Dear Interested Reader,
Patrol with the 710th BSB in Logar Prov, and with the 3/10 Mtn Div., securing a water tunnel. Op Hem Tunnel has the 1/12 Inf. Div. clearing several tunnels and compounds.
Iraq: Soldiers provide clean water for residents of Zooba. Suspected terrorists arrested in Babil prov. Army, Iraqi doctors and staff hold medical conference. Power lines find their way to remote villages.
Joanna
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September 3, 2009
Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan RSS
Patrol in the Logar Province
Photos by Pfc. Richard Jones
Army Capt. Isaac Greenberg, assigned to 710th BSB, 3/10th Mtn Div, hands out candy to Afghan children in Logar province, Aug. 26, 2009.
Spc. Brandon Masters greets Afghan children.
Spc. Masters provides security.
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1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment RSS
Operation Hem Tunnel
Photos by Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver
A U.S. Soldier wades through a river during Op Hem Tunnel, July 20 in the Maywand District. The 1-12th Inf Regt cleared several tunnels and compounds during the op.
Soldiers pull security on a mud wall.
Soldiers pull security.
A Soldier seeks cover in a grass field.
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Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan RSS
Dismounted Patrol
Photos by Pfc. Richard Jones
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Daniel Jindrich , assigned to Alpha Co, BSTB, 3/10th Mtn Div, hands out a card with contact info to be used if anyone sees suspicious activities in Logar prov., Aug. 28, 2009.
Sgt. 1st Class Scott Lund pulls security while another teammate checks under a bridge.
2nd Lt. Daniel Jindrich waits until his Soldiers stop at a checkpoint while securing a tunnel.
Sgt. Oscar Randels untangles a rope while 2nd Lt. Daniel Jindrich lowers the rope to his Soldiers.
Sgt. 1st Class Scott Lund stands up after being pulled up by his Soldiers from a twenty foot deep water tunnel.
2nd Lt. Daniel Jindrich pulls security while Sgt. Oscar Randels calls for his fellow Soldiers during a patrol through a water tunnel.
Sgt. Oscar Randels calls on radio to Soldiers in a water tunnel.
2nd Lt. Daniel Jindrich waits until his Soldiers stop at a checkpoint while securing a tunnel.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Hanson falls to the ground after being pulled up from a twenty foot deep water tunnel by his fellow Soldiers.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Hanson checks a hole for Taliban activity, on a dismounted patrol.
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Multi-National Division - Baghdad
Soldiers provide clean water, fresh start
By Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell
Staff Sgt. Travers Brake, a cav scout plt sgt with the 30th HBCT, points out the back of solar panels used to power a water-filtering pump as Shaykh Mohammed Syiar watches, Aug. 28.
BAGHDAD — A series of intertwined, water-filled canals create a patchwork of green fields, abundant in crops near the capital city area of Zooba. The irrigation system provided essential water to the local farms but not to citizens.
"Potable water makes the difference between getting disease. For us, it's the difference between life and death," said Spc. Stephen Palac, a combat medic, about the importance of available drinking water. "There are all kinds of bad organisms in that canal water which leads to lots of stomach problems."
NG Soldiers of 2nd Plt "Spartans," 1st Bn, 150th Armored Recon Sqdrn, 30th HBCT, visited 1 of 5 solar-powered water-purification pumps donated by U.S. and ISF to local Iraqis leaders in the area to fulfill the need for potable water.
"Before, the people got sick from the water," explained Shaykh Mohammed Syiar, a local SoI leader. "Then, we got our water from the pumping station, but it was difficult to get to, and if the power was out, then no fresh water. The kids and young people need the water. Now, they come here by foot."
"It's a simple pump and a simple process," explained Staff Sgt. Travers Brake, a cav scout plt sgt. "It's very few moving parts and all solar powered. It's got a battery bank and sucks power from the sun." Unfiltered water passes through a filter and out another tube, producing drinkable water.
"Security is number 1 and water number 2," said Syiar. "Specifically, this area is thankful to the U.S. forces," said Syiar. "They take care of the welfare of the families."
"We're real lucky in our area, because the people are kind and respectful, and we give that back to them and try to help out," explained Brake. "They know we're not here to harm them and we're here to do good."
