Explosion in the Night - Defense Video & Imagery ... the new Al Salam Police Station during a...

TAL AFAR — With one quick snip of the scissors, TalAfar Police Chief Gen. Fawaz Mahmoud Issa officiallyopened the new Al Salam Police Station during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tal Afar.

The event marked a milestone for Tal Afar’s policedepartment as part of efforts to restore the city’s quality oflife and security.

Last year terrorists destroyed a police station in Tal Afar,but the opening of the new station represents a resurrectionof the police force according to city officials.

“We’re very thankful for the Coalition Forces for theirsupport in building this police station,” said Tal AfarMayor’s Assistant Gen. Sabah Hamidi Mohammed. “Wealso want to thank the military police for their training ofour police officers and police force.”

The new police station building features a holding cell,an arms room, investigation and intelligence cells, an inter-rogation room and an information desk. Currently 180 IraqiPolice officers will be assigned to the station, with an addi-tional 60 officers scheduled to be added to the force.

Posters featuring the Iraqi Police Code of Conduct andCode of Ethics adorned the walls of the new station.

The opening of the station brings personal satisfaction

and accomplishment for Capt. Carlie Ortego, 2ndSquadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, who recruitedand trained the Iraqi Police and served as the project man-ager of the station.

“When we [3rd ACR] first got here, we thought wemight open three police stations in Tal Afar,” said Ortego,from Lafayette, La. “But before we leave, we’ll have threeup and running, with six more scheduled to open shortlyafter our departure. It’s just amazing.”

Ortego said when the regiment arrived in April therewere approximately 200 police in the city, but now there

Baghdad, Iraq Jan. 6, 2006Vol. 4, No. 1

See STATION, Page 2

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. John R. Rozean

Caregivers: Iraqis wait to receive medical care and toothbrushes, toothpaste, toys and school supplies Dec. 22 during a medical civil affairs project in arural farming community on the outskirts of western Baghdad. The project, which treated more than 150 patients, involved three U.S. physicians, one Iraqiphysician, and several medics from 1/10th Mountain Division’s 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery and 10th Brigade Support Battalion.

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Donald Sparks3rd U.S. Cavalry

U.S. Soldiers transfer authority to Iraqis in MakhmurU.S. Soldiers transfer authority to Iraqis in Makhmur, page 8, page 8

Iraqi Police celebrate new station opening

are more than 600 on the ground and another 900 at policeacademies in Jordan and Mosul.

“We had some early obstacles related to security uponour arrival,” Ortego said. “But after the successful opera-tions two months ago [Operation Restoring Rights], itallowed my job to flourish and for me to get the IraqiPolice all the resources they needed.”

The opening of the station also allowed Ortego to keep apromise she made to the Iraqi Police.

“I told them to be patient as we were standing up thepolice force,” she said. “I promised them new equipmentand a new building and here it is. This building will givethem the motivation to do their jobs and it shows webelieve in them. I kept my word.”

Scimitar Jan. 6, 2006

Courtesy photoAn explosion lights up the horizon as explosive ordnance Soldiers detonate a mortar cache in TissaNissan. A local citizen in Tissa Nissan led a group of Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor to a mor-tar cache with seven 60 mm mortar rounds. Nearby, Soldiers found another 19 60 mm mortar rounds.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Donald Sparks Tal Afar Police Chief Gen. Fawas Mahmoud Issa snips the ribbon to officially open the new Al Salam PoliceStation during grand opening ceremonies.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Donald Sparks Iraqi policemen hang a poster featuring the IraqiPolice Code of Conduct in the new Al Salam PoliceStation prior to the grand opening ceremony.

Explosion in the Night

To learn more about Iraqi and Coalition successes, log on to: www.mnf-iraq.com and

click on the logo to download this week’s issue.

Stationfrom Page 1

Imet a hero last night. I did not realize it at the time, buthe is the closest thing to a hero that I likely will evermeet. This is a place where the word “hero” is tossed

around day in and day out, so much so that you sometimeslose sight of its true meaning. His story reminded me of it.

He was commanding a Bradley fighting vehicle that wasstruck with a roadside bomb, and then caught fire. Theloading ramp jammed, trapping eight inside. The crew wasforced to escape through a much smaller hatch in the top ofthe vehicle. All but one made it out. The medic was leftbehind, apparently unable to get out. Without concern forhis own life, my hero went back in to the burning vehicleto retreive his friend.

Six of his buddies came to us with severe burns. Hecame to us with burns over most of his body, the mostseverely injured of the group.

The surgeons worked for hours on his wounds and weworked for hours in the intensive care unit to stabilize himfor transport. In the end, damage to his lungs made him toosick to be safely transported by plane to our hospital inGermany and then to a burn center in San Antonio.

The ventilators we use for transport simply could notdeliver the amount of oxygen he needed. If he stayed herein Iraq, he would have died of his wounds. We simply can-not care for such severe burns here. Only a handful of hos-pitals back in the U.S. can.

Knowing this, our air evacuation team loaded him intothe plane for the six-hour flight to Germany. They had todeliver every breath to him during that flight by handsqueezing a small bag. I do not know yet if he made it toGermany alive.

Back home there is a bridge named for Sgt. ElbertKinser. My grandfather told me the story about why thebridge was named for him. It came to my mind this morn-ing. He was fighting alongside his buddies, when theenemy threw a grenade into their ranks. Rather than

attempt to run to escape the danger he threw himself on thegrenade, saving the lives of his comrades. He was awardedthe Medal of Honor for his gallantry, and the town named abridge after him.

This is the story as I remember it being told to me. Thedetails may be wrong. There is a memorial at the end of thebridge that tells Sgt. Kinser’s actual story. Honestly, I donot think I have ever stopped to read it.

How many people drive across that bridge every daywithout ever wondering why it has its name? How manyever stop at the large parking area in front of the memorialto read the story of this man’s last minutes on earth? Howmany of his friends are still alive to remember the story?How many grew old and had grandchildren because of hissacrifice? Did they thank him every day of their lives? Thenext time I cross that bridge I will stop for just a few min-utes of my life to read about a man who gave all of his.

People use the word “hero” too much. We have cheap-ened it. We use it to describe football players and politi-cians. We even use it derisively at times to describe peoplewe think are being too eager or self-promoting. It is eventhrown about too cheaply over here when people describegroups of us just doing our jobs as “American heroes.”

Most of us will serve our time here without ever trulyearning that title. The man I met last night deserves to becalled hero. Years from now, will anyone remember whathe did last night?

It is a privilege to be here taking care of these troops. Arethey all heroes? They certainly are more so than any athleteat home will ever be. There is a higher standard though,even here. I was honored by seeing him in person lastnight.

Editor’s note: Sgt. Elbert Kinser�s Medal of Honor cita-tion confirms that on May 4, 1945; while acting as a leaderof a rifle platoon with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1stMarines, 1st Marine Division, in action against Japaneseforces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, he protectedseveral of his fellow Marines by jumping on a hand grenadeand absorbing the shock of the grenade with his body. Hegave his life for his fellow Marines.

Editor............................................Sgt. Jeffrey M. Lowry

Assistant Editor.......................Spc. Richard L. Rzepka

Staff................................................Spc. David J. Claffey

The Scimitar is an authorized publication for members of theDepartment of Defense. Contents are not the official views of theU.S. Government or DoD.The editorial content is the responsibility of the Public AffairsOffice of the Multi-National Force - Iraq. Stars and Stripes news-paper is not affiliated with MNF-I and acts only as a distributingsource for the Scimitar. Questions and comments should be direct-ed to the editor at [email protected].

Scimitar welcomes columns, commentaries, articles and letters from

readers. Send submissions to [email protected]

We reserve the right to editfor propriety, clarity and space.

The Scimitar can also be viewed on theWeb at http://www.mnf-iraq.com/

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MNF-I Commanding GeneralGen. George W. Casey Jr.

MNF-I PAOCol. Dewey G. Ford

Combined Press Information Center DirectorLt. Col. Barry A. [email protected]

Command Information ChiefCapt. Bradford E. [email protected]

Command Information NCOICSgt. Jeffrey M. [email protected]

ScimitarJan. 6, 2006

PERSPECTIVES

By Maj. Mark Rasnake332nd Expeditionary Medical Group

Last night I met a hero ScimitScimitar Pulsear PulseWho’s better, Elvis or the Beatles?

“The Beatles. They're both beforemy time. I didn't like Elvis as muchas I liked the Beatles.”

