for CF patrols to see restaurants open late at night or to come across local kids playing midnight soccer games in the streets.
Some of the messages handed out are aimed at collecting specific info about certain insurgents, while others are general messages of encouragement to the populace. As local leaders create trash cleanup campaigns and other creative ways to better their areas, Poche and his men try to publicize their progress to the everyday man.
"We are with Iraqis all the time, helping them figure out how to find Iraqi solutions to Iraqi problems," said 1st Sgt. Richard Shopp, Troop B. "I have more meals with Iraqis at our table at the security station than I've eaten back at the big FOB all year."
A Soldier with Troop B, interacts with local children in the Washash neighborhood of northwest Baghdad.
A Soldier with Troop B conducts a mission briefing with IA soldiers at JSS Washash.
Soldiers with Troop B, interact with local children.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons caches in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - In the Mansour district of Baghdad Nov 9, Soldiers serving with Btry B, 4th Bn, 42nd FAR, attached to 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), discovered a cache at approximately 11:15 a.m., that included an incomplete IED consisting of a black can with 10 pounds of homemade explosives, 2 AK-47s, a RPG, a PKC rifle, 7 82 mm high-explosive mortars, and an 82 mm white phosphorous mortar.
At approx. 5 p.m., acting on a tip from an Iraqi citizen, Soldiers serving with the 3rd Bn, 54th Bde, 6th IA MiTT, found a weapons cache at a house abandoned for 3 years, and the owner had just returned. The weapons included an anti-tank mine, 2 containers with approx. 90 pounds of explosives, 4 burlap sacks with 150 pounds of homemade explosives, and one-half pound of gun powder.
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1,330 families return to Baghdad area
BAGHDAD - Iraqi officials recently announced 1,330 Iraqi families have returned to the 3 districts in 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div's operational environment, since being displaced due to violence.
The Ministry of Migration and Displaced Persons tracks the return of the citizens on a week-to-week basis. They released the figures, which reflect the number of families who have registered with the ministry since returning to their homes. To reclaim their houses, these families must provide documentation to the ministry to prove the homes belong to them.
Displaced families who register with the ministry are eligible for support from the GOI. Families may receive grants for as much as one million dinar and also may use the money however they deem necessary. While not specifically created to assist displaced persons, the civil services district program is available to them for assistance in securing employment.
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1000+ SoI complete 1st week of IP training
BAGHDAD - More than 1,000 SoI IP recruits, completed their first week of IP training at the al Furat Iraqi Police Training Center. To kick off the program, 608 SoI registered for training at the al Furat IP Training Center, Oct. 31. Now with the first week of training completed, 1,031 SoI are integrated into the IP training program. The second phase of training began Nov. 3 with the inclusion of 19 female recruits preparing themselves to be future Shurta.
"We have seen a great abundance of pride from the former SoI and now IP recruits," said Staff Sgt. Jacque Hayes, NCO in charge, IP training center, who facilitates the training program with IP. "I am impressed with the willingness of the recruits to learn and train as they train to become future Shurta," added Hayes, who serves with the 233rd MP Co, 18th MP Bde.
The SoIs will continue to train for the next 3 weeks as they take on the challenge to become certified police. "We taught the students classes on human rights," said IP Lt. Sejed Swadde, an IP instructor. "It is important for the recruits to know when they are Shurta that all people are created equal and race or religious background should not mix with enforcing the law."
The SoI program was organized by CF in recent years, but the GOI assumed responsibility over the SoI program Oct. 1, in order to integrate the SoIs into the ISF.
Army Staff Sgt. Jacque Hayes (left), works with an IP instructor as they prepare for training to begin on Nov. 6.
(Army photo by Lt. Col. Michael Indovina)
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