Vol. II, Issue 64 Friday’s Online Edition August 29, 2008

victory timesonline

Approximately 1,500 

servicemembers across 

Victory Base Complex 

participated in the Run 

for the Fallen Sunday, 

beginning at the Victory 

Stage at 6:30 a.m. 

Runners had until 5:45 

a.m. to register for the 

event and choose a name 

from a list of 4,682 servicemembers who had 

fallen in combat since the 

beginning of operations in 

Iraq to run in their honor.

“We were extremely 

pleased with the outcome,” 

said Capt. Haley Dennison, Multi-National Forces 

-- Iraq operations officer 

and coordinator of the run. 

“Our goal was to run a mile 

for every name on the list, 

and with the number of runners I’m sure that we more 

than met that goal.”

Dennison heard about 

the run in the states and 

thought it would be a 

great event to allow servicemembers a chance to 

do something in honor of 

their fallen comrades. 

 “My husband was killed 

Nov. 15, 2006 while deployed to Iraq, so this run 

is very personal to me,” 

Dennison said. 

Dennison continued to 

say she was not the only 

one with a personal reason 

for participating in the run. 

“A lot of servicemembers 

have lost family and friends 

in the war,” Dennison said.

“I was running for Lance 

Cpl. Nathan McMillen,” 

said Sgt. Christopher Lawrence, a Soldier with the 

10th Mountain Band and 

the first one to cross the 

finish line with a time of 

24:04. “McMillen was an 

old friend of mine I graduated high school with. He 

joined the Marines in 2004 

and came over here with 

the 1st Marine Division.”

Unlike most runs held on 

VBC, the Run for the Fallen didn’t have any prizes 

for the top finishers. 

The only prize was the 

knowledge that, in a small 

way, servicemembers 

where able to honor those 

who have given their lives 

in the name of our country, Lawrence said.

Troops honor fallen comrades during run

Story by Spc. 

Samuel J. Phillips

MNC-I PAO

A group of airmen participate in the Run for the Fallen while carrying a hose.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorie Jewell, Multi-National Force - Iraq command group

Sailors run in formation while holding their unit guidon during the 

Run for the Fallen Sunday on Camp Victory.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorie Jewell, Multi-National Force - Iraq command group
Page 2 Victory Times August 29, 2008

news

 

MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III 

MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Col. Billy J. Buckner 

MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka

MNC-I Command Info Chief: Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

Editor:Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

Staff: Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, Cpl. Frances L. Goch, Spc. 

Christopher M. Gaylord, Pfc. Eric J. Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. 

Glassey

The Victory Times online welcomes columns, 

commentaries, articles and letters from our 

readers. Send submissions or comments to 

joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for security, 

accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

The Victory Times Online is an authorized 

electronic publication for members of the 

Department of Defense. Contents of this 

electronic publication are not necessarily 

the official views of or endorsed by the 

U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs 

Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

All VOIP phone numbers will be changed 

and reassigned to units 

throughout Victory Base 

Complex from Sept. 1-10.

The change will accommodate a move of more 

than 200 Multi-National 

Force – Iraq staff from 

the International Zone to 

VBC. During the move, 

multiple units and offices 

already located on VBC 

will relocate within the 

complex, making room for 

the added MNF-I staff.

The new VOIP numbers will be reassigned in 

seven separate blocks and 

with different number systems to indicate the camp 

or area in which the unit 

will remain after the migration within VBC, said 

Maj. Neil Khatod, S-3 

40th Expeditionary Signal Brigade. Each day, the 

numbers from one entire 

block will be changed.

The new numbering 

scheme will make assigning numbers easier, 

since they are based on 

location of the unit, Khatod said. Camps Victory, 

Slayer and Liberty will 

have separate numbering systems, and BIAP, 

Camps Cropper and 

Stryker will share a system separate from those.

The change in numbers 

is due to a new multi-million dollar switch being 

installed on VBC by the 

335th Signal Command. 

The new switchboard 

will allow for twice the 

number capacity and a 

larger switch capacity 

than the tactical one currently being used.

“With the current numbering scheme, we’ve 

used 97 percent of our 

capacity, so we’re almost 

out of number space,” 

Khatod said. “On high 

Phone number migration will increase capacity

usage days, the equipment for the switchboard 

locks up.”

The new switchboard 

was donated by the Defense Information Systems Agency at Fort 

Huachuca, Ariz., and 

will increase the number space from 10,000 to 

20,000 to accommodate 

expansions on VBC.

