BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Iraq — Australian forces handed over

operational authority of the air traffic control

tower here to the Iraqi government in a ceremony held in the tower Sunday. 

“The tower is back in the hands it should

belong in, Iraqi hands,” said Brigadier Peter

Hutchinson, the Commander of Australian

Forces in the Middle East.

“We are very happy and have been waiting

for this day,” said Abed Rabea, director of Iraqi

Air Terminal Services. “We cannot describe our

feelings now. Thank you to everyone who

worked with us to bring us to this point.”

Members of the Royal Australian Air Force

had been operating the tower since May of

2003, according to Hutchinson.

Iraqi air traffic controllers from the General

Establishment Civil Aviation of the Ministry of

Transportation, who have been working alongside the Australians for the past six months, will

MOSUL, Iraq — After running

through clouds of red concealment

smoke and loudly shouting battle

cries, Iraq National Guard members

stood at attention in their final formation as recruits during their graduation ceremony July 29. The 150-

plus soldiers completed a fourweek basic training course instructed by multinational forces in

Qayarrah, Iraq, south of Mosul.

The soldiers will join the 107th

Battalion of the Iraq National

Guard, headquartered in Qayarrah.

With the additional seven platoons

of new graduates, the battalion is at

full strength and will share the

area’s security responsibilities with

the 102nd Battalion of the Iraq

National Guard. 

The latest members of the 107th

Battalion said they’re excited to

join the fight against terrorism.

“This is a very exciting day for

me and my soldiers,” said Staff Sgt. 

Battlefield Battlefield

paradise paradise

LSA Anaconda pool opens LSA Anaconda pool opens

Vol. 2, No. 32 Baghdad, Iraq Aug. 6, 2004

SCIMITAR

Sock it to me

Marines use socks to battle 

the Iraqi heat 

Task Force Cobra

Marines train up 

elite group of of Iraqis

Page 13 Page 12 Page 16

Seven platoons

graduate from

basic training

Story and photo by 

Sgt. Fred Minnick

139th Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

Aussie accent leaves

Baghdad airspace:

An Iraqi National Guard platoon leader runs through clouds of red concealment

smoke as his soldiers follow his lead. Seven platoons from the 107th Battalion of

the Iraqi National Guard graduated July 29. 

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Iraq's

President, Sheik Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar, address the media

during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq July 30. See

related story on Page 3.

Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, U.S. Air Force

By Pfc. Bryce S. Dubee

Multi-National Force-Iraq Public Affairs

Australian forces transfer control 

of BIAP back to Iraqi government

See ING, Page 10

See BIAP, Page 10
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Like a parent teaching a

child how to ride a bicycle, Lt. Gen. Thomas

Metz, commander of Multi-National Corps–Iraq,

recently discussed how the Corps acts as a training wheel, assisting the new Iraqi government to

a stable environment.

“[We] show them how to do it, and support

them, but it’s hard to let go,” Metz said. “That’s

the good part and the hard part.”

MNC-I is one of two military commands in

Iraq — the other being Multi-National ForceIraq, commanded by Gen. George Casey. The

MNC-I’s priorities are offensive security operations in order to give Iraq a more stable environment.

Together with Casey, Metz is authorized to

protect the Iraqi people and to support the sovereign Iraqi government. 

“Doctrine tells me I want to win the hearts and

minds,” Metz said. “I know I’m not going to do

that, but what [we’re] looking for are Iraqis that

will step up to the plate and be leaders, and we’re

beginning to find them,” he said. “We’ve got a

prime minister, and we’ve got a number of leaders now that are coming together. And then down

at the city level, it’s just great that there are mayors and police chiefs that want to be a patriot of

this country.”

The new government needs not just leadership,

but involvement on all levels. 

“[We’re] devoting a lot of energy to training

the Iraqi security forces, whether they are security or National Guard,” Metz said. 

“The force that will have a good impact on the

elections is the National Guard,” Metz stated.

“Our goal is to be, assuming the election is in

January, at local control in Iraq in the December

time frame.” 

The goal of implementing local control is to

create independent operations at the precinct and

community level, primarily through the police

force. The police force is backed by the Iraq

National Guard, who are in turn backed by the

multinational forces.

Local control puts the multinational forces as

the third respondent, Metz said. 

“Should they need us, we’re in range within

time or distance-wise to help out.”

There are places today that are already at the

local control stage, Metz said. By election time,

these areas will be at a regional control level, he

said.

While in the process of establishing strong

local and regional control throughout Iraq, multinational forces are to act according to the new

government’s plans.

“[Iraqis] have to work their way through the 

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq

— A convoy of U.S. Marines and

Soldiers, along with other multinational

forces, began a long journey—from

Jordan to Baghdad—to deliver a convoy

of armored vehicles to the Iraq National

Guard and other Iraqi Security Forces.

Marines along with British and Polish

soldiers made the first of several trips July

24, delivering 56 vehicles to Baghdad.

The convoy was escorted through Iraq’s

Al Anbar Province by Marines from 3rd

Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

The Jordanian government donated

nearly 275 armored personnel carriers,

including British Spartans, U.S.-manufactured M-113s and Russian-made BTRs.

They were shipped to the Iraqi government in an effort to bolster the country’s

security forces, according to Maj. Walter

E. Lavrinovich, the 37-year-old officerin-charge of the camp from Crown Point,

Ind. 

“I think this will significantly boost the

Iraqi Security Forces’ presence,”

Lavrinovich said. “It’s more psychological. With them receiving this equipment,

it increases the stature of the forces, gives

them a sense of accomplishment.”

Lavrinovich said the local security

forces voiced concerns of lacking enough

firepower to defeat anti-Iraqi fighters.

This shipment of military vehicles and

weapons, though, gave the ING confidence in their capabilities.

The Jordanian donation also came with

tools and parts to keep the gear running,

said Army 1st Lt. Tom F. Campbell, 29,

the convoy commander from Sherwood,

Calif.

“They’re giving the Iraqis everything

they need to succeed,” Campbell said.

“I’m not sure who will teach them to

drive these vehicles, but whenever they

learn, they’ll be a much stronger show of

force.”

Lavrinovich explained the new equipment will provide ING soldiers with a

greater sense of authority and responsibility in the eyes of fellow Iraqis. Gear that’s

unique to Iraqi forces will demonstrate

that they are force designed and now

equipped to protect their own citizens.

“They can now be on the offensive,”

Campbell added. “Before they rode

around in pickups with .50-caliber

machine guns. They needed much more

and now they’re getting it.”

Eight British soldiers from the Kuwaiti

border also came along, helping drive the

British-made Spartans.

“We came along to help drive some of

these vehicles,” said British Cpl. David P.

Young, a 39-year-old crew commander

from Windsor, United Kingdom. “We really enjoy getting out here. We have a great

relationship with the Americans and we get

to help the Iraqis in the process. We’ll do

anything to help stabilize this country.”

A parade will be held recognizing the

Jordanian contribution to Iraq and as a

showing of new military strength,

Campbell said.

“Things seem to be going the right direction,” Young said. “We’re proud to see

that. I think after all things will be okay.”

Page 2 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Jordan donates military gear to Iraq

Story and photo by

Cpl. Macario P. Mora Jr.

1st Marine Division

Multinational forces, led by the Marines and Soldiers, transported 56

armored vehicles from Jordan to Baghdad July 25. The Jordanian government donated nearly 275 armored vehicles to the Iraq government to

help Iraqi Security Forces better equip their forces. 

More power for the

Rasheedya area

Submitted by Task Force Olympia Public Affairs

MOSUL, Iraq — Two new

power transmission lines are

being constructed by the

Ministry of Electricity and

multinational forces in the

Ninevah and Dahuk Provinces

to provide more electrical power

to the local citizens and businesses. 

The more than one-and-a-half

billion dinar project began June

28 and is slated to be completed

in September. The lines will run

from Rasheedya to Dahuk and

from Dahuk to Fayda.

According to the Ministry of

Electricity, the citizens of Mosul

only receive six hours of power

a day and the new lines will provide an estimated 40 to 60 extra

megawatts of power from

Turkey to the 300,000 people in

the Ninevah and Dahuk areas.

The extra megawatts will

increase the amount of power

available by 10 to 15 percent.

Sitting high above the city of Mosul, Iraqi electricians

work to put up one of two new power transmission

lines. The new lines will supply an additional 40-60

megawatts of power per day to the city of Mosul. 

Courtesy photo

Metz, MNC-I prepared 

to remove training wheels

By Spc. Crista M. Birmingham,

Multi-National Corps-Iraq Public Affairs

See METZ, Page 10
WASHINGTON — Vice

President Dick Cheney said the

terrorist threat does not represent

a “foe we can reason with or

negotiate with or appease. This

is, to put it simply, an enemy that

we must vanquish.” 

Cheney spoke today to

Marines and Sailors of the 1st

Marine Expeditionary Force at

Camp Pendleton, Calif. He

thanked the Marines and sailors

for their service, especially those

who participated in the liberation

of Iraq last year. 

The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,

changed the world, the vice president said. “In the space of a few

hours we lost 3,000 of our fellow

citizens. We saw the violence and

the grief that terrorism can inflict.

We saw a foe whose hatred for us

is limitless,” he said. 

Cheney paraphrased the 9-11

Commission’s report issued last

week as saying the enemy’s purpose “is to rid the world of religious and political pluralism.

They want to impose their way

of life on the rest of us. And in

pursuit of this goal they are prepared to slaughter anyone who

stands in their way.” 

Cheney said the U.S. doctrine

in the war on terror is simple:

Every person, group or regime

that harbors or supports terror is

equally guilty of terrorist crimes

and will be held accountable. 

The Taliban in Afghanistan

found out what that doctrine

means, he said. The World Trade

Center ruins were still burning

when U.S. service members

went into Afghanistan. There

they fought in conjunction with

local freedom fighters and took

down the Taliban regime. The

coalition killed or captured hundreds of al Qaeda terrorists and

liberated 25 million people. 

Afghanistan today has a

peaceful government, democracy is rising, and the terror camps

are gone, Cheney said. “The

American people are safer for

it,” he said to cheers. 

Cheney went on to say that the

danger of terrorists getting their

hands on weapons of mass

destruction cannot be ignored.

“If terrorists get their hands on

that deadly technology, there can

be no doubt they will inflict catastrophic damage on America

and our allies,” he said. 

He said President Bush was

determined to remove threats

from those weapons before they

were used against the American

people. “So America acted to

end the regime of Saddam

Hussein,” Cheney said. 

The vice president noted there

is still important and difficult

work ahead in Iraq. “Freedom

still has enemies in that country,”

he said. “Yet, thanks to the

accomplishments of the 1st

Marine Expeditionary Force and

the other units of our military,

Iraq has undergone a historic

transformation. Sixteen months

ago, Iraq was under the control of 

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 3

Cheney calls terrorists an

‘enemy we must vanquish’

By Jim Garamone

American Forces 

Press Service 

WASHINGTON — Army National

Guardsmen who have seen the worst of

war are re-enlisting in the military at a

higher rate than those who haven’t been

mobilized, officials said July 29. 

“Retention is higher in the

units that have been mobilized than across the

force, and across the

force it is high,”

said Brig. Gen.

