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Soldiers Clean Up with Help of Quartermaster
Defend America News ^ | Spc. Chris McCann

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cleanup; quartermaster

1 posted on 01/09/2007 5:37:14 PM PST by SandRat
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To: StarCMC; Bethbg79; bentfeather; EsmeraldaA; MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska; Brad's Gramma; ...
It may not be as Glamorous as being on the Front Lines but the Troops need them.
2 posted on 01/09/2007 5:38:21 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Is this at Camp Stryker?


3 posted on 01/09/2007 5:43:33 PM PST by SoldierDad (Proud Father of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier fighting the terrorists in Iraq)
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To: SandRat

And I thank them too...usually only takes 24hrs for Jonathan to get his laundry back.


4 posted on 01/09/2007 5:45:01 PM PST by mystery-ak (My Son, My Soldier, My Hero........God Speed Jonathan......)
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To: SoldierDad

Not sure.


5 posted on 01/09/2007 5:54:11 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
I just watched a History Channel Doc. on Iwo Jima ... one of the men that returned stated that they urinated and deficated in their pants because of they couldn't/wouldn't stop fighting. He described the warfare as nonstop and that it will never be known, but he believed many men died because they just had no more left ... utter exhaustion.

It was literally kill or be killed.

6 posted on 01/09/2007 5:54:47 PM PST by knarf (Islamists kill each other ... News wall-to-wall, 24/7 .. don't touch that dial.)
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To: SandRat

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.


7 posted on 01/09/2007 5:57:38 PM PST by SoldierDad (Proud Father of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier fighting the terrorists in Iraq)
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To: SoldierDad

God bless your son's service for his country.


8 posted on 01/09/2007 6:23:05 PM PST by flynmudd (Proud Navy Mom to OSSA Blalock-DDG 61)
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To: flynmudd

Thank you.


9 posted on 01/09/2007 6:30:37 PM PST by SoldierDad (Proud Father of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier fighting the terrorists in Iraq)
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To: SoldierDad

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.


10 posted on 01/09/2007 11:24:39 PM PST by RGRX
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To: SoldierDad

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.


11 posted on 01/10/2007 3:33:53 AM PST by David Isaac
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To: RGRX

Thanks for the info, and thank you for your service. My son's an infantryman also.


12 posted on 01/10/2007 7:28:53 AM PST by SoldierDad (Proud Father of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier fighting the terrorists in Iraq)
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To: David Isaac

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.


13 posted on 01/10/2007 7:31:04 AM PST by SoldierDad (Proud Father of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier fighting the terrorists in Iraq)
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