Vol. II, Issue 59 Telling the Multi-National Corps - Iraq story August 4, 2008

Victory Times

Tongan coronation,

Page 8

Beware of bites,

Page 6

New general officer,

Page 3

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey, 13th Public Affairs Detachment

Civilian contractors are in charge of preparing and serving meals to servicemembers at both the 

Coalition Cafe and the Sports Oasis Dining Facility. They are responsible for four meals a day; breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight chow for those working late night shifts or out late on missions.

Dining facility, 

See Pages 4-5
Commentary

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, Pfc. Eric 

J. Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times 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 is an authorized 

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.

Page 2 Victory Times August 4, 2008

Chaplain’s Corner

Like an instrument, life also needs tuning

By Chaplain David K. Trogdon

Task Force Troy chaplain

One of my goals during my deployment here in Iraq is to learn to 

play the guitar. Recently, I picked up 

a guitar and immediately noticed that 

it was horribly out of tune. Since I am 

new at this, I tried to tune it but ended 

up only breaking a string and giving 

up. That guitar needed a more skillful musician. An out of tune guitar 

sounds bad, is totally useless and is incapable of producing beautiful music.

Just like a guitar, our lives 

must be in tune for us to be truly 

happy, useful and productive. 

There are three main areas in life 

which we must keep in tune. 

The first is our relationship with 

God. Do we have a strong faith in 

God? Is God the most important 

person in our lives? If not, then our 

hearts and lives are out of tune. Our 

relationship with God is foundational for all our other relationships 

in life. If we are not in tune with 

God, it will be impossible to be for 

us to truly enjoy life as we should.

Second, are we in tune with ourselves? Do we like what we see in the 

mirror? Are our lives free from guilt? 

Are we holding onto past hurts or 

failures? Are we fearful of the future? 

Do we feel more blessed or more 

stressed? Do our priorities reflect 

what is really important in life? Do 

we foolishly believe that life is all 

about us? Do we see ourselves as God 

sees us and know that in His eyes we 

are beautiful, forgiven and perfect?

Finally, are we in tune with others? 

Is our marriage strong, our family life 

healthy? Do we have good friends 

who are always there for us and tell us 

the truth even when it hurts? Are we a 

true friend or “battle buddy” to others? 

Are we “playing well” with others? 

 Every area of our lives must be 

in tune in order for us to be joyful, 

peaceful and useful. What if we are 

out of tune? If we are only a little out 

of tune, we may be able to get back 

in tune on our own. If our lives are 

way out of tune, then we definitely 

need God’s help and maybe some 

help from someone who knows 

a little something about life, perhaps maybe even your chaplain.

From left: Chaplain Mark Frederick, 

Multi-National Corps – Iraq operations chaplain; Chaplain Lane Stockeland, chaplain, MNC-I; Sgt. Maj. 

Monica Dixon, MNC-I chaplain sergeant major; Chaplain Pat Hash, officer in charge, MNC-I; Chaplain Warren Watties, MNC-I joint operations 

center chaplain; Brig. Gen. Daniel B. 

Allyn, chief of staff, MNC-I; Chaplain 

Joseph Hannon, Catholic chaplain, 

MNC-I, cut the dedication ribbon for 

the Hope Chapel during a special service at Camp Victory July 29.

The chapel will provide a location for 

religious services, Bible study and 

choir practice. Hope Chapel took about 

four months to complete and can seat 

approximately 400 personnel. 

 

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey, 13th Public Affairs Detachment

Hope springs on Victory
August 4, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

news

Top medical officer in Iraq garners first star

Story and photos by 

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Crisp

MNC-I PAO

Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, congratulates Brig. 

Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr., Multi-National Force – Iraq and MNC— I surgeon, during a 

promotion ceremony held in Caravalho’s honor July 28.

It wasn’t until his high school years 

in Honolulu that Joseph Caravalho Jr. 

realized he wanted to be a physician. 