Frank Grass,

deputy director

of the Army

National Guard,

during a July 29

interview with

American Forces

Press Service. 

In an average year, the

Army Guard sees about 18 percent

of the force retire or separate. For fiscal

2004, officials estimate that only about 14

percent of mobilized units will leave, and

16.9 percent of the overall force will

depart. 

Grass said exit interviews from soldiers

demobilizing indicate the guardsmen really do consider themselves a “Band of

Brothers.” “Part of what’s happening here

is this team that used to see each other one

weekend a month and two weeks in the

summer, have just come together,” Grass

said. “Many of them have fought in combat side by side, and they come back and

that relationship that they’ve built is key

to them staying in.” 

Grass said the reception the soldiers get

from the people of their states is also very

important. He used as an example the

168th MP Company of the Tennessee

National Guard that is returning home

after more than a year “boots on the

ground” in Iraq. 

“Every county that they cross from the

time they land until they get to

their armory there is a welcoming committee,”

Grass said. The unit

will receive state

police and local

police escorts. 

“All this make the

soldiers feel welcome and the families feel as if their

sacrifices are appreciated,” he said. 

Grass said the two-year

limit on mobilizations is also

important. Units can plan on deployments, and the Army National Guard is

aiming for units having one deployment

every six years. 

Grass said there are other policy

changes in the works that will aid in

reserve component retention. One such is

the continuum of service policy. This will

allow a soldier to change status more easily. A soldier could be in the National

Guard and move to active duty. 

Upon return from deployment, he or she

could go back into the Guard or move to

the Individual Ready Reserve. Grass said

this type of set-up would help break down

barriers among the components and erase

remnants of the Cold-War-era thinking.

Mobilized Soldiers set

Guard re-up pace

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service 

WASHINGTON — The United States

wants “to speed up the flow of funds”

into Iraq’s reconstruction effort, the top

U.S. diplomat said today. 

“We want to rebuild the infrastructure,

we want to create jobs, we want to show

the Iraqi people that this money is being

used for their benefit,” Secretary of State

Colin L. Powell told reporters in

Baghdad. He said he’d spoken “quite a

bit” about reconstruction matters with

senior Iraqi officials and U.S.

Ambassador to Iraq John D.

Negroponte. 

Reconstruction and security in Iraq,

Powell explained, “are two sides of the

same coin.” By improving power, water

and other services, he continued, Iraqis

will be imbued “with a sense of safety”

that “improves the security environment.” 

Powell praised the interim Iraqi government’s “great courage and determination” in fighting terrorists and facing

other challenges since the country

achieved sovereignty June 28. 

President Ghazi al-Yawar, Prime

Minister Ayad Allawi and other interim

Iraqi leaders are “determined to prevail

over the insurgency that would deny the

Iraqi people their hopes for a better life

(and) their dreams of a safe future,”

Powell said. 

It’s important to know that Iraq’s leaders are braving danger and “put themselves at risk every day,” he noted. Their

courage is both noteworthy and necessary, he pointed out, in order to confront

the terrorists. 

In Baghdad today, Powell said

President Bush and other coalition leaders “remain firmly committed to the task

that is ahead – to help the Iraqi forces and

the Iraqi government defeat this insurgency.” 

“We have to make sure,” Powell

emphasized, “that these insurgents understand that we will not be deterred.” The

terrorists “will be defeated,” he said, noting there “can be no other option.” The

Iraqi people, he added, want and deserve

freedom and democracy. 

“We must not let outsiders — or insiders of any kind — deny the Iraqi people

that which they richly deserve and that

which they want,” he asserted. 

Nearing the end of a trip that had taken

him through Eastern Europe and now the

Middle East, Powell had met with Allawi

July 29 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

The U.S. and its coalition partners,

Powell noted, will assist Iraq “to get on

with the preparation for elections that will

take place by the end of the year or no

later than January of next year.” 

After that, he continued, a national

assembly comes into being with a new

national government “leading to the finishing of a constitution next year and then

full elections.” 

A gathering of a national conference

of Iraqis has been pushed back two

weeks, Powell observed, to allow more

time for preparations. 

By Gerry J. Gilmore

American Forces 

Press Service 

Powell wants to ‘speed

up’ reconstruction 

See CHENEY, Page 10
During their tour in Iraq most service

members will be eligible for a two-week

period of rest and recuperation (R&R).

To make this experience as enjoyable as

possible, we offer some ideas and activities for the time before, during, and after

R&R.

Before R&R

R&R should be looked at as a wellearned vacation. As with any vacation,

preparation and wellin-advance planning

improve the chances

that it will work out

well. It is especially

worthwhile to discuss

R&R plans with

loved ones to be visited so that everyone

involved understands

each other’s needs

and expectations.

This talk will also

likely lead to a discussion about issues

that could, otherwise,

cause friction or hurt

feelings during and

after the visit. It is

also a good idea to “rough out” a schedule of activities and to prioritize them in

advance. 

Although the majority of service members opt to spend their R&R at home,

many choose to go to a resort area either

in North America or overseas. There will

also be some who choose to not take the

R&R at all due to cost, loss of leave

time, or emotional reasons. The choice

of what to do is entirely personal. 

During the R&R

The best advice that can be given for

looking at R&R is to expect change and

not be upset by it. Those left at home by

the mobilization have probably found

some new ways of dealing with family

issues and may have assumed responsibilities that in the past fell

to the service member.

They may do things differently, but the service

member should recognize

that often these new

strategies are equally

effective. If further

changes need to be made,

it may be best to hold off

on discussing them until

the family is together for a

longer period of time than

the R&R.

Although many people

may be competing for a

share of service members’

time, everyone should

keep in mind what he or

she and the family most want from the

R&R. It is perfectly okay for the service

member to decline invitations to timeconsuming or burdensome social engagements. Scheduling an “open house” can

be an efficient and satisfying way to see

many friends and members of the

extended family. 

The R&R period should also involve

ample opportunity for rest and recuperation. It is important to not over-schedule

the time and to take time to just relax

and have fun. 

Members of the family have gone

through a lot during the period of

deployment and the service member

should encourage them to talk about how

things have gone. R&R can provide

opportunities to improve communications and intimacy with the spouse. It is

often a unique time for talking together

“from the heart.” 

Some final bits of advice to consider

during the R&R include staying within a

realistic budget and not drinking excessive amounts of alcohol since one’s tolerance for alcohol is likely to be much

lower after spending several months in

the alcohol-free combat zone. Finally, it

is probably best to avoid interviews with

the media while personnel are home. 

For service members who experience

problems during their R&R, the Army

provides a help line (see sidebar).

After R&R

It is completely natural to feel strong

emotions such as sadness, anger, disappointment and nostalgia upon returning

to Iraq. It is unlikely that the military

unit will be exactly the same as when the

service member left since changes in

personnel, missions, and unit climate

tend to occur rapidly in a combat theater.

Combat stress control teams and mental

health providers can instruct in techniques to reduce tension and the negative

feelings that may come after the R&R.

What works for one individual may not

work for another. For some, talking with

a close friend or “battle buddy” about

what one is feeling in returning to the

unit can make a big difference. For others, a renewed commitment to the job

and physical activity will help them to

readapt to life here. 

Returning to the theater of operations

will be tough for most service members. For others whose R&R didn’t go

quite as well, returning to their lives

here and leaving their home problems

behind for a while longer may actually

be a relief. Regardless of the group in

which service members find themselves, R&R should offer a new perspective on their experiences here and

their lives in general. 

Sidebar

If you or your family need assistance

during the R&R, please call the Army

One Source Line (1-800-464-8107 from

CONUS and 1-800-464-81077 from

OCONUS or visit their website:

www.armyonesource.com

Page 4 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Editor in Chief

Staff Sgt. Christopher Land

Managing Editor

Sgt. Brian Stockhoff

Staff

Spc. Jeffrey Hillery 

MNF-I Commanding General

Gen. George Casey

MNF-I PAO

Rear Adm. Gregory J. Slavonic

Command Information Chief

Maj. Patrick A. Swan 

The Scimitar is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of this

paper are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government or Department of

Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office of

the Multi-National Force - Iraq. Stars and Stripes newspaper is not affiliated with MNF-I and acts only

as a distributing source for the Scimitar. Questions and comments should be directed to the editor at

cpiccmdinfo@baghdadforum.com.

The Scimitar welcomes columns, 

commentaries and letters from readers.

Send submissions to

cpiccmdinfo@baghdadforum.com.

We reserve the right to edit for propriety, clarity

and space.

The Scimitar can also 

be viewed on the Web at

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/

coalition-news/publications.htm

PERSPECTIVES

Guest Column

Lt. Col. John P. Allen

Getting the most from R&R

Information, Resources, and Referrals 

for Concerns About:

- Mental Health/Combat Stress - (Homefront and

relationship issues, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc) 

- Sexual Assault - (Includes Medical, Mental health,

Legal, and Chaplain Services).

Lt. Col. John P. Allen is an Army

Reserve officer assigned to the

785th Medical Company (Combat

Stress Control). He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and

recently retired from the National

Institutes of Health.

www.help4soldiers.com

or call

Northern Iraq - DNVT

302-553-9525

Central Iraq -DNVT

302-558-5546

Southern Iraq - DNVT

318-833-1322
BAGHDAD, Iraq — An artifact of Iraq’s oppression-plagued

past was preserved July 28 when

U.S. forces turned over a stone

plaque found during the reconstruction of a power plant here.

Civilians with U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers found the 18-by-24-

inch marble foundation stone June

29 amidst broken bricks, trash and

rubble while rehabilitating the Taji

Power plant in the capitol city’s

impoverished northern region.

“This is a first,” said Dr. Zainab

Bahrani, an antiquities advisor to

the U.S. State Department’s Iraq

Reconstruction Management

Office in Baghdad. “There have

been antiquities returned from

other locations, but nothing of this

kind.” 

Chris Spidle, a contractor working for the Corps on site, first

noticed the Arabic inscribed stone

among a pile of broken bricks

while working on one of Taji’s

seven generators. 

Within minutes, he and Corps’

employee Robert Weakland were

on hands and knees sifting

through the sand and rubble to get

a closer look at Spidle’s find.

“Chris came in and told me he

had found something, so we went

together to see what it was,”

Weakland said. “We uncovered

the stone and realized it had been

broken which made us think there

was probably more in the area.”

A search of the nearby area

uncovered four additional pieces,

confirming the two’s hunch and

completing the stone.

With stone fragments in hand,

the two returned to the site’s management trailer and photographed

the stone before setting it aside on

an empty table.

“We knew this was something

important that was related to the

former regime within minutes of

finding it,” Weakland said. “The

Iraqi laborers onsite wanted to

destroy it with sledge hammers, so

we knew we needed to collect and

protect it.”

Clarity came later that afternoon after a contract interpreter

onsite translated the stone’s

Arabic inscription.

The stone dedicated the Taji

power plant in 1976 to the memory and celebration of the founding

of the Iraqi Army and acknowledged one of the 52 most wanted

men in Iraq – former Revolution

Council Member, Taha ai-Jizrawi.

Days passed as the stone sat in

Weakland’s north Baghdad trailer

waiting for someone to provide

direction on how to return the artifact to the Iraqi government.

