Vol. II, Issue 52 Friday’s Online Edition July 11, 2008

victory timesonline

Story and photo by 

Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

MNC-I PAO

841st Engineers transfer authority to 8th Engineers

The 841st Engineer Battalion, Detachment One, 

handed over the duty of 

Multi-National Corps 

– Iraq Explosives Hazards 

Coordination Cell to the 

8th Engineer Battalion during a transfer of authority 

ceremony Wednesday on 

the patio of the Joint Visitors Bureau.

“The EHCC performs 

an extremely critical mission in Iraq,” said Col. 

Scott F. Donahue, director 

C7, MNC-I. Some of their 

many tasks include coordinating route clearance operations, developing route 

clearance practices and 

doctrine through the use of 

Mobile Observation Teams, 

explosives hazards tracking 

and providing intelligence 

analysis, he said.

“We helped save coalition forces soldiers’ lives by 

getting new route clearance 

TTPs (tactics, techniques, 

and procedures) and enemy trends into their hands 

as fast as possible so they 

could counter the threat,” 

said Lt. Col. Gregory L. 

Bonner, commander, Detachment One, 841st Eng. 

Bn.

Another major role the 

EHCC played is the training of Soldiers with the 

use of explosive hazards 

awareness training teams, 

Donahue said. This was a 

huge step in winning the 

counter improvised explosive device fight.

“The 841st accomplishments over the past year 

are remarkable,” Donahue 

said. For these accomplishments many Soldiers received medals to include 

two Bronze Stars, six Defense Meritorious Service, 

17 Joint Service Commendation and three Joint Service Achievement Medals.

Donahue had one more 

medal to bestow upon Master Sgt. John A. Burnor, 

the Bronze Order of the 

deFleury Medal. The deFleury Medal was adopted 

by the United States Army 

Engineer Regiment to honor those who have provided 

significant contributions to 

Army engineering.

After presenting Burnor 

with the deFleury Medal 

Donahue addressed the incoming engineer battalion, 

“I charge you to continue 

the EHCC mission, live the 

Warrior Ethos, stay focused, 

stay safe, remain Army 

strong and engineer ready, 

but above all demonstrate 

inspired leadership and go 

out and make history.”

“The mission is tough 

and demanding, but we are 

committed to keep up the 

fight and continue to move 

left of the boom in the IED 

fight,” said Lt. Col. Donnie Walker, commander, 

8th Eng. Bn. “Soldiers 

and units depend on us for 

training and providing the 

right equipment to get their 

job done and we will work 

tirelessly to make this happen.”

Master Sgt. John A. Burnor, Detachment One, 841st Engineer Battalion, salutes Col. Scott F. Donahue, director, C7, MNC-I, after being presented the Bronze Order of the deFleury Medal during the 

unit’s transfer of authority ceremony Wednesday on the patio of the Joint Visitors Bureau.
Page 2 Victory Times July 11, 2008

feature

 

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 online 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 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.

The Multi-National 

Corps – Iraq Assistant 

Chief of Staff for Logistics, Col. Edward F. Dorman, visited Camp Justice 

June 30 to talk with the 

22nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi 

Army Division Military 

Transition Team about the 

Col. Edward F. Dorman, left, assistant chief of staff for logistics, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, talks 

with Maj. Jim Huber, executive officer, 22nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division Military Transition 

Team, about the improvements taking place on the Iraqi army facilities in front of a newly constructed fuel point on Camp Justice, Iraq June 30.

current status of facilities, 

equipment and supplies in 

the area.

Dorman sat down with 

Lt. Col. Philip Rice, team 

chief, Maj. Jim Huber, 

team executive officer, 

and Capt. Mike Sheridan, 

team logistics officer and 

had a chance to speak with 

Staff Col. Abdulla, executive officer, 22nd Bde., 6th 

Div. Iraqi Army Brigade.

The whole visit was to 

get a clear understanding 

of the logistical challenges facing the 22nd Iraqi 

Army Brigade. Some of 

the issues included the 

flow of repair parts and 

fuel as well as the procedures in coding out disabled vehicles for turn in 

or replacement.

“There are always 

growing pains associated 

with operations like this,” 

Dorman said.

Despite the “growing 

pains” things have drastically improved since the 

arrival of the MiTT, Huber 

said. “Things have turned 

180 degrees from when 

we got here. The biggest 

is the fact that we are now 

getting repair parts back 

from Taji.”

Another promising factor is the newly constructed 

fuel point, Huber said. “We 

are supposed to begin using the fuel station shortly. 

It will improve our ability 

to track the use of fuel on 

the camp.”

These improvements are 

just part of fixing the logistical problems at Camp 

Justice. Abdulla expressed 

concern with the availability of uniforms, body armor and kevlars.

Dorman ensured him 

that the situation was being taken care of and that 

the U.S. Army was doing everything it could to 

overcome all obstacles that 

might stand in the way. 

“This is one of General 

Austin’s (Lt. Gen. Lloyd 

J. Austin III, commanding 

general, MNC-I) top priorities,” Dorman said.

Story and photo by Spc. 

Samuel J. Phillips

MNC-I PAO

Transition teams help enhance Iraqi logistics
Feature

July 11, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

By Capt. Joseph Hill

62nd Medical Brigade 

PAO

Medical Service 

Corps celebrates 

91st birthday in Iraq

Playing for keeps

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

Aaron C. Phibrick, civilian contractor and winner of MWR 124’s 

theater-wide Halo 3 Tournament participates in the semifinal round. Philbrick will move on to the final round and face 

other semifinalists from bases around Iraq July 15. Game 

play will be projected on to t-walls for enhanced enjoyment. 

The grand prize is 1st place recives an Xbox 360 elite, second 

place gets a $250 gift card from AAFES and third place gets 

a $100 dollar gift card from AAFES.

In a collaborative effort 

between the Multi-National Corps - Iraq Surgeons 

Office, Multi-National 

Division - Baghdad, 4th 

Infantry Division and Task 

Force 62nd Medical Brigade a 91st birthday celebration was held for the 

Medical Service Corps 

June 30 at Camp Victory.

More than 80 Soldiers 

from 15 locations across 

the theater of Iraq and 

representing 25 different 

units gathered to celebrate the Medical Service 

Corps’ proud heritage 

and share personal insights from senior field 

grade medical service 

officers to young, company grade officers for 

career advancement and 

knowledge. “This is your 

opportunity to find out 

what you (don’t) like,” 

said Col. Patrick Wilson, 

deputy surgeon and chief, 

medical operations, MultiNational Forces – Iraq 

when speaking to the 

company grade officers 

who have yet to choose 

a career concentration.

The opportunity gave 

the young and experienced leader’s time to 

discuss their careers 

in the Medical Service 

Corps. Many of the attendees had not seen their 

peers since officer basic 

course, nor had a chance 

to talk with mentors and 

consultants due to the 

restraints of deployments. 

An MSC birthday 

video was played chronicling the history, service 

and dedication of the 

Corps. The video helped 

depict the Medical Service Corps as the most 

multifaceted branch of 

the Army consisting of 

more than 25 specialties. 

Officers concluded 

the ceremony with the 

traditional cutting of the 

cake by the oldest and 

youngest MSC officers.