Fast forward more than thirty years 

and that same man is the top medical 

officer in Iraq; one with a new star on 

his chest, as Brig. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr. was promoted July 28 to his 

current rank here, with his family witnessing via video teleconference.

“He’s a one of a kind Soldier, and a 

one of a kind physician,” said Lt. Gen 

Lloyd J. Austin III, commander, MultiNational Corps – Iraq, who promoted 

Caravalho during the ceremony. “We 

are very grateful to have Joe on the 

team, and this is a promotion well deserved.” 

Caravalho, the Multi-National Force 

– Iraq and MNC-I surgeon, grew up in 

Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, and said he 

was most happy with how proud his 

family is of his promotion. 

“They (parents Agnes and Joseph 

Sr.) sacrificed an awful lot to prepare 

us for school and a life of service, so 

I’m happy to make my mom and dad 

proud,” Caravalho said. 

On hand to watch his promotion 

from Fort Bragg, from which Caravalho is deployed as part of the XVIII 

Airborne Corps, were several family 

members and Soldiers, including his 

wife Lorraine, son Joe and daughter 

Amanda. 

Caravalho thanked his family for 

their dedication to him in his journey 

through the Army, in particular his 

wife.

“I’m so grateful for my wife allowing me to stay in as long as I have, and 

thank you for your unconditional love; 

because Lord knows I’ve placed a lot 

of conditions on you over the years.” 

 Caravalho, who is an Army Ranger and Special Forces Soldier, attributes the beginnings of his success 

to a man named Brother Farrell, who 

at St. Louis High School in Hawaii 

told Caravalho he could be anything 

he wanted to be.

“That’s the first time anyone said 

anything like that to me,” Caravalho 

said. 

That’s how his path to the medical 

field began. And while a member of 

the ROTC program at Gonzaga University, he realized where his career 

would take him.

“I realized that I hoped to be a 

physician, but I knew I wanted to be 

a career officer,” he said.

He was helped along his path by 

mentors, officers, soldiers and NCOs 

– those of which he said he could only 

repay by continuing his service. 

“As far as the folks that have allowed me to see all the possibilities in 

life, or have encouraged, supported, 

coached, taught and mentored me – I 

can never repay them individually,” 

Caravalho said. “But the way the 

Army works, the way I repay them, 

is to [mentor] the next generation.”

Caravalho is a graduate of Gonzaga University, holds a doctoral 

degree from the Uniformed Service 

University of Health Sciences and 

is a graduate of the Army War College.

His most recent assignments include 

consecutive assignments at Fort Bragg 

starting June 2003 until present: deputy commander for clinical services, 

Womack Army Medical Center, chief, 

professional services, 44th Medical 

Command, commander, 28th Combat Support Hospital, surgeon, United 

States Army Special Operations Command; corps surgeon, XVIII Airborne 

Corps until his present duty position. 
Page 4 Victory Times

Dining Fa

Dining facility staff works to 

Story and photos 

by Pfc. Eric J. 

Glassey

13th Public Affairs 

Detachment

An army runs 

on its stomach. If 

you have been to 

the Sport’s Oasis 

dining facility, 

then you know the 

U.S. military is 

getting the fuel to 

run very well.

The Sports 

Oasis can and 

does feed more 

than 10,000 servicemembers and 

civilians every day. 

Feeding this 

many personal requires 9 to 11 trucks 

every 3 to 5 days, 

said Staff Sgt. Keith 

Morrison, contracting office representative, Multi-National Corps - Iraq.

The Sports Oasis 

continues to provide 

personal in Iraq 

with good, healthy 

and morale boosting food with great 

quality service. 

“The Sports Oasis is one of the best 

faculties in Iraq,” 

said Warrant Officer 

Shurland Sunley, 

command food 

service advisor, 

MNC-I . “It is one 

of the original dining facilities built 

in Iraq, and there 

are very few that 

can compare to 

the Sports Oasis.”

