Vol. 2, No. 21 Baghdad, Iraq May 21, 2004

Inside this week ...

School completed

3rd BCT completes renovations of the AlHather Secondary School.

Page 4

Biggest PX in Iraq

Army and Air Force Exchange Service

opens a new post exchange.

Page 6

Soldiers score a goal

1st Cavalry Division Soldiers finish what

the 82nd Airborne started.

Page 8

Keeping you cool

“Operation Air Conditioner” started with a

gift from a mother to her son.

Page 13

SCIMITAR

COALITION

Polish soldiers and

Iraqi Policemen stop

traffic during patrol

on the outskirts of Al

Hillah, Iraq on May

11. Polish soldiers

set up check points

along routes during

daily patrols to

inspect vehicles and

identifications of

local civilians as

part of the

Multinational

Division CenterSouth effort to maintain order and gather intelligence in

support of Operation

Iraqi Freedom. 

U.S. Army photo by Sgt Jose M. Hernandez

Polish, Iraqi Police patrol area

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez rolls up the colors of Combined Joint Task Force 7 at the CJTF7 In-activation/Multi-National Force-Iraq and Multi-National Corps-Iraq Activation ceremony, May 15 at Camp Victory.

New names, same goal

Photo by Pfc. Bryce S. Dubee

Multi-National ForceIraq and Multi-National

Corps-Iraq will continue

what Combined Joint

Task Force-7 started

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq —

The Al-Faw Palace in Camp

Victory hosted the de-activation

of Combined Joint Task Force 7

and the activation of MultiNational Force - Iraq and MultiNational Corps - Iraq ceremony.

More than 300 Soldiers, sailors,

airmen and Marines were present May.15.

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez will

remain the commander of U.S.

forces in Iraq as he takes control

of the MNFI, while Lt. Gen.

Thomas F. Metz will take the

lead role in improving combat

tactics as the commander of

MNCI.

The deactivation of CJTF-7

comes just 11 months after its

creation. Sanchez activated

CJTF-7 and took lead as the

commander June 14, 2003. In

the 11 months of it’s existence,

CJTF-7 conducted offensive

operations to neutralize and

secure the area for the establishment of government for the

Coalition Provisional Authority.

With more than 150,000 

Story by Marine 

Sgt. Donald Bohanner

Multi-National Corps Iraq

Public Affairs Office

See CHANGE, Page 11
HIT, Iraq — Marines in

the western Al Anbar

Province helped open a new

Iraqi Civil Defense Corps

training center here May 8.

The center’s opening marks

the Iraqi force’s strides to taking more responsibility for

security in their own cities. 

Marines from 2nd

Battalion, 7th Marine

Regiment met with local

sheiks and high-ranking

ICDC leaders to unveil new

facilities and equipment to

better prepare the 503rd

Battalion of the ICDC for

protecting the local towns.

“This is an important day

for the new Iraq,” said Lt.

Col. Phil C. Skuta, battalion

commander. “Here, today, we

show our commitment to a

better Iraq.”

Even as the ceremony proceeded, the ICDC demonstrated their newfound

prowess. Terrorists attacked

the ICDC compound with

rockets and Iraqi soldiers

repelled the attackers. 

“You see, this is an Iraqi

base,” Skuta said. “They’re

out there right now in the

midst of a firefight. These

guys can take care of themselves.”

Maj. Rick Smith, the battalion’s civil affairs officer,

began the proceedings welcoming local leaders, Marines

and ICDC soldiers, and complimenting the hard work of

the local Iraqis.

“Our goal here every month

is to focus on a brighter

future for Iraq, and for the

people of this region,” Smith

said.

The ceremony started with

a drumbeat along with a

melody of an Iraqi flute.

Dancers, joined by the local

Iraqi Civil Defense Corps,

danced while an Iraqi vocalist

sang. 

Civil Affairs Group

Marines from 2nd Battalion,

7th Marine Regiment met

regularly with local leaders

since arriving in Iraq earlier

this year. The opening of the

Iraqi base was marked by a

groundbreaking ceremony for

a new barracks, unveiling of a

new rifle and pistol range and

presentation of four new

ICDC vehicles.

“We meet with these guys

at least once a month,” said

Sgt. Brandon Kovach, a CAG

team leader. “CAG puts these

meetings together and the

battalion discusses with the

locals proposed ideas for the

next 30 days.”

Kovach said working to get

the ICDC soldiers ready was

“challenging” at first, but the

situation has improved.

Marines treated guests to a

marksmanship demonstration, by having ICDC soldiers

show off the skills they’ve

acquired since training with

Marines. Marines from the

battalion’s forward operating

base trained 10 ICDC soldiers

in Marine Corps marksmanship. Two ICDC soldiers will

soon instruct the rest.

“Once all of the soldiers in

the 503rd Battalion can shoot

like this they’ll be a force to

be reckoned with,” Skuta

said.

“We’re seeing great

improvements,” Kovach said

of the ICDC soldiers ready to

take on security operations.

“We can’t fail.”

Page 2 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

Marines, Iraqis 

celebrate opening

of training center

Dancers, joined by local Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers, took part in a celebratory

Dabka dance during a groundbreaking ceremony held May 8. The dance is a ritual used

in significant events. The occasion marked the beginning of an improved national security force in the region.

Story by Lance Cpl. 

Macario P. Mora Jr.

1st Marine Division

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jose L. Garcia

1st Lt. Mike Oquin, projects manager for Civil Affairs

Group, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and Sheik

Phurat discuss contracts for projects in the near future. 

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jose L. Garcia

The Central Provisional Authority

gave a check for $500,000 to Jassim

Mohammad Mahmood, city council

chairman of the Ad Dujayl city council, for the establishment of the Ad

Dujayl city Department of Public

Works. Mahmood raised the check

while Soldiers of the 2-108th Infantry

Regiment looked on. The regiment,

from New York, is stationed at

Forward Observing Base O'Ryan in

support of the 1st Infantry Division. 

U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Erste

Donation helps

establish Dept.

of Public Works
May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 3

Unsung Heroes 

Marching the extra mile across Iraq

Spc. Hickey

Spc. Acquaviva Staff Sgt. Batista-Nunez

Staff Sgt. Montano

MNF - I PAO

Col. Jill E. Morgenthaler

Managing Editor

Sgt. Brian Stockhoff

Editor

Spc. Jeffrey Hillery 

MNF - I Commanding

General

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez

Command Info Chief

Capt. Adam W. Hackel

Coalition 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 MNFI and acts only as a distributing source for

Coalition Scimitar. Questions and comments should be directed to the editor at (914)360-5067 or

cpiccmdinfo@baghdadforum.com.

Coalition Scimitar welcomes units

to submit their own Unsung Heros.

Photos and short summaries of

accomplishments should be sent to

cpiccmdinfo@baghdadforum.com

Air Force Staff Sgt. Alex Montano, from

Beltsville, Md., is the Office of Security

Cooperation, Coalition Police Assistance

Training Team project manager for the

Coalition Provisional Authourity in Baghdad.

Montano, 30 years old and married, is also

an eight-year service veteran with a home station at Dover Air Force Base, Del. He's been

in Iraq for three months.

“He's been the single-handed point of contact for all the construction issues having to do

with the new Ministry of Defense annex,” said

Air Force 1st Lt. Josh L. Kuper, OSC C-7

Coalition Military Assistance Training Team

project officer.

“Working for the OSC has allowed me to

see the true face of the Coalition's efforts to

rebuild Iraq's backbone,” said Montano.

Spc. Michael Acquaviva is assigned to

Bravo Company, 711th Signal Battalion. 

His military career began as an Air Force

crew chief for F-15 Strike Eagles. He joined

the Army National Guard in March 2003.

While going through training at Fort

Stewart Ga., Acquaviva was assigned as a

SAW gunner. Even though he had never

fired the weapon before, he proved proficient with the weapon. 

On April 4, when Mahdi Militia forces

attacked Camp Golf at An Najaf, Acquaviva

and other machine gunners kept Camp Golf

from being over run. 

Acquaviva constantly demonstrates the

true spirit of the volunteer soldier and sets a

high standard for his peers to emulate.

Staff Sgt. Santos Batista-Nunez arrived

at Fort Hood, Texas in June 2004. He is

currently assigned as the shop foreman for

the Headquarters and Headquarters

Company 3rd Signal Brigade motor pool.

He enlisted at the age of 18 on July 7,

1998 in Manhattan, N.Y., as a chemical

equipment mechanic. 

He has completed numerous Soldier

development schools to include the command total fitness course. He mentored

two of his Soldiers to achieve outstanding

results on their promotion boards. 

His future endeavors are to attend airborne school and become a drill sergeant. 

His noncommissioned officer-in-charge

Sgt. 1st CLass Ruiz said “Staff Sgt.