The wait ended July 11 when

Bill McFarland, a Corps program

manager, visited the site on an

inspection tour and saw the stone

sitting atop Weakland’s table.

McFarland, who typically

serves as an environmental project

manager in the U.S., contacted the

Corps’s legal office in Baghdad

and coordinated the transfer of the

stone to Bahrani, who will transport the stone to the Iraq State

Board of Antiquities Museum in

Baghdad later this week. 

“This is absolutely the right

thing to do,” said Bahrani, who is

slated to return to her career as an

archeology professor at Columbia

University this fall. “As more and

more people begin working on the

reconstruction efforts, I think we

will run into more of these kinds

of things.”

While Bahrani said there were

no official plans for the stone, she

said it would probably go in some

kind of a museum commemorating the atrocities of the previous

regime.

“Whether you are working on

oil pipelines, electrical systems or

building roads, there is a possibility of running into cultural artifacts when you are doing field

work in this country,” she said.

“The best thing to do is to err on

the side of caution and assume it’s

something that should be returned

to the State Board of Antiquities

and Heritage and allow them to

judge.”

The last remains of some of

mankind’s earliest cities have virtually disappeared through

unprecedented looting and

destruction in the wake of war.

“The precedent this is setting

here is really important, because it

is possible the next time it will be

something from 2000 BC,”

Bahrani said.

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 5

Corps of Engineers uncovers artifact

By Mitch Frazier

U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers 

Gulf Region Division 

Army releases last women from Abu Ghraib

Robert Weakland, a project engineer with the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division, helped unearth a

foundation stone June 29 at the Taji Power Plant here.

Weakland, who oversees the power project, found the stone

partially buried in a pile of bricks and debris at the site. The

stone was turned over to the Iraq Reconstruction

Management Office July 28 and will be taken to the Iraq State

Board of Antiquities. Weakland is one of nearly 250 volunteer civilian Corps employees currently serving in Iraq. 

Courtesy photo

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Lt. Col. Don Cronkhite, chief

of staff and executive officer of the 39th Brigade

Combat Team, made a promise to the people of

Adhamiyah and he was going to follow through. 

Three weeks ago, a crowd of Iraqis had gathered in a

peaceful demonstration at the front gate of Camp Cooke

wanting answers concerning the status of more than 80

individuals who were detained at the Abu Ghraib

Detention Facility prior to the brigade’s arrival in Iraq.

Following a meeting with the demonstration leaders,

Cronkhite addressed the assembly and repeated the

promise he made to the sheik, the imam and the

Adhamiyan district councilman just moments earlier.

“These people, I pledge - if they are in fact innocent -

to work to get them released as fast as I possibly can,”

Cronkhite said.

He stressed the fact that if there was evidence against

them justifying their continued detention Abu Ghraib is

exactly where they would remain.

Following days of continuous coordinated effort with

military lawyers and military intelligence officials,

Cronkhite was now ready to make his first and most

important delivery on that promise. This time, it is good

news for the people of Adhamiyah, the release of Nehel,

one of the only two females left in the detention facility.

The second female, Huda, the sister of the first, was the

next target of release.

“They were very concerned about the women in the

group,” said Lt. Col. John Edwards, of Little Rock, the

39th BCT staff judge advocate. 

Cronkhite said the trip was politically sensitive. Each

time a convoy leaves the gate, a certain amount of risk

is taken, but the safe return of this passenger was

extremely important. 

Once Cronkhite entered the facility with the brigade’s

Provost Marshall, Maj. Tommie Brasfield, and his

entourage of military police, the paperwork was handed

to the major behind the counter in exchange for the

female prisoner, Nehel.

The paperwork was signed and Nehel was placed

under a conditional release to the 39th BCT. The

Soldiers safely transported the detainee to the 39th

Brigade Interrogation Facility at Camp Cooke, where

Spc. Loreen Davenport, of Little Rock, Ark. began the

facility’s out-processing procedures by providing Nehel

with a medical checkup. 

“She was very appreciative for all we did for her,”

Davenport said. “She continually expressed how grateful she was for the kindness that we showed to her at the

detention center and also in escorting her to her family.”

With Nehel undergoing her medical checkup,

Cronkhite once again found himself sitting across the

conference table from the district councilman, who was

there to sign the final release.

Once the papers were signed, Cronkhite had honored

one promise and revisited another.

“I promised her sister, as I have promised the people

from the [neighborhood council] of Adhamiyah and the

other Iraqis that have actually risked their lives to help

this moment come together, that we will continue to

work for the release of Huda, and we hope she will be

with you very soon.”

When the councilman announced his intent to stand

up another protest in a week and a half for the release of

Huda, Cronkhite said it would not be necessary.

“It is my hope that if we wait a week and a half it will

be too late to request her release. She will already be

free,” he said. 

“Shukran Jazeelan,” said Nehel as the interpreter

turned to Cronkhite translating the response “thank you

very much,” a term he knew well.

The mission was complete and two days later, Huda

was released.

“We feel like that’s a good thing for the district council and we think it’s a show of good faith by the leadership of this brigade and this division that we are working with the new Iraqi government to demonstrate that

we can be counted on to do the right thing,” Edwards

said.

Editor’s note: 1st Lt. Chris J. Heathscott is the 39th

Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Officer

By 1st Lt. Christopher J. Heathscott 

Army News Service
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — The quick

reaction of two Iraqi National Guard soldiers cost them their own lives, but saved

those of 250.

“The people who did this are against

the advancement of Iraq. They are only

trying to start violence and cause a nuisance,” said Sgt. Ali Al-Hamdani, a

spokesman for the Mahmudiyah ING.

“These soldiers were very good at their

duties. Their sacrifice is necessary for the

security of Iraq.”

More than 250 Iraqi men had gathered

outside the front gates of the compound

here during the morning of July 17. Many

were interested in joining the newly

formed Iraqi National Guard and working

to rebuild their country.

A taxi approached the front gates at

7:45 a.m., according to witnesses. One of

the Iraqi soldiers on duty at the gate that

morning was Adil Abed, a young man

who was planning to be married the next

week. He would never see his ceremony

or his bride-to-be again. 

Abed attempted to stop the suspicious

taxi. When the driver failed to respond,

Abed fired his AK-47 and the driver

returned fire with a pistol, hitting Abed. 

The soldier’s comrade Sadaam

Obeeid rushed forward to help his friend

when the taxi, packed with explosives,

detonated. The blast sent shrapnel and

debris a hundred meters in every direction killing the two soldiers, the driver

and injuring many of the civilians standing near the gate. The engine block of

the taxi landed 80 meters away from the

blast.

When the confusion caused by the

attack died down, the soldiers took time

to reflect on what they’d lost.

“We are very sad. They were our

friends and now we’ve lost them. They

were good men,” said Deputy Sgt. Thaid

Hadiph, an ING soldier from

Mahmudiyah. “The sacrifice they made

for Iraq will not be forgotten.”

The Iraqi solders’ actions weren’t surprising to the Marines dedicated to training them to take a greater role in security

and rooting out terrorism. 

“The actions, while tragic, are telling of

the dedication of Iraqis sworn to protect

their nation,” said Lt. Col. Rick Jackson,

a 46-year-old Marine from Allendale,

N.J., serving as the deputy director of

Iraqi Security Forces for 1st Marine

Division.

“These guys are out training with us

every day,” Jackson explained. “We do

joint patrols together. To hear they stood

their ground and acted the way they did

isn’t that surprising at all.”

Jackson refuted rumors that ING soldiers were unwilling or unable to perform

their missions. He compared their training

to that of Marines.

“If you enlisted a Marine in February,

when these guys stood up, he wouldn’t be

to his first unit by now,” he said. “Now,

they’re not Marines, but if you look at the

amount of formalized training and the

threat, they’re doing a pretty good job.”

The soldiers of the ING here showed

some sadness when they talked about

their friends killed in the explosion.

However, through the loss, they also

found new resolve to continue protecting

the people of Iraq.

“They are holy victims of the war on

terrorism,” said Iraqi Sgt. Haair Ahamy,

an ING soldier. “They stood up and were

brave, protecting their people. They were

cowards, the terrorists who attacked us.”

Ahamy said the attacks were a blatant

attempt by anti-Iraqi forces to derail

progress being made to stabilize Iraqi

under the new sovereign government.

The terrorist’s target, he explained, was a

group willing to serve their nation’s interests. That flow of eager men hasn’t

slowed.

Every hour, men approach the gate to 

Page 6 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Iraqi soldiers’ sacrifice saves lives

Story and photo by 

Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

1st Marine Division

Maj. Richard Bickel, the 1st Brigade Combat

Team surgeon, supervises the application of

neonatal resuscitation technique by local

Baghdad doctors. 

A Marine stands guard outside the Iraqi National Guard compound in

Mahmudiyah. A vehicle-born explosive device was detonated July 17

outside the front gates claiming the lives of two Iraqi soldeirs and sent

shrapnel and debris, like the engine block of the car, a hundred meters

in every direction.

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The last of three classes in which

1st Cavalry Division and Iraqi doctors trained local practitioners in neonatal resuscitation was held July 21 at the

Baghdad Convention Center.

“The purpose of the course was to help obstetricians, pediatricians, and family practice doctors here in Baghdad to be

current on their skills as far as resuscitating newborns,” said

Capt. James Wayne, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team surgeon.

“The ultimate goal is to decrease the infant mortality

rate in Iraq,” Wayne said. “Since the infant mortality rate

is so high, there’s a good chance that a lot of the deaths can

be averted simply by using proper neonatal resuscitation

technique.” 

Originally organized by the 2nd Armored Cavalry

Regiment, the program has found new energy with instruction from 1st Cavalry Division doctors and the enthusiasm

of local doctors.

“The doctors we’re working with are sharp, they’re

intelligent, they’re enthusiastic, and they all want to learn.

They want to make sure the medicine they are practicing

is as current as possible.”

“It was our goal to train as many physicians as possible,“ said Maj. Richard Bickel, 1st Brigade Combat Team

surgeon, who helped organize the event. “They’ve been

working for a long time without many of the things that

we’ve gotten to work with.”

Bickel said up-to-date equipment has often been limited

to Baghdad’s healers. That is changing.

“With the exception of a few little pieces of equipment,

they have everything they need to [resuscitate a baby],” he

said.

Army and Iraqi doctors delivered lectures during the

course. The combination of instructors gave the students

both a sense of up-to-date techniques and instruction

involving equipment that is available to the hospitals in

which they work.

“For thirty-five years, we have been isolated from the

outside world and nobody goes outside [Iraq] to train. One

of the most important things is to train people,” said Dr.

Hassan, director of the Ministry of Health for Baghdad’s

Al-Risafa District.

“One of the main causes [of the high regional infant

mortality rate] is lack of training. The other is lack of

equipment. Another is the low standard of living in Iraq,”

Hassan said.

“[The students trained today] will train other physicians

and they will make their hospital better,” he said. “We are

very thankful to the coalition, who make great efforts to

make our health better and better.”