Maj. Whitney MileyMulti-National Security TransitionCommand - Iraq,Twin falls, Id.

“I'd have to pick Elvis,because hehad a greater influence on musictoday. I liked his hair.”

Bryant MiddletonMulti-National Force - IraqFort Waltion Beach, Fla.

“I'm a Beatles man! I know quite afew more Beatles songs than Elvis',but I'll never forget when Elvis died.”

Bruce McLennan, PCO WaterAustralia

“A Beatles man. I would say I've lis-tened to more Beatles, probablybecause their British. But Elvis isgood as well.”

Ranger David Hewitt,1 Royal IrishBelfast, Ireland

“Neither. I never liked either one.”

Sgt. 1st Class Steven Carter,Headquarters and HeadquartersCompany, 43rd Brigade TroopsBatallion.Hampton Va.


CAMP TAJI – Task Force BaghdadSoldiers gathered to say goodbye to a fall-en warrior on Dec. 3.

Sgt. Grzegorz “Jak” Jakoniuk,Company B , 4th Battalion, 3rd AviationRegiment, died of a gunshot wound Nov.30.

“We come together in grief, acknowl-edging our human loss,” said BattalionChaplain (Capt.) Chris Goza at the memo-rial service.

A native of Poland, Jakoniuk enlisted inthe U.S. Army on Aug. 21, 2001, andbecame an American citizen in January2005, before deploying in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.

“Jak was truly a special individual,”said Capt. Jennifer Reynolds, Company B.commander. With a trademark smile and alaid-back manner, Jakoniuk took mostthings in stride, including the constant dif-ficulty with his name, she said.

Because his name was so hard to pro-nounce, when he became a citizen “theguys immediately told him his new namewas “Greg Jackson” because none of uscould pronounce his name properly,”

Reynolds added.An experienced crew chief, Jak not

only managed to beat pilots to the aircraftmost days, but took the time to ensure thecrews had food for a long mission,Reynolds said.

During tense situations, Jakoniuk had away of defusing a situation with a smileand a thumbs-up, she said.

More senior crew chiefs would attemptto find things wrong with an aircraft andusually came away from Jakoniuk’s air-craft “frustrated because they didn’t findanything, but also proud because he tookcare of it so well,” Reynolds said.

“The guy was a unique person,” saidStaff Sgt. Mark Bilon, “Jak was alwayssmiling, always wise-cracking … he wasa hard worker when he wanted to be and aclever talker when he didn’t.”

Jak was mellow, and was never woundup or high-strung.

“We’ve lost a friend,” said Bilon, but“when you think of him, laugh and smileand take it easy.”

Spc. James Berkenbush worked withJakoniuk and was his roommate at FortCampbell, Ky.; during their first rotationof OIF in Mosul; and here at Camp Taji.

“I was closer to Jak than I was to eitherof my two brothers,” Berkenbush said.

Jakoniuk had an insatiable thirst forknowledge, he added. When Jak wantedto know more about how somethingworked, he would go out and buy bookson the subject.

“He probably read more books in ayear than I have in my entire life,”Berkenbush said.

While at Fort Campbell, Jakoniuktaught himself to play the violin. Aftertaking the violin out of the box, Jak could-n’t get it to make any sound so he wentout and bought several books on playingand taking care of a violin.

“When he was learning to play it in theroom, it was the most God-awful thing I’dever heard,” said Berkenbush, but “Ialways admired him for his continualmotivation to better himself.”

Although Jak could come across asabrasive, to Berkenbush he alwaysseemed confident and self-assured. Nomatter what, Berkenbush could alwayscount on his roommate for a smile, athumbs-up, and a generosity of spirit.

“Jak, we will all miss you, we willnever, ever forget you,” said Reynolds.“Rest in peace, my brother.”

Jakoniuk is survived by his father,Cezary Jakoniuk of Poland, and his broth-er Dominik Jakoniuk of Chicago.

Story by Spc. Jennifer D. AtkinsonAviation Brigade

Aviation Brigade Soldiers bidfarwell to fallen comrade

Little Soldierdoes huge job

BRASSFIELD-MORA — People all over theworld have heard stories about little people doingbig things.

These stories inspired us all as children backthen and motivate us to do big things as grown-ups today.

The 3rd ID’s 3-69 Armor Battalion has its ownstory of a little guy doing big things.

Standing just over 5 feet, 2 inches, the 3-69Armor personnel officer, 1st Lt. Jonathan Barreto,from Moca, Puerto Rico, is probably the biggestasset the battalion commander could have here atFOB Brassfield-Mora.

“He keeps us going and keeps the commanderinformed and on schedule,” said Command Sgt.Maj. Patrick W. Muskevitsch. “He’s doing a cap-tain’s job and is one of the most effective S-1sI’ve ever had.”

Although small in stature, Barreto is not the kidwho had his lunch money stolen or beaten up afterschool. He boasts a 29-2 boxing record from hishigh school days with 15 of his victories comingby knockout.

So what all does this boxer from Puerto Ricodo?

There is a long list. He takes care of Soldiers’promotions, pay, awards, transportation issues,housing and assisting the first sergeants in the bat-talion.

“I enjoy being around the troops and taking careof Soldiers,” saidBarreto.

A big part oftaking care ofSoldiers is sub-mitting awards.Some of theawards Barretohas submitted aretwo Silver Stars,seven BronzeStars and 80

Purple Hearts. Altogether, he has tracked andprocessed over 1,500 awards during the battalion’sdeployment. The paperwork for theses awardsmight drive someone else crazy, but not Barreto.

“Paperwork is not the problem; the problem iswhen paperwork is submitted incorrectly,” saidBarreto. “Sometimes the paperwork doesn’t haveall the documentation and it has to be sent back tothe companies.”

In addition Barreto also coordinates rest andrelaxation for the Soldiers and VIP visits to thebattalion. He has coordinated more than 35 VIPvisits during the battalion’s deployment. The bat-talion information officer, 1st Lt. Doug Maritato,who refers to Barreto as “Johnny B” said, “He’sone of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen.”

So what big thing will Barreto do next? Well,he’s coordinating transportation for members hisbattalion to fly home. He’s doing what he doeswell and what he’ll continue to do for the Soldiersof the 3-69 Armor.

Barreto said he enjoys the simple fact that hehas just done his job taking care of Soldiers —something big, from someone small.

Story by 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Buchanan133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

“Although small instature, Barreto isnot the kid who hadhis lunch moneystolen or beaten upafter school.”

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Anna-Marie RisnerMOSUL -- Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, commander, Task Force Freedom, and Command Sgt. Maj. RickyPing, command sergeant major, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and Task Force Freedom, prepare the11th ACR guideon for return to Fort Irwin, Calif. With the casing of the colors, command and control ofMulti-National Force-North was turned over to Task Force Band of Brothers at Forward Operating BaseDiamondback last week.

Band of Brothers takes charge


Story by Staff Sgt. Julie NicolovMulti-National Corps – Iraq

AL ASAD — There are Marine units deployed inIraq that work well together and then there is theMaintenance Detachment of Combat LogisticsBattalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

With more than 100 Marines and more than 60contracted civilian workers, this detachment workstogether while managing and operating all theirmoving parts like clockwork.

“All of these Marines workhard,” said Chief Warrant OfficerAlan J. Clyne, commanding offi-cer of the detachment.

“Although there are many sec-tions to maintenance detachment,all the Marines and civilians dotheir jobs well.”

Myriad military occupationsmake up the detachment, whichinclude motor transportationmechanics, engineers, armorers,electricians, communication per-sonnel, a provisional rifle squad and an administra-tion section that pushes paper for each individualunit.

“A lot of people would think that the Marines andcivilians wouldn’t work together very well,” saidStaff Sgt. William E. Nowosielski, the intermediatemaintenance chief with the motor transportation sec-tion. “That is hardly the case. They both have expe-rience in different things that allows them to workoff of each other.”

When CLB-2 first arrived in Iraq from Camp

Lejeune, N.C., the number of vehicles in the mainte-nance bay rivaled the number of Marines who couldwork on them.

Another valuable asset of the detachment is theengineers. They reconfigured one of the tools intheir inventory in order to make hydraulic hoses onsite versus waiting for ordered replacements or spe-cialty sizes.

“A lot of our equipment is run on hydraulics,” saidCpl. John P. Rucker, an engineer within CLB-2.

“Plus, by having our own hose-making tool, we save ourselvestime from ordering it as well aspaperwork.”