Batista is a leader of soldiers who takes

every task as a challenge and an opportunity to excel.”

Spc. Joseph Hickey, from Smyrna, Del.,

works as a Combat Document/Production

Specialist assigned to Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry

Division in the G6 section. He has been in

the service four years and in Iraq for three

months.

Hickey said he enjoys his job and the

most gratification he gets is seeing the

Soldiers see their loved ones or their

babies for the first time through video

teleconferences that he schedules. He

feels he brings a “higher morale” for

Soldiers through his expertise. 

“He is a very hard worker and always

sees a job through until completion. He is

what makes our motto stand tall,” said

Sgt. Maj. Douglas L. Millhouse Sr.

The Coalition Scimitar can also 

be viewed on the web at

http://www.cjtf7.com/coalitionnews/publications.htm
BAGHDAD, Iraq — An opening ceremony for the

Al-Hather Secondary School in southern Baghdad took

place May 7, marking the completion of U.S.-funded

renovations to the school.

Costs totaled $57,500 for the renovations, and had

been underway since late March, said 2nd Lt. Stephen

Jaworski, Emergency Response Program coordinator

for the 161st Infantry’s 1st Battalion, part of the

Washington National Guard’s 81st Brigade attached to

the 1st Cavalry Division.

The school will serve 738 students and have a staff

of 30 teachers, Jaworski said.

“The future lives by the students,” said Majid

Mohammed, chief consulting engineer in charge of the

renovation.

“The students here in Iraq, in all the days before,

were neglected by the government” he continued.

“The students have the feeling that they are neglected.”

Diyala-area students have been anything but neglected under Coalition care, though.

Al-Hather is one of 16 schools in the Diyala district

of southern Baghdad that have drawn from a pool

of $500 million that has been allocated to the First

Team’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team for reconstruction

efforts in the region.

Renovations to the school included a thorough cleaning of the grounds, painting and finishing work, installation of new bathrooms, running water, electrical

wiring, and the construction of an exterior wall.

Local craftsmen were hired for the project. It is

important for the close-knit community, because it benefits the local economy. Contractors from Diyala were

hired for this reason, Jaworski said.

“It also gives a sense of pride to the neighborhood,”

he added.

“The next thing we’re looking at are desks, chalkboards and books,” Jaworski said. Computers were

also a topic of discussion at the ceremony after-party,

attended by future school staff, students and area leaders.

Jaworski works closely with the Diyala District Area

Council, a group of community leaders, helping to prioritize and organize projects for Diyala’s reconstruction and modernization requirements.

Beside education, a working system of sewers is also

a top priority for the Diyala DAC. The spread of

typhoid caused by an underground mix of sewage and

tap water is a major contributor to a high infant mortality rate in the region, Jaworski said.

“If there’s a worthwhile project, we don’t seem to

have any problems getting funding for it,” he said.

Page 4 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

Future students and their parents attended the

ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the Al-Hather Secondary School in

Baghdad’s Diyala district May 7.

3rd BCT completes Al-Hather School

Story and photo by Spc. Jan Critchfield

122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Worship and Prayer Schedule

for 

CPA - Chapel

Daily Islamic Prayer

Tuesday

1630 — Catholic Mass

(Convention Center)

1930 — Ladies Bible Study

Wednesday

0630 — Morning Bible Study

(Chaplain’s office)

1900 — Bible Study

(Ministries Conference Room)

Thursday

1630 — Catholic Mass

Friday

1800 — Jewish (Shabbat) Services

2000 — Contemporary Christian

Gathering

Saturday

1230 — Buddhist Meditation

1630 — Catholic Mass

(Convention Center)

Sunday

0730 — Episcopal / Lutheran/Anglican

0930 — Choir Rehearsal

1030 — General Christian

1400 — Latter - Day Saints

1630 — Roman Catholic Mass

1800 — Contemporary Protestant

On May 5, members of the British

Territorial Army forces Salamanca

Company participated with regular

Army personal in riot training in

Southern Iraq. The purpose of the

training was to teach them different

ways to control hostile crowds and

how to react to petrol bombs. 

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher J. Crawford Sr.

Servicemembers are encouraged to submit stories and

photographs to the Coalition Scimitar. Email your

submissions to cpiccmdinfo@baghdadforum.com

British 

soldiers

fired up

to train
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — Marines

put a new twist on mending fences in a

village near Fallujah.

About two weeks ago, an M-1A1 tank

was mired in mud in the small village of

Al Budekil. Retriever crews yanked the

monstrous vehicle from a farm field, but

tore up valuable cropland in the process.

A recent visit, though, not only fixed the

problems, but allowed Marines to gain

the trust of local Iraqis.

Marines from 3rd Civil Affairs Group,

based out of Camp Pendleton, visited the

hamlet dubbed Tank Village and surrounding communities May 6 to compensate for the damages. 

“All of this is a chain reaction from

where the tank got stuck,” said Lt. Col.

Colin P. McNease, the officer-in-charge

of the 3rd CAG detachment under

Regimental Combat Team 1. “Aside

from paying for damages, we told them

we could start some projects out here.” 

It didn’t take long for the word to

spread that Marines have taken an interest in lending a helping hand. 

“People from other villages heard that

we compensated for the damages, but

also saw that we brought fertilizer and

tools for that one village,” McNease

explained. “As we were leaving, they

waved us down wondering if we’re willing to work with their villages too.” 

The help for the villagers couldn’t

have come at a better time. Planting season is starting for Iraqi farmers and

Marines helped by delivering about 50

tons of fertilizer. 

“We’re also going to do some irrigation work to help them get started,”

McNease said.

Other smaller steps have been made in

villages surrounding the city. Marines

are planning on paving two kilometers of

road and have already paid out damage

claims that were a result of fighting last

month.

“One of my jobs is to pay claims and

to give money for good-will projects,”

said Maj. Greg G. Gillette, staff judge

advocate for RCT-1. “We paid a farmer

$4,500 dollars for damages to his car,

three cows that were killed and for his

crops,” added Gillette, a native of New

York, Pa. 

Gillette said the compensation may not

pay for the entire damage, but it will certainly help the farmer get back on his

feet. 

Gillette works with village sheiks

mostly, but at times he speaks directly

with villagers presenting the claims. 

“I need corroboration, so I mostly deal

directly with the tribal sheiks,” said

Gillette. “We paid... a sheik $9,000 as a

good-will payment for damages his village suffered during some of the fighting.”

It wasn’t just a time to mend fences

though. Marines gave into children

swarming them, giving away pens and

pencils, soccer balls, nets and flying

disks donated by Spirit of America, a

nonprofit organization based in Los

Angeles. 

“It’s great being able to interact with

people in a kind way and make them

smile,” said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class

Aaron M. Fullmer, a religious program

specialist for RCT-1 from Las Vegas. “If

nothing else, it gives them a better view

of Americans - exactly what they need.”

Marines plan for more visits to the village, hoping that the next won’t be about

damages from fighting. 

“I’m sure there are some people who

don’t want this program to succeed, but

the people working with us right now

want it to,” McNease said. “It’s coming

along great. We’re just trying to build a

May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 5

Marines mend

Fallujah fences 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcos A. Figueroa, a hospital corpsman

with Regimental Combat Team 1, takes a moment to blow soap-bubbles

for children in a village just outside Fallujah, Iraq, May 6. 

Story and photos by 

Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

1st Marine Division

Master Sgt. Marc S. Williams counts $4,500 for a villager for damages to

his vehicles and the death of three cows from fighting near Fallujah.

Members of the Iraqi

River Patrol Service

search vessals on a

river in southern Iraq on

May 9. The IRPS were

making sure all the

paper work was right

and that the captain of

the ship was not trying

to smuggle anything.

British soldiers were

there only to watch and

give advice if asked.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher J. Crawford Sr.

Iraqis control flow of river traffic
CAMP ZADAN, Iraq — Forget about all those tales

about lumberjacks wearing plaid, wielding axes and

yelling “timber.”

They really yell “Get down!” and wear digital desert

camouflaged uniforms. No axes either. Trees fall with C4 plastic explosive. They don’t take too kindly to being

called lumberjacks. They prefer “Marine.”

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment

took a swing at logging in their own particular

way recently when they cleared date trees for fields

of fire. The Marines, assigned to

1st Marine Division for Operation

Iraqi Freedom, used the mission

as a chance to show off just what

a few well-placed demolitions

can do.

“We got mortared from that

direction, and we could see the

guys doing it, but those date trees

were in the way,” said Sgt. Stephen

H. Barclay, 24, a combat engineer

from Duvall, Wash. “We were

tasked to fix the problem in order to

open up the fields of fire from that

side of the camp. C-4 was the perfect solution.”

