Michigan-based civil affairs unit transfers authority in Tikrit

1st Infantry Division ^ | Spc. Ismail Turay, Jr., 196th MPAD

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

Michigan-based civil affairs unit transfers authority in Tikrit

	Lt. Col. Gregory Fischer, commander of the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, salutes during the playing of the national anthem during a turn over of authority ceremony Oct. 10. The battalion, replaced by the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion, supported the 1st Infantry Division for a little less than a year. (Photo by Spc. Ismail Turay, Jr., 196th MPAD)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, TIKRIT, Iraq – In a 30 minute ceremony held on the stairs of the 1^st Infantry Division’s headquarters Oct. 10, the Michigan-based 415^th Civil Affairs Battalion transferred authority to its counterpart, the Connecticut-based 411^th.

It was the 415^th’s fifth deployment in seven years and the fourth with the Big Red One.

“We greatly appreciate all you’ve done,” Brig. Gen. Steven Hashem of the 353^rd Civil Affairs Command said.

He added that the 415^th accomplished a lot during its yearlong deployment, some of which it served under the 4^th Infantry Division until the 1^st Infantry Division took over in February. All of the battalion’s work touched the lives of the Iraqi people, Hashem said.

However, the accomplishments were not without tragedy, several soldier were wounded or killed, including Pfc. Nicole Frye, who was felled by insurgents’ improvised explosive device, the general said.

“Everyone of us contributed to the puzzle,” Lt. Col. Gregory Fischer, commander of the 415^th said of his unit. “I’m very proud of these soldiers. Everyone stepped up to the plate. I had sergeants take over teams that were supposed to be Major positions.”

During the year, the battalion assisted the 1^st Infantry Division with multiple reconstruction projects worth more than $94 million. Some of the projects included tripling the power output of the Task Force Danger sector and completing the selection, procurement and delivery of a $2.3 million power plant in As Sulaymaniyah.

Additionally, civil affairs teams helped established local governments in the 1^st Infantry Division areas of operations, built medical facilities, roads, youth centers and the like.

“It was an overall good experience,” Sgt. Joshua Cook of Reading, Mich., said of his time in Iraq. “I will be proud of what we did. I enjoyed working with the 1ID.” 

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

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[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[SandRat]

Chalk up another success that the MSM will never report. We know it's getting better, the Iraqis know it's getting better but, will the MSM tell the American public and the rest of the world? Nooooooo!