Vol. II, Issue 41 Telling the Multi-National Corps - Iraq story June 16, 2008

Victory Times

Vote, 

Page 3

Unexploded 

ordnance, 

Page 6

10k fun run, 

Page 8

Karaoke competition, 

See Pages 5-6

Walt “Baby Love” Horton, civilian contractor, sings “I just called to say I love you” by Stevie Wonder at the 

first round of a karaoke competition at MWR 124 June 8.

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

Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times welcomes columns, 

commentaries, articles and letters from our 

readers. Send submissionsor 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 June 16, 2008

Chaplain’s Corner

Build your life on solid foundation of stone

By Chaplain Joseph F. Hannon

MNC-I CHAPLAIN

Don’t let stress get the better of you, talk to someone

The Battle of Gettysburg, where the 

armies of the North and the South met 

in a small hamlet in the hills of southern Pennsylvania, left over 51,000 dead 

and more than 100,000 wounded after 

three days of fighting from July 1-3, 

1863.

On the body of one of the Confederate Soldiers killed in fighting at the 

Devil’s Den was found this prayer. “I 

asked God for strength, that I might 

achieve. I was made weak, that I might 

learn humbly to obey. I asked for riches 

that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for 

power that I might have the praise of 

men. I was given weakness that I might 

feel the need of God. I got nothing 

I asked for but I got everything I had 

hoped for. I am, among all peoples, 

most richly blessed.”

This prayer, found in the pocket of 

an unnamed Confederate casualty who 

had lived the life of a Soldier in garrison 

and in battle, speaks to us of his value 

system and the attitudes and life views 

that flowed from that value system.

There’s a wonderful image in the 

gospel of Matthew that might help us 

reflect on the life of this unnamed Soldier and also on our own life and experience. At the end of the Sermon on 

the Mount in St. Matthew’s Gospel, we 

hear about two men, each of whom is 

building a house in hot and arid Palestine. One man has searched out and 

found a patch of rock and then he builds 

his house on top of that solid patch. The 

See CHAPLAIN, Page 3

There are all kinds of 

stressors to deal with while 

you’re on deployment. I 

myself deal with stress from 

work, lack of sleep, being 

away from home and recently going through a divorce. Then there are all the 

little things that stress me 

out on a daily basis.

The important thing is to 

know how to effectively relieve stress, before it gets the 

better of you. 

When I first got in country, I could not find a way to 

relieve my stress. I let everything build up and it started 

to affect my mood, my work 

performance and my personal life. I pulled myself 

away from people because 

I didn’t want to deal with 

anything else.

For a while I didn’t even 

call my children. Just hearing their voices stressed me 

out even more because I 

couldn’t be there with them. 

I didn’t realize not talking to 

them was stressing me out 

just as much.

I let the stressors in my 

life take over. I avoided 

anything that might make 

things worse and sat doing 

nothing, which in turn made 

things worse.

Then one day one of my 

buddies told me to talk with 

someone in combat stress. 

At first I just laughed. I 

thought, “combat stress isn’t 

for me; it’s for guys who 

have real problems.” It took 

me a while to realize that I 

did have a real problem.

In talking to combat 

stress I have been able to 

take control of most of the 

things that used to stress me 

out. Not to mention, I realized the importance of finding ways to relax.

Now, when I get stressed 

out, I head to the gym. A 

session on the heavy bag always helps me work things 

out. Sometimes I head over 

to a buddy’s room and just 

hang out playing video 

games or watching movies.

I guess what I’m getting at 

with all of this, is make sure 

that you find ways to deal 

with your stress. If things 

just don’t seem to be helping, talk to someone about 

it, whether it’s combat stress 

or a friend. Sometimes the 

best relief is to just get it off 

your chest.

By Spc. Samuel J. 

Phillips

MNC-I PAO
June 16, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

news

Ensuring all Soldiers get chance to vote

other man took what was found almost everywhere in Palestine, ground that was sandy soil. Both used their time, talent, 

and treasure to build their house.

Then, suddenly, both are faced with the same crisis – a 

sudden and very heavy rain storm caused a flash flood that 

hit both of the recently constructed houses. The house built 

on rock was able to withstand the force of that flood; the 

other was not and was completely ruined.

Coming at the end of the three chapter Sermon on the 

Mount given by Jesus, the point seems clear: build on the 

values taught and lived by Jesus if you want to build your life 

on a solid rock foundation rather than on what is commonly 

found just about everywhere.