The engineer explained that C-4

is a cutting explosive, whereas

dynamite is a pushing explosive.

“C-4 will cut into what you put it

up against, instead of pushing it with force like dynamite

does,” Barclay said. “That makes it good for cutting

trees.”

Three sticks of the explosive material were placed on

many of the 20-foot-tall trees in the grove, hooked

together with detonation cord to synchronize the blast.

“The hardest part about a mission like this is making

sure the amount of ‘demo’ you’re using has been properly calculated,” said Lance Cpl. Justini A. Tatum, a 20-

year-old combat engineer from Corpus Christi, Texas.

“Too much, it could destroy more

than you intend it to. Too little, and

you won’t get everything done.”

He added that another crucial part is synchronizing the

blast so it all goes at one time.

“We were out there for about two hours setting it all

up, with guys providing security in case the guys who

mortared us came back,” he added.

The best part about the whole mission, Tatum said, was

the final product.

“The best part of my job is the product... seeing stuff

go boom,” he said, smiling.

Barclay explained the tree-clearing mission was more

than a unique opportunity to apply their trade. It was also

a chance to show the infantrymen they support the value

they bring to the fight.

“We’ve cut down trees before,

but never this many,” Barclay said.

“This is definitely the first logging

operation we’ve been involved in.”

Once the charges were set, the

Marines in the camp were warned

to clear the wall near the grove and

find cover. Still, some pulled out

cameras, taking the chance to capture the engineers in action.

Lance Cpl. Jeff L. Saddler

climbed on top of his amphibious

assault vehicle to gain a better vantage point. The 21 year-old crewman from Colby, Kan., only had

one thing to say when the charges

blew, severing the trees from their

trunks.

“That was awesome!”

CAMP VICTORY NORTH, BAGHDAD, Iraq — Soldiers and civilians alike

started lining up at the door at 9 a.m. May

10, eagerly awaiting the grand opening of

the new Army and Air Force Exchange

Service Post Exchange here. The line

stretched longer than a football field

before the doors opened, allowing anxious shoppers the opportunity to browse

through more than 30,000 square feet of

sales space.

The 1st Cavalry Division Band provided the ambiance for the event, cranking

out tunes throughout. There were jugs of

free refreshments and bottles of non-alcoholic beer and cola. Hundreds of pounds

of steak, ribs and burgers sizzled on grills

for the waiting Soldiers. 

At exactly 10 a.m., Col. Steve Walker,

chief of staff of the 1st Cavalry Division,

cut the ribbon in front of the doorway, signifying the official opening. Soldiers then

flooded through the door to begin their

shopping in the new PX, which boasts six

lines leading to 12 cash registers. The

Soldiers were impressed with the new

accommodations.

“It’s pretty good,” said Spc. Chris

Vinson, who works in the 1st Cav’s

Secretary-General Staff office. “They

had a lot of stuff. I even found what I was

looking for: a new set of Army PTs

(physical training uniform).”

The PX building itself is not the only

place to shop in the area though. Other

smaller shops surround the main building,

like a bazaar, a Burger King, a new car

sales trailer, and barber, beauty, jewelry

and rug shops.

“This is the biggest PX in Iraq,” said

Kim Cannady, an employee of AAFES

who helped make this plan come to life.

“(This PX) has the largest assortment (of

merchandise) in the country. About 50

percent of the first tent is dedicated to

electronics.”

But the process of getting this PX ready

for opening day was not an easy one for

the AAFES employees. 

“We had to change some of our initial

specifications on (the inventory),” said

Cannady. “Originally, the store was built

for a population of 4,800 Soldiers. But

now we’re up to around 20,000.”

Cannady said the back tent, which was

originally planned as a storage room, had

to be opened up to the public for more

merchandise. Now, it is a warehouse area

with tall shelves, full of products. 

Even with all the shelves stocked with

goods, and extra sales areas, the new store

was still overcrowded the first day. Staff

Sgt. Leonel Hernandez, who works in the

division headquarters’ operations office,

came away empty-handed on his first trip

to the new store.

“It was just too crowded (today),” he

said. “Overall, it’s going to be a great

place for Soldiers to hang out. It’s a

morale booster, really.”

David Schloss, the general manager for

the Camp Victory North PX was one of

the speakers at the opening ceremony. He

commented on what it took to make this

PX a come to life. 

“The dedication of the North Victory

military team working hand in hand with

the AAFES team made today a reality,” he

said.

Page 6 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

New PX sells out for troops

Story and photo by 

Spc. Marie Whitney

122nd Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

Hundreds of Soldiers lined up outside the new Post Exchange on Camp

Victory North Monday, for the chance to be among the first to peruse

more than 30,000 square feet of shopping space. The new PX is, by far,

the largest in Iraq.

Marines take a new look at logging

Story and photo by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes 

1st Marine Division

A Marine looks on as a grove of date trees are felled. The trees were destroyed in

order to open up fields of fire beyond the perimeter.
FORWARD OPERATING

BASE DAGGER, Iraq —

American Soldiers are helping

boost the local economy daily by

hiring Iraqi contractors on this

base located just outside of

Tikrit. 

There currently are about 35

locals working on this compound of 270 people, said Staff

Sgt. Jason R. Vickodil, who

heads the Recreation and

Utilities shop here. His office

hires the contractors and dispatches them to units.

Employing the locals helps

pump about $15,000 into the

local economy each month, as

Iraqis earn about three to four

times more annually since the

liberation.

The Iraqis are hired for a variety of tasks, which include

cleaning, gardening, carpentry,

plumbing and air conditioning

and generator maintenance, said

Vickodil, a Pittsburgh native.

The R and U shop receives

about four to five orders a day

for palace maintenance and

repair projects, and seven to

eight requests for constructionrelated jobs, Vickodil said.

“There are orders pertaining to

the mission that we turn around

quickly,” said Spc. Steven M.

Pillsbury Jr., who also works in

the R and U shop. “(There also

are) orders to build personaltype things that we do on a first

come, first serve basis, time permitting of course.” 

As busy as the shop is every

day, the locals never seem to get

tired of working on the compound, Vickodil said.

“The guys in my shop are pretty versatile,” he said. “Many of

them are trained and certified,

but are capable and willing to do

different types of work.”

Employing the Iraqi citizens

make sense, Vickodil said. It

gives many of them a source of

income and puts money back

into the local economy. 

“Everything but the wood

comes from this area,” he said.

“We put thousands of dollars

into the city’s businesses.”

“Additionally, hiring the local

nationals saves on labor hours,

not to mention their knowledge

of what works best in this environment and how to adapt and

overcome any shortcomings that

may arise,” he said.

Working with the Americans

has been a wonderful experience, the Iraqis said. Vickodil

agreed, saying the he’s learned a

lot from them.

“We have an overall good

working relationship,” he said.

May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 7

Iraq in Brief

Civil Affairs Soldiers improve local quality of life

BALAD, Iraq — Army civil affairs soldiers assessed the

progress of five local school projects here Saturday.

Col. Nicholas Zoeller, the 13th Corps Support Command assistant chief of staff for Civil Affairs, led the inspection tour to determine if the locally hired contractors were on schedule with the

badly needed improvements.

Prior to the U.S. funded effort, many local schools lacked even

the basic environment for learning to take place. Among the many

improvements are running water, sanitary bathroom facilities,

structural work and school supplies.

Since their arrival in Iraq in January, the 13th COSCOM has

spent $658,000 reconstructing more than 20 schools in nearby

communities.

Marines deliver supplies, employ Iraqis

ALANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — Marines continued their support of communities throughout the Al Anbar province with recent

deliveries of supplies and the employment of Iraqis.

Marines recently visited the Al Tash refugee camp south of

Ramadi and delivered medications and medical supplies to the

camp clinic. Marines also delivered two 30,000-gallon water bladders to alleviate water shortages there. 

They also delivered 600 uniforms and boots to the Fallujah

Brigade and medicine to the Nassir Wa Al Salaam Clinic near the

city. 

Employment for the people of Fallujah with Marine-led projects

continues to climb. Two more contractors were recently brought in

for the Fallujah Cleanup and Restoration initiative, making a total

of 1,960 citizens employed in Coalition Forces projects, including

the 1,700 members of the Fallujah Brigade.

Marines also went to Al Kharma to visit with city directors and

initiate several contracts. The contracts will correct water and sanitation problems in the city.

Medics provide assistance to villages near Balad

BALAD, Iraq — Civil Affairs and medical personnel from

Logistics Support Area Anaconda provided medical assistance to

Bakra Village residents Wednesday.

Doctors, optometrists, dentists, physical therapists and physician's assistants provided basic medical care to more than 130 residents during a Medical Civil Action Project mission. 

It was the second one arranged by the 13th Corps Support

Command Civil Affairs staff. The staff plans to continue the missions in the villages near the base. 

