Picking up Iraq

Multi-National Forces-Iraq ^ | Pfc. Jason Dangel

[SandRat]

Excavating equipment stands ready to be received by Iraqi essential services employees at Forward Operating Base Prosperity Sunday.

Story and photo by Pfc. Jason Dangel
4th Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division

BAGHDAD — The 4th Infantry Division’s Infrastructure Coordination Element, donated about $2 million worth of excavating and clean-up equipment to essential services departments from the Rasheed and Karradah Districts in Baghdad Sunday.

The equipment, purchased from funds seized from former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, will now be used to help restore quality of life for citizens in these Baghdad districts.

Each district received a backhoe/loader, a pickup truck, and a utility truck as well as other supplies to aid them in their work as they continue to clean up the streets of Baghdad. Compressors, diesel generators and welding machines were also included in the donation package provided by the ICE team.

“My main focus is building capacity and helping the people of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Gandara, commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team’s Special Troops Battalion,.

“It makes me feel good that we can actually go out and help people and improve their quality of life,” Gandara said.

This is the second time the ICE cell and the battalion have coordinated for an equipment donation of this size, said Gandara.

“Our job here is to help the Iraqi people,” said Pfc. Christopher MacDonald, a 4th Infantry Division infantryman. “That is why we are giving away this equipment – so that they know we are behind them, and we are willing to help, whatever it takes.”

Salas Mesal, director general, Rasheed Essential Services, said he and his men need all the support they can get and any donations made to them by the U.S. Government are greatly appreciated.

“I’m very glad we received this equipment today,” Mesal said. “This will help maximize our efforts in order to better serve our people throughout the city.”

According to Gandara, this is the last large donation slated for the battalion’s ICE. The unit will now focus on projects designed to increase the capacity of essential services throughout the city.

“We have many other projects we are undertaking right now. It may not be actually donating equipment, but we are building capacity and delivering capability to the Iraqi people.”

To date, the ICE has managed 94 essential service projects valued at more than $48 million within the brigade’s area of operations.

 

[SandRat]

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