Iraqi, 1st Cavalry doctors meet to save babies

Story and photo by Spc. Jan Critchfield

122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

See SACRIFICE, Page 10
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Even though Capt. Alycia

Vrosh is afraid of heights, she climbs up a ladder

to check on communication equipment located on

top of the Al Faw Palace here. 

While ensuring the comm lines are good to go,

two Blackhawk helicopters circle overhead and

she waves to them.

“I love them (the crew) and always wave to

them when I’m up here on the roof,” said the communications operations action officer for MultiNational Corps-Iraq. This time they treat her to a

flyby before landing north of the palace.

Happy with the greeting, she heads back down

to the first floor of the three-story palace where she

has spent the past four months tackling large and

hectic projects for the Army.

“Because the Air Force is in a support role,

we’ve been able to work the details of several projects that are vital to them, that they would not have

necessarily been able to accomplish without our

help,” she said.

She’s taken the lead on projects such as organizing and ensuring 180 internet cafes were working

for the more than 140,000 troops stationed

throughout Iraq. 

“When I got here, it was a mess, because not all

the cafes were set up, there were parts missing,

broken assets and no way to fix it. Our team came

up with a solution where we tracked each internet

café, brought in laptops and satellite phone systems and got the program manageable. I think of

this as one of the big success stories from the past

four months,” she said.

Another successful mission was for her to assist

in ensuring that the commanding general had reliable communications to his subordinate commanders. Two of the major problem areas

involved poor infrastructure in the country and

frequency dead spots. The team not only provided

a primary solution, but also second and third back

up systems so that now comm or lack of comm is

never an issue.

Her boss, Maj. Kenneth Patterson, chief of operations and plans for MNC-I communications, said

the success of this project was a direct result of

working in the joint environment and that the Air

Force, along with Marine support, kept this critical

aspect of the mission working.

“It also makes it fun to come to work,” he said.

“Whether we’re working on moving the Koreans

into Irbil or working information assurance issues,

there’s value added. The Air Force is able to work

certain issues better because they speak the language to their counterparts or can work the airfield

issues perhaps a little more efficiently than if we

were doing it.”

He said that with the three or four month

turnover for Air Force members, it can be a challenge in continuity, but that bringing in people

with fresh ideas and new enthusiasm is worth it.

Vrosh’s enthusiasm is still high, she said, even

as she prepares to head back to the 100th

Communications Squadron based at Royal Air

Force Mildenhall, England.

“I’ve been here during a very historic time and

to see the vast improvements even in four months

have been dramatic,” she said. “To think that I was

here during the transition of power, to have

Saddam be read the charges against him, and to see

the beginnings of a new Iraq have been part of this

incredible experience. And, I’m just glad to have

been part of bringing communications to our

young troops on the front lines who work long

hours, in the heat, and just doing such hard work.

To have them be able to send a note home or pay

their bills or have some entertainment has been

rewarding. And to ensure that our commanders can

communicate to leaders in the field is a critical part

of the mission that I’ve been proud to be part of.”

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 7

Iraq in Brief

Iraq's Central Criminal Court convicts AIF members

BAGHDAD, Iraq — During the past week, the Central

Criminal Court of Iraq tried five cases related to anti-Iraqi force

activities directed against multinational forces and the security of

Iraq.

A defendant was found guilty July 26 and sentenced to six

months in prison for possession of explosives and a detonation

device buried near his home Dec. 27, 2003. 

The court sentenced a defendant to one year in prison for possession of illegal weapons July 27. An informant had told multinational forces that the defendant possessed and was selling weapons. A

search of his home around July 13, 2003 discovered several

weapons, including mortar rounds and tubes, RPGs, hand grenades,

rifles, and night-vision goggles. 

During a second case tried July 27, a defendant was sentenced to

30 years in prison for possession of illegal weapons found in the

trunk of his car April 13, 2003 at an MNF checkpoint. 

On July 28, a defendant was tried on charges related to possession of IED-making materials. The court sentenced him to 18

months in prison. He was found not guilty of a charge of possessing explosives.

As of the end of July, 37 criminal cases involving 55 defendants

have been tried before the Central Criminal Court of Iraq for AIF

activities directed against multinational forces and the security of

Iraq. These trials resulted in 49 insurgents being convicted with sentences ranging from six months to 30 years. AIF are turned over to

the Iraqi Corrections Service after their convictions for imprisonment. 

Court gives AIF member 4-year prison sentence

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two brothers appeared before the Central

Criminal Court of Iraq Sunday on charges related to their apprehension and detention for possession of illegal weapons, entering

pleas of not guilty. One brother was convicted and sentenced to four

years in prison. The other was found not guilty.

Multinational forces apprehended the two May 11, when their

truck was stopped and searched at a traffic control point. In the back

of the vehicle, under a burlap tarp, Soldiers discovered three

135mm mortar rounds, two of which were packed with explosives

and blasting caps. According to testimony presented during the

trial, one of the brothers said through a translator during questioning, “I wanted to kill Americans because Allah will protect me.”

Along with other evidence, the three-judge panel ruling on the

case considered the defendants’' claim that one of the brothers was

unaware of the weapons in the back of the truck, lending to the

court's decision of finding one guilty of the charges, and the other

not guilty. 

The Central Criminal Court was established in June 2003 as an

Iraqi national court. All judges, prosecutors and defense counsel are

Iraqi. Its mandate involves hearing cases that threaten the security

and stability of Iraq.

Iraqi Intervention Force assumes mission

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Intervention Force formally took

responsibility for part of the 1st Cavalry Division's area of operation of Abu Dashir of the Al Rashid district in Baghdad July 31.

This is the first time that an IIF unit has taken control of a sector. 

The IIF will take on missions that are beyond the capabilities of

the Iraqi National Guard, including arresting high profile terrorist,

or large cordon-and-search operations. 

1st ID Soldiers detain 7, including Muqtada Militia

member

TIKRIT, Iraq — 1st Infantry Division Soldiers detained seven

individuals while they were photographing a government building

in Najaf, July 28.

One of the individuals was identified as Ahsan Hadi Toman, a

member of the Muqtada Militia. Ahsan is suspected of being

responsible for kidnappings in the area. The Soldiers transported

the individuals to a multinational force base for questioning. 

Marines uncover mortars

FALLUJAH, Iraq —

Marines from the 1st

Marine Division seized a

record number of mortar

rounds July 26, successfully

preventing the transit of

lethal weapons that are

employed daily in attacks

against both Iraqi and

multinational forces.

Marines of 3rd Assault

Amphibian Battalion

stopped a pick-up truck

loaded with bags of grain at

a vehicle checkpoint

Monday. Upon a thorough

search of the vehicle’s contents, they discovered 219

60 mm mortar rounds concealed in the bags.

This find is significant to

the I Marine Expeditionary

Force area of operations

since roughly 40 percent of

the indirect fire attacks

within the Al Anbar

Province are mortar related

and are typically lowercaliber rounds.

Besides recovering the

mortar rounds, two men

were detained in connection

with the incident.

This find — considered

to be the single largest

cache of 60 mm mortar

rounds since I MEF took

control of the province in

March — is part of an

ongoing campaign to disarm anti iraqi forces who

stand in the way of a new

democratic Iraq.

An Iraqi man detained in connection

with the attempted smuggling of 219

60mm mortar rounds empties the

contents of grain sacks stacked in

the bed of his pick-up truck, July 26.

Story and photo 

submitted by I Marine

Expeditionary Force

Public Affairs 

Air Force communications

vital to Army effort in Iraq

By Master Sgt. Karen Petitt

Multi-National Corps-Iraq Public Affairs
CAMP MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq —

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd

Marines fashioned themselves the latest

in Humvee innovations. It’s got a candyapple red finish and is destined to cruise

the hottest spots around camp. 

After all, that’s whole point of a fire

truck. 

Marines created their own firefighting

machine after two fires erupted on the

camp. The fire truck was made from a

Humvee and spare parts lying around

and though a little crude, it fits the bill.

“The chances of us getting an actual fire

truck down here were none, so we had to

create our own,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey

S. Goodfred, a 26-year-old Jacksonville,

N.C., battalion motor transport chief for

the battalion. “With some water tanks and

a little ingenuity, the Marines had a functioning fire truck built in one day. I’ve

never seen anything like it before.”

The fire truck was built from a

humvee that didn’t have armor attached,

making it ideal for the Marine’s purposes. Two water tanks, totaling a 500-gallon capacity, were mounted to the back

of the truck. It was up to the Marines to

find the materials to create a water pump

capable of spraying the water. One corporal with experience fighting fires took

charge of the design and production of

the battalion’s newest weapon.

“I designed it after a brush truck which

is the type of vehicle we use for fighting

fires in the woods,” explained Cpl.

Bryan M. Voelker, a 23-year-old motor

transport driver from Clinton, Conn. “It’s

basically a four-wheel drive vehicle with

a tank on the back.”

Voelker worked for the fire department

in Clinton and had some knowledge of

the type of truck they needed to build. 

“For a fire truck built with absolutely

no blueprint and no professional standards, it does its job really well,” he

added.

Marines fit square pegs into round

holes, using whatever parts they could

scrounge. The construction of the vehicle

was a headache from the start. 

“The pump was an Iraqi pump we had

sitting on the base. We tried to hook it up

to the water tanks but there was a problem,” Voelker explained. “The hoses

coming from the pump to the tank were

the wrong sizes. We just stripped down a

water heater we had around and solved

the problem. Just a usual case of making

the wrong pieces work for the right job.”

Attaching the water tanks, pump and

50-foot hoses to the humvee was done

within a day. Still, there is more to this

fire truck than meets the eye.

“This fire truck is as complete as we

could make it,” Goodfred said. “We

attached a ladder, an axe and a few

extinguishers in case of an electrical fire.

In addition we also hooked up a siren

and a strobe for the interior lights.”

Goodfred said that, except for the

Dalmation, it was a working replica of

the brush truck.

“We’re thinking of getting one of the

local strays and just painting him with

dots so we can have a Dalmation to ride

around in the truck with us,” Goodfred

joked.

When the truck was first outfitted it

was a nightmare to see work, Voelker

explained.

“I didn’t have doubts that it would

work, just that it would work right,” he

said. “Because we were using left-behind

parts that weren’t designed to fit together, everything leaked and the pump

seized up. We worked with it, attached

some clamps and pretty soon it was

ready to go.”

The 500-gallon tanks were fine for a

small fire but for larger ones, the

Marines needed a little more back up.

“We knew we would run out of water

if there was a big fire, so the fire truck

was outfitted to be filled by our 7-ton

water truck while operating,” Goodfred

said.

Voelker explained the process.

“I remembered that normally a fire

truck will hook up to a hydrant for more

water, so I attached a T-clamp to the

hose so it could run off of the tanks or

another source of water,” he said.

The truck was painted and now stands

ready. Some of the Marines in

Headquarters and Service Company with

firefighting backgrounds were selected to

be on the fire team in case a fire breaks

out again.

“I’ve seen what a fire can do to someone and I pray we never have to use this

fire truck,” Voelker said. “But it’s here,

just in case.”

Others in the battalion are very happy

the fire truck is up and running, especially those who know the dangers of fires.

“It’s not just important we have a fire

truck here, it’s absolutely necessary,”

said Sgt. Jason B. Zirk, a 25 year-old

machine gunner from Blacksburg, Va. 