Officials say the missions are an integral part of improving the

villagers' quality of life as they transition to a free and democratic

society.

Improvements on tap for Fallujah, Al Kharma

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — Marines will soon start the

Fallujah Outreach Center Project designed to train and employ

more than 80 young Iraqis in such trades as plumbing, electrical

work and construction work. 

The center will be built north of the Fallujah Liaison Team building using materials and equipment from local businesses and vendors. 

Employment for Fallujans continues to climb. Since the end of

offensive operations, 1,700 Iraqis are employed in the Fallujah

Brigade and another 138 are employed in locally contracted projects. Projects yet to be started will boost that number by another

205. 

Marines also attended the Al Kharma City meeting. Visits were

put on hold during offensive operations last month. Marines paid

the Al Kharma youth director $10,000 to start construction on the

Al Kharma Youth Center. 

The Al Kharma sanitation director said improvements to the

city's sanitation system would begin May 12. Additionally, the

city's water director would submit bids May 12 for a project to

bring potable water to seven outlying villages. 

Recreation and Utilities

shop boasts local economy

Story and photo by Sgt.

1st Class Nancy McMillan

196th Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

Spc. Steven M. Pillsbury Jr. from the 1st Infantry Division

prepares to build a cabinet for storage. Pillsbury is from

the Recreational and Utilities attachment at Forward

Operating Base Dagger.

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A loan of nearly $2.5

million to a local Iraqi entrepreneur by the

478th Civil Affairs Battalion is expected to

increase food production here, as well as create more jobs for the local populace. 

Karadah district businessman Abdul Wahid

Al-Sa’ady currently owns a plastics factory

and hopes to use the loan to diversify into

food production service similar to the one he

ran before the 1991 Iraq War. The loan

should double the number of Al-Sa’ady’s

employees and improve the local economy,

said Capt. George Angle, assistant team leader

for Team 3, B Company, 478th Civil Affairs

Battalion. He added, another benefit to stimulating the local economy is that it offers an

alternative to violence.

Al-Sa’ady is one of Karadah’s most successful businessmen. One issue facing him is

that squatters have taken over some of his factory buildings, occupying space that could be

used by his food production business. AlSa’ady’s proposed solution is to construct an

apartment complex to house the families staying in his buildings.

In addition to working with local leaders in

the Karadah district on improving the economy, the 478th recently arranged a donation of

fire-resistant suits and helmets to the Karadah

Fire Department. Currently, the 478th is in

the process of assessing the needs of one of

only three maternity hospitals that operate in

Iraq, and is working with the Overseas

Disaster Humanitarian Civic Assistance Fund

to meet the hospital’s needs.

The 478th also works with area schools,

delivering donations of books and school supplies. Angle said improving area schools will

have huge implications for the future of Iraq.

“Literacy is paramount to any culture,” he

said. “With the new democracy it is very

important for everyone to be able to read and

understand such a document [as the new Iraqi

constitution]. This is a wonderful opportunity to be here and help the Iraqi people.”

Civil Affairs team improves Baghdad

Story by Spc. Jan Critchfield

122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
ABU ETHA, Iraq — The

Soldiers kicked around the

idea for a month, trying to figure out how they would fulfill

a promise that was made

before they had even stepped

foot into Iraq.

“It was a promise made by

the (82nd Airborne Division),”

said 1st Lt. Hanibl Olmeda,

platoon leader, 68th Chemical

Company, 1st Cavalry

Division. “For the past four or

five months they were stating

that they were going to get a

soccer goal and soccer field

and soccer balls and it never

happened.” 

The tiny village of Abu Etha

was a hostile area for Soldiers

up until a month ago when

First Team troopers started

doing daily patrols in the area. 

“When we first arrived, the

locals were very afraid, very

nervous of our presence

because this village had seen a

lot of turmoil and a lot of raids

in the past,” Capt. Ben Ring,

company commander, Co. A,

1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry

Regiment, said. “The villagers now are friendly. Since

we’ve come here, over the past

six weeks, we’ve been very

friendly and we’ve engaged

the populace, and now the kids

run up to our vehicles and

greet us with cheers.”

The turnaround of the village is especially significant

for the safety of the Soldiers.

Before they started their

patrols, the roads near the village were littered with improvised explosive devices.

“The road we’re going on

right now had seven IEDs in a

week,” Ring said. “Since we

started operations in that village, we’ve detained one person who was the leader for the

whole terrorist cell in the area.

Then we’ve pretty much treated (the villagers) kindly and

given them candy and just

talked to them and we haven’t

had any IEDs on the road ever

since.” 

When Ring learned of the

promise, he started working

with his team to get soccer

goals for the children. He said

it started out as a simple project, and he had some local

Iraqis build him the goals from

scratch. He was surprised

when he found out that the

goals were a little larger than

he had expected. 

“It was a little shocking at

first. We asked for soccer

goals and somehow we got

regulation international-standard size soccer goals,” Ring

said. “But when you put them

on the field, the kids see them

and you dig them into the

ground a little bit, it doesn’t

make that big of a difference.” 

When the Soldiers pulled

into the village with the enormous goals, kids came running

from down the road. Soon a

large crowd formed around the

Soldiers as they prepared to

unload. Men from the village

helped carry the metal posts

and little kids gathered picks

and shovels to dig holes for

the poles to sit in. Other children rushed to get wheel barrels they would fill with concrete to set the posts into the

ground. The community gathered with the Soldiers to set up

the soccer field. 

As the plan came together, 5

and 6-year-old children helped

unravel the fluorescent green

soccer net, and everyone wore

huge smiles. 

“This is pretty much what

it’s all about,” Ring said. “Our

mission here in Iraq can be

tiresome. It can be difficult

and very arduous, but it’s

events like these that really

make it worthwhile. When you

see the expressions on kids

faces as you arrive with soccer

goals and they are cheering, it

really warms your heart.”

The Soldiers also handed out

T-shirts, candy, school supplies and toys donated from

friends and family back in the

States. 

“It’s definitely making a difference,” 2nd Lt. Brandon

Titus, of 1-8 Cav., said. “It’s

amazing what a smile and saying hi and just getting to know

the people will do; it’s great.”

The Soldiers left behind a

bright blue soccer ball for the

children and left the little village knowing they had made a

difference. “It’s just gratifying

at the end of the day to know

that we did make a difference

in somebody’s life,” Olmeda

said. “These kids here, they’re

the future of this country. So

the more of them who like us,

the better opportunities we

have with them in the future.”

Page 8 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

Soldiers keep promise to village, gain trust

A local Iraqi girl from Abu Etha helps Soldiers and her playmates hold up a soccer net

so that it doesn’t get tangled. Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division put up the soccer net. 

Story and photos by 

Sgt. Christina Rockhill

1st Cavalry Division 

Public Affairs

Local Iraqis watch as Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 8th

Cavalry Regiment and 68th Chemical Company put up a

soccer goal for the children of the village of Abu Etha.

The Soldiers come to the little village every other day to

do patrols and visit the children.

Worship is at 332nd Air Expeditionary

Wing Chapel, unless otherwise noted.

Catholic Daily Mass: Tuesday through

Friday, 6 p.m.

Vigil Mass: Saturday, 6 p.m.

Confessions: 5-5:30 p.m. in the Blessed

Sacrament Room

Sunday Mass: 8 a.m.

POC: Chaplain Martin King at 459-0038

Protestant Traditional: Sunday, 9:30 a.m

Liturgical Communion: Sunday, 10:30

Gospel Service: Sunday, 11:45 p.m.

Contemporary Choir practice: Sunday, 6 p.m.

Contemporary Worship: Sunday, 7 p.m.

POC: Chaplain Michael Warner at 459-0038

Latter-Day Saints Lay-Led Service:

Friday, 8 p.m.

POC: Chapel staff, 459-0038

Jewish Lay-Led Service: Friday, 8 p.m.

POC: Chapel staff, 459-0038

Muslim (LSA Adder Chapel) Prayer:

12:30 p.m. and sunset daily

Bible Studies

Women’s: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (chapel)

Men’s: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (chapel annex)

Catholic: (RCIA) Thurs, 6:30 p.m. (chapel

annex)

Catholic Sunday: 6:30 p.m. (chapel annex)

Men and Women

Thursday 7:30 p.m. (chapel annex)

LDS Study Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (chapel

annex)

Tallil Air Base Religious Worship Services
May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 9

CAMP COOKE, Baghdad — It is

only 98 degrees outside, but the temperature reflecting off the asphalt tarmac

makes it feel like 110 degrees. Still,

Spc. Delvin Goode smiles. Many

splotches of yellow paint adorn his coveralls reflecting his sunny personality

and demeanor.