Up the road from the engineerssits the units own armory, wherethey not only deal with firearms,but also optics, which includesfixing and maintaining nightvision goggles.

“The Marines in the armoryissue weapons, fix problems, pro-vide support to [our] transporta-tion support and they also have

Marines who go outside the wire on missions withthe security detachment,” said Cpl. Scott E.Lancaster, the armory noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

“There is never a dull moment in the shop,”Lancaster said. “Being in Iraq is not so bad as longas you have something to do. My job keeps me busyenough not to go crazy.”

“Iraq is what you make of it,” Lancaster said witha wry smile. “Right now I am at the beach, but I justcan’t seem to find the water.”

Story by Lance Cpl. Joel Abshier2nd Marine Logistics Group

Detachment unites

Teacher, studentserve together

“A lot of people wouldthink that the Marinesand civilians wouldn’twork together verywell. That is hardly thecase.”

Staff Sgt. William E. Nowosielski

At this time last year, Staff Sgt. Robert McDonald, a tankerwith Company A, 3rd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment,Pennsylvania Army National Guard, was teaching 7th and

8th grade students at Tri-Valley High School about ancient civiliza-tions in the Middle East.

This year, he’s experiencing those cultures firsthand during hisdeployment to Camp Corregidor in Ramadi.

“I’m learning a lot about the ancient culture here which we coverin my class,” said McDonald, who lives in Millersburg, Pa.

He’s also sharing this education with one of his former students.“I still call him ‘Mr. McDonald,’” said Spc. Jen Renninger, medic,

Company C, 228 Forward Support Battalion, 28th Division SupportCommand, Pennsylvania Army National Guard. “I tell him, ‘you’reMr. McDonald, even though you’re Staff Sgt. McDonald now.’”

Seeing her former teacher as a Soldier is not a stretch forRenninger, as she remembers how he ran his classroom.

“He was a disciplinarian,” said Renninger, who lives in Higgins,Pa.

Renninger’s 7th grade history class was the first of McDonald’steaching career. Before that, he was an infantryman with 187thInfantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division for twoyears.

After serving on active duty, McDonald graduated college andjoined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

“I figured I’d have a tough time getting a teaching job, so I wentinto the Guard,” he said. “As soon as I joined the Guard, I got a jobat Tri-Valley.”

McDonald joined the faculty in 1993 after the school year wasalready in session. Renninger’s class proved to be a trial-by-fire forthe new teacher.

“We were a horrible class to him,” Renninger said. “We used totease him about his balding hair, so all the girls in my grade cut partsof their hair off and gave it to him.”

Even with their pranks, McDonald appreciates the joie de vivre ofstudents in that age group.

“They’re just so full of life and fun,” McDonald said. “Everythingis fun to them.”

The lessons McDonald taught in his history class sheds light onwhat Renninger sees in Iraq.

“He dealt a lot with the Muslim religion and the Middle East,”Renninger said. “

McDonald’s former service with the 101st Airborne.Division alsoinfluenced his students as they made plans for their futures.

“Kids always ask me about the military as an option after highschool,” McDonald said. “I don’t know if it’s because of me thatthey’re here.”

Renninger joined the military because someone in her family servedin every American war since the Revolution. She re-enlisted last yearto be with her company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I really would have felt bad knowing that my company was com-ing over here and I had just gotten out,” Renninger said.

Renninger is deployed to Camp Ramadi, which is on the other sideof the city from Camp Corregidor.

She recently spent two weeks at Camp Corregidor as part of theLioness Team, a group of female Soldiers tasked with searching Iraqiwomen at Coalition checkpoints set up throughout the city.

Seeing her former teacher as a Soldier was not odd, but she admitsthat hanging out with him as an adult was a strange experience.

“The first night I was at Camp Corregidor, I went over to the com-pany area. Everyone was sitting around smoking cigarettes andtelling war stories, and I thought, ‘This is odd,’” Renninger said.

The strangeness wore off, and now teacher, student and the rest ofthe Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers in Ramadi havebanded together to make the place more like home.

“It makes a difference who you’re here with,” Renninger said.“We’re really close-knit; like one big family.”

U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. John R. RozeanCapt. Timothy Bean, Headquarters Troop commander, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, payshis respect to Sgt. 1st Class James S. Moudy, Dec. 17, during a memorial ceremony. “Hedid everything a leader could do to take care of his men and mitigate risks,” said Bean.“I thank (Moudy) for that.” Moudy was killed Dec. 11 when an improvised explosivedevice detonated beneath his Humvee during a patrol in western Baghdad.

Soldiers honor fallen hero

Marines, civilians work as one

FALLUJAH – A lifetime resi-dent of Fallujah is optimisticabout his hometown’s future.

Jabar Ibraham Farhan Deabwas born here 54 years ago andis the night watchman at the$958,000 Al Tahadi WaterTreatment Facility.Construction on that plant isnearly complete and, once fin-ished, will produce 400 cubicmeters per hour, thereby

increasing Fallujah’s potabledrinking water capacity about15 percent. Both Ibraham andhis son’s family, includingeight grandchildren, residethere.

“Last year Fallujah lookedlike a demolition zone,”Ibraham said.“This year there’sa lot of construction going onand I can see improvementseverywhere. We now haveclean running water and they’regetting the electricity restored.”

Both Ibraham and his son

who also is a guard at AlTahadi, said when they wereforced out of the city last yearand then returned, their homewas totally destroyed … “Therewas nothing left.”

Both are looking to bettertimes.

Ibraham talked about hishopes now that there’s a freeIraq.

“I pray for peace, stability(where we don’t have to worryabout threats), and a better lifefor my grandchildren.”

MOSUL — A dirt road is a dirt road, isa dirt road.

That is, unless it is the main road toyour town or is the main street of yourtown. Then a dirt road becomes criticalinfrastructure. Dirt roads are giving wayto progress.

In northern Iraq, there are a number ofcommunities which are only serviced byunimproved roads. One might think it isnot a problem since Iraq is in a desert.However, there is a wet season in thisdesert, and when it rains those dirt roadsbecome impassable slick muck.

That is changing.

Within the last several months, theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers GulfRegion Division reworked more than 50miles of road. In the next several weeks,an additional 75 miles of hard surfaceroads will be added. The Tameen roadsegment, one of 17 road projects, hasimproved mobility for 30,000 people inthree villages and the surrounding area.

These improvements generally includeroadbed preparation and the paving ofexisting dirt roads. The finished workleaves behind graded shoulders, culvertinstallation, and general drainageimprovements. These improvements willalso provide paved roads for not onlythe residents, but also decrease emer-gency vehicle response times. Theseefforts provide benefit to the residents inthe area and help to reduce vehiclemaintenance.

It has been said that the key to ensurea country’s future is to educate thechildren. The truth of that will be

tested in Iraq over the next generation.A major effort is underway to reno-

vate Iraq’s aging schools in the sevennorthern provinces.

Under the Iraq Relief andReconstruction Fund, 324 schools willbe refurbished or rebuilt.

“More than 58,000 children have beenaffected,” said Pradip Patel, a U.S.Army Corps of Engineers program man-ager. “Students will be able to study inclean, painted classrooms, use new toi-

let facilities and new water fountains,and play in newly constructed play-grounds surrounded by perimeter walls.

These renovated facilities will defi-nitely motivate students and teachers tofocus on classroom activities.”

Workers added new rooms to many ofthe existing buildings and improvedelectrical service.

“The children are happy,” said Patel.“These renovated schools will help thestudents ... become good citizens and inthe future lead the country down a pathof peace and prosperity.”

Six new schools are being built fromthe ground up in communities that hadnot seen a school expansion fordecades.


Story by Claude D. McKinney

Story and photo byClaude D. McKinney

Story and photo by Norris Jones

Students walk out of a renovated high school in Dahuk, one of 324 proj-ects done through the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund.

Jabar Ibraham Farhan Deab, with some of his grandchildren, shows the official paper-work naming him a security guard at the Al Tahadi Water Treatment Facility.

GULF REGION DIVISION, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Relief fund rebuilds schools

Roads to somewhereCorps of Engineersimproves Iraqi roads

Night watchmansees bright future

MOSUL — Workers have completed thewater network in Tal ‘Afar. The SAAD StateCompany completed construction of the Tal‘Afar water network in mid-December. This$85,000 thousand project improved the watersupply of 115 homes.