Zirk was also a member of his town’s

volunteer fire department and has dealt

with over 20 fires during his career. 

“Anything that burns can be an issue

here,” he added. “We have to worry

about everything from hot shrapnel to

smoking.

“We have a saying,” Zirk added.

“Smoke eaters everywhere will find a

way to make do and put the wet stuff on

the red stuff.”

Page 8 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Iraq-deployed

Lejeune battalion

creates own 

fire truck

Story and photos by 

Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

1st Marine Division

Marines spared no detail, even

naming their newest addition to

their humvee fleet at 2nd Battalion,

2nd Marine Regiment. 

Marines from the motor transport section of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine

Regiment who created this fire truck are also the new fire department at

Camp Mahmudiyah. The truck is capable of carting 500 gallons of water

any place a humvee can go. It was created from spare parts lying around

because of the need to have a firetruck where none were available.

Marines’ big

red machine

Cpl. Bryan M. Voelker, a motor transport driver from Clinton, Conn., tests

the hose on his creation. The 23-year-old worked for the fire department

in Clinton and used his knowledge to help build 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine

Regiment's first fire truck.
MOSUL, Iraq — In a room with a vaulted ceiling that

echoed the loud thuds and whams of every baton swing,

new Iraqi corrections officers trained with new equipment

funded by multinational forces.

The equipment arrived at the conclusion of the new officers’ six-day training phase that took place at the Mosul

Regional Confinement Facility July 12. About $200,000

worth of collapsible batons, athletic wear, bags and body

shields was distributed to the officers. Following the distribution, correction officers together with multinational forces

trained on the new equipment. 

“This equipment and training will build confidence in the

new officers while providing protection against thrown

objects and attackers in a riot situation,” said Sgt. 1st Class

Ron Miko, of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion Public Safety

Team, who was the primary instructor for this class of new

officers.

Miko developed the training course from his civilian

experience as a corrections instructor in the United States.

The 416th is an Army Reserve Unit headquartered in

Norristown, Pa.

“These guys, coming in, had no previous experience in

this kind of field at all,” Miko said. “I am completely

amazed at how well they have done with all of the training.”

The training was administered by Miko, his assistant

trainer, Cpl. Anthony Chaney, and Master Sgt. Chris

Cortazzo. They lined the officers up with their shields in one

arm and their batons (enclosed in training padding) in the

other. Rushing into the line with a blocking pad, the trainers

tested how the officers would fight off would-be attackers

utilizing the new shields. 

“During the training, we really wanted to focus on using

proper technique and the right form with the new shields

and batons,” Chaney said.

At the Mosul facility that holds 750 prisoners, the new

officers will be used as a quick-reaction force with their specialty being crowd and riot control. 

“I am happy with this class of officers,” said Capt. Azhar,

the director of the Correction Officer Academy at MRCF. “I

am thankful for the help of the (416th) Public Safety Team,

for all of the training and equipment they have supplied us

with.”

After the training exercise, the new officers give highfives and shook the hands of their multinational forces trainers. The Soldiers themselves seem to know the name of or

have a nick-name for almost everyone they see. 

“I am very proud of everything these guys have learned

during this course,” said Chaney. “I think they will really be

able to perform their job well.”

BAGHDAD, Iraq —

Soldiers of the 1st Battalion,

509th Infantry Regiment from

Fort Polk, La., get paid to play

the opposing force when they

help train the rest of the Army

at home station. Here, they are

fighting alongside the good

guys.

Soldiers from 1-509th

Infantry and the 58th Combat

Engineer Company from Fort

Irwin, Calif., took a break from

their training cycles to fight

alongside the 2nd Brigade

Combat Team Commandos, of

the 10th Mountain Division, in

Iraq.

In training, both units roleplay as “the enemy,” or opposing forces, with 1-509th

Infantry conducting attacks at

Joint Readiness Training Center,

and 58th Engineers planting

obstacles at the National

Training Center. Both say they

have much to offer the

Commandos.

Soldiers from both units said

they enjoy playing OPFOR and

helping train other troops for

potential situations for when

they deploy to Iraq or to other

missions around the world.

“We get to play the bad

guys,” said Spc. BenjaminJames Yates, 58th Engineers.

“It’s pretty fun. It helps units

learn what they have to do. We

get to train the Army.”

This is the first time since

World War II that 1-509th

Infantry has deployed. Despite

this, Spc. Jason Halstead, 1-

509th Infantry, said his unit is

well suited for combat in Iraq.

Their numerous training rotations as opposition forces give

them a unique perspective on

enemy activity in Iraq.

“It will probably be easier for

us to spot enemy attacks or an

IED [improvised explosive

device] because we do the same

thing in training,” he said. “It’s

too early to say, but we think it

helps.”

Halstead said his unit trained

against many units in the Army,

including the 10th Mountain

Division. Although he is proud

to say 1-509th Infantry never

loses, he gave credit to

Commando Soldiers and said he

is glad to serve alongside them.

“We gave them a hard fight

(at JRTC),” he said. “We’re just

glad to be here and get a chance

to finally join in the fight.”

Soldiers from 58th Engineers

also boasted of their record of

wins at Fort Irwin. Some said

their constant training as

enemy engineers will pay dividends in Iraq.

“Everything they (insurgents)

do in Iraq, we did (as

OPFOR,)” Yates said. “We look

for weaknesses in convoy

movements, watch guard shifts.

We’re a step ahead of everyone

because the way they fight is

the way we train.”

First Lt. Marc Stevenson, 58th

Engineers executive officer, disagreed that their role as OPFOR

in training gives them a major

advantage, noting the enemy is

not laying conventional mine

fields or doing similar engineer

work. He did say, however, the

training they received in the past

few months was a major benefit

to their preparations. 

“What will help us is the

Soldier skills training we did in

the past two months,”

Stevenson said. “I’m very surprised at how quickly we adapted.”

Soldiers from both units said

their training rotations back

home gives them a great advantage in Iraq

“Every year, we do 10 to 12

month-long training rotations,”

Yates said. “We’re constantly

training. To us, this is just like

Fort Irwin.”

Solders from both units said

they are eager to work with the

Commando Brigade in their area

of responsibility. Whether training against Army units or fighting alongside them, these units

will always play the role of hero.

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 9

Training units bring experience

Story and photo by

Pfc. Matthew McLaughlin

10th Mountain Division

Public Affairs

The power of the shield

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, of the Joint Readiness Training

Center, Fort Polk, La., and the 58th Combat Engineer Company, of the National Training

Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., joined 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in

Iraq. Normally, 1-509th Infantry and 58th Engineers play opposing forces, spending their

time training other units. In Iraq, they will fight alongside 2nd BCT.

Story and photo by Spc. Gretel Sharpee

139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Cpl. Anthony Chaney, of the 416th Civil

Affairs Battalion Public Safety Team,

braces for the baton swing of a new Iraqi

corrections officer in a shield-training exercise conducted by Chaney and other members of the Public Safety Team July 12 at

the Mosul Regional Confinement Facility. 
now run the tower.

Before the Iraqis could operate

the tower by themselves,

explained Flight Lt. Paul Hart, an

Australian air traffic controller,

they had to have a refresher

course on tower operations. All

of the Iraqi controllers had experience under Saddam Hussein’s

regime, however, the skill is one

that must be constantly used so

as to not get rusty, said Hart.

Under the leadership of RAAF

Wing Commander Angela

Rhodes, the Australian contingent trained their Iraqi counterparts so that they could be able

to run the international airport by

themselves.

“The Iraqis have been enthusiastic and professional,” said

Rhodes. “It’s not our job to stay

here, but rather our job to give

this back to the Iraqi people.

We’re pleased and honored to

have come to this point.”

The airport is up and running,

guiding the landing and takeoffs

of more than 50 commercial

flights a day, according to Hart.

This includes international passenger flights from Royal

Jordanian Air as well as humanitarian relief flights, bringing

supplies to Iraq.

To manage the flow of traffic

through BIAP’s airspace, as well

as working with the multinational forces that also use the airport,

GECA purchased new equipment to be installed in the tower.

The previous equipment was

about 20 years old, said Alan

Livingston, a civilian Australian

air traffic controller, who

worked on installing the new

components.

The tower, as well as the airport terminal, is very modern in

their design, said RAAF Flying

Officer Michael Skinner, an

Australian air traffic controller.

The potential for BIAP to

become a major international

hub is there, he said, adding that

the resolve and strong work ethic

of the Iraqi controllers will make

BIAP’s success possible.

Over the past few months the

Australians and their Iraqi counterparts have worked hard to

establish a strong working relationship, said Hart. While the

main responsibilities of running

the tower on a day-to-day basis

fell upon the Australians, they

slowly worked the Iraqis into the

routine so that once the

Australians left, they would be

able to run in on their own.

“We’ve gone from being occupiers to advisors,” said Stephen

Atkinson, an air traffic manager

from the U.S. Federal Aviation

Administration who worked

alongside the Australians in

preparing the Iraqis to run the

tower.

After the Australians leave,

Atkinson will stay behind as an

advisor to the Iraqi air traffic

controllers, adding that he feels

the tower is being left in capable

hands.

“The way in which the

Australians have treated the

Iraqi people and the way

they’ve trained them is remarkable,” he said.

Page 10 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

SACRIFICE Continued from page six

join the ING. One recruit said he did not

like the deaths of the soldiers but he was

not afraid of it.

“The terrorists were trying to discourage people from joining the ING with

their attack,” Ahamy said. “In the days

following it we have had many, many

men come to us wanting to join. They

see the attack as proof they are needed.

Terrorists will not win here.”

The soldiers gathered the remains of

their fallen and draped them with an

Iraqi flag. A ceremony was held on the

compound before turning the fallen over

to their families. Iraqi officers visited the

families of the two men during the funeral ceremonies to offer their condolences.

“Their death makes a vibration that is

felt in the town. The people want the violence to stop,” Haair said. “We all know

we must work hard and be responsible

for that to happen. We support the soldiers’ sacrifice by continuing their holy

duty to make that happen.” 

For the Marines’ part, the sacrifice of

the two Iraqi soldiers is indicative of the

resolve of their comrades.

“I had confidence before this incident,” Jackson said. “I’ve seen what

these guys are trying to do. We need to

invest time in them and work with them

and get them their gear.”

Flying Officer Michael Skinner, an air-traffic controller,

records an incoming flight on the board at Baghdad

International Airport. Australian forces handed back authority of the airport to the Iraqi government, August 1.

METZ

Continued from Page two

political solution first, and then build a

plan of how they’re going to solve it,”

said Metz.

“I don’t want to go do that “can-do”

mission that we’re fully capable of

doing until the Iraqis have built their

plan, [and] shown us how they’re going

to support the political end of it,” he

said. In this manner, the multinational

forces should then be gradually fading

further into the background.

I know that the multinational forces

can handle the tactical operations

required of this war, said Metz. 

“But if we keep doing it ourselves,

we build that friction and animosity.

Instead, we have to do it as a partner of

the Iraqis, at their request. If you do it

the correct way, you will gain support

from the people.” 

Metz cited patience as paramount to

the final outcome. 