Goode is with the Company D

“Outlaws”, of 2nd Battalion, 227th

Aviation Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat

Team. Aside from his every day job as

a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic, he is

also an accomplished artist with a bachelor’s degree in art from Florida State

University, in Tallahasee, Fla..

“The sergeant major asked me to

paint a mural,” Goode said. The mural

he painted stretches across several concrete barriers located on the airfield at

Camp Cooke. It includes the logos of

several First Team aviation groups

including the new “Outlaw” logo

redesigned by Goode.

“When I was an orderly room clerk

back at Fort Hood, I let the first sergeant know that I had some artistic talent,” Goode said. The original Delta Co.

logo “was just a black bird.’ He created

the Stetson-wearing gunslinger

“because we are the ‘Outlaws’.”

Goode hails from a long line of military service members. “My father is a

retired Air Force first sergeant,” Goode

said. “My sister is a petty officer 3rd

class in the Navy and I have a lot of

uncles and cousins who are Marines.”

However, prior to the September 11

attacks, the 26-year-old Fort Walton

Beach, Fla. native, had no intention of

joining the military.

“I went to FSU and got my degree

intending to go into business with my

brother,” he said. “We opened a commissioned art business together, but

then 9/11 happened. My sister got

deployed so I decided to join up, too.”

Being a Blackhawk mechanic and

creating works of art are just two items

on Goode’s seemingly endless list of

lifetime goals.

“I find out in about a week whether or

not I am going to OCS,” Goode said. “I

am waiting on the board. I was told ‘get

a degree, be a pilot’. I come from a long

line of non-commissioned officers, but

no commissioned officers.”

As an officer, Goode also plans to

apply his ‘can do’ attitude to the administrative side of the military house. “I

want to be (an officer in the quartermaster corps). Back at Fort Hood, I had the

opportunity to help some Soldiers get

some things they needed. I saw how the

administrative process affects the

Soldiers and that is where I want to be,

at first.”

When Goode completes all of his

goals in the military, he plans to return

to teaching. He taught college-level art

classes at FSU and visually impaired

high school teens before joining the

military.

“I got into teaching blind kids

because I realized I had never seen any

artwork from the blind,” Goode said.

One of his friends was working with

the blind and Goode asked one of the

teachers if he could teach them how to

paint.

“Once she found out I was serious, I

would go over there once a week,

stretch huge canvases for them and

teach them about colors,” Goode said.

“I would put stuff on the canvas, like

sand and beads, to give them some textures to work with. It was the most fun I

ever had painting.”

He explained that teaching art to the

blind and military command fit perfectly into what he likes doing most; helping people realize they can do things

that they never thought were possible.

“I was told that I wasn’t eligible for

OCS and that it wasn’t the way to go,”

Goode said. “If I had listened, I wouldn’t be waiting for the board.”

While he is waiting to check off

another item on his list of lifetime

goals, Goode is covering Camp Cooke

in First Team yellow. 

“If it stays in one place long enough,

it gets a patch,” he said.

Crew chief

paints Camp

Cooke yellow

Story and Photos by 

Sgt. Merrion LaSonde

122nd Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

A mural painted by Spc. Delvin Goode of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 227th

Aviation Regiment adorns a wall at Camp Cooke in Taji, Iraq. 

Spc. Delvin Goode is a Blackhawk helicopter maintainer with Company D,

2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment. Besides keeping aircraft airborne, his other passion is painting. He’s currently working on what he

hopes will be the world’s largest 1st Cavalry Division unit patch. 

“I got into teaching blind kids

because I realized

I had never seen

any artwork from

the blind.”

Spc. Delvin Goode
Page 10 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

AL ASAD, Iraq — Day or night, rain

or shine, sandstorms, wind, small arms

fire and rockets, it doesn’t matter what

obstacles are in the way, the Marines of

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron

764, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd

Marine Aircraft Wing, accomplish their

mission of moving troops and supplies to

the furthest reaches of Western Iraq.

HMM-764 is a reserve CH-46E Sea

Knight squadron based out of Edwards

Air Force Base, Calif. The squadron is

part of Marine Aircraft Group 46, 4th

Marine Aircraft Wing but is in Iraq

attached to MAG-16, augmenting the 3rd

MAW deployment in support of

Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While here, the “phrog” squadron,

nicknamed the “Moonlighters,” is one of

the helicopter squadrons tasked with

transporting troops and cargo throughout

the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force area

of responsibility, which is the Al Anbar

province of Iraq.

Because of their mission, a few of the

Moonlighters have started jokingly referring to their helicopters as the “Combat

Bus,” said Sgt. Scott E. Daingerfield,

aerial observer, HMM-764.

“We do troop lifts and small cargo

movements,” the Netcong, N.J., native

said. “Because of that, everyone makes

the joke of calling us a ‘combat bus.’ It’s

not as glamorous as (other missions), but

we try to have a blast doing whatever we

do.”

Although some of the Marines claim

that their job here is not as “sexy” as

some of group’s other squadrons, they

still get satisfaction from it, said Sgt.

Jared S. Watson, Sea Knight crew chief,

HMM-764.

“It’s not a bad job at all,” said Watson.

“It doesn’t look glamorous because

you’re not in the fight, shooting (at the

bad guys). However, you feel good when

you get to haul supplies, like food and

water, that people really need.”

For now, the 24-year-old sergeant

believes the missions are good for the

squadron.

“They are good missions for us

because it is our first time being

deployed (as a squadron),” he noted. “A

select few (Marines) have (deployed),

but for the most part, not many have.”

The lack of combat experience may

have seemed to be an obstacle when the

squadron arrived in theater, but those

problems have long since been overcome, Daingerfield said. “We had a

rough start because most of the squadron

had never deployed,” the 25-year-old

Marine claimed. “We’re falling into the

groove, and it’ll just get better (with

time).”

The reserve Marines’ superior performance is evident despite their lack of

combat experience before this deployment and other problems that are popping up, Watson said.

“There seems to be a lot of maintenance and that is all part of our job,” he

added. “I think we’re doing really well

and the Marines are learning very quickly.”

Along with maintenance, the aircrew is

responsible for the internal configuration

of seats, which determines the amount of

cargo and passengers the helicopter can

carry. The crew is usually kept on their

toes and running around, because of last

minute additions to their flights, he

noted.

“It can be a pain in the butt sometimes

because you get last minute changes of

cargo,” he said. “(Someone) will add a

pallet with 500-pounds of gear and you’ll

be carrying five people.”

Daingerfield was quick to add that

their hard work does not go unnoticed.

“I have never had a bad experience

transporting people,” the Marine said of

his past six-years in the Marine Corps.

“(Our passengers) will pat us on the back

and tell us we’re doing a good job and

we’re just dropping them off.”

“They are going out and getting in

(gunfights),” he added, “and they’ll

thank us, which makes us feel good.”

The passengers aren’t the only people

to give thanks to the Marines, Watson

added.

“Sometimes I think we miss out on our

(importance) out here,” he said. “So our

(commanding officer) and sergeant major

are constantly reminding us of that.”

Regardless of whether or not they get

praise for their work, it doesn’t matter to

most of the Marines, said Staff Sgt.

David M. Schnack, quality assurance

Marine and Sea Knight crew chief,

HMM-764.

“It just feels good being out here after

being in the Reserves for so long,” the

Los Angeles native said. “It’s a chance to

do my job, which is why I stayed in, to do

my job.

“It’s not glamorous, but we get people

from here to there,” Schnack concluded.

“(Some people) don’t see our importance. I mean there’s never going to be a

movie like ‘Top Gun’ made on 46’s, but

it’s still an important job.”

With no feature motion picture debut

in the future for the “Combat Bus” aircrews, they continue to do their job,

Schnack said, which is to keep moving

throughout the day or night, rain or shine.

Story and photo by 

Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte

Marine Aircraft Group 16 

Forward deployed

Marines provide ‘Combat Bus’

Sgt. Jared S. Watson (front) and Sgt. Scott E. Daingerfield (rear) set-up a

bench seat inside a CH-46E Sea Knight, at Al Asad, Iraq. The two

crewmembers from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, Marine

Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, are configuring their helicopter to transport some Marines to a Forward Operating Base in

Western Iraq. 

Words of Wisdom

“Reality is merely an

illusion, albeit a very

persistent one.”

Albert Einstein

CPA/MNFI

Military Pay Office

Hours of Operation

Military pay inquires

Saturday - Thursday

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Cashier

Saturday - Thursday

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Located in the basement at the rear of the CPA palace. Also located at

the Joint Contracting Finance and Resource Management Office near

the 31st Combat Support Hospital.
CAMP VICTORY NORTH,

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Every

unit runs into different obstacles

when trying to complete their

mission when they deploy to

Iraq. No matter how much they

train before they leave, they

can’t be prepared for everything.