The Sports 

Oasis, centrally located in the middle 

of Camp Victory, 

is as equally close 

to as many buildings as possible, 

Shurland said.

In addition to 

the 19 servicemembers who 

faithfully serve in 

the Sports Oasis, 

there are 239 nonmilitary personal 

that are subcontracted from KBR. 

“These civilians 

are from India and 

Africa, and they 

are highly educated individuals,” 

Morrison said. 

“They have to be 

to get the jobs.” 

So whether it 

is a hand-tossed 

salad or a scoop 

of ice cream, the 

Sports Oasis has 

what everybody 

needs to keep their 

spirits up and their 

engines running.

Drinks are restocked after each meal to always provide personnel with their 

choice of drinks. After each meal, all perishable food items are thrown away to 

provide the best quality of food and health standards, making the Sports Oasis 

one of the best dining facilities in country. 
Page 5

acilities

August 4, 2008

o keep servicemembers fed

The Sports Oasis provides one of the best morale boosters in Iraq, Baskin 

Robbins ice cream. Important frozen items such as ice cream are kept in 

freezers which average a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This group of civilian contractors is in charge of serving the food. After each meal they do an after action briefing on what they did well 

and what needs to be improved to always provide the best quality service at the Sports Oasis.
Page 6 Victory Times August 4, 2008

features

Interview and photo by 

Marine Cpl. 

Frances L. Goch

Pfc. Matthew 

Cunningham

Unit: Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq C5 plans

Job title: Information 

management officer

Age: 37

Time in Service: 

17 months

Family: Married 

with two children

Hobbies: “Hunting, fishing, 

shooting and spending time 

with the family outdoors.”

Person you most admire: 

“My wife because she has 

managed to put up with 

me for the last 14 years.”

Why you joined: “I believe 

everybody should give 

at least four years to civil 

service in some capacity. 

It gives a new perspective 

and appreciation for 

the freedoms we have 

as Americans.”

One thing you’d 

change about the 

Army: “The enlisted 

promotion structure.”

One thing you’d never 

change about the Army: 

“Everything must change 

eventually or it stagnates 

and rots away.”

Goals: “To see a lot 

more tomorrows.”

Something you wish 

everyone would do: 

“Take responsibility for 

their own actions.”

Words of wisdom: “Make 

time for what is truly 

important because nobody 

gets out of life alive.”

Best thing about being 

deployed: “A little 

extra money and a 

renewed appreciation 

of friends and family.”

Most exciting thing 

you’ve ever done: 

“Jumping out of 

a perfectly good 

aircraft. Airborne!”

By Jesse Martin

Corps Safety Office

Get to know a Soldier...

MNC-I PAO

Bites, scratches can be fatal

You may or may not have 

noticed but, there are many animals that occupy the same space 

we live in here on VBC. Some 

interesting looking creatures 

are roaming about, especially 

at night. Some cute, some ugly, 

and many are just dangerous. 

I have seen dogs, cats, foxes, 

jackals, mongoose, mice, rats, 

and bats just to name a few. 

Please don’t forget that Iraq 

is not the United States of 

America. There are many dangers here that we don’t think 

about back home. Contact with 

animals can be extremely dangerous and can even kill you. 

None of the local animals 

should ever be touched, picked 

up, or fed by anyone (servicemembers, coalition forces or 

civilians). Many of these animals 

are carrying a very dangerous 

viral infection called rabies. 

Rabies is 100 percent fatal 

once symptoms begin. The 

typical incubation period is 21-56 

days, but can be as long as 180 

days. Post exposure treatment 

and vaccination is available, but 

currently there is a world-wide 

shortage and supplies are limited. 

Rabies is contracted by animal bites or through animal 

saliva coming in contact with 

broken skin, the eyes or the 

mouth. If an animal bite occurs notify your health care 

provider, Preventive Medicine 

and Vet Services immediately. 