“What you don’t want to do is rush to

failure,” he said. “[We] want to have

the tactical patience to include the

Iraqis and let the Iraqis participate

through their planning process.” 

Metz cited Iraq’s many resources,

such as oil, water, and fertile land, as

the foundation for a thriving economy.

“I want it to be as prosperous as it can,

because that prosperity could make it

one of the great nations of the world,

much more than a boomtown,” he said.

With screwdriver ready to remove its

training wheels, Multi-National CorpsIraq is preparing Iraq for that first solo

two-wheel ride.

CHENEY Continued from page three 

a dictator. Today, Saddam Hussein is in

jail. 

“Sixteen months ago, 25 million people in Iraq lived in repression, fearful of

torture or death,” he continued. “Now

they are free and protected by an Iraqi

bill of rights and preparing to elect their

own leaders. 

“Sixteen months ago Iraq was a gathering threat to the United States and the

civilized world. Now it is a rising

democracy, an ally in the war on terror

and the American people are safer for it.” 

Cheney thanked the Marines preparing to return to Iraq for a second time.

“Your mission in Iraq is critical to the

future security of the United States,” he

said. 

The vice president said that to fully

and finally overcome the terror threat,

the United States is encouraging hope

and democracy in the Middle East as an

alternative to the hatred and the despair

that lead to violence. 

He promised the Marines the president

will back them up 100 percent. “We will

ensure you have the best possible equipment to do your mission, to make sure

you receive the pay increases you

deserve, and support the military families here at home,” Cheney said. “We

will keep that commitment to you.” 

ING Continued from page one 

Sami Mokssin Ali, a squad leader. “I vow

to my country that we will do everything

we can to catch the terrorists in this area.” 

The training for the Iraqi soldiers

began at the individual level with

weapons training, physical training and

movement techniques. After the soldiers

became proficient at their tasks, they

learned how to operate at the squad and

platoon level and eventually the company

level. 

During the course, the Iraqis patrolled

the streets of Qayarrah with multinational forces and simulated a large-scale raid.

According to the Soldiers who trained

them, the graduates are prepared to provide security for Qayarrah.

“The one thing that stuck out during

their training was that they were always

motivated and worked hard to do the job

right,” said Spc. Lee Williams, Company

C, 52nd Anti-Tank Infantry, whose unit

has helped train 21 Iraq National Guard

platoons. “If they fight anything like they

trained, then they will do good things in

this area.”

Sami said graduating basic training is

only the first step.

“I want to thank the Americans who

trained us,” he said. “We will take the

skills we learned and use them to

improve security in Qayarrah.”

BIAP Continued from page one 

Servicemembers are encouraged to submit

articles to the Coalition Scimitar. E-mail submissions to cpiccmdinfo@baghdadforum.com

Pfc. Bryce S. Dubee, U.S. Army
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — For Marines and Sailors

deployed to Iraq, the bright, red glow of a camcorder’s

record light takes the place of a nightlight when they read

bedtime stories to their children.

Through the Family Literacy Program, a deployed parent has the opportunity to be filmed while reading a book

to their child. A mini-DVD, which can be viewed in any

DVD player, is then sent to the child.

The program, a collaborative effort between I Marine

Expeditionary Force chaplains, the Armed Services

YMCA and the Walt Disney Company, provides resources

to forward-deployed Marines and Sailors that will aid the

positive promotion of literacy.

“One of the most difficult parts about being an activeduty Marine is being away from the children,” said

Annette L. Conway, the organizer of the Family Literacy

Program and wife of I MEF Commanding General Lt.

Gen. James T. Conway. “The program allows mom or dad

to parent, to laugh with the child and to continue to educate the child, even from half a world away. Seeing and

hearing dad keeps his love visible.”

Many Marines and Sailors with I MEF have access to

phones, but when a family can see the deployed parent or

husband with their own eyes, it gives a special assurance

of their safety, said Sgt. Michael A. Urteaga, the I MEF

Headquarters Group legal chief. 

“I did this for my daughter’s 10th birthday,” said the 28-

year-old Ventura, Calif., native. “Because of deployments

and training I’ve missed five of her birthdays. Now I don’t

have to completely miss this one.” 

Urteaga said he plans on doing videos for his two other

children, including his 6-month-old daughter, who will see

her father’s face for the first time through the program. 

The program is currently available to all Marines

deployed to Iraq with I MEF. Chaplains from 1st Force

Service Support Group, 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine

Aircraft Wing and MHG are providing the necessary supplies needed to make the video greetings possible for their

Marines and Sailors. 

“It’s a rewarding experience to be in a situation to have

an impact on (a) Marine’s morale and livelihood,” said

Petty Officer 1st Class Johnnie L. Boyd, the I MHG chaplain’s assistant. 

“I wish so much that we had had the technology to have

the program for our kids,” said Conway.

The Conway family, however, did something similar,

and witnessed the first-hand results. 

“Jim taped stories and animal sounds for our two year

old and three month old,” said Conway. “When Jim got

home, Brandon knew all the animal sounds, and Scott recognized his dad by his voice.”

CAMP MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq —

Local Iraqis working on the camp here

are not just keeping up with the daily

chores but also earning a consistent wage

that’s a scarcity to most.

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd

Marine Regiment enjoy showers and electricity because of the daily work of the

Iraqis on the camp through local contracts. But Iraqis are benefiting, too. They

have steady employment and competitive

wages for Iraq.

“We’ve put $750,000 into the local

community for the contracts here so far.

Because of that, we have port-a-johns,

showers, power, air conditioning and

everything the Marines here enjoy,” said

1st Lt. James A. Rivers, a 27-year-old

supply officer from Chester, S.C. “The

contractors provide both quality of life

and survivability to the Marines here.”

On any given day, Marines can see

large tractors and forklifts moving things

around the base. Behind the wheel is usually a local Iraqi. Every day they are on

the base improving the living conditions

and maintaining things Marines already

enjoy.

“We’d be living with a lot more health

hazards if they weren’t here,” Rivers said.

Working with the Iraqis does present

challenges to the Marines here. Besides

the obvious language barrier, there is also

a different cultural mindset about work.

“It’s hard to get them to come to work

from eight in the morning until five at

night. They like to come in at nine and

work until three,” said Sgt. Chris R.

Bentley, a 23-year-old logistics embarkation specialist from Tyler, Texas. “Once

we get past the problems with language

and work ethic, it’s easy to develop

friendships with the guys we see every

day.”

Bentley went on to say that many Iraqis

will gladly work extra hours or do work

that has nothing to do with their contract

because of the friendships made. In

exchange for the work, the Marines are

sure to repay the laborers.

“If we need something done right away

and it takes them all night to do it, then

we give them a day off or some extra

pay,” Bentley said. “But most of the time

when they go above and beyond for us,

we do things like make sure their pay is

on time and correct and treat them as well

as we can.”

Bentley also credited the Iraqis for

learning new skills. Job training or vocational schools are nonexistent here, so any

specialty skill requires Marines to demonstrate and supervise.

“Back in the States, our heavy equipment operators have licenses and certifications,” Bentley said. “They don’t have

anything like that here, so we have to

manage them to make sure the work gets

done to the quality we expect.”

The work is welcome among the Iraqis,

however. The pay in U.S. dollars is the

same that someone in the United States

would make for the same job. This fuels

the people to work and boosts the economy.

“We had this guy named Joseph who

did regular work for us. When he first

came to work here he was dressed pretty

shabby. You could tell he was poor,”

Bentley said. “After a while he started

showing up with dentures to replace his

teeth, newer clothes; you could tell he

was doing a lot better because of what we

were paying him.”

Local contractors are happy to help the

Marines, as well, they said. In addition to

providing for their families, many also

feel they are doing their part to rebuild

their country’s economy.

“I think the Coalition Forces are the

best for changing the system. All my

workers enjoy having their jobs and providing for their families,” said one contract foreman on the condition of

anonymity. 

“Security is sometimes an issue, but we

take many precautions. We’re just happy

to be helping to rebuild.”

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 11

Marines provide jobs for local community 

Story and photo by 

Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

1st Marine Division

Petty Officer First Class Johnnie L. Boyd, the I

Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters

Group chaplain's assistant, tapes Sgt. Micheal

A. Urteaga, the I MHG legal chief and Ventura,

Calif. native, reading a children's story at the

Camp Fallujah, Iraq, chapel July 23, 2004.

An Iraqi contractor secures the steel cables on a generator before it is lifted into place. Local contractors provide everything from electricity to

showers for the Marines at Camp Mahmudiyah. Recently the battalion

upgraded to this one megawatt generator. 

Leatherneck lullabyes from Iraq

Story and photo by Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord

I Marine Expeditionary Force 
CAMP MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq —

Iraqi police have taken a leap forward in

gaining control of their own streets with

the help of the Marines.

A group of Iraqi policemen formed a

new elite team called Task Force Cobra,

designed to take down anti-Iraqi forces

near the city southwest of Fallujah. The

team is being trained by Marine

reservists who are policemen in their

daily lives back in the United States.

They are assigned to the 1st Marine

Division as part of the Iraqi Police

Liaison Team.

“You’re all making history today. Ten

years from now, your children will read

in their history books about what you’re

doing here today,” said Maj. Mark P.

DeVito, the civil affairs team leaders for

2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment

from San Diego. “They’ll learn how the

people of Mahmudiyah were afraid.

They’ll learn how you changed that.”

The Iraqi men are roughly equivalent

to the American version of a Special

Weapons and Tactics Team, or SWAT.

The Cobras gathered together at the

Iraqi National Guard compound here

for four days of advance police training

classes.

“These men are the leaders of their

police stations. We’re trying to instill this

training in them so they can pass it on to

their fellow policemen,” said Cpl.

William P. Schultz, a 26-year-old former

police officer from Richmond, Ill. “We

can’t teach everything in four days but

we hope we can teach the basics. It’s up

to them to keep practicing what we teach

and keep it fresh.”

A different aspect of the skills a

policeman possesses was taught each

day. The IPLT used five-hour instructional periods to pass on their knowledge.

“The first day we go over ethics. It’s

pretty dry material but is important for

the men here to know,” Schultz said.

The Iraqi group was shown a slide

show that outlined all the morals and

ethics that police officers must carry to

do their job. Topics such as not accepting

gifts for services and not putting one’s

tribe above one’s duty were covered.

The second day brought the Cobra

Team a few more classes. These were on

police survival in a tactical environment.

The third and fourth days gave the

policemen the opportunity to try their

hand at room clearing and handcuffing

techniques.

“We hope these men leave with more

pride for what they do,” Schultz

explained. “It should make them a lot

more proactive on the job.”

The policemen enjoyed the practical

application sections of the training.

“We find that people have the most

fun when they can get hands-on with the

training,” he added. “Getting out of the

classroom environment makes them

more receptive.”

The four-day classes are offered in lieu

of being able to attend the police academy in Ramadi. Because of the distance

from Mahmudiyah, the IPLT travels to

different police districts to pass on the

training.

“I’ve noticed Iraqis learn differently

when we teach these classes. In Ramadi

you find a lot of educated men,” Schulz

said. “In the south they’re not so well

educated but they have more discipline.

So you have to keep that in mind when

teaching.”