An Army Reserve unit from

Guam, Company C, 411th

Engineer Battalion, attached to

the 1st Cavalry Division, has

encountered a number of pickles that stand in the way of getting their job done, but they

drive on. Their mission is to

construct buildings on Camp

Victory North.

“Right now our platoon is

working on a finance center,

and we are supposed to have it

done in 11 days,” Site Manager

Staff Sgt. Lawrence S. Terlaje

said, standing in front of the

bare frame of a future building.

Throughout the hollow building

stood Soldier-carpenters hard at

work, driving nails into the

wood planks and sawing two by

fours in the mid-morning sun.

The remaining Soldiers of the

battalion were absent, but not

completely. They are conducting other tasks aside from the

construction mission.

The rest of the Soldiers are on

‘Red-Cycle,’ a detail-oriented

tasking.

“They keep us busy with

checkpoint operations, and a lot

of the other company and battalion details,” Terlaje said.

With carpenters and electricians rotating through checkpoint duty and others sleeping

after a night shift, the number

left to get down to business

tends to be the size of a squad

and sometimes smaller.

But the lack of manpower

doesn’t bring the Soldiers

down. They continue to work

and meet deadlines with what

they have.

“We are going to continue on

and drive on with as many people as we can in a day.” Terlaje

said. “Thinking back to what we

did in the reserves, we would

spend the whole day working;

going for 12 or 14 hours with

fog lights on at night. But we

would do that one weekend a

month; we can’t work that hard

everyday out here.”

Aside from the lack of sufficient manpower to construct

military buildings, the unit is

running into new types of materials.

“A carpenter knows when he

looks at a two by four,” Terlaje

said. “The U.S. standard is actually an inch and a half by three

and a half. When we come to a

place like this, we see three different sizes.”

Another problem with the

lumber is the affect the dry climate of Iraq has on it.

“With the weather out here, it

takes a beating,” he said. “One

day you will see piece of wood

and think ‘Why is that thing

bending?’ When we get it from

the yard it’s compressed and

bundled down. As soon as we

take it out of its packing, the dry

air is going to start to affect it,

so we need to nail it down fast.”

The dry heat on the wood

isn’t the only equipment difficulty the construction Soldiers

face in coming to a different

part of the planet. The electrical

differences pay their toll of frustration as well.

“We are set up for 220 volts,

but the hertz is different,” the

squad leader said. “And that

will destroy equipment. What

we are trying to do with our

[Field Ordering Officer] money

is see what we can buy that is

out here in the [local] shops and

already set up for the same

hertz.”

Though the challenges are

numerous, that is why Terlaje

and his fellow troops joined the

Army.

“I like the challenges of this

job,” he said. “But all those

other things don’t compare to

being away from home. I mean

one whole year without the family around; that’s the real challenge.”

But there is no other place

than he would like to be than

here with his platoon.

“I have always had to the

opportunity to go to a different

unit or a different branch, but

you stick to your unit, and it

becomes like a family,” he said.

“If there’s one place I would

like to be, if away from home,

it’s here with my unit, my second family.”

May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 11

troops from more than 36 countries around the world, the

international effort of CJFT-7 has freed the 25 million Iraqi

citizens from the savage cruelty of Saddam Hussein.

MNFI’s mission is to conduct operations to defeat the

remaining non-compliant forces and create a secure, creditable Iraq. “TheMNF-I will focus on building a partnership at the national strategic level with the Ministers of

Defense and Interior, the armed forces and the government

of the country,” said Sanchez.

The mission of Multi-National Corps Iraq is to fight the

war against the anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi forces.

“We will not forget that this land and its tremendous

resources belong to Iraq,” Metz said. “To steal a phrase

from the United States Marine Corps, we will be the best

friend to those who want a free and prosperous Iraq, and the

worst enemy to those who oppose freedom and prosperity

for the Iraqi people.”

Al-Faw Palace at Camp Victory, Iraq played host to the inactivation of Combined Joint

Task Force-7 and activation of Multi-National Force-Iraq and Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Here saluting are MNFI commader Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez (top left). MNCI commander Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz (bottom right) and Iraqi Gen. Amer Bake Hashemi (center),

chief of staff, Iraqi Armed Forces.

CHANGE

Continued from Page 1

Photo by Sgt. Donald Bohanner

Sgt. Barcelene Gose, (right) an electrician, and Sgt. Jeremiah Diaz a plumber, Soldiers

of the reserve unit based out of Guam, Company C 411th Engineer Battalion, perform

carpentry duties in building a future finance center next to the Victory North Army Post

Office. The project is a platoon task, but so is the battalion security missions, so only a

squad is left to saw the wood and pound the nails.

Engineers work it out, get job done

Story and photo by 

Pfc. Al Barrus

122nd Mobile Public

Affairs Detachment

Continuing to improve

the quality of life in Iraq
Page 12 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

CAMP ZADAN, Iraq —

Sixty Purple Heart Medals were

awarded to Marines from 2nd

Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment

during multiple ceremonies here

recently. 

The awards were given to the

Marines for wounds received in

combat since the beginning of

their deployment as part of the

1st Marine Division in Iraq.

The ceremonies were held for

each company in the field.

Because of their different locations, the command staff traveled to each location to award

the Marines. 

The battalion’s commander

was humbled as he pinned the

medal on one Marine’s uniform.

“For me it’s a very humbling

experience to stand in front of a

Marine and give him this

award,” said Lt. Col. Giles

Kyser, from Dumfries, Va. “He

bled for his country ... it’s one

of the greatest honors of my life

to do this.”

Kyser admitted the Purple

Heart is the one medal no

Marine truly wants to earn.

However, he did say the medal

is one that solidly identifies a

Marine’s thorough commitment

to the Corps.

“You see a great degree of

resolve in the eyes of these

Marines,” Kyser said of the

Marines awarded the medal. “It

makes all the rhetoric and tradition they’ve been taught

become very personal.”

Some Marines told their stories of combat injuries with a

sense of disbelief. Sgt. William

T. Hoots, 24, a squad leader

with Company G, still can’t

believe he made it out to receive

his award. He was wounded by

shrapnel near his eye, but the

wounds didn’t affect his vision.

“We shouldn’t have walked

away from what we did,” said

Hoots, from Roodhouse, Ill.

“There was a wall of lead and

mortars to get through. My

grandfather got a Purple Heart

in World War II. Now we have

a little more in common.”

Still, Hoots said the Purple

Heart doesn’t make him special.

“It makes me stand a little

taller, but I’m still a Marine,” he

said. “I just feel blessed we all

made it out of that ambush.” 

Kyser spoke to the Marines

after each ceremony, explaining

to them about the new brotherhood of which they are now a

part.

“You’re already part of a special brotherhood. You’re

Marines,” Kyser explained to

the decorated Marines. “Now

you are part of an even more

select brotherhood. 

“You shouldn’t envy the

Marines in this special brotherhood,” he said to gathered formation. “You should admire

them.”

After pinning the medals to

the recipients, the Marines were

congratulated and also warned.

“This is something you

should only get once,” Kyser

added. “You’ve inspired me by

continuing to fight even after

your injuries ... I walk in the

shadow of greatness every day.”

Story and photo by 

Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

1st Marine Division

Battalion recognizes combat wounded

Lt. Col. Giles Kyser, commanding officer, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, speaks to

new recipients of the Purple Heart Medals. Kyser said it inspires him to see his Marines

pushing beyond their injuries to defeat the enemy.

Friday’s Fun Facts

*The Florida manatee lives primarily in Florida and southeastern 

Georgia. 

*It is usually found in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater habitats. 

*Because manatees cannot survive very long in water below 68 degrees 

Fahrenheit, south Florida and some natural springs make to the Florida 

manatee's natural winter range. 

*Manatees depend on seagrass and other aquatic vegetation for food. In 

the winter, they congregate around warm water springs and man-made 

sources of warm water such as power plant discharges.

*Manatees can live for several decades. Adult females give birth to a 

calf about once every three years.

*Manatees have few natural predators. The greatest natural threats are 

exposure to cold temperatures, hurricanes, and poisoning from red 

tide.

*The Florida manatee population is divided into four sub-populations: 

the Upper St. Johns River (4 percent of the population); Atlantic Coast 

(46 percent); Southwest Florida (38 percent); and Northwest Florida 

(12 percent).

*Seagrass and other aquatic foods that manatees depend on are affect

ed by water pollution and sometimes direct destructionNumerous 

manatee speed zones have been established in the bays, rivers, and 

other waterways of Florida.

*Manatees are an endangered species, protected under the Federal 

Endangered Species Act. Manatees are also protected under the 

Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. Both of these laws make it 

illegal to "take" (i.e., harm, harass, injure, kill, etc.) manatees.