This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers award-ed this contract and oversaw the qualityassurance of the work provided on the site.

When asked what was most significantabout this project, Bill Hood, senior construc-tion manager, USACE Gulf Region Northsaid, “This project is unique because thework was awarded to a state-owned contrac-tor. It was an opportunity to promote good-

will between the director of water and theUSACE by using a local contractor.The finaloutcome is we received a quality product atlower-than-normal prices.”

Dilapidated water main lines were replacedby installing 2,105 yards of 4 inch watermain, 115 house connections, valves andvalve boxes, and 1,258 yards of half inchhouse connection pipe.

The U.S. government has allocated approx-imately $2.7 billion to the IraqReconstruction and Relief Fund for water andsewage infrastructure repairs, maintenanceprograms, and capacity development activi-ties in Iraq. To date, roughly 348 water andsewage projects, worth $1.85 billion are com-pleted or in progress.

Story by Polli Barnes Keller

Water network progressing

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi infant girlborn with spina bifida has a new chanceat life thanks to the Soldiers ofCompany C, 1st Battalion, 121stInfantry, an Army National Guard unitfrom Gainesville, Ga.

Baby Noor, as the 3-month-old hasbecome known, was found by Americansoldiers during a search of a Baghdadhome in early December. Now she is

heading to Atlanta for possible life-savingsurgery.

Accompanied by her father, grand-mother, Soldiers and media, the younginfant arrived here awaiting transporta-tion. She quickly won the hearts andassistance of Airmen who got her familyto the United States for surgery.

“We were approached by the Army theweek of Christmas to see how they couldget the baby and her family flown to theUnited States,” said Capt. Robert Farkas,447th Expeditionary Logistics ReadinessSquadron Aerial Port Flight commander.“My guys provided the documentationneeded and, thanks to the tenacity of theSoldiers involved, they were able tomake it happen.”

Senior Airman Stephen Boynton, whohelped with the process, checked the

family in once they arrived and ensuredall their documentation was in order.

According to published reports, Iraqidoctors had only given the baby 45 daysto live when she was born, so when theSoldiers arrived young Noor’s grand-mother showed them the sick baby.

Because the Soldiers took action tohelp, many of whom are parents them-selves, Baby Noor is now bound forChildren’s Healthcare of Atlanta, wherethe surgery will be performed at no costto the family by Dr. Roger Hudgins, theirchief of neurosurgery.

The grandmother, speaking through aninterpreter, said she and the father werenervous about the flight to the UnitedStates, but were extremely grateful to theUnited States military for the opportunitythis provides for her granddaughter.

TIKRIT — Soldiers from the 101st AirborneDivision’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team thought they haddiscovered a single cache of weapons near Bayji after atip from a local resident. It turned out to be a lot more.

A couple of days later Soldiers finished unearthingthe last of the weapons from the eleventh cache at thesite.

“This place is basically an ammo supply point for theenemy,” said Capt. Matt Bartlett, commander ofCompany B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment.“Any attack they wanted to do, whether an IED orsmall-arms, they could get what they needed here.”

The Soldiers slammed the door to the supply pointwith three detonations conducted by an explosive ord-nance disposal team.

More than 1,600 rockets and missiles, 283 largeartillery shells, 27 anti-tank mines and 80 assaultweapons were pulled from the ground along with near-ly a ton of bulk explosives.

It was unclear if the cache was in use by terroristsprior to its excavation. Fresh tire tracks and the lack ofwear on some of the weapons and packaging indicatedthat the deposits were new.

In other caches, the weapons were corroded and haddocumentation with entries ending in 1984, dating themback to before the first Gulf War.

The resident who tipped off the Soldiers about thecache not only ensured the safety of the local residentsfrom attacks, but also collected a reward of $2,500 forthe tip.

The U.S. and its allies offer rewards for any informa-tion that leads to the capture of certain high profile ter-rorists and the tools used in their trade.


Story and photos by Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell447th Air Expeditionary Group

Story and photos by Spc. Matt Wrzesinski3rd Brigade Combat Team,101st Airborne Division

Baby Noor's grandmother comfortsher prior to the flight aboard a C-130 Hercules.

Capt. Robert Farkas trims an earplug to fit Baby Noor's ears prior to board-ing her flight.

Spc. Kwesi Hector and Pfc. Raul Gonzalez,with Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th InfantryRegiment, load a 107 mm mortar round in to avehicle.

Large cachedestroyednear Bayji

Baby departs BaghdadSpina bifida patient heads to Atlanta

Iraqi Soldiers fire their weapons on a new range built by Multi-National Division Central South Soldiers. Therange in the Babil province will help the 8th Iraqi Army Division train in marksmanship. It has two lanes, one50 meters long and the other 600 meters long, and 30 firing positions. The range, opened on Dec. 11, will sup-port small arms as well as heavy machine guns.


MAKHMUR — Against the back-drop of the second-largest granaryin Iraq, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade,2nd Division Iraqi Army assumedcommand and control of Iraqi bat-tle space from Coalition Forces in atransfer of authority ceremony Dec.27 here.

Under the command of Lt. Col.Hogar Salahaddin Abdul, the bat-talion is now responsible for thestability and security of a largeswathe of the Tigris River Valley.

During the months leading to thetransfer, 3rd Battalion. conductedcombined operations with IraqiPolice and units from Task ForceThunder, such as Battery C, 4thBattalion, 11th Field ArtilleryRegiment.

“This is truly a superb IraqiArmy battalion,” said Lt. Col. ScottWuestner, 4th Battalion command-er. He added: “[Hogar] truly wantsto serve his country.”

Lt. Col. Jemiel Dildar Dosky, 3rdBattalion executive officer, servedas master of ceremonies for theevent. After welcoming the distin-guished guests, who includedDuraid Kashmoula, governor ofNineveh Province, Maj. Gen.Jamal, 2nd Division. commander,and Maj. Gen. David M.Rodriguez, Task Force Freedomcommander, he paused for amoment of silence “for fallen com-rades.”

Imam Ibrahim Muslim, a localreligious leader, read a selectionfrom the Koran. His voice echoedacross the vast parade field as theintonation rose and fell in a singingchant.

A Kurdish military brass bandtrumpeted Iraq’s national anthem,then provided a marching cadenceas Wuestner, Rodriguez and Hogarinspected the troops.

To symbolize the passing ofauthority from Coalition to IraqiForces, Wuestner solemnly passedthe battalion colors to Hogar as ahorde of Iraqi media commemorat-ed the occasion.

“With professional leaders and acommon goal [3rd Battalion]quickly formed a team ready forany mission,” said Rodriguez in hisspeech. He spoke of the trainingand combined operations the battal-ion performed with Battery C and

Military Transition Team-33. “Before you stands today a cohe-

sive unit ready to take over the bat-tle space,” said Rodriguez.

Although the battalion consistspredominantly of Kurdish Soldiers,the unit is able to work well withthe local Arab leaders in the area ofoperations, according to Sgt. 1stClass James Ray, logistics trainerwith the transition team.

The team is stationed at theMakhmur Iraqi army base, ForwardOperation Base Crazy Horse, andhas worked with the battalion totrain the soldiers and provide guid-ance.

“These guys were pretty squaredaway when we came on board,”said Ray. The team tried to pushthe point that in a counterinsur-gency fight, the army must workclosely with Iraqi Police and localleaders.

“They came together and workpretty well,” said Ray.

“They’re the ones developingand executing the plans,” saidCapt. Ronny A. Vargas, the transi-tion team’s operations officer.

He said in the local communitythe Arab leaders respect Hogar andunderstand he represents Iraq.

The battalion’s logistics capabili-ties have greatly improved, and theunit’s operation capabilities haveexpanded to include coordinatingmissions with Coalition Forces,Iraqi Police and American SpecialForces, said Vargas. In the future,he hopes to see 3rd Battalion takeon missions requiring the unit todeploy out of its area of operations.

The battalion is taking ownershipof an area about 1,544 squaremiles, as well as FOB Crazy Horse,according to 1st Lt. Phil Kerber,Battery C executive officer, fromTahoe City, Calif. Battery C previ-ously had command and control ofthe battle space where 3rdBattalion will now be responsible.

“My brothers of the 3rd Brigade,be unified,” said Jamal, through aninterpreter, in his speech during theceremony. “Stick with the arms of

the Iraqi Army to protect anddefend Iraq from the north to thesouth.”

