JSS Zubaida Returned to Iraqi Landowners

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Sgt. Mary Phillips, USA

[SandRat]

Samir al-Hadad, (left), chief of staff from the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, and Capt. Brian Grey, Battery B commander, 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, sign transfer documents releasing the land and house that was once the American side of Joint Security Station Zubaida back to the Iraqi landowner, Aug. 10. Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

BAGHDAD — The U.S. portion of Joint Security Station Zubaida was returned to its original landowners during a ceremony at this small JSS south of Baghdad, Aug. 10.

Capt. Brian Grey, commander of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and Samir al-Hadad, the chief of staff from the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, signed transfer documents releasing the few acres from the Government of Iraq back to the land owners.

Two homes and the surrounding property have been used by U.S. forces for at least a year, with the battery taking over operations at the base in late May. The Iraqi part of the station will remain under government control.

The Soldiers of Battery B have spent the past few weeks taking down barriers, removing trailers and cleaning up the house in preparation for the owner’s return.

"This is both a good day and a sad day for us." said Grey. "This symbolizes that security in this area is very good, and that the Iraqi Army, as a professional force, is capable of providing for this area.

"It is a sad day because we've become brothers with the Iraqi Army and we've been living on this base side by side with them," he said.

Grey went on to say that although they are pulling back to their base in Adwaniyah, his Soldiers will still come by on a regular basis to train and patrol with the Iraqis.

Many of the battery's Soldiers, including Sgt. 1st Class Harold Tyson, also expressed that they will miss their Iraqi neighbors, but have confidence in the Iraqi Army's capabilities.

"This is a bittersweet moment for me as I made a lot of friends with my IA counterparts," said Tyson, of Monroe, N.C., "but I feel comfortable that they've got everything under control."

Hadad agreed that this shows the IA can handle security in this area now, and stressed the importance of giving the people of Iraq their property back.

"Today is a special one," said Hadad, "because we have the owner of the house here who is really happy to have his house back."

[SandRat]

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