We can see in the prayer of this unnamed Confederate Soldier that he was very much in touch with the values system 

of the Sermon on the Mount. He was able to balance both a 

need to achieve and humble obedience. He could balance a 

desire for possessions with a search for wisdom. He could 

balance the praise of men with a felt need for God. 

In his own words he described himself as very content 

and happy for he was magnificently blessed. He had built his 

life as a civilian and as a Soldier on solid rock.

CHAPLAIN, From Page 2

Photo by Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

Polli Brunelli, Federal Voting Assistance Program director, visited the Victory Base Complex June 4 to speak 

with voting assistance officers from all of the major Army commands. Topics discussed included ensuring that all 

Soldiers deployed to Iraq have the ability to send in their votes and how to simplify the process in the future.
Page 4 Victory Times

Day in the life of 

Servicemembers, civilians belt it ou

Spc. Sophia Lopez, broadcast journalist, 354th Mobil

“ by Alicia Keys during the karaoke contest at MWR 

Participants were judged on not only their vocal performance, but knowledge of the song 

and stage presence were important as well.

Warrant Officer Keith R. Prather, garrison public affairs officer, 2145th Garrison Support Unit along with his fellow judges were on hand to 

personnel participating in MWR 124’s karaoke contest June 8.

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez
Page 5

f MNC-I protocol

June 16, 2008

ut to see who has best vocals

Sgt. Eric Gorham, unit supply specialist, 11th Signal Brigade, singing “Love” by 

Musiq. Gorham is one of 10 participants who will be singing a new song in the next 

round of MWR 124’s first karaoke competition scheduled for June 15 at 8:30 p.m. 

The 10 best singers from the second round will perform in the final round scheduled 

for 8:30 p.m. on June 22, featuring the 10th Mountain Division rock band. 

le Public Affairs Detachment, sings “If I Ain’t Got You 

R 124 June 8.

o rate the perfomance of the Victory Base Complex 

Photo by Sarah Hostetler

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez
Page 6 Victory Times June 16, 2008

features

Interview and photo by 

Cpl. Frances Goch

MNC-I PAO

Senior Airman 

James Buchanan

Unit: MNC-I C6

Job title: Victory site 

administrator

Age: 26

Time in Service: 2 

years, 9 months

Family: “Parents and 

five brothers and sisters.”

Hobbies: “Tae kwon do, 

working out and hanging 

out with friends.”

Person you most admire: 

“My mother for raising 

four children by herself 

after her husband died.”

Why you joined: “To 

serve my country and better myself.”

If you weren’t in the 

military you would be: 

“Back in Florida sitting on 

a beach.”

One thing you’d change 

about the Air Force: 

“Nothing.”

One thing you’d never 

change about the Air 

Force: “Everything.”

Describe your job in one 

sentence: “I maintain 

servers and resolve computer related issues.”

Unusual fact about you: 

“There is nothing unusual 

about me.”

Goals: “Get my black belt 

in taekwondo and finish 

my degree.”

Something you wish 

everyone would do: “Join 

the military.”

Words of wisdom: “‘First 

say to yourself what you 

would be; and then do 

what you have to do’- 

Epictetus.”

The best thing about being deployed: “Interacting 

with a different culture.”

Most exciting thing 

you’ve ever done: 

“Teaching Iraqi children 

how to play tennis.”

Best Basic Combat 

Training memory: 

“Seeing a MTI (military training instructor) 

locked out of the barracks.”

By Jesse Martin

Corps Safety Office

If you didn’t drop it, don’t pick it up

SAFETY SECTOR SAFETY SECTOR SAFETY SECTOR SAFETY SECTOR

Get to know a airman...

Unexploded ordnance can be 

found everywhere and anywhere. 

Sometimes they are just lying around 

in the dirt near your living areas or 

other areas that you least expect. 

UXOs many times look harmless 

or appear to be damaged or disassembled, but can and will kill you. 

We know that most of you have been 

briefed on UXO and what to do if 

you suspect UXO in the area. 

Unfortunately, some folks do 

not care or do not recognize the 

potential hidden dangers. 

UXO are ammunition items that 

have been fired, launched or thrown 

from their platforms but failed to 

function. The fuses and/or arming 

devices maybe ready to activate at 

anytime; even sometime later after 

you have handled it for a while.

Throughout this theater of operation, we have had several incidences 

of Soldiers, civilians, and contractors being killed or seriously injured 

from picking up UXO. Some individuals recently thought that one 

particular UXO would make a nice 

souvenir while others were using it 

as a community ash-tray. 

An Army-wide analysis of accidents involving military munitions 

indicated that these personnel failed 

to respect the explosive hazards 

associated with munitions. Leaders should always remind Soldiers 

UXOs should always be considered 

extremely dangerous. Only explosive ordinance disposal personnel 

are authorized to handle UXO.