Jamal urged his soldiers to avoidethnic discrimination, because “all

Story and phtos by Sgt. Rachel Brune101st Sustainment Brigade

IIrraaqqiiss aassssuummee ccoonntt 2nd Division now responsible for la

The Iraqi color bearers wait as a Iraqi battle space to 3rd Battalion,Dec. 27.

Iraqi media capture the moment as Lt. Col. Scott Wuestner, TaskForce Thunder commander, passes the battalion colors to Lt.Col. Hogar Salahaddin Abdul during the transfer of authority.

Mattan, an Iraqi Soldier's son, waits to present his bouquet to Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, TaskForce Freedom commander, during the transfer of authority.

Soldiers are one people.“We should work day and night

to maintain stability and securityfor the Iraqi people,” said Jamal.

In his speech, Wuestner congrat-

ulated Hogar on hiswork developing 3rdBattalion from its ori-gin as a company inthe Iraqi Civil DefenseCorps in 2003. The101st AirborneDivision originallycontracted the compa-ny to provide security

in the Makhmur region.“[Hogar] truly represents what is

right about Iraq and the Iraqi peo-ple,” said Wuestner. If one spoke to

local leaders about Hogar, theywould agree he is fair, honest,trustworthy and treats everyonewith respect.

“On behalf of my staff, I promiseto continue providing security inthe area of operations,” said Hogarin his short speech.

The transfer should send a strongmessage to the American peoplethat the Coalition Forces do notwant to stay in occupation, butinstead “just want to help build astrong Iraqi Army,” said Hogar.

“This is thefirst battalion inthe north ofIraq to carry onits shouldersthe responsibil-ity for stabilityand security inthe area ofoperations,” said Hogar. The fruit-ful efforts of the people, Soldiersand Coalition Forces should send a“strong message to terrorists.”

Hogar graduated from military

college in 1990, joining the IraqiArmy as an infantry lieutenant. Hejoined the Kurdish peshmerga as atraining instructor in 1993, thenjoined the Zawita Division in 2000as battalion commander.


ttrrooll ooff bbaattttllee ssppaacceearge portion of Tigris River valley

crowd gathers before the transfer of authority of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi army in Makhmur

An Iraqi military band plays the Iraqi national anthem during the trans-fer of authority ceremony from Coalition Forces to 3rd Battalion, 3rdBrigade, 2nd Division Iraqi Army Dec. 27 in Makhmur.

An Iraqi Soldier walks across the desertedparade field outside a granary after the transferof authority ceremony from coalition forces to3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division IraqiArmy.

An Iraqi color guard Soldier watches as the audience gathers before the transfer of authority.


FALLUJAH — A maxim exists in Marine Corps infantryplatoons and loosely paraphrased, says if a squad leader fal-ters, freezes or fails, all paper-smart strategic plans conceivedare worthless.

Cpl. Chris W. Adair, a 20-year-old native of Custer County,Colo., knows about this adage from experience.

Adair is one of many squad leaders with 2nd Battalion, 7thMarines Regiment, who are on their second deployment toIraq. Last year, Task Force 2/7 was part of RegimentalCombat Team-7. This time around with Regimental CombatTeam-8, the “War Dogs” operate in and around Fallujah. Thisis the third Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment for theMarine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at TwentyninePalms, Calif.

“Not often do you find 20-year-olds tasked with criticallife-or-death decisions on a daily basis in the civilian world;but in the Marine Corps, they become men who are dependedon and expected to come through in different kinds of mili-tary operations on the streets of Fallujah and the communitiesthat surround it,” said Gunnery Sgt. Scott J. Baker, CompanyE.

Adair, who has the look and demeanor of Tom Berenger’scharacter, Staff Sgt. Bob Barnes in the 1986 movie“Platoon,” knows a thing or two about being a squad leader.He entered the Corps in 2003 after graduating from CusterCounty High School in Westcliffe, Colo. He completed

recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diegoand Marine Combat Training at Marine Corps Base CampPendleton, Calif., before arriving for 2nd Battalion, 7thMarines. He became a squad leader for 1st Platoon inFebruary 2004 when he was still a lance corporal and waspromoted to corporal a month later.

“A squad leader is responsible for the accomplishment ofsquad missions, but he’s also responsible for the lives of adozen other Marines,” said Adair. “That’s the basic conceptthat you learn from day one at boot camp and it’s reinforcedin (Marine Combat Training) and when you get to your unit.”

That basic concept of leadership might be instilled fromday one, but it is quickly tested here in real-life operations.

“There’s a lot of preparation that goes into just going on asimple mounted or foot patrol,” Adair explained. “Everythingmust be preset, ready to go – any special equipment for thetask, weapons or ammo, vehicles, individual task assign-ments and rehearsals if necessary. But most of all, you’ve gotto make sure your Marines are ready,” explained Adair.

Squad leaders must know how to both give and takeorders, and how to deal with immediate situations but notlose sight of the overall mission. All of this is done duringmilitary operations in the complex and dynamic environmentof Iraq’s Al Anbar province.

Patrols are daily and each one is unique. They may be dis-tinguished by time, location, and method of movement — asday or night, urban or rural, foot or mounted. “

Each type of patrol brings with it differences in the wayyou prepare for it,” explained Adair. But according to Adair,

the most important thing to prepare for is the unexpected —and the young Marines here have learned to expect it.

“A grenade thrown from a three-story building into theback of an up-armored vehicle, a suicide bomb attack on aconvoy, a buried IED detonated on a patrol route — these aresome of the situations we’ve faced,” Adair said.

“Our job is to guide and direct our Marines, make tacticaldecisions for the squad and enforce the rules,” said Adair.Squad leaders for the battalion ensure their Marines receiveserviceable gear, good living conditions, physical condition-ing, proper training and supervision, according to Adair. InIraq, squad leaders are responsible for the lives of theirMarines, directing them through the phases of daily opera-tions.

“Their lives depend on your decisions and how well youhandle yourself under pressure,” Adair explained.

The Marines chosen for this burden are well prepared forthe challenges they face.

During their time as riflemen, Marines are observed for aspecial blend of infantry skills, experience, toughness, intelli-gence, selflessness and communication skills, according toBaker.

“Experience is the teacher,” added Baker. “Sometimesyoung squad leaders are baptized by fire, but you can trustthat the experiences here prepare them for just about any-thing imaginable.”

“The more you’re in the position, the easier it becomes,”said Adair. “Confidence is the key. You’ve got to know thatyou can make things happen.”

Story and photo by Master Sgt. Gideon Rogers 2nd Marine Division

Making things happenMarine squad leader gets job done

2nd Lt. Ernest P. Abelson gives orders to Cpl. Chris W. Adair and other squad members after Iraqi Security Forces reported a possible IED on the side of a road.

Hypothermia has been a militaryproblem ever since Hannibal lostnearly half of his troops whilecrossing the Pyrenees Alps in 218

B.C. It continued to plague military cam-paigns through both world wars and theKorean War.

In Iraq, temperature extremes can increasethe potential for heat and cold weatherinjuries, including hypothermia, trench foot,heat exhaustion and heat stroke. In wintermonths (November through April), tempera-tures can reach a daily high of 109 and anextreme evening low of 25. Lower tempera-tures occur in the northeastern highlands.

Cold injuries can occur in Iraq, most oftenin the coastal and mountainous areas. Theeffects of cold weather are more severe inhigh mountainous areas because of reducedoxygen and lower air pressure. Personneldeployed to the mountainous areas in Iraq,check with your unit on the requirement forpacking the extended cold weather clothingsystem.

What causes hypothermiaNormal body temperature is the reflection

of a delicate balance between heat produc-tion and heat loss. The human brain has anumber of ways to maintain vital tempera-ture. When these mechanisms are over-

whelmed, heat loss happens faster than heatproduction resulting in hypothermia.

The body also has a variety of methods toincrease heat production. But at a certainlow level, the body cannot continue heatproduction, and core body temperature dropsquickly.

In general, in cold, dry environments,hypothermia occurs over a period of hours.

In cold water, core temperature can dropto dangerous levels in only minutes.

What are the symptomsA somewhat constant sequence of events

occurs as core body temperatures continueto decline.

At temperatures below 95, shivering isseen. Heart rate, breathing rate, and bloodpressure increase.

As the temperature drops further, pulse,breathing rate, and blood pressure alldecrease. You may experience some clumsi-ness, apathy, confusion, and slurred speech.

As core temperature drops lower than89.9, shivering stops and oxygen consump-tion begins to drop. The victim may be in astupor. The heart rhythm may become irreg-ular.