Schultz also said motivation among

the different groups also lends to the

course. The more willing they are to

learn the more in depth the instructors

can go into the subject.

Whether the class is motivated or not

doesn’t affect the quality of training they

receive or its results, however.

“Any time they receive training, it

builds confidence in the job they do.

They just have to be sure it is continued and reinforced,” said Sgt. Jim L.

Marble, a 36-year-old from Kansas

City, Kan., who has served on his city’s

SWAT team. “Overall this class helps

to identify all these men as leaders and

men who will go the extra step. These

are the guys who will be the role models for their departments.”

Page 12 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Task Force Cobra ready to strike

Story and photos by 

Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

1st Marine Division

Above and Left: Sgt. Jim L. Marble demonstrates take-down and handcuffing techniques to Iraqi police who are forming a new group called

Task Force Cobra, patterned after Special Weapons and Tactics or

SWAT teams in the United States. 

Local policemen from Task Force Cobra recently participated in a fourday advanced police tactics training package. Part of the training

involved room-clearing techniques. Supervising was Sgt. Jim L. Marble,

a 36-year-old Kansas City, Kan., who served on his hometown's SWAT

team and is now part of the police liaison team conducting the class.

Marines train

up elite group

within Iraqi

police forces

Register and request your 2004 

General Election ballot now. 

Make your vote count!

See your unit Voting Assistance 

Officer for more information.
CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq —

Marines from 1st Light Armored

Reconnaissance Battalion use socks

for other reasons than just to cover

their feet. 

Patrolling the western border of

Iraq can take a toll on the Marines

and water is a must for them to drink

in the hot temperatures that reach

well over one hundred degrees every

day in the summer. 

Marines 1st LAR discovered the

“sock method” to beat the heat and

cool off the water. The story if not

the socks might sound a little ripe.

Still, those who use it, would bet

their boot, err .. socks, on it.

The first trick is to make sure

there’s an extra sock in the pack.

Socks straight off the feet, especially to Marines in the field for days

and weeks at time, are just too

funky.

Step two, wet the sock, seal up a

plastic water bottle inside and set it

in the shade for about ten minutes.

The end result is cool and refreshing,

at least to a grunt slogging through

scorching temperatures.

“It is a quicker way to cool down

when you don’t have any ice available to you,” said Staff Sgt. Vince

Peralta, a 30-year-old platoon sergeant for Weapons Company from

Los Angeles. “Using the sock is better than just drinking hot water and

there is a huge difference. That’s why

we always use it.”

Marines unfamiliar with the sock

method were hesitant at first but once

the word got out as the thermometer

climbed, everyone’s daypack included a spare sock.

“I didn’t believe it at first cause it

didn’t sound like it was real,” said

Cpl. Robert D. Brooks, a 22-year-old

from Ypsilanti, Mich. “Then I tried it

and it convinced me. It actually

works.

If it sounds, well, stinky, Brooks

said think about the alternative when

the water’s been heating under the

desert sun.

“Drinking hot water makes you

sick to your stomach,” he said.

The method itself is nothing new.

Desert bags were popular for

Marines during the 1990-91 Persian

Gulf War. The square canvas bags

would be filled and soaked on the

outside. The idea is the moisture on

the outside wicks away the heat as

it evaporates. As long as the cloth

covering — in this case, the old

socks — stays wet, the drink stays

cool.

“The key thing to all this is once

you pour water on the sock you have

to keep it in the shade or else it will

take longer to cool down,” Peralta

said. “But on any given hot day you

will catch me using the sock method

just so that I can have cold water to

drink.” 

The socks might sound like a crude

method, but it’s perfectly palatable to

the Marines who use it.

“I love it, cause I don’t like hot

water at all, even when I take shower

I don’t like to use hot water,” said

Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Crawford, 22,

from Salem, Ore. “I like to use the

sock method after making tea. I let it

sit and cool off.”

According to Crawford, everyone

in LAR pretty much uses the sock

method to cool down the water. 

“I guess it’s an LAR thing,”

Crawford said. “It helps Marines stay

hydrated and they enjoy drinking the

cool water. It helps beat the heat.”

Some platoons carry ice, but the

Marines say the ice melts and the

water just gets hot.

“Ice don’t last long in this heat,”

Brooks said. “So our alternative is

the sock method. Once people try the

sock method, they stick to it.”

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 13

Problem with the heat?

Story and photo by 

Sgt. Jose L. Garcia

1st Marine Division

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq — Saddam

Hussein might take little heart in knowing he’s the rage when it comes to souvenir-hunting Marines.

Marines here are stocking up small

stacks of Iraqi dinar notes featuring the

former dictator’s likeness. Iraq’s got a

new currency, but there’s still plenty of

the old stuff floating around and Marines

are stuffing it away as keepsakes.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,”

said Gunnery Sgt. Noe Villa, a 35-yearold from San Diego who serves as staff

noncommissioned officer in charge of

2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s

civil affairs team. “Maybe the money

will increase, maybe not. I know family

back home likes it when I send them the

money with Saddam’s picture.”

The new Iraqi dinar has been going at

a rate of 10 million a day to people on

base who hope to offer family members

and loved ones interesting gifts.

“The money right now is virtually

worthless,” said Tom Reilly, 58, an

employee of Kellogg, Brown and Root’s

Human Resources Department from

Medway, Mass. “The value may or may

not go up. If anything though it will

make for a great gift. I know people like

getting money from foreign countries.

It’s a great novelty item.”

The business had been good for local

merchants who sell the invaluable, yet

in-demand, Iraqi currency.

“I sell out everyday,” said Raid Nahee

Fnesh, 23, manager of the local Al

Aobedadi Shop from Baghdadi, Iraq. “I

bring ten million dinar everyday from a

bank in Baghdad. It is really good business, sells better than the cigars and cigarettes.”

Fnesh sells a million dinar for $770,

around 1,300 dinar per dollar. He said

between 50 and 60 people come in to

buy it daily. The money comes from a

Baghdad bank where Fnesh takes a taxi

every five months to cash in.

“I make a good profit,” Fnesh

explained. “But the road to Baghdad is

dangerous so the taxi ride costs a lot of

money, but it’s worth it.”

Military personnel are also becoming

interested, buying new and old money,

which sell for six bills to the dollar.

Most of those who are buying the currency understand the money may never

amount to much. But, most can’t resist

sending home local currency to family

members as reminders of their deployment.

“I look at it like if I were in Las

Vegas,” Reilly said. “If anything, I can

always get my money back. But, this

place isn’t exactly a tourist destination. I

plan on this being my only trip here. It’s

much better than filling my shampoo

bottle full of sand.”

Cpl. Robert D. Brooks, 22, from Ypsilanti,

Mich., an infantryman with 1st Light Armored

Reconnaissance Battalion, uses a sock to

cool his water bottle. Marines from 1st LAR

wet the sock, insert a water bottle inside and

let it sit in the shade for about ten minutes

and drink down the cool water.

Then put a

sock in it

Marines stock up on dinar as souvenirs

Story and photo by 

Cpl. Macario P. Mora Jr.

1st Marine Division

Cpl. Mark A. Reynolds, 25, a military policeman assigned to 2nd Battalion,

7th Marine Regiment from Cettering, Ohio, buys $20 worth of Iraqi currency. Reynolds, as well as other military service members and contract

civilian employees, have been buying Iraqi currency featuring Saddam

Hussein's image as souvenirs. 
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Widely regarded as the world’s premier battle tank,

the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry

Regiment’s M1A2 Systems

Enhancement Package Abrams are a

vital part of the 1st Cavalry Division’s

mission in eastern Baghdad. 

Their tanks fought on the front lines

during the Muqtada Militia uprising in

April, and today they are used to conduct improvised explosive device

sweeps on some of the most dangerous

routes in Iraq. 

When an Abrams Tank goes down for

repairs or maintenance, the tank crew

works together with tank maintenance

to get it back on mission as soon as

possible. 

“Our main focus is to make sure all

our tanks are up,” 1st Sgt. Luis Freyre,

of Company A, 2-8 Cav., said. “[When

one goes down, the] priority is to get

the tank up as quick as possible.”

Frequent missions and the extreme

temperatures of Baghdad take their toll

on the Abrams, said Staff Sgt. Kendall

Titus, the maintenance supervisor for

the ‘Aces’ combat repair team. The

Soldiers on Titus’s team are specially

trained to work on Abrams tanks. Part

of the team works all night to make

sure a tank that needs repairs is ready

for the next day’s mission. 

“The guys do good maintenance, and

we’ve got a great maintenance team,

but you’re fighting the elements here,

too,” Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Miller, an

Aces platoon sergeant with 16 years of

tank experience, said. “We’re putting a

lot of miles on our vehicles, and at the

same time with the excessive heat, it’s

a tank, it runs hot anyway, and we’re in

120-to-130 degree temperatures. You’re

going to start to see some thermal problems.”

Considering the extreme conditions,

Titus doesn’t think his crew makes an

abnormal amount of repairs. They

expected the tanks to get a lot of usage

in Baghdad, so they were well prepared

for the mission here. Still, when a tank

goes down, it’s a big deal for the

tankers and the maintenance team. 

“When it goes down, it feels like part

of you,” Staff Sgt. George Grullon, an

Aces tank commander, said. “It’s like

being hurt, that’s why we take it seriously. We try to bring it back up as

soon as possible. That way we can continue on with our mission.”

Being part of tank crew is like being

part of a family, Grullon said, who

shares a tradition of tanking with his

brother and grandfather. The familylike camaraderie that tankers share

extends to the maintenance crew

Soldiers who help keep the tanks running, Miller said. 

“Most tank crews are genuinely concerned about their tanks and they give

us a lot of help,” Titus said. “It takes

two hands to clap. To make that sound

you have to have two hands, the crew is

one hand; the maintenance team is the

other hand. We come together and try

to keep the product out there.”

Recently when Grullon’s tank, nicknamed Ali Baba, went down because it

needed a new turbine engine, Titus’s

night crew was on the scene. With help

from the tank crew, Ali Baba was back

on mission the next morning with a

brand new motor.

Page 14 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Tank techs get it done 

Story and photo by 

Spc. Andy Miller

122nd Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

Sgt. Thursha Maragh, an Abrams tank mechanic with Aces Company, 2nd

Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, prepares a turbine motor for installation.

Treasure found in Iraqi desert

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — You never know when

or where you might find hidden treasure. Many times

you find it when you least expect it. Sometimes that

treasure may be a chance to do something good for

someone and the consequences reach far beyond the

actual event. One such time was while Navy Seabees

from NMCB 74 worked with local Iraqi contractors to

build a tent camp for the Fallujah Brigade. 

Equipment Operator 3rd Class Nicodemus Duncan

was assigned to the Tactical Movement Team, which

escorted the builders to the site then provided security

while they worked. While on security one day he

noticed two boys who approached his vehicle to ask for

food and water. He recognized the boys from the day

before. One of them, named Hakid, would swim in a

large hole filled with water on the site. The other boy,

named Taka, did not swim in the water because he said

his father would be upset with him. After some talking

he asked if they could read English. They replied that

they could read a little bit. Duncan pulled a booklet out

of his cargo pocket and asked them to read the first paragraph. With a little help they could read most of it! 