A simple method to remember when 

you suspect UXO is the three R’s:

-RECOGNIZE 

-RETREAT 

-REPORT
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-Friday 7 a.m.-5 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)

Sunday

7 a.m.........................Collective Protestant

8:45 a.m....................Collective Protestant

10 a.m........................Catholic Confession

10:30 a.m............................ Catholic Mass

noon..............................Gospel Protestant

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

4 p.m...........................Episcopal/Lutheran

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

Saturday

11 a.m................... Seventh Day Adventist

8 p.m................................... Catholic Mass

Mini Chapel (Bldg. 24F)

Sunday

8:00 a.m................................Divine Liturgy

9:30 a.m........................Breaking of Bread

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

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

7 p.m.........................Knights of Columbus

Tuesday-Friday

11:30 p.m................................. Daily Mass

Friday

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

Warrior Chapel (Camp Liberty)

Friday

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

Worship Hours

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

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

Smoke & Joe

Bible Study

12 p.m.

Victory

Chapel Porch

Young Adult

Bible Study

5:30 p.m.

Victory

Chapel

Men’s

Bible Study

6:30 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

June 16, 2008 Victory Times Page 7

community

Navy Advancement Program

The Navy’s Combat Meritorious Advancement Program has been created to advance sailors in paygrades E1-E5 in recognition of uncommon valor and extraordinary 

deeds demonstrated while engaged in, or 

in direct support of combat operations. The 

Combat Meritorious Advancement Program 

is effective immediately. Recommendations 

for advancement under this program are 

submitted based on actual action/performance in combat. 

 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.

Army Reserve Reenlistment

Reenlistment bonuses are excluded from 

federal taxes in theater. Building 123 located 

next to MWR 124 at Camp Victory is the Army 

Reserve Career Counselor’s office. Points of 

contact are Sgt. 1st Class Pedro Aleman Jr., 

318-822-4622; Sgt. 1st Class Merle Swecker, 

318-822-8453; Sgt. 1st Class Jose Torres, 318-

822-8464. If you have any questions call or 

e-mail your local career counselors.

Texas Hold’em

Every Monday night at Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation Bld. 124 there are Texas 

Hold’em Tournaments starting at 8 p.m. 

Every week prizes such as t-shirts, hats, 

poker books and coins are given to the top 

players.

The Multi-National Force-Iraq and Multi-National Corps-Iraq will host the largest mass reenlistment ceremony ever. The ceremony will be on July 4, 2008 in the Al 

Faw Palace Rotunda, Camp Victory, Iraq. All active duty and reserve component Soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen are welcome to participate. 

Gen. David Petraeus, MNF-I commanding general, will host this event by giving 

remarks and administering the oath.

Each reenlistee will receive a flag, which has flown over Al Faw Palace, with a 

Flag certificate, signed by both Petraeus and Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, MNFI command sergeant major, their choice of either the MNF-I commander or command sergeant major coin, and an individual photo with the commanding general 

as a token of appreciation for their continued service.

The point of contact for the ceremony is Sgt. Maj. Yolanda Brock at 318-822-2846.

Participate in largest reenlistment ever
Page 8 Victory Times June 16, 2008

Sports

Dust doesn’t slow down runners on VBC

Story and photos by 

Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

13th Public Affairs 

Detachment

Runners from Victory 

Base Complex took part 

in Spring Fling 2008, a 

10-Kilometer fun run, 

at Victory Stage South, 

June 8.

The run was hosted by 

a group of independent 

runners lead by Shanna 

Stann, 62nd Medical Brigade communications 

representative, and sponsored by Binary Group, 

an Army contracting company, who gave 600 free 

t-shirts for the event.

“The run is a lot of 

fun,” Stann said. “It is a 

good group of runners. 

The weather was kind of 

bad with the dust kicking 

up, but it makes it cooler. 

We left it up to the runners if they wanted to run 

in this weather, which it 

looked like the majority 

did.”

The first place male 

winner was Christopher 

Lawrence, 10th Mountain Division band, at 

31 minutes. The first 

place female winner was 

Amanda Feia, 851 Engineer Company, at 39:15 

minutes.

Trophies were awarded to the first, second and 

third place winners for 

both males and females.

Runners take off on the 10K Fun Run 2008 June 8 on Victory Base Complex. Despite the dusty weather, many runners participated in the event.

Christopher Lawrence, the first 

place male winner, receives his 

trophy at Victory Stage South 

June 8.