At temperatures below 82.4, reflexes arelost and cardiac output continues to fall. Therisk of dangerously irregular heart rhythmsincreases, and brain activity is seriouslyslowed. The pupils are dilated, and the vic-tim appears comatose or dead.

When to seek medical careAny person who is at risk for hypothermia

and is suspected to have sustained a coldexposure should be brought to a medicaltreatment facility. Seek medical attentionabout the following hypothermia dangersigns:

Intense shivering, stiffness, and numbnessin the arms and legs, stumbling and clumsi-ness, sleepiness, confusion, and amnesia.

The adage that “a person is not dead untilwarm and dead” means that victims mayappear dead because of cold exposure, butmany of these people have made completerecoveries when re-warmed. All such victimsin this situation need rapid transport to a hospi-tal so that resuscitation attempts may be made.

How to avoid hypothermia Military cold-weather clothing is designed

to protect against hypothermia by reducingheat loss to the environment. Insulation isdetermined by how much air is effectivelytrapped by clothing. However, dressing forcold weather is more complicated than sim-ply wearing thicker clothing. Soldiersrequire clothing that can accommodate arange of ambient temperatures and physicalactivity levels and that can protect againstwind and rain. This is accomplished by fol-lowing two important concepts when dress-ing for activities in the cold: layering andstaying dry.

Multiple layers of clothing allow air to be

trapped and serve as insulation, allowing theindividual to adjust clothing layers accord-ing to the environmental conditions andactivity level. Layers can be removed as theambient temperature or physical activity lev-els increase, thereby reducing sweating andmoisture buildup within clothing.

To assist in removing moisture caused bysweating, the innermost layer of a cold-weather clothing system in contact with theskin must have wicking properties that allowwater vapor to be transmitted to the outerlayers for evaporation. When clothingbecomes wet, the insulation provided isdegraded, and conductive heat lossesincrease substantially.

Additional Information:— See GTA 08-05-062 for appropriate

countermeasures at http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/deployment/GTA%2008-05-062.pdf — Hypothermia Prevention andManagement Kit visithttp://www.narescue.com/ccrk-hypo-specs.html — Technical Bulletin, Medical 508Prevention and Management of Cold-Weather Injuries http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/coldinjury/— For more information about cold weatherclothing visit http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/coldinjury/


Corporals graduate

CAMP FALLUJAH — More than 30 Marines fromCombat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine LogisticsGroup graduated Corporal’s Course class 01-06 hereDec. 10.

This two-week course consisted of extensive train-ing to better prepare Marines as noncommissionedofficers and future leaders of the Corps.

The course consisted of marching drill, physical fit-ness tests, leadership classes, tactical scenarios andmore, said Lance Cpl. Edgar Villafane, an administra-tive clerk and course graduate.

“Corporals areour first leadershiprank and the back-bone of our Corps,”said Gunnery Sgt.Pamela J. Talluto,HeadquartersCompany first ser-geant and staffacademy staff non-commissioned offi-cer-in-charge.

“With that it is imperative that we make the time toeducate and train them so they can continue to keepour Corps strong, provide sound leadership and posi-tively carry on our traditions.”

“I couldn’t be happier with the results,” said Talluto.“They all seemed to be even more motivated about theCorps.”

Story by Lance Cpl. Wayne C. Edmiston2nd Marine Logistics Group

Maj. Clarence D. ThomasMNF-I Surgeon’s Office

Hypothermia Prevention: Keeping warm when it’s coldHEALTH & FITNESS

“Corporals are ourfirst leadership rankand the backbone ofour Corps.”

Gunnery Sgt. Pamela J. Talluto

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tammie MooreBALAD AIR BASE — Airman Dwayne Solis and Senior Airman Derrick Meadors clean their weapons.Both Airmen are assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, which providessecurity escorts for convoy missions leaving from Balad. The 732nd is acting as “in-lieu-of” forcesassisting the Army's 181st Transportation Battalion in running the missions. “Everyone came heretrained in their job.However we now have vehicle operators who are also qualified as gunners and secu-rity forces Airmen qualified as operators. Everyone is doing what they can to help out,” said ChiefMaster Sgt. Shawn Keller, a 732nd ELRS chief enlisted manager.

Filling in for the Army


One of the gifts Ireceived forChristmas one

year was a CD by RayBoltz. The eighth song onthe CD is entitled “WhatIf I Give All?” The songtells the story of a young boy whoheard a preacher say, “A dimewould feed a hungry child.” Thelittle boy pulled out a dollar andasked his mother how many thatwould feed. She smiled andreplied that a dollar would feed10. Without any hesitation the lit-tle boy reached back in his pocketand pulled out three dollars, thesum total of all his money. Hethen asked, “What if I give all?What would that gift do?” Hismother answered, “My child a giftlike that would change the world,it would feed the multitudes.”

The song goes on to tell ofanother little boy who gave all hehad to the Lord. He providedsome fish and bread and Jesus feda multitude.

The final verse of the song pic-tures God the Father and His Son,Jesus, looking down onhumankind. They are experienc-ing pain because of the messwe’ve made of our lives and thegift of His creation. Then Jesuslooks at the Father and asks thequestion: “What if I give all?What would that gift do?” TheFather answers, “My Son a giftlike that will change the world, itwill free the multitudes.”

This is a powerful song. Itdraws a beautiful picture of God’slove for all people. In addition, itshows how we are to love eachother. Like the little boy, weshould reach back in our pocketand give all we have.

Don’t miss understand me. Thishas nothing to do with money.The value of the child’s gift was

not the three dol-lars he was will-ing to give. Thevalue was thelove and compas-sion that motivat-ed his gift.

It seems obvi-ous to me thatsome things areso precious that

the decision to give all seems tocome natural. Some things areworth all we have. For the littleboy in the song it was feedinghungry children. What’s worthyour all? Or even closer to home,what’s worth my all?

This question is very important,and not as easy to answer as youmay think. There are influencesall around us willing, even anx-ious, to educate us about what isreally worth our all. The clotheswe wear, the car we drive, theshape of our bodies, whom wehang out with, where we live,how much money we make, thespeed of our computer, our levelof education, the school weattended, the rank on our collar,and the list goes on and on.

Some people would have usbelieve these are the importantthings in life. They encourage us togive our all to ensure we get thesethings which are worth so much.Are they right? Should we give ourall for the things listed above, thethings our society elevates aboveall else? I don’t think so.

The important stuff, the stuffwe should give “our all” for, arethe things that most of us take forgranted. Things like:

- Placing God on the throne ofour lives. We are much more con-tent when we step down and letHim take His rightful place.

- Convincing our spouses wereally do love them above all else.Making them top priority in ourlives. It’s amazing how peoplerespond to being in the numberone position.

- Taking time to be with ourchildren and to convince themthey are a precious gift from theLord. We must invest in theirlives. It takes time, energy and awillingness to give all.

- Loving our families. Beingwilling to spend less time lookinggood at work and more timebeing good to those we love.

- Being a friend to those aroundus. Treating all people like wewant to be treated. Living like theGolden Rule is not a long forgot-ten notion that modern peoplecan’t understand.

- Dedicating time and energy tobecome men and women of God.Stop being who the world thinkswe should be and start being thepeople God calls us to be.

- Stop being so focused on theworld’s definition of success.Money, power, prestige, andbeauty are temporary. Thesethings have no power to bring joyor fulfillment. They are not theequivalent of success.

It’s so easy to get confused. Oreven worse, to be deceived. Weall want to be good at what wedo. We want to excel, to be con-sidered the best or at least a suc-cess. If you’re like me, you stealfrom the important things in lifeto give to the things that are notimportant at all. Will you praywith me?

Lord help us! Open our eyesand help us distinguish betweenright and wrong, good and evil,treasure and trash. Help us priori-tize our lives to honor You and allthe important things You haveplaced in our lives. Teach us tocherish our families and friends.To understand the value of invest-ed time in someone else’s life.Give us compassionate hearts,strong minds, willing bodies, andwills that are submissive to You.Lord, forgive our stubbornnessand stupidity. And make us will-ing to give our all for You.

By Chaplain (Maj.)Robert Whitlock3rd Infantry Division

CHAPLAIN’S TALK

Chaplain Whitlock

What if I gave all I could?NEWS IN BRIEF

Would be bombers busted by 3rd BCTTIKRIT– Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers disrupted two terrorist

bombing operations Dec. 27 in Baqubah, about 20 miles north ofBaghdad.