This gave Duncan a chance to do something good for

two young Iraqis. The next day, Duncan

brought a copy of the swashbuckling

classic “Treasure Island” by

Robert Lois Stevenson.

That morning, Duncan

and the boys had the

opportunity to

share friendship

and read the first

chapter of the

book together.

Duncan has

a child of his

own at home

and looked at

the opportunity

to read with

these boys as a

way to help them

with their English

skills and help him learn

to read to his own child.

Duncan said he believes that,

over the next 20 years, Iraqi business

will grow and become international. He believes these

boys will need to know how to read English in order to

take part in this growing economy.

There is an interesting parallel we can

draw from the story of “Treasure

Island.” At times, in the story, it

was hard to tell whether the

character or Long John Silver

was good or bad, hero or

villain. The story seemed

destined to lead to more

and more violence.

However, the friendship young Jim

Hawkins shared with

the hard-to-trust Silver

helped win him over in

the end. In Iraq, where it

often seems difficult to

tell if the people around us

are friendly or not, every

kind act, no matter how small,

makes an impression that may

change the course of events for the

better down the road. By helping those

children better themselves, perhaps we in turn

bettered ourselves as well.

By Lt. Marc Massie, 

Chaplain

United States Naval Reserve
BAGHDAD, Iraq —

Organizers from the 2nd

Brigade Combat Team, 1st

Cavalry Division brought

together Soldiers and civilians

of Camp Blackjack and Camp

Victory alike in a “Brotherhood

of Bikers” gathering July 24.

“I’m a biker!” said the organizer of the event, Maj. Paul

Krantz, 2nd BCT’s Surgeon,

“And these are my brothers and

sisters!”

Krantz explained that he

wanted to provide an opportunity for individuals with a common passion, riding and working with motorcycles, a chance

to gather and have a good time.

Admission was free, but for

$5 attendees received a custom

T-shirt commemorating the

event and a raffle ticket for a

chance to win one of more than

$1,000 worth of prizes donated

by various motorcycle shops

around the Fort Hood, Texas

area.

“Once I started putting the

word out about trying to get this

all together, the help and support

just started pouring in,” said

Krantz, who rides a 2001 Harley

Fat-Boy that he’s customized

into a Road King. “Folks from

KBR [Kellog, Brown and Root]

donated food and non-alcoholic

beverages, and I had a lot of

help from folks in the brigade

and division.”

Sgt. Maj. Merle Henry, the

division retention senior advisor, was one of those individuals who came to Krantz’s aid.

“We in the retention business

sell the Army, so we really

know how to get the word out

about events,” said Henry, who

enjoys riding his Fat Boy with

his wife, who rides a Sportster.

“When Doc [Maj. Krantz] came

to me and told me what he was

planning, I knew this was something I wanted to help out with

and be a part of.” 

Sgt. 1st Class Anthony

Thomas of Company D, 15th

Forward Support Battalion, provided the soundtrack as people

sat on picnic tables eating barbecue, talking about their

motorcycles and the rides they

intend to take once they get

home.

“I bought a 2004 Harley

Dyna Wide Glide here that I just

can’t wait to try out once I get

home,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ken

Gutchak of Headquarters

Company, 91st Engineer

Battalion. “Being here, at this

rally, is a good thing. It’s nice

for all of us to have an opportunity to share in our experiences,

talk about home for a little bit

and kind of forget where we are

for a just a few hours.”

As the sun set on the day,

banners thanking Fort Hood

area sponsors were laid out and

Soldiers swarmed to sign them,

thanking the businesses for their

support.

Speaking on the possibility of

a future event, Krantz noted

how the success of the day’s

event would have a direct

impact on the future of the

“Brotherhood.” 

“Everyone here who knows a

biker or shop owner back home

is going to call or write back

home and tell them about this,”

Krantz said. “As those shop

owners see this as a viable biker

rally we’ll get more support and

more donations and this whole

thing could get huge before you

know it.” 

All proceeds generated from

the sales of T-shirts and raffle

tickets benefited the 1st Cavalry

Division Association.

Notably absent at the rally was

the signature leather attire common to biker clubs, but the group

was tight-knit just the same.

“My brother and I have ridden to several rallies,” said Sgt.

Frank Novak, Company E, 15th

FSB, a veteran of several biker

rallies held in the United

States. “And while you can

take the bikes out of the rally,

you can’t take away the camaraderie and the good times

events like this bring, this is a

real morale booster.”

Aug. 6, 2004 Scimitar Page 15

Blackjack brings together brotherhood of bikers

Story and photos by 

Cpl. Benjamin Cossel

122nd Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD, Iraq — “It’s just

one of those things that make this

place feel a little more like home,”

said Sgt. 1st Class Shayne Dumas ,

motor pool sergeant, Headquarters

Service Battery, 3rd Battalion, 82nd

Field Artillery Regiment, during a

‘Brotherhood of Bikers’ event held

here July 24.

Dumas was one of several participants who brought along his motorcycle for display during the festivities.

“The bike looks bigger than it

really is,” Dumas said, describing his

ride. “It’s Russian made, but it

would be equivalent to about a

250cc ... . It’s really kind of weird,

because it’s got a left side kickstart.” 

Originally, Dumas picked up his

bike from some engineers when he

first got here and uses his knowledge

and experience to keep it running.

“I have always loved motorcycles,” Dumas explained. “While

growing up in Nyssa, Ore., my Dad

owned several bikes.”

In addition to his current ride,

Dumas just purchased a 2004

Harley-Davidson ‘Soft Tail’ through

the Army/Air Force Exchange

Services. It will be waiting for him

when he returns home after this

deployment.

“When I get home, I plan to go on

the Sturgis bike rally,” Dumas said

of the South Dakota bike enthusiasts’ get-together. “It’s been my

dream for a long time.”

As for the event on Camp

Blackjack, Dumas likened it to just a

bunch of good, old boys and girls,

Soldiers and civilians, getting

together for some fun and to share

their common interest.

“My bike is my relaxation,” Dumas

said. “I try to get a few laps in on it,

but I can’t really ride it around [here],

because it’s frowned on.

Spc. Sarah Houtler (left) and Sgt. Danielle Derosier (right)

both of HHC, 2nd BCT, sit on the most popular of the three

bikes, a russian copy of a BMW motorcycle during the

"Brotherhood of Bikers" rally held on Camp Blackjack

July 24th. "I don't ride yet," said Derosier, "but I like this,

I might try riding someday."

Maj Paul Krantz, brigade surgeon, 2nd Brigade Combat

Team, 1st Cavalry Division stands next to a Russian copy

of a BMW motorcycle. Krantz was the driving force behind

the "Brotherhood of Bikers" gathering held July 24th on

Camp Blackjack. 

Russian-made bike the belle 

of Blackjack’s biker bash

Sgt. 1st Class Shayne Dumas, Headquarters

Service Battery, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field

Artillery Regiment, sits astride his Russianmade 250cc motorcycle. He brought the bike

to display at the “Brotherhood of Bikers”

event at Camp Blackjack July 24.

Story and photo by 

Sgt. Dan Purcell

122nd Mobile Public

Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD, Iraq — There were plenty of smiles

around Al Sadiya on July 26, when a new playground

was opened for the neighborhood. The Al Sadiya

Neighborhood Council sponsored the project. Cake was

served, and soccer balls were handed out to the children. 

The project, within the area of operations of Battery B,

1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, 5th Brigade

Combat Team, began construction May 17 and cost

$33,000, said Capt. Michael Levy, the battalion civil military operations officer.

While most civil affairs project ideas come from the

neighborhood councils, bringing this place of recreation

was a concept developed by the troops.

“We noticed that there are two schools in this area and

there was an open space in the middle of them that wasn’t being used,” said Capt. Roberto Mercado, Battery B

commander. “They didn’t ask for it, but it was something

that came up from the battery. We wanted to utilize some

open space to give the kids a place to play.”

The battery is also working to improve other, more

complicated and expensive portions in their neighborhood. They are in the process of planning sewage and

electrical improvements for the area as well, Mercado

said.

For now, though, projects already underway are mainly

focused toward the children. Refurbishment projects for

two primary/secondary schools are ongoing.

Additionally, a recently opened footbridge passing over a

main road assists pedestrians, especially kids going to

school, Mercado said. 

“These projects are great because the kids we help now

will be the ones who delegate and run this country in the

future,” Sgt. Morris Harris, a team leader in 1st platoon,

Battery B, said.

The playground opening marks the first of several

projects to open in the neighborhood under the battery,

and strengthens the local’s outlook toward American

Forces.

“When we first got to this neighborhood I would rate it

as neutral toward us,” Mercado said. “But in the last two

months when they have seen action on our part in that

area they have been leaning more toward being procoalition. I wouldn’t say they’re quite there yet, but it’s

going that way.” 

BALAD, Iraq — Six Soldiers dove

into the newly refurbished outdoor swimming pool here as leaders from around

the post cut a ribbon signifying the opening of the latest LSA Anaconda Morale,

Welfare and Recreation facility July 24.

Brig. Gen. James Chambers delivered

the opening remarks and said that it is

the American nature to always improve

things, adding that the 13th COSCOM is

going to leave LSA Anaconda better then

they found it. He said, “LSA Anaconda

is a paradise within a battlefield.”

The outdoor pool is a 50-meter,

Olympic-quality pool. It has seven lanes,

a 10-meter diving platform, a three-meter

springboard and holds 800,000 gallons

of water. It is a deck-level pool, which

makes for fast race times. The deck

slopes to the water surface and is the

same type of pool that Olympic athletes

train and compete in.

Gerald Warner, the KBR project manager who oversaw construction and

refurbishment of the facility, first saw the

pool last year as a horrible hole in the

ground. He is proud to have played a

part in bringing it back to life.

“I think it’s great,” said Staff Sgt.

Adam Preston, a Soldier assigned to the

407th Quartermaster Detachment. “I

helped to purify the water for the pool

and it was worth every second we

worked overtime to get it ready.”

“It makes it better to be here at LSA

Anaconda,” added Spc. Timothy Key,

from the 226th Medical Logistics

Battalion.

The outdoor pool is the latest MWR

facility to open at Anaconda and joins the

indoor pool, movie theater, outdoor track,

MWR tent and post gymnasium as the

centerpiece of leisure for LSA Anaconda.

Page 16 Scimitar Aug. 6, 2004

Paradise in a battlefield

By Capt. Cathy Wilkinson

13th Corps Support Command

A couple of Soldiers dive into the newly refurbished outdoor swimming

pool while leaders from around the post cut the ribbon.

A Soldier serves up the ball during

a volleyball game in the newly

refurbished pool at Logistic

Support Area Anaconda July 24.

The pool is the latest MWR addition to the support area.

Staff Sgt. David E. Gillespie, U.S. Army

Staff Sgt. David E. Gillespie, U.S. Army

LSA Anaconda outdoor pool opens with a splash

First Team Soldiers give kids a place to play

Story and photo by Pfc. Al Barrus

122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Iraqi children swing around in one of the new toys at the Al Buwaib Qu’rter playground in Al Sadiya

during the grand opening ceremony, July 26, during which, Soldiers handed out soccer balls.