More pictures at the link
Posted on 03/09/2005 4:06:46 PM PST by SJackson
More pictures at the link
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (March 7, 2005) -- In the dusty little lakeside village of Al Kabani, Iraq, the children rush to the streets as a U.S. convoy pulls into town. The convoy, comprised of Marines from the 1st and 2nd Force Service Support Groups (Forward), of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., respectively, and the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor, 36th Infantry of Austin, Texas, have come to continue civil affairs operations in the village.
The March 5 mission included distribution of humanitarian aid supplies to the more than 60 homes in the town, surveying the site for possible future civil affairs projects and paying an existing contract within the village.
Supplies distributed included soap, toothpaste and other hygiene items not easily available to the villagers, as well as more than 100 soccer balls donated by the Green Hills Country Club of Millbrae, Calif.
According to an article published in the San Mateo County Times, the country club raised nearly $4,000 to buy soccer balls for Iraqi children in 2004.
The country club sent 1,100 soccer balls to Camp Taqaddum for distribution to Iraqi villages, said Lt. Col. Michael H. Gellick, civil affairs officer for 1st FSSG.
The country club’s attention was caught by Maj. William C. Maples, force protection officer for 1st FSSG during its first rotation to Iraq in early 2004. Maples, who frequently runs “The Badwater,” a 135-mile annual ultra marathon in Death Valley National Park in California, was unable to participate in the 2004 race due to his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Gellick, a Cleveland native.
Maples ran 135 miles in less than 40 hours in Iraq coinciding with “The Badwater.” His efforts attracted sponsors who donated school supplies for local children, Gellick said.
Proposed future projects in the village include building a water tower, a septic filtration system and mosque improvements, said Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Ortiz, a San Antonio native. Funding for these projects comes from congress through the Commanders Emergency Relief Program.
Clean water is a major issue to the citizens of Al Kabani, he said. They currently use unpurified water from Lake Habbiniyah and a limited supply of fresh water from a neighboring village for their water needs. That supply is from earlier civil affairs projects completed by 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment and 2d Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment.
The proposed water tower and filtration system projects would greatly improve the village’s access to clean water, Gellick said.
Other projects already completed in the village include building a soccer field, refurbishing the school and improving the electrical power grid, he said.
The contract paid during this trip was for an existing agreement with the village muktar for trash collection and village clean up. The commander pays the muktar, or village leader, to clean his village and collect trash. He then hires villagers to complete the work.
“We pay him in private and he pays the people,” Ortiz said. “This lets him show his people he is still in charge. We aren’t in control of this town; [the villagers] are.”
The town has been extremely friendly to U.S. forces, he added. “They tell us we don’t need our helmets; we are safe here.”
Civil affairs operations help the U.S. efforts in Iraq in many ways, said Army Maj. Conan A. Martin.
During some civil affairs missions, the local Iraqis learn to trust the Americans and instances of Iraqis providing information on and identifying foreign fighters and anti-Iraqi forces are increasing throughout Iraq.
The advancement of the Iraqi civilization also provides footing for them to stand on their own, without an American presence, he added.
“Civil affairs missions build rapport with the people,” Gellick said. “It improves their economy and their standard of living.”
He said the relationship between the village and the U.S. forces has vastly improved since he arrived here in August 2004. “We are trying to improve their lives without getting in their way, letting them live their lives.”
This particular mission differed slightly from previous missions to the village because, for several of the Marines on the convoy, this was their only trip outside the camp during their seven-month deployment.
“[Getting these Marines outside of the camp] lets them know why we are here,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Sands, anti-terrorism force protection chief for 1st FSSG and Camp Taqaddum.
“They see their workload is more than beans, band-aids and bullets; it’s a human relationship,” added the Baltimore native.
Corporal Magnolia Sexton, nuclear, biological and chemical defense technician, said, “It was good to get out and see the people’s faces, to see what we do here.”
The Fort Collins, Colo., native is one of the thousands of Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force units returning to the United States after about seven months in Iraq as II MEF assumes command of operations throughout Iraq in a routine rotation of forces.
“This is probably the most exciting thing I’ve done since I’ve been here,” said Cpl. Chaun D. Fitzpatrick, ammunition technician and Columbia, S.C., native.
“It’s always a good feeling to help, especially children,” said Sands. “I have two children of my own and I wouldn’t want them to live like [these children do].”
Ping
Great story and pics, thanks.
This is really a great story. The kid are so cute.
I notice that is most pictures where you have Soldier's and kids, everyone is smiling and the kids are unafraid.
It warms the heart.
Our guys are the best! They are a credit to our military and the human race!
God Bless all of them!
TQ is just across the street and river from Habaniyah.
Both have some nasty legacies from Saddam.
Kids faces ALWAYS tell the truth !!!!!!
Good news out of Iraq always welcome.
Good News Bump!
How far is Allegra from the suicide bombing that happened last night. Do you know?
Probably miles. You can still hear these things happen even when they're in town. VBIEDs sound different than mortars and rockets.
Victory Camps (north and south...ok, Camp Liberty...) is pretty well isolated from the problems in the city. That's not to say things don't land and go 'boom' there because they do (BTDT) but the BIAP complex is still very large land wise, even though it is much smaller activity wise than it was a year ago. Even heard a rocket fly overhead when I was at BTC last month. It did hit a building but didn't cause much damage.
FWIW, Camp Blue Diamond was the most dangerous camp in Al Anbar for expats and artillery.
OH! I LOVE this link! Please continue to post more like this. Very inspiring. Just shows the heart and the positive things that are being accomplished in Iraq. The pics are great, I'm passing them around.
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