Two terrorists were detained and another was killed during the inci-dents at a newly emplaced checkpoint.

Just before noon, Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd BrigadeCombat Team stopped a suspicious car and detained the driver after dis-covering the vehicle was being prepared as a vehicle-borne IED.

No explosives were found, but the car was laced with wiring used todetonate explosives. The car was confiscated and taken to a nearby mili-tary base.

Several hours later, a second vehicle tried to run through the checkpointand was fired at by the Soldiers. The driver was killed in the initial burstof fire and the vehicle came to a quick stop. Two men with AK-47 assaultrifles climbed out and were engaged as they attempted to flee.

One of the gunmen successfully evaded capture, but the other waswounded and quickly surrounded. As the Soldiers approached the wound-ed man, they noticed he was wearing what appeared to be an explosiveladen suicide belt.

Soldiers guarded the man until an EOD team arrived and removed thebelt, which contained more than three pounds of plastic explosives. —Courtesy of Task Force Baghdad public affairs

Air strike catches potential bombers in actKIRKUK- Two F-16 fighter jets flying routine patrols over the Kirkuk

Province identified, tracked and killed 10 terrorists Tuesday evening afterobserving the men burying an IED along a major road southwest ofHawijah.

The pilots saw three men digging holes near the road emplacing anIED. The men fled the area in a vehicle when they heard the aircraft fly-ing overhead and were soon joined by second vehicle.

After attempting to evade the coalition aircraft, the men tried to hide byparking between two buildings in a small village southwest of Hawijah.

The coalition pilots engaged the terrorists with two 500-pound, laser-guided bombs. They were able to destroy the vehicles while causing onlyminimal damage to surrounding structures by using precision munitions.

Coalition ground forces from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101stAirborne Division later confirmed and destroyed an IED at the initial site.The unit moved to the village and seized several assault rifles, a machinegun, IED-making materials and ammunition from inside the buildingssurrounding the site of the air strike. — Courtesy of Task Force Band ofBrothers, public affairs

ISF rescues kidnapping victim, arrests threeTIKRIT – Iraqi Police and Army units successfully rescued the brotherof a Salah Ad Din Provincial Council member and arrested three suspectsafter a failed kidnapping attempt in Tikrit Dec. 29.

Police chased the kidnappers from Tikrit to the village of al Alam,about 10 miles east of the city, before the suspects abandoned their vehi-cle and dragged their victim into a nearby house. As the officersapproached the building, the kidnappers opened fire on them.

The police secured the area around the house and called for supportfrom a 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division unit stationed nearby.

The Iraqi troopers, augmented by U.S. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion,320th Field Artillery Regiment, entered the house and quickly subduedthe suspects.

No one was injured during the incident and the suspects were taken intocustody by the police who are investigating the incident. — Courtesy ofTask Force Baghdad public affairsTeamwork clearing Ramadi streetsCAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI – Iraqi Army soldiers of the1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Division working alongside of 2nd BrigadeCombat Team,.28th Infantry Division are clearing the streets of knowninsurgents in western Ramadi.1-1-7 IA forces have detained five targeted insurgents, to include JassimMohammed Fayadh, a high value insurgent leader, allegedly responsiblefor financing terrorism in the Tammim neighborhood.“Our battalion has been working in western Ramadi with the CoalitionForces for the last eight months. During that time, we have fought andcaptured many insurgents. Yesterday was a big step to bringing safety andsecurity to this area for our local citizens and their families. We will con-tinue to work with our coalition partners to bring security to westernRamadi,” said Lt. Col. Mustafa, Commanding Officer, 1-1-7 IA.—Courtesy of Task Force Baghdad public affairs


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Soldier saves life,earns Bronze Star

MOSUL -- On the morning of Dec. 15, he was just amedic with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,1st Infantry Regiment. By the end of the day, he wasone boy's hero.

Spc. Lucas Crowe was out on patrol during the Iraqielections when he saw an Iraqi man holding the lifelessbody of his baby boy. The child had just been pulled outof the water in the flooded basement of their home andwas not breathing.

Crowe noticed the child had a blue tone to his bodyand instinctively began first aid on the 2-year-old boy.His father knelt beside him, watching Crowe with hislifeless son. Within moments, the child became respon-sive and coughed up water. The crowd that had gatheredto watch cheered when they heard the child cry.

“I just happened to be there,” Crowe said, “I am gladthat I was there to help save the boy, but it was in God'shands.

“We're very proud of Crowe,” said Staff Sgt. ClintonJohnson, HHC 172nd SBCT, “and are even happier thatthe boy is breathing again.”

Johnson was not the only one impressed with Crowe'sactions.

While visiting Soldiers Christmas Eve, Secretary ofDefense Donald Rumsfeld awarded Crowe the BronzeStar for performing a heroic act in a combat zone.

Crowe visited the child and his family two days afterthe incident.

“I am very happy that the boy is doing well,” Crowesaid. “It was great to see him and I wish him well.”

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Kalilzad and Marine Sgt. Jimmy Song, Marine Security Detachment - Baghdad,hand stuffed animals to Iraqi school children Dec. 28 as part of the Marine Corps annual Toys for Tots campaign.

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rick Rzepka

Story by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD -- Although many people inMashtal, a small suburb in east Baghdad,have had to battle unemployment, a newjob center is poised to alleviate at leastsome of the problem.

The facility, the brainchild of the TissaNissan District Council and MashtalNeighborhood Council, boasts anInternet café, computer instruction cen-ter, an instructional sewing shop, a smallstore and a cafeteria. The center hopesto add an instructional rug-making shopin the near future.

The employment center is expected toencourage other small businesses tospring to life in the area.

Dr. Kareem Alambar, a member of theTissa Nissan District Council, said thenew facility should be a great help to hiscommunity. “The use of the facility isfree for all residents. People can comehere and learn about computers and usethe Internet; and the women can learntailoring skills, too.”

The facility has more than a dozencomputers available for public use andtraining.

Alambar believes the facility couldhelp up to 1,000 people a month.

The employment center is a rehabili-

tated bomb shelter that supposedly hadbeen built by a Swedish contractor dur-ing the former regime. It is a huge com-plex with plenty of room for expansion.

The rehabilitation of the bomb shelterinto an employment center cost about$62,000 and more than 20 Iraqi workerswere involved in the project which tookabout 30 days to complete.

The business center manager, GusunNagi, a software engineer who graduatedfrom El Rafidian College, said anyonewho wants to learn about the Internetand computers should come in.

“We will be glad to teach anyone,” shesaid.

She wants to highlight the center andencourage foreign investors by showingthe potential of the Iraqi people.

One of the computer/Internet instruc-tors, Wamid Saad, said it’s good toexpose the Iraqi people to cyberspace.

“First of all, the Iraqi people do notknow much about computers so we needto let them know what computers cando,” Saad said. “Then they might beable to work in a job where the skillsthey learned here will benefit themselvesand a company, too.”

Saad, who has a bachelor’s degree incomputers, expects the Internet café willbe very popular with all members in thecommunity.

Nader Abduel Hammeed, a physicsteacher, from a nearby boys’ school went

to the center to learn about computers.“The teachers here are very good,”

Hammeed said. “In the beginning, it wasvery hard to learn, but it is getting easier.Yes, this place will help people to getjobs.

“I want to learn some things aboutphysics in the world,” he added. “Now Ican be in contact with physics instruc-tors in other countries.”

The facility has more than a dozenmodern sewing machines. Tailoringclasses — where students receiveinstruction on how to sew traditionalclothing — are popular with the womenin the community, but they will also pro-vide a outlet to generate additional fund-ing for the facility.

Buthaina Sadiq of Mashtal, said thefacility will be able to sell its wares onthe open market. “First of all, this thing(Deshdesha, the black dress mostwomen wear in Iraq) will be very inex-pensive and we will make and sell a lotof them — probably more than 100dozen of them each month,” Sadiq said.

Samera Kalef Al-Ka’by, a member ofthe Tissa Nissan DAC, did a lot of workon getting this project completed andbelieves the sewing classes will helppeople get jobs.

“There are many jobs for tailors in thecommunity, and the goal here is to getjobs for people and make them work,”Al-Ka’by said.

Story by Master Sgt. David Abrams2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Iinfantry Division

Job center opens in Baghdad

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BAGHDAD - The 447th AirExpeditionary Group has teamedwith members of the 48th BrigadeCombat Team and CharlieCompany, 490th Civil AffairsBattalion, to provide medical carenear the Radwaniya Civil MilitaryOperations Center.

