FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq. Sept. 6, 2006 -- Iraqis helping Iraqis was the theme in the Rasheed district Aug. 25-28 as locals helped patch together a road that had been blown apart by terrorists. Local contractors disregarded terrorist threats and ventured out to repair the roads and allow Iraqis to travel uninhibited. The workers did a great job and worked very hard for two days to complete this monumental task, said Staff Sgt. Micah Greene, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Company B, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to Multi-National Division - Baghdad. This road repair demonstrates the local contractors patriotism and courage by standing up to the cowardly terrorists and working hard to fix this road. Numerous roadside bombs have detonated between Adwaniyah and Hawr Rajab, which left huge craters and made the roads impassable. Soldiers from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 10th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, provided security while the contractors worked on the roads. Many projects have been started in the Rasheed area because of the willingness of the local populace to end terrorism in their backyard, said Greene. The trash cleanup project not only beautifies the area but also gives terrorists less places to hide bombs on the side of roads. Projects like road repairs make it easier for local civilians to get to work and makes it more difficult for the terrorists to find another hiding spot for their bombs. Road repairs hamper the terrorists efforts to repeat emplacing the bombs in areas they have established safe escape routes. The repairs to the road also eased travel in the area, which has allowed the local economy to slowly recover, said Capt.Jon Bodenhamer, commander, Troop A, 1st Sqdn., 10th |