Florida’s manatee
CAMP VICTORY NORTH, BAGHDAD, Iraq —

Summers in Iraq get extremely hot. Temperatures can

reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Just standing outside for a few moments is enough to have a person drenched in sweat. And as if that wasn’t bad enough,

imagine working in that heat with no air conditioner to

come home to at the end of the day. That is the issue that

Frankie Mayo of Delaware has been trying to fix.

Mayo’s son, Cpl. Chris Tomlinson of the 300th

Military Police Co., wrote to his mom while he was stationed in Iraq. ‘Hey mom. Yeah, I’m okay. It’s hot as

hell here. Last week the temp reached 143 (degrees).

My platoon said they would be very grateful if you guys

sent us air conditioners.’

Frankie did just that. She gave an air conditioner to

her son. But she didn’t limit her kindness only to her

son. She started to send air conditioners to as many units

stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan as she could. This was

the beginning of “Operation Air Conditioner”.

Since then, the non-profit organization has escalated to

more than just air conditioners.

“We send Soldiers anything they e-mail us and ask

for,” Mayo said. The types of things that Soldiers tend

to ask for are hygiene products, games, DVDs, magazines, books, candy and snacks.

Through Operation AC, Mayo is also sending Soldiers

new boots. “I have found that the two pairs of boots

(they) are given for their deployment are just about

falling off their feet,” she said. 

Soldiers can go to the Operation AC Web site,

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/frankiemayo/, and simply fill out the ‘I am a Soldier’ form. The Soldier should

receive a new pair of Altama Ripple Sole desert boots,

along with anything else they requested.

“It is my hope that we make their existence in Iraq during their deployment as safe and as easy on them as possible given the job they are there to do,” said Mayo.

There are also ways that family members and friends

at home can help. They can go to the ‘Send my Soldier

an Air Conditioner’ form and include the Soldier’s information along with some information on the family member. This will get the Soldier on the list for an air conditioner.

For citizens who don’t know a deployed Soldier, they

can use the ‘Adopt-a-Soldier’ form. With this form, the

adopter will be sent the name and address of a Soldier

deployed to the Middle East. With this info they can

send letters and packages directly to the Soldier they

adopted.

Operation AC also accepts donations of supplies to

send to the Soldiers. Their address is: Operation Air

Conditioner, 560 Peoples Plaza, Box 121, Newark, Del.

19702. Send any questions to soldierhelp@operationac.com. 

“As a military family, we never forget our troops or the

sacrifices they make,” Mayo said. 

“My son and daughter-in-law are (both) MPs. In the

Military Police Code of Ethics it states, ‘I will strive to

merit the respect of others, seeking no favor because of

position, but instead, the satisfaction of a mission accomplished and a job well done.’ I like that very much and

for me, these are words that I live by as well,” Mayo continued. “As civilians, we owe our military respect and

support for the many sacrifices they make to protect and

defend the very freedoms we enjoy every day. Each day

as I put out my American flag, and each evening as I

remove her at sunset, I pray to God and I ask him to protect our troops from harm and bring them back home

when their mission is finished.”

May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 13

Home Depot lot attendant James Moore helps

Frankie Mayo get air conditioners destined for

Iraq into her van. Home Depot is a major corporate sponsor of Operation Air Conditioner,

donating hundreds of air conditioners to send

to Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Delaware woman gives troops cool support

Story by Spc. Marie Whitney

122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Photo by Bob Herbert, News Journal

Photo by Sgt. Brian Stockhoff, 204th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

South Carolina battle flag flys in desert again

A group of civilians and servicemembers from South Carolina

who are serving in Iraq pose with

Ambassador Paul L. Bremer III in

front of the South Carolina battle

flag from the South Carolina

Military Department. This Battle

Flag flew during Desert

Shied/Desert Storm when a

South Carolina unit was

deployed in Saudi Arabia. 

Returns for

second tour 

in the 

Middle East
Page 14 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

FORWARD OPERATING

BASE HEADHUNTER,

BAGHDAD,Iraq — After a

long, sweaty patrol through

Baghdad’s back alleys and

crowded streets, what could be

better for the Soldiers of

Forward Operating Base

Headhunter than to sit back,

unwind, and enjoy a cold one

with a few friends?

With FOB Headhunter’s barracks filled to the gills, the former 1st Armored Division’s

break rooms and broom closets

became 1st Cavalry Division

Soldiers’ living quarters. The

First Team Soldiers had no room

to have a spot to get out of the

sun and kick back, until 1st

Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment

Command Sgt. Major Donald

Felt stepped up to the plate.

“The previous unit that was

assigned to this FOB started a

contract to build an MWR building, the preface of which was to

have half as a gymnasium and

half of it as a restaurant,” Felt

said. “We moved into the FOB

on the 2nd of April (and) the

building was just finished, but

the gymnasium and the restaurant were not finished at that

time. So we continued that

process so we could open up a

facility for the Soldiers to visit

and get a meal other than the

mess hall.”

That initial idea turned into

what is now a restaurant called

Planet Headhunter, an Iraqi-run

burger and pizza joint with a

calm, café-like ambiance. A

patio is also being added for

those that would like to have a

smoke with their meal.

On the grand opening, May 5,

Soldiers were fed free food from

the FOB’s new cafe.

“Basically, it’s an Iraqi business operating here on the

FOB,” Felt said. “It’s going to

open at ten in the morning and

close at nine at night which is

helpful because we only have

lunch served on the FOB three

days a week. The other days

Soldiers eat MREs (meals readyto-eat). Of course, that isn’t very

popular, so having an alternate

selection for them is a good

thing.”

The idea of having half of the

building as a gym worked out, as

the equipment they previously

had was moved.

“The previous unit had a gym

in a tent, so we moved the equipment into the (building). We

purchased some additional

equipment such as a treadmill,

stair climber and bicycles. 

“In the process of doing that,

we noticed that the gym was

very big and decided to put (in) a

wall and (to further) partition the

building so that we could open a

bar. Of course, a near-beer bar,”

he added with a chuckle.

“It gives a Soldier somewhere

to go and for a moment, at least,

step out of Baghdad. Our intent

was to have this remind them of

home,” he said. “The camaraderie that develops from them

being able to relax, sit around a

table, throw back a near-beer

and talk about things, that’s

what’s important.”

Felt is also leading a spirited

campaign to convince country

music megastar Toby Keith to

visit FOB Headhunter and play a

few songs for the troops.

“Right now the bar is called

‘Toby’s Favorite Bar,’” Felt said

proudly. “We’ve named the bar

after Toby Keith because we

appreciate the patriotism of the

songs Toby Keith has sung in the

last few years.”

“Hopefully, someday we can

get Toby Keith to visit FOB

Headhunter and sing a concert

for our troops,” Felt added.

On the horizon, FOB

Headhunter hopes to add a coffee shop and a theatre to their

ever-growing Iraqi home.

“Projects like these allow the

Soldiers to step out of the rubble

and out of the grey of cement

and barriers ... and have a little

bit better of a quality of life,” he

said.

Story and photos by 

Spc. Jan Critchfield

122nd Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

Planet Headhunter provides

Soldiers opportunity to relax

Cooks in the new Planet Headhunter restaurant prepare

burgers for the troops of Forward Operating Base

Headhunter in preparation for the restaurant’s grand

opening. 

Spc. Joe McKenzie of Arkansas’ 39th Brigade puts the finishing touches on the sign outside Planet Headhunter’s

front entrance.

Soldiers of Forward Operating Base Headhunter chow down on burgers and sodas the

opening day of the new restaurant, Planet Headhunter. Just next door to Planet

Headhunter is Toby's Favorite Bar, a non-alcoholic beer bar where Soldiers can take a

load off and enjoy a cold one.
May 21, 2004 Coalition Scimitar Page 15

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq —

Since the age of 12, Cpl. Kayelee Yazzie

knew she wanted to be a communicator

in the Marine Corps.

Yazzie, a Navajo, comes from a long

line of military family members including her father, who was an airman in

Vietnam, her 77-year-old grandfather

who served with the Army in Germany

during World War II, and his stepbrother

who was a Marine code talker in Japan

during the same war.

“Code talkers are highly respected

people in my tribe,” the 20-year-old

said. “I knew I wanted to follow in their

footsteps and carry on their legacy.”

Growing up on a reservation in

Tohathci, nestled in the northwest corner

of New Mexico, Yazzie learned her

native language and to respect her elders.

“The only time I spoke English was

when I was at school,” she explained.

“At home, my family spoke only

Navajo. The elders of my tribe taught us

the old ways of our heritage. They wanted us to carry on the Navajo traditions.”

As a child, she talked with her grandfather about his life before and during

his military service.

“He told me he ... was walking home

from school one day and a military

recruiter pulled up with a bus and told a

bunch of them to get on,” she said. “My

grandfather went to his home, packed up

what he could, then left for the Army.”