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Multi-National Corps-Iraq PAO
Three suspected terrorists arrested in Babil province (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – Elements of the 3rd Bn ERB, along with U.S. forces advisors, arrested 3 suspected terrorists without incident in Babil prov., Aug. 27. The elite police force was operating under the authority of a warrant issued by the Investigation Court of Hillah.
The suspects are allegedly affiliated with insurgent groups operating in the prov. The suspects are also wanted for assassinations and conducting IED attacks against GoI officials, its ISF and civilians.
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2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs RSS
Army, Iraqi Doctors Hold 'Grand Rounds' Forums
Story by Sgt. Dustin Roberts
Soldiers from 5th Sqdrn, 4th Cav Regt, 2nd HBCT, 1st ID, participate in a medical conference at the Yarnouk Medical Center in Baghdad prov., Baghdad, Aug. 25.
BAGHDAD – Medical professionals from the 2nd HBCT, helped the Iraqi Ministry of Health host the 'Grand Rounds' forums; designed to help prevent future medical problems and offer solutions to existing ones.
"Conferences such as these are important to the medical community of Baghdad, because these conferences bring hospital doctors, local clinic doctors, and medical students together in an effort to share knowledge," said 1st Lt. Anthony Donley. "These conferences contribute to a sense of teamwork and unity amongst the medical professionals in Baghdad."
Iraqi Ministry of Health reps, such as Dr. Sitar, dir. of Yarmouk hospital, lead a series of discussions for solutions to ongoing problems in the area, such as maintaining clinical standards, identifying symptoms, treating patients properly, cholera, pediatrics, rheumatoid arthritis, and electrolyte imbalances.
Another significant issue facing the physicians and student doctors in Iraq is that they haven't had access to medical journals or text books to keep them in the know.
"They haven't joined the medical revolution in things like trauma advances, the latest in cancer prevention and treatment or ultra-sound machines," said Capt. Kenneth Johnson, a bde surgeon with 2nd HBCT. "These topics are of great interest to them, and they're drinking through a fire hose these days to learn the medicine that has occurred since they were cut off from it."
Johnson said that since the war and the change of govt, medical personnel only voyaged from their house to their place of work, and didn't have the opportunity to hold forums with personnel from around Baghdad.
"The doctors are very knowledgeable and very hungry to learn," said Capt. Gary Grassi, 422nd CAB, MND-B. "This is a tremendous opportunity to share medical knowledge with our Iraqi medical counterparts."
Goals of keeping the Iraqi medical realm informed and in the loop after U.S. Forces leave Iraq have also been put in place. "The design of the program is such that it will continue indefinitely," Johnson said. "We have our eyes to the future of possibly linking up hospitals in Baghdad with medical schools in the U.S. to continue the relationship, but the end state of this is for the Iraqis to do this without support."
Capt. Gary Grassi, 422nd CAB, and Soldiers from 5th Sqdrn, participate in the medical conference.
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2nd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs RSS
Power Lines Find Their Way to Remote Iraqi Villages
Story by Pfc. Justin Naylor
Staff Sgt. Michael Montique, right, a civil affairs specialist with the 414th Civil Affairs Co, with the help of his interpreter, left, speaks with Ebrahem Ahmad about the new power lines that are being constructed in the village of Guddah, during an assessment there, Aug. 28. Guddah is one of the last villages in this area to receive power, and its residents are very excited at the prospect.
FOB WARRIOR, KIRKUK— For the residents of the remote village of Guddah in the Kirkuk prov., it's been a long, hot summer. Although this village has a few air coolers, there's no electrical power source to plug them into, but this is about to change.
With the support of 2nd HBST, 1st Cav Div, local companies have begun constructing power lines in this village. An initial assessment of the construction was done Aug. 28, when a civil affairs specialist from FOB Warrior, Kirkuk, traveled to Guddah to see how the project was progressing.
"Can you imagine life without electricity?" Ebrahem asked the Soldiers. "Life will be much better for my family. We will finally be able to use air coolers."
2nd Lt. Tyson Friar, a plt leader with 4th Sqdrn, 9th Cav Regt, 2nd HBCT, whose plt works in this area, was very happy to see this project getting underway. "It lets them know we're here to help them," he said. "By doing this, we help them realize we've their best interests at heart."
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