Australian Army Thanks Iraqi Unit

American Forces Press Service ^ | July 13, 2005 | Lt. Col. Mark Kerry, USA

[SandRat]

CAMP JUSTICE, Iraq, July 13, 2005 – The Australian army presented awards to Iraqi soldiers who rescued Douglas Wood, the Australian contractor held captive by terrorists for six weeks, in a ceremony at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad July 11.

Australian army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Peter Leahy hosted the ceremony, and Iraqi Lt. Gen. Naseer Abadi, deputy chief of staff, represented the Iraqi minister of defense. Brig. Gen. Jaleel Khalaf Shouail, commander of Iraqi division's 1st Brigade, also attended.

The Australians presented gifts and offered special thanks to Col. Mohammed Fa'ek Raouf, battalion commander of the forces responsible for the rescue.

Mohammed's men discovered the captured contractor during a cordon-and-search operation in Baghdad June 15. Upon discovering Wood, who was hidden under covers in a house, Mohammed's soldiers immediately realized he was not Iraqi. They seized the terrorists and brought Wood to the 256th Brigade Combat Team medical clinic on Camp Liberty for treatment.

Mohammed told the Australian general that he was very happy things worked out the way they did for Wood, and he was glad to be a part of it. (Army Lt. Col. Mark Kerry, of Task Force Bengal, is 256th Brigade Combat Team public affairs officer.)

[DoughtyOne]

Reports like this give me hope for the Iraqi people.

[SandRat]

Ping for Allies

[McGavin999]

What a great thing to do. The Iraqi forces are getting more and more confidence, and believe it or not, one of the things they are proudest of is learning the ethics of American soldiers. They absolutely love the whole idea of protecting the people, being uncorrupt, duty, honor, country.

Given time, they will completely drum out corruption from their ranks. To say that they admire the American soldier is putting it lightly. Giving them praise is the best thing that could happen.

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[EsmeraldaA]

It's nice to see that there is still hope for this people.

[EsmeraldaA]

Sorry about that,was meant for SR. :)

[DoughtyOne]

No problem Esmeralda.

[EsmeraldaA]

It's nice to see that there is still hope for this people


I posted this to someone else....

[SandRat]

he-he-he, I've even pinged myself. Boy do I feel DUish when I do that.

[EsmeraldaA]

Thank God! I'm not the only one...LOL!

[Wiz]

ping

[Calpernia]

The Australian army presented awards to Iraqi soldiers who rescued Douglas Wood, the Australian contractor held captive by terrorists for six weeks, in a ceremony at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad July 11.

Australian army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Peter Leahy hosted the ceremony, and Iraqi Lt. Gen. Naseer Abadi, deputy chief of staff, represented the Iraqi minister of defense. Brig. Gen. Jaleel Khalaf Shouail, commander of Iraqi division's 1st Brigade, also attended.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[eyespysomething]

Thanks for the ping, Calpernia! What a great story. Duty, honor, country.

Thanks for posting this SandRat.