Please inform all personnel that Multi-National Corps 

- Iraq General Order #1 prohibits 

adopting pets as mascots, caring for or feeding any type of 

animals here in the theater of 

Iraq. The risk of rabies is not 

worth the simple contact with 

the local population of animals.
August 4, 2008 Victory Times Page 7

community

Coalition Cafe

Breakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Dinner 5 - 8 p.m.

Midnight Dining 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Sports Oasis

Breakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Dinner 5 - 9 p.m.

Education Center

8 a.m.-midnight

Camp Liberty Post Exchange

8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fitness Center

Open 24 Hours

Victory Main Post Office

Monday-Sunday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

MNC-I STB Mailroom

9 a.m. - noon

5 - 7 p.m.

Al Faw Palace Post Office

Wednesday and Sunday

1-6 p.m.

Golby Troop Medical Clinic

Sick Call

Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon

Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - noon

Dental Sick Call

Monday - Friday 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Saturday 9 - 10:30 a.m.

Mental Health Clinic

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - noon

Post-Deployment Health Briefings

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1 p.m.

Pharmacy

Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon; 

1 - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - noon

Legal Assistance/Claims

Saturday-Monday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Operating Hours

Victory Chapel (Bldg. 31)

Thursday

7:30 p.m......... Latter Day Saints Seminary

Saturday

11 a.m...Seventh Day Adventist Service

8 p.m. Catholic Mass

Sunday

7 a.m............. Liturgical Protestant Service

2 p.m................. Latter Day Saints Service

4 p.m............... Epicopal/Lutheran Service

Mini Chapel (Bldg. 24F)

Tuesday

7:30 p.m............ Latter Day Saints Service

Wednesday

7 p.m...............................Men’s Fellowship

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

11:30 p.m............... Roman Catholic Mass

Friday

1 p.m..................... Muslim Prayer Service

6:30 p.m.............................Jewish Service

8 p.m......................... Women’s Fellowship

Sunday

8 a.m................ Eastern Orthodox Service

10 a.m.............. Protestant Sunday School

3 p.m...................Church of Christ Service

7:30 p.m............ Latter Day Saints Service

Hope Chapel (Bldg 24B)

Monday

12 p.m........... Charismatic Prayer Meeting

Sunday

8:30 a.m...... Collective Protestant Service

10 a.m.................... Roman Catholic Mass

12 p.m............................... Gospel Service

6:30 p.m............. Contemporary Protestant 

Service

Warrior Chapel (Camp Liberty)

Friday

6:30 p.m.............Victory Base Open Circle

Worship Hours

AFN 

Freedom Radio All stations are FM

Do you have an announcement about an event of interest to the Camp Victory community? 

Contact Spc. Samuel J. Phillips at samuel.phillips1@iraq.centcom.mil with the information. 

Information for community announcements needs to submitted at least two weeks prior to the 

event to allow for timely publication.

Announcements

Camp Victory Bible Studies

Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun.

Women’s Bible 

Study 7 p.m.

Bldg 24F;

Gospel Protestant 

Bible Study

 7 p.m. Hope 

Chapel

Women’s 

Bible Study 

7 p.m. 

Bldg 24F

Young Adult

Bible Study

5:30 p.m.

Hope

Chapel

Men’s Bible Study

7 p.m. Victory 

Chapel;

Spanish Bible 

Study 7 p.m. 

Bldg 24F

Foundations 

Bible Study, 

Mini Chapel 

6:30 p.m.

SeventhDay

Adventist

10 a.m.

Victory

Chapel

Men of the

Bible Study

5 p.m.

MLB Room,

Oasis DFAC

Supply career progression

The Victory Chapter of the National 

Property Management Association, the first 

international chapter to be formed by the 

NPMA, a leader in property and asset management is offering bachelor’s and associate’s degrees completely online. NPMA can 

meet your professional development needs 

through educational courses, training, and 

certification programs. For more information, email Monty Spicer at monty.spicer@

gmail.com.

