Posted on 01/09/2007 5:37:13 PM PST by SandRat
FORWARD OPERATING BASE YUSUFIYAH, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2007 When soldiers first arrived in Iraq in 2003, they often had to wash their clothes in buckets or plastic bags. Now, main camps have laundry facilities staffed by local nationals or even contracted workers from other countries - but soldiers on forward operating bases often have to send their laundry back to the camps to get clean clothing, and it can take several days.
Recently though, the 442nd Quartermaster Company, 541st Combat Service Support Battalion, attached to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), brought a laundry-equipped vehicle to Forward Operating Base Yusufiyah, Iraq, to solve the problem of not being able to get socks and uniforms clean in a hurry.
"We are definitely making it easier for these soldiers here," said Spc. Jeremy Byers, a native of Erie, PA., who serves as shower and laundry technician with the company. "It cuts the time to get their laundry back down to less than a day."
The quartermaster company isn't just cleaning laundry, either - they're helping clean the soldiers, too. In addition to the laundry facilities they are providing the base with shower facilities.
"We make sure that the soldiers get clean clothes and hot showers," said Staff Sgt. Mark Robinson, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, squad leader with the company. "We have had a lot of soldiers come up and thank us for being here. All we are trying to do is make better living conditions."
The 442nd Quartermaster Company arrived at FOB Yusufiyah and set things up in mid-December, providing the facilities that let soldiers clean up - a critical service in the muddy Iraqi winter.
"This is my first mission for something like this," said Spc. Hans Haddock of Lancaster, Pa. "We have the capabilities to support 30,000 troops, so we are helping out a lot with the laundry and the showers."
The soldiers - and their clothing - thank them.
Is this at Camp Stryker?
And I thank them too...usually only takes 24hrs for Jonathan to get his laundry back.
Not sure.
It was literally kill or be killed.
I asked because that's the camp my son is at, which is around the area of Iraq mentioned here. I'll send my son and email and ask him about the laundry situation.
God bless your son's service for his country.
Thank you.
Yusifiyah is approximately 20 klicks outside entry control point 7 at stryker. It's in the middle of the Sunni triangle. I was there 2005-2006 as an infantryman,is how i know.
Hey SoldierDad, How are ya? Praise be to the QM corps. Every litle creature comfort is multiplied many times for the troops in the real dust bowl.
Thanks for the info, and thank you for your service. My son's an infantryman also.
Hi David. I'm down with some bug presently, but otherwise okay. Yeah, I'd imagine that even the smallest creature comfort while there is greatly appreciated.
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