The switchboard will 

include additional functions such as call waiting 

and the ability to assign 

one number to multiple 

phones, and will reduce 

call failures, Khatod 

said.

“The migration will, 

most importantly, affect 

inbound calls to folks 

like the Red Cross, Casualty Operations and the 

Fire Department,” said 

Matthew Bailey, CJ6 information technology 

project manager, MNF-I.

Approximately 8,500 

VOIP numbers will be 

changed during the tenday period, and after 

Oct. 1, all DSN numbers on VBC will be 

changed as well. About 

1,100 DSN numbers 

will change.

Photo illustration by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

Story by Spc. Christopher M. Gaylord

13th Public Affairs Detachment
features

August 29, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

The Victory Over 

America palace was 

named by Saddam Hussien 

while still in power after 

operations Desert Shield 

and Desert Storm. 

Construction on the 

palace started in 1997 

using money Iraq was 

given through the United 

Nations “Oil for Food” 

program and was abruptly 

ended in 2003 when U.S. 

forces struck it with a 

Joint Direct Attack Munition from an F-15E.

The palace has 75 

bedrooms and bathrooms, 

and a lower-level ballroom on both sides 

The rotunda area of the 

Victory Over America 

Palace rivals the rotunda of 

Al-Faw and has poems inscribed on its walls. Above 

the entry way to this lower 

ballroom are the words, 

“Victory only comes from 

God,” and on the ceiling, 

“God is the only merciful 

and compassionate one.” 

The Victory Over 

America Palace and the 

Victory over Iran palace, 

together, represent two of 

70 palaces in Iraq. Victory 

Over America is one of 

eight presidential palaces.

Palace tours are held 

each Sunday and begin 

at the Camp Slayer PX 

parking lot at 12:45 p.m.

Unfinished palace reveals its history 

The presidential seating area 

on second tier level that overlooks the ballroom contains the 

words, “with God and Allah’s 

help, we will be victorious,” 

and, “Victory will be ours.”

The third story “Football Room” is 100 yards long and 55 yards 

wide and was meant to be a gathering area for ceremonies.

Story by Pfc. 

Eric J. Martinez

13th Public 

Affairs Detachment

The Victory Over America Palace and the Victory over Iran palace, together, represent two of 70 

palaces in Iraq. Victory Over America is one of eight presidential palaces.

Photo by Cutis Stephens

Photo by Pfc. Eric Martinez

Photo by Pfc. Eric Martinez
Page 4 Victory Times Online

news

August 29, 2008

A vehicle registration program 

has been initiated to gain accountability of all vehicles operating on 

Victory Base Complex.

The registration covers all leased 

and GSA non-tactical vehicles including all-terrain non-tactical vehicles such as Gators, four-wheelers 

and golf carts. Registration must be 

completed before Oct. 31.

 “Registration was started to 

gain control and accountability of 

all NTVs on Victory Base Complex,” said Sgt. Maj. Bardrick 

McGuire, sergeant major, C-4, 

Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Vehicles can be registered by 

commanders and command sergeant majors, major command G4s, fleet managers, unit S-4s and 

appointed serageants or above 

with a letter of approval.

Contractors can register their vehicles through their site mangers or 

appointed representatives.

“Privately leased vehicles must be 

registered as well,” McGuire said. 

“VBC-wide registration will ensure that all vehicles have a license 

plate, fuel sticker and are added to 

the military police’s data base.”

In order to complete registration, 

all that is required is proof of ownership such as a theater -provided 

hand receipt, a civilian contract 

or a valid lease agreement. In addition vehicles must have proof 

Vehicle registration ensures accountability

that they are safe in the form of 

a vehicle dispatch and safety inspection checklist.

“All agencies must understand 

that the registration is mandatory 

for even private and civilian contractors,” McGuire said “Don’t wait 

until the last minute so we can ensure that there were no mistakes in 

the process the first time.”

The VBC registration office is located at Motor Pool 7C next to the 

Strike Inn Dining Facility and is open 

Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Organizations with more than seven 

vehicles must make an appointment 

prior to visiting the office.

All required forms can be found 

at https://mnfi.intranet.iraq.centcom.

mil/sites/CampVictory/MayorCell/

default/aspx

Story and photo by 

Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

13th Public Affairs Detachment

New vehicle registration, expiration stickers last only a year and should be placed on the lower drivers side of the windshield.