Posted on 08/07/2007 10:12:21 AM PDT by SolidWood
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH — Iraqis and American troops broke bread together during a luncheon on Aug. 1 when Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment from Fort Riley, Kan., handed over their area of operations in Baghdad’s Al Jadia neighborhood to members of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, based out of Fort Benning, Ga. Both units are currently attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
The luncheon started off with a gathering of Soldiers and their Iraqi counterparts in Lt. Col. Audil’s office, where water was served. Audil is the commander of the armor battalion for the 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division.
Capt. Tyler K. Andersen, the commanding officer of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, said Audil wanted to give his American counterparts a show of good faith as he saw one commander off and welcomed another, Capt. Alex Perez-Cruz of 2-69 Armor.
Andersen, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said his company had been working with Audil for five months. He has done so for only four weeks as he recently took command of the company. In that short time, Andersen said he developed a good working relationship with Audil that his company had cemented during the months they did joint patrols alongside members of Audil’s ranks.
“He’s a good guy,” Andersen said. “He’s a patriot.”
(Excerpt) Read more at mnf-iraq.com ...
Any ham “samiches”?
And I like the local food. Good stuff.
*applause*
Ummm. Hummus, Schwarma, and falafel, with baklava and Halvah for dessert!
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