Soldiers constructed the clinic byrefurbishing an existing building.The clinic addresses an urgent needof the people living to the southand west of Baghdad for medicalcare.

“The area is poor, rural, and theIraqi government currently lacksthe resources to supply desperatelyneeded medical services,” saidMaj. Mark Cuttle, Company C,490th CA commander. “In the faceof this need the clinic has steppedforward and is filling the void.”

The clinic had been staffed withmedical personnel from the 48thBCT and the 5th Special ForcesGroup. But operational needs

caused the Army to step back andoffer the Air Force an opportunityto assist.

Sather Air Base personnel herewere eager to help and jumped atthe opportunity right away.

“I see this as a great opportunityto show the humanity of theAmerican military,” said Dr. (Col.)Salvatore Lombardi, 447thExpeditionary Medical Squadroncommander.

Since opening, the clinic hasaveraged roughly 25 to 30 patientsa day, except during Ramadan, amajor Muslim religious holiday.

The clinic is open three days aweek for three hours, and operateson a walk-in basis providing med-ical services to all Iraqis, regardlessof tribe affiliation or religious pref-erence.

Providing quality medical care iswhat we do for all our patients,”said Lombardi, “but I also see thisas an excellent opportunity totouch the hearts and minds of ourIraqi neighbors outside the wire.”

That sentiment was echoed byone of the flight surgeons who vol-

unteered to work at the clinic.“The clinic provides an opportu-

nity to build a sense of trustbetween some Iraqis andAmericans,” said Dr. (Lt. Col.)Randy J. Guliuzza, chief of aero-space medicine. “It also providesthe possibility to influence a futuregeneration of Iraqis. By touchingone life at a time, the hope is toprevent future anger and violence,particularly toward Americans.”

Providing quality medical help topeople who have essentially noaccess to any type of medical careis another reason Guliuzza chose tovolunteer.

“In a few hours, I am able tohelp people find relief from prob-lems that have hurt them for a longtime,” said Guliuzza. “For exam-ple, many Americans have beenable to get relief from chronicreflux disease, or heartburn, withsome education and use of thenewer medications.”

“With treatment, more seriousdiseases can also be prevented,” thedoctor said. “I am able to helpthese people, most of whom arevery poor, see that same improve-ment in their quality of life.”

Patients suffer from a variety ofillnesses and injuries, according toCuttle. “The most common condi-tions are chronic respiratory condi-tions, orthopedic injuries and earproblems in children,” he said.

The 447th Expeditionary CivilEngineering Squadron saw a needwhere not only they, but base vol-unteers could become involved aswell.

“Captain Morin(447th EMEDS)brought to myattention someminor projectsincluding somedrainage work forthe parking lots,minor heating/airconditioning work,plumbing repairsand some smallcarpentry projectsthat would reallyimprove quality oflife for the clinicpatrons,” said 2ndLt. JeffreyEngland, 447thECES. “One spe-cific project weare taking on, andI think will be abig hit, is the con-struction of someplayground equip-ment for the Iraqichildren.”

According toEngland, some ofthe work for theplayground won'trequire expertcraftsmen so theyare hoping to get alot of volunteersfrom across thebase to help out.

“Where we really need volun-teers is in spreading pea gravelaround the playground and land-scaping,” said England. “Volunteerswill also be needed for painting,

resurfacing the floor and othersmall projects.”

There are real needs being methere that have to be told, accordingto Cuttle. He summed it up in thewords of the poet Pindar, “Unsung,the noblest deed will die.”


A young Iraqi girl receives free school supplies and toys priorto leaving the medical clinic.

Master Sgt. Scott Bonnar, 447th Air Expeditionary Group first sergeant, discusses soccer with anIraqi boy prior to giving him the ball.

Story and photos by MasterSgt. Randy L. Mitchell447th Air Expeditionary Wing

Soldiers, Airmen touch hearts of Iraqis447th expeditionary Group, 48th BCT provide quality care

An Iraqi girl receives a check up from Dr.Randy Guliuzza, chief of aerospace medicinefor the 447th Expeditionary MedicalSquadron.


TIKRIT - The Soldiers of 3rd Infantry Division's Company A,3rd Platoon, 2nd battalion, 7th Infantry were given a slightly dif-ferent mission than they are typically accustomed.

The usual mission of Company A, also know as “Rage,” is tosweep the streets hunting for insurgents and conducting patrolsto make the area safe for the people of Tikrit.

Today, however, much needed school supplies, toys andgames were delivered to the children of Abua Jeel School. Theexcited children between the ages of 6 to 12 smiled from ear toear as they stood in formation waiting for their gifts from theSoldiers. The supplies were donated by a Girl Scout troop fromWest chester, Pa., earlier in the summer months, a letter was sentback to the states requesting these essential supplies for schoolsin this area.

“The children of Iraq have gone through a lot, and for us to beable to do a little bit for them means a lot to us,” said Capt. ScottMras, commander of Forward Support Company 2/7 Inf. andcoordinator of the Girl Scout donations.

The children eagerly filed past the Soldiers and received a toy,a pack of markers and a notebook. When the final box of note-books was handed to one of the teachers, the Rage Soldiersloaded up and traveled back through the busy streets of Tikrit toForward Operating Base Remagen.

Gaining the confidence of the Iraqi people with good will mis-sions such as these and transitioning the Iraqi Police and Armyto fend for themselves is critical in the withdrawal of CoalitionForces. It also builds closer ties between the two groups.

“When we go out and hand out presents and supplies to kidsand families, we get a chance to intermingle,” said Staff Sgt.Howard Googe, the convoy commander of the mission, andMetter, Ga., native. “They learn a little about us, and we learn alittle about them.”

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechoski133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers take on Santa’s mission

Capt. Scott Mras commander of Forward Support Company 2nd battalion, 7th Infantry, 3rd InfantryDivision gives school supplies to the children of Abua-Jeel School in Tikrit..

29th BCT Soldiers say Aloha to Iraq

CAMP VICTORY - Of all the nationalities and cul-tures that make up the U.S. military, few are as color-ful and vibrant as the Hawaiians, and a few Soldiersfound a way to bring a little of that culture to every-one.

Soldiers with the 29th Brigade Combat Team puton a hula halau show at the Al-Faw Palace Ballroomon Camp Victory Dec. 26.

The show was put on as a farewell to the 29th BCT,and being that these Soldiers will soon be re-deploy-ing; the morale among the unit was already high.However, being able to perform seemed to lift boththe performers and the audience's spirits a little high-er.

The group has been performing and practicingtogether since April and have put on many perform-ances since then. Both the band and the dancers vol-unteered their free time to practice, and it seemed topay off in the end.

“It's great to see these Soldiers perform and bring

our culture to other people in the military,” said Spc.Vincent Gonzales, Headquarters and HeadquartersCompany, 29th Brigade Combat Team.

“In Hawaii we have what we call the spirit ofaloha. Aloha meaning love, and these Soldiers per-forming gave them a chance to share that spirit withothers.”

The Hawaiian Soldiers performed for a full houseand the ballroom was standing room only. Althoughthe members in the group may have been a bit nerv-ous, it seemed as if having the chance to perform onelast time for servicemembers in Iraq was worth it.

“It's awesome to be part of a group like this,” saidSgt. Lorinda Ballesteros, a medic with the 29th BCT.

“It's our culture, and it's great to be able to have theopportunity to share that with other people one lasttime while we are here.”

At the end of the show the dancers and band weremet with an uproar of applause and praise, but asmuch as everyone liked the show, the Soldiers fromthe 29th BCT who showed up to watch and supporttheir co-workers felt like they were at home already.

“It brings up the morale, especially for Soldiers fromHawaii,” said Ballesteros. “When we sing these songs itbrings them back home and keeps them happy.”

The 29th BCT is scheduled to redeploy this month.As they return home they can leave with thought thattheir culture has spread beyond the island of Hawaiiand into the hearts and minds of everyone who hashad a chance to see them perform during the pastyear.

Story and photo by Pfc. Mark B. MatthewsMulit-National Corps Iraq

A Hawaiian Soldier does his thing on the dance floor in the Al-Faw palace ballroom Dec. 26. A hula show was held to mark thedeparture of the 29th Brigade Combat Team.

Hawaiians leaveimparting theirculture to others

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