Army Pfc. Thomas Henry, Headquarters and Headquarters Battary, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, and an Iraqi soldier work together to fill sand bags for the fortification of Patrol Base Warrior Saturday March 11, 2006.
March 30, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Patrol Base Warrior, located in the Sadr Yusufiyah area, at one time was the lavish home of a sheik, who is now detained on charges of terrorism. Now, it is not much different than most patrol bases in Iraq: missions are planned and executed from the outpost just like any other base.
What is unique about Warrior is the atmosphere that exists there. American and Iraqi Soldiers have gone from having mutual respect for each other to developing genuine friendships.
Since establishing the base, the men are still busy, side-by-side, filling sand bags and baskets to increase force protection.
Thought they don’t speak the same language, the men laughed and joked with each other as they continued to fill thousands of empty sandbags.
"The Iraqi army has been helping us out since we got here," said Spc. Jimmy Schneiter, a team leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment.
According to an interpreter, Iraqi soldiers are productive here because they are not separated or treated like outsiders.
"The Iraqi soldiers are made to feel like they are a part of the team, so they don’t get treated any differently than the Americans do," said the man known as "Fox", who has been an Army interpreter for the last 18 months.
Although his primary job is as an interpreter, Fox, a native of Baghdad, said he feels he is obliged to be much more.
"I like my job because I get to help the American and Iraqi forces," said Fox. "My job is more than just to be an interpreter. We help the Iraqi people and American forces understand each other."
Although he feels strongly about helping his country, Fox knows that his job is not without risks.
"If an insurgent only has one bullet, and has the chance to shoot a Soldier or an interpreter, he would shoot the interpreter," Fox stated. "The terrorists want space between the Iraqi people and the American forces. They need it in order to succeed."
He also believes that the Iraqi army will be ready to face the challenge of defending Iraq once the United States leaves.
"The IA is the future of Iraq," Fox said. "Eventually, the U.S. will be gone and these soldiers will be ready to protect democracy because they believe in what they are doing."
The Iraqi soldiers also feel a strong sense of parity and are glad to serve their country.
"After three years of working with the Americans, I haven’t felt until now, that I was safe with the Americans or that they didn’t hate me because I am Iraqi. Now I am treated like a soldier, and I am taken care of," said Sgt. 1st Class Mahdi Tahar. "If you want proof of that, look at our station now - it is an American and Iraqi station. We work together, fill sandbags together, we do the same jobs so we don’t feel different. It’s a very good feeling.
"I like working with the U.S. Army. They are helping us to build our own army," Tahar explained. "We are working together to capture insurgents, and are working to change history so that there will be good relations between the people of Iraq and the people of the United States."
Story by Spc. George Welcome - 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