His stepbrother was recruited shortly

after and went to the Marine Corps as a

code talker.

Navajo “wind talkers” used their complex language to develop an unbreakable

code which proved invaluable during

World War II.

“My grandfather went to Germany

and didn’t know where his stepbrother

was sent,” Yazzie added. “All anyone

really knows is that he went to Japan and

just never came home.”

Her grandfather does not usually talk

about his stepbrother because he doesn’t

remember too much about him. The two

men were drafted in their late teens,

almost 60 years ago.

Her grandfather believes his stepbrother was probably taken prisoner, tortured and killed. Still, the circumstances

behind his disappearance remain a mystery.

Hearing the stories he would recount

to her, Yazzie developed an interest in

Marine Corps communications. She

even learned to understand “the code.”

She said it wasn’t difficult because

“it’s just the Navajo language.”

Code talkers used Navajo words and

translated them to English. The first letter of the English words corresponded to

letters making up the intended messages. 

According to Navy historical files,

one way to say the word “Navy” in

Navajo code would be “tsah (needle)

wol-la-chee (ant) ah-keh-di-glini (victor) tsah-ah-dzoh (yucca).”

Some Navajo words could be used to

represent certain military terms. “Dahhe-tih-hi,” hummingbird, was “fighter

plane.”

“The code talkers helped the U.S. beat

the Japanese because no one could crack

the code,” Yazzi said. “It’s very hard for

someone who doesn’t speak Navajo to

learn because it’s a difficult language.”

In May 2001, she joined the Marines

to become a communicator. She is currently deployed to Iraq for the second

time.

Many of her coworkers are impressed

with Yazzie’s heritage.

“I think it’s so interesting that she is

carrying on the tradition of the code

talkers,” said Gunnery Sgt. Matt L.

Hoffer, technical control chief. “They

had such a huge impact in the Pacific

during World War II, and now Cpl.

Yazzie is representing a new generation

of Navajos in the Marine Corps.”

Others are interested in understanding

more about the Navajos.

“Some people want me to teach them

the Navajo language,” Yazzie said. “I’m

proud of who I am and it makes me feel

really good when others want to know

more about where I come from.”

Story and photo by

Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald

1st Marine Division

Navajo code

still alive, well

Cpl. Kayelee Yazzie, switchboard maintainer with 1st Marine Division,

joined the Marine Corps in 2001 because she wanted to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Navajo code talkers who were instrumental in the

United States defeat over Japan during World War II. 

FRIDAY

5 a.m., 7 p.m. — Islamic Prayer

9 a.m. — Catholic Mass (Sky Soldier chapel)

SATURDAY

7 p.m. — Catholic Mass

SUNDAY

8 a.m. — Gospel Service

9 a.m. — Catholic Mass (Sky Soldier chapel)

10 a.m. — General Protestant

11:30 a.m. — Catholic Mass

1 p.m. — Latter-Day Saints

2 p.m. — Catholic Mass (Sky Soldier chapel)

7 p.m. — Protestant Service

TUESDAY

6:30 p.m. — Growing as a Chrsitian: Studying the Book of

James

WEDNESDAY

8 a.m. — The Bible in Light of Current History and Local

Events

5:30 p.m. — Building Your Faith: Studying the Book of Hebrews

*All services are held at the Ten Days From Tomorrow Chapel

unless otherwise noted. Times subject to change. Jewish,

Muslim, Buddhist and others should contact chapel administration for updates of their religious requirements and support.

Kirkuk Airbase Chapel Schedule
MOSUL, Iraq — For some Soldiers,

one enlistment is enough. Others serve

20 years so they can collect retirement

benefits. For one Soldier, however,

even 20 years was not enough service.

Col. Gerald Griffin, commander of

clinical services and the chief of emergency medical services for the 67th

Combat Support Hospital, celebrated

his 40-year-service anniversary April

12 while deployed to northern Iraq in

support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“Just because I was almost 62, I did

not feel decrepit and felt I wasn’t finished being a Soldier yet,” Griffin said.

“It was payback time for all of the privileges I’ve had in this Army.”

Griffin, who retired as a brigadier

general, was given another opportunity

to serve because of a loophole in the

regulations that restrict officers from

serving after a certain age. General

officers are normally released by age

60 but he received a two-year extension

to the end of his command and was

required to retire at 62 years old.

The surgeon general, who was a

guest at Griffin’s retirement dinner,

said he had overheard that the retirement was really not a retirement and

that Griffin was looking for a way to

slip around it. 

“I found out that colonels can stay

until they drop dead or get a walker. As

an Army trained emergency room doctor, I could stay until 67 years old,”

Griffin said. “The surgeon general

asked how he could help, and I said

‘three years in Germany would be

nice’.”

After some negotiation, Griffin

returned to active duty as a colonel and

was assigned as an emergency physician with the 67th CSH in Wuerzburg,

Germany. However, within six weeks,

Griffin deployed for four months to

Kosovo and in mid January, he

deployed to Iraq with the 67th CSH.

Griffin said he might now have the

unique characteristic of having been a

colonel twice, and after his second

retirement, a brigadier general twice.

This deployment is familiar territory

for Griffin. He also served in northern

Iraq as part of the first Gulf War in

1991, running medical teams for the

Kurds with the British Royal Marine

commandos.

Growing up as the son of a supply

sergeant non-commissioned officer,

Griffin calls himself an “Army brat”

with his “evil” twin bother, an infantry

officer who retired as a lieutenant

colonel from the 4th Infantry Division.

Griffin began his Army career when

he was drafted in September 1963 and

trained as a medic. After serving two

years active and two years in the Army

Reserve, he was discharged and pursued his doctorate degree in pharmacology. He later taught pharmacology

as a professor at the University of New

Mexico.

In the meantime, he joined the Army

Reserve and received a commission.

At 34 years old, Griffin decided to

become a physician and went back to

medical school. 

“One of my biggest challenges was

being able to attend medical school

while raising three children,” Griffin

said. “Luckily, I was still serving in the

reserves and was eligible for the G.I.

Bill, so I was able to get the financial

support to pay for school and support

my family.”

In 1978, after serving as an infantry,

civil affairs and a medical service corps

officer, Griffin found his “home” with

the medical corps and has been there

ever since. Of the 40 years, nearly half

were spent in the reserves. During that

time, he also worked on and off as a

civilian emergency room doctor, as

well as with cardiology and family

practice groups.

Griffin said his 40 years of service

has helped him more fully appreciate

how wonderful Soldiers really are, and

has also allowed him to see the Army

develop into the way it is today.

“There cannot be any better crosssection of America and I think the

Soldiers represent the best we have,”

Griffin said. “Today’s Soldiers are

brighter and smarter, perhaps in a different way, than past generations

because they’ve been brought up in the

computer and information age.”

Griffin said he considers all of the

Soldiers his “children” because the

Army is his second family, even preceding his marriage, which also celebrates its 40th anniversary in October.

While his role providing medical

care is important, Griffin said he thinks

it’s also important to be a mentor for

the younger doctors and medics.

“The Army doesn’t have enough

older folks,” Griffin said. “There’s

nobody around to talk about history or

to give perspective.”

Griffin said the Soldiers like the stories and experience and are comfortable having someone around who has

lived through what they live through

who can share their fears and anxieties. 

Looking back, Griffin said he never

would have believed he’d be doing it

this long when he first started in the

military.

“It was just something I kept doing

and doing,” he said. “By the time my

20 years were up, I said ‘what am I

going to do now?’”

As for extending his service for

another term...

“I’m still pretty healthy; good genes

and good wine,” he said chuckling.

“Some things I think are critical to anyone’s existence, so it’s always a possibility.”

Motivating Griffin, he said, is his

ability to laugh at most things. He has

stopped taking things too seriously and

enjoys being able to work with every

kind of Soldier and personality and just

sit back, relax and let things play out. 

“If anything comes out of this, I’d

say I have a profound sense of gratitude

to our nation. It has its warts and wrinkles, but it doesn’t matter because it’s

still the best there is,” Griffin said.

“I’m just unbelievably proud to be able

to do this.”

“There cannot

be any better

cross-section of

America and I

think the Soldiers

represent the best

we have.”

Col. Gerald Griffin

Page 16 Coalition Scimitar May 21, 2004

Story and photo by 

Spc. Aaron Ritter

139th Mobile Public 

Affairs Detachment

Soldier celebrates 40 years service

Col. Gerald Griffin, commander of clinical services and the chief of emergency medical services for the 67th Combat Support Hospital, celebrated

his 40-year-service anniversary April 12. Griffen retired at 62 years old as

a brigadier general. He then returned to active duty as a colonel and was

assigned as an emergency physician with the 67th CSH in Wuerzburg,

Germany. He does not have to retire again until he is 67 years old.