CISSP Exams offered

Posting of Certified Information System 

Security Professional (CISSP) Examination 

for interested military of civilian personnel. 

POC is Capt. Richard Y. Kofie, 822-5108. 

Story ideas for Victory Times

Do you know of a good story on Camp 

Victory that you think should be covered 

for the Victory Times? Please submit your 

ideas to Staff. Sgt. Joy Pariante at joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. Please include any 

interesting facts about the topic and point of 

contact information.

R&R Briefings

Reunion and Suicide Intervention 

Briefings are at the Victory Chapel, 

Monday at 3 p.m., Wednesday at 9:30 

a.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. All servicemembers who are going on leave or redeploying must attend this briefing.

The Corps Report

The Corps Report has been scheduled 

to its new regular time slots of Monday 

at 4:15 a.m. eastern, 11:15 a.m. Baghdad and Sunday at 1:15 p.m. eastern, 

8:15 p.m. Baghdad.

Women’s Equality observance

Al Asad ...... 107.3

Ali Base ..... 107.3

Ar Ramadi.. 107.3

Baghdad .... 107.3

Balad ......... 107.3

Fallujah...... 105.1

Kirkuk......... 107.3

Kirkush....... 107.3

Mosul......... 105.1

Q-West ........ 93.3

Taji ............. 107.3

Tal Afar....... 107.3

Taqqadum.. 107.3

Tikrit........... 100.1

August 1 – The Iron Jawed Eagles

August 8 – The Messenger

August 22 – The Color Purple

Movies will show 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the 

Al Faw Palace ballroom. 

In celebrating the 19th Amendment giving Women the right to vote, the Multi-National Corps - Iraq Human Relations Office 

will sponsor movie night for the month of 

August. Following the movie will be a discussion the theme of the movie.
Page 8 Victory Times August 4, 2008

feature

Story and photos by 

Marine Cpl. 

Frances L. Goch

MNC-I PAO

Sipi-tau, a song performed as a dance, a form of Kailao, is often performed at celebrations, ceremonies and, for Tonga’s national rugby 

team, before rugby games to intimidate opponents. It is being performed here by the Royal Tongan Marines deployed in support of 

Operation Iraqi Freedom in honor of their new king who was coronated Friday.

It has been 42 years since the 

Kingdom of Tonga has had a new 

king, and from July 30 to August 

1 normal life in the Kingdom of 

Tonga came to a screeching halt.

Tongan citizens celebrated with 

coronation balls, a military parade, 

traditional dancing, a fireworks display, a rugby match, an open-air concert and the coronation ceremony that 

took place on Friday. As the celebrations were under way in the Kingdom 

Tongans celebrate new king’s coronation

of Tonga, 55 Royal Tonga Marines 

half a world away in Iraq came together to celebrate the coronation of 

their new king, King George Tupou V.

The Tongan Marines celebrated 

with a barbeque and performed traditional Tongan dances and songs, to 

include their warrior dance Sipi-tau.

“It is unfortunate that we are 

not home to celebrate the coronation,” said Royal Tonga Marine 

2nd Lt. Siaosikiu Kaho. “But we 

are proud to celebrate it while 

we are deployed here in Iraq.”

The Kingdom of Tonga is the 

only true sovereign nation left in the 

pacific islands and is the only kingdom to have never been conquered.

There are 600 Royal Tongan 

Marines and 55 of them are currently 

on Camp Victory on a six-month tour 

and with their replacements en route 

More than one fifth of the Royal 

Tonga Marines’ fighting force is 

dedicated to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I feel proud to be deployed 

to Iraq and serve my country of 

Tonga,” said Royal Tonga Marine 

Lance Cpl. Tevita Tongatu’a.

Earlier in the month the Tongans were able to make a video 

of them performing traditional 

dances, songs and a birthday message to be played for the king, the 

video was broadcast on TV stations 

all over the Kingdom of Tonga.