354th Civil Affairs Brigade Wraps Up its Baghdad Mission

CJTF 7 ^ | March 8, 2004

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

354th Civil Affairs Brigade Wraps Up its Baghdad Mission

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The 354th Civil Affairs Brigade officially concluded its role in rebuilding Iraq during transfer-of-authority ceremonies Feb. 28.

The 354th, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Riverdale, Md., provided civil affairs command and control in the Baghdad area of operations for the 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Armored Division.

The brigade is comprised of the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion and the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion.

The brigade worked with the divisions' maneuver brigades, the Government Support Team, the Coalition Provisional Authority, international and nongovernmental organizations, the Iraqi Assistance Center and Iraqi citizens to accomplish their mission.

The brigade played a role in many operations throughout their year here, said Brig. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the 1st Armored Division commander.

"You brought Baghdad back to life," he said. "A city of 5.5 million people owes the normalcy of their lives to you. I hope you are proud of that accomplishment as I am of you."

A few of the missions accomplished by the brigade include the re-establishment of port operations and the oil-for-food distribution system in the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.

The 354th's soldiers aided in the re-establishing of food distribution in Baghdad and established the Iraqi Business Center. The unit helped restore the Baghdad Zoo, recover museum artifacts, assess the conditions of public hospitals and worked to re-supply healthcare facilities with medical equipment and supplies.

Dempsey told the brigade's soldiers that the brigade helped set the people of Baghdad on a course toward freedom.

"You have made the world safer for your own families, and you have made this part of the world safer for future generations of Iraqis," he said. "I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve with you in Iraq. We have been a historic, winning team."

The brigade turned over its operations to the 350th Operational Planning Team.

"I have no doubt you are ready to continue the mission with us," Dempsey said in welcoming the new unit. "The citizens of Baghdad are counting on us. Your fellow soldiers deserve your best effort. The cause of freedom demands it."

Release #040308b

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The 354th Civil Affairs Brigade officially concluded its role in rebuilding Iraq during transfer-of-authority ceremonies Feb. 28.

The 354th, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Riverdale, Md., provided civil affairs command and control in the Baghdad area of operations for the 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Armored Division.

 

The brigade played a role in many operations throughout their year here, said Brig. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the 1st Armored Division commander.

"You brought Baghdad back to life," he said. "A city of 5.5 million people owes the normalcy of their lives to you. I hope you are proud of that accomplishment as I am of you."

 

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354th Civil Affairs Brigade

 

 

 

 

Mission Accomplished!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

354th Civil Affairs Brigade ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Byline and pic,  c/o CENTCOM:

  ~ story by Sgt. Brian Stockhoff, CJTF-7 PAO

 

[windchime]

Bump!