Joint effort provides wheelchairs for children

Transcription

1 Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Joint effort provides wheelchairs for children Photo by Sgt. Rebekah Malone, 225th Eng. Bde. PAO. 225th Eng. Bde. Soldiers, Sgt. Maj. Timothy Adam, of Pineville, La., and Spc. Jacoba Vermeulen, a medic from Phoenix, Ariz., work to adjust a wheelchair for a disabled child, June 20, at JSS Beladiyat. Sgt. Rebekah Malone 225th Eng. Bde. PAO BAGHDAD Providing wheelchairs for Iraq s disabled children is a huge undertaking. Recently, Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids, Iraqi National Police officers from the 8th NP Brigade, 2nd NP Division and U.S. Soldiers from the 225th Engineer Brigade and 2nd Battalion, 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82ndAirborne Division worked together to provide 30 wheelchairs for disabled children, June 20, at Joint Security Station Beladiyat in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad,. First Lt. Trimeka Rivers, of Shreveport, La., has spent countless hours picking up wheelchairs shipped in from the U.S. and transporting them to units ready to distribute them. Speaking with her, one would think it was an easy task. It wasn t hard, she smiled. A lot of Soldiers we don t see [at the distribution site] have put a lot of time into it all volunteered to put the chairs together and make the adjustments. As a former combat medic and now the brigade medical plans officer, Rivers said the chance for the children to participate in society is in itself an improvement to their mental capacity which will only improve as their physical condition is stabilized. The wheelchair will give them a sense of normalcy. They will be able to eat sitting up, instead of lying down, she explained. They will be able to move around, play with other kids, instead of being toted around. Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids was started by Brad Blauser to help an estimated 500,000 disabled children needing the gift of freedom of movement given to them by the use of a wheelchair; for most, the wheelchair they received was the first they had ever owned. Rivers said she cannot help but do what she can for the cause after meeting Blauser. Brad is awesome! He is working with all the military branches and he s really working to get Iraq to make the chairs, she said. Because of his passion for it, I do my best to help in any way I can. Plans have been made for an existing Iraqi factory to make the wheelchairs that would provide 50,000 to 75,000 chairs over five years; a significant injection of capital into an economy plagued by unemployment, but red tape and lack of funding has the hope of the project seriously in doubt. We found a factory in Mahmudiyah, the National Medal Bicycle Company. At one time they employed up to 1500 people and were the largest factory in the Middle East. Currently they only employ 75 people, Blauser said. They built a prototype off of pictures and drawings and did a great job. They re ready to go, we just need funds to help them finalize production details and purchase wheelchairs from them. Working jointly on a mission can be difficult with language barriers between the Iraqi National Police and the U.S. Soldiers, but the desire to give relief to the disabled children provided the common thread needed to make the mission a success. I love children. Children make me smile, period, Rivers explained with a smile. The NP I was working with was really excited about it. He was making sure the chairs were adjusted probably. It was a good feeling working with somebody who is excited and passionate about children as me. Rivers has worked on humanitarian missions in Haiti, with the Red Cross after Hurricane Gustav and as a medic with the National Guard during Hurricane Katrina. For her, the day s distribution was just another opportunity to continue to give her time for worthy causes. The wheelchair distribution has been the highlight of the deployment for me, said Rivers. For more information about how you can help, please go to Brad Blauser s website at:

2 PAGE 2 June 24, 2009 Dawg medic lives up to his call sign By Sgt. Mary Phillips 30th HBCT PAO BAGHDAD Sgt. Laurence Cameron was given the radio call sign Dawg Medic by other Soldiers during this deployment, but it wasn t until a recent mission that the Rock Hill, S.C., native actually lived up to the nickname. Cameron, a combat medic with B Dawg Battery, 113th Field Artillery, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, patrolled with two military working dogs, June 20, when one of the dogs became overheated. Military dog handler, Sgt. James Harrington, of the 1st Calvary Division Provost Marshals Office, called for the Cameron. The handlers are all trained in dog first aid, but I show the medics how to do it, too, said Harrington, of New Orleans. That way they can take care of the dogs if one of the handlers goes down. Cameron immediately got to work on giving the dog, named Ryky, intravenous fluids. The dog handler explained Ironhorse ponies up armored trucks for IA Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips, 30th HBCT PAO Sgt. Laurence Cameron (left), a medic with Battery B, 113th FA, 30th HBCT, checks an I.V. on a military working dog while Sgt. James Harrington, assigned to 1st Cav. Div., Provost Marshal s Office, helps. Cameron, of Rock Hill, S.C., who is known as Dawg Medic in his unit, lived up to the nickname when he had to give the military working dog an I.V. how to do it and I went about doing the procedure, said Cameron, and when it comes to an IV there is not that much difference between a dog and a human. Although Cameron did not expect to have to give an IV to a canine, he knew it was a possibility. When I was at training in By Pfc. Bailey Jester 1st BCT PAO BAGHDAD Iraqi troops in northeast Baghdad have a new weapon in their arsenal, thanks to Ironhorse troops, here. Soldiers from 115th Muleskinner Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division delivered five uparmored Ford F-350 trucks to the 11th Iraqi Army Division at Joint Security Station Rasheed, June 19. The upgraded trucks offer significant protection and maneuverability for Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Mizher Shaher Lateef and his men to move about in his area of operations, said Brandon, Fla. native, Capt. Peter Bogart, the brigade s provost marshal. It was a project that highlights the partnership we have with the IA, said Livonia, Mich. native, Maj. Michele Reid, the BSB executive officer. Soldiers on Mizher s personal security detachment will use the trucks to escort Mizher during his daily operations. The officer in charge of the PSD will be held responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the vehicles. Soldiers from B Company, 115th BSB armored the Ford F-350s by increasing the amount of protective layers on the interior and exterior. After 37 days, and about 60 work hours per truck, the trucks were complete and ready for delivery to Mizher. The Soldiers in the Service and Recovery Shop worked extremely hard on these trucks. They spent numerous man-hours perfecting the construction of these turrets and gunners boxes. The end result was breathtaking, said Delray Beach, Fla. native, Chief Warrant Officer Staceyann Mcnish, the Service and Recovery chief for Muleskinner BSB. Other than determining the best way to complete the armor, the project went quite smoothly, said Reid. We did have to consider Wisconsin, I had a drill sergeant that had been a dog handler and he taught us a little bit about working with the dogs, said Cameron, It was interesting to actually get to do it. This is only the third I.V. the Dawg Medic has given to anyone or anything for overheating since the beginning of this deployment. Overheating is a problem in Iraq because of high temperatures, and Soldiers, even the furry kind, must be wary of it. We monitor the dog s temperature throughout the patrol. said Staff Sgt. Christopher Jasper, one of the other dog handlers on patrol. Once their temperature gets over 102 degrees we have to start looking at ways to cool them down, and once it gets to 103 or 104, we have to get them an IV. Because of his call sign some of Cameron s fellow Soldiers also refer to him as the Veterinarian. Everyone thought it was funny that I actually worked on a dog because of me being called Dawg Medic and Veterinarian. Cameron was happy to be able to help what he called a fellow soldier. It was cool to be able to help out a dog that is there to help us by detecting explosives, he said. It s part of the Army s battle buddy system. They are Soldiers like us, they just have four legs. the added weight of Kevlar and metal to how it would affect the trucks, along with considering road conditions. The beds of the trucks now contain a gunner s box, consisting of armor plating and Kevlar for maximum protection while on patrols. The seats are lined with Kevlar and have been re-upholstered to cover it. We are very grateful to the United States military for all their help, said 2nd Lt. Salem Ibrahim, a platoon leader for the 11th IA Infantry Division. It has been a great opportunity to work this closely with the Coalition forces.

3 PAGE 3 June 24, 2009 JSS Oubaidy transfers to ISF BAGHDAD Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, of Fayetteville, N.C., commander of the 2nd Battalion, 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad, signs a document along with a Iraqi Interior Ministry official during the transfer ceremony of JSS Oubaidy. An Iraqi Soldier looks on during the transfer ceremony at JSS Oubaidy. The JSS was officially transferred to the Iraqi Security Forces during the ceremony. An Iraqi Interior Ministry official, along with Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, sign a document official transferring JSS back to the Iraqi government, in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad. The JSS was officially transferred back to the Iraqi government under the terms of the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement, which took effect Jan 1 of this year, in which all U.S. combat troops must leave Iraqi urban areas by June 30. Cav Round-Up radio newscast available MND-B PAO BAGHDAD The Cav Round-Up is a three-minute radio newscast from Baghdad covering military units and events across Multi-National Division Baghdad. Today s Cav Round-Up # 95 was produced by Sgt Erik Fardette, MND-B Public Affairs Office. The June 23 newscast includes the following two stories: 1. Military Police train and bond with man s best friend. Military working All photos by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick, 982nd Combat Camera Co. National Police officer assigned to the 8th NP Brigade, 2nd NP Division, and Paratroopers assigned to Co. A, 2nd Bn., 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B, stand in formation during the transfer ceremony of Joint Security Station Oubaidy, June 20, in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad. dogs are keeping busy. For patrol training, dogs learn law enforcement. Dogs work in explosives and law enforcement. MPs give the dogs guidance by training for 4 hours a week in each distinguished field. They put their training to the test daily on patrols. 2. Maj. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger, commanding general, 1st Cavalry Division and Multi-National Division-Baghdad, speaks at JSS Sadr City. Sadr City conjures up images of poverty and violence, but things have taken a positive change. It is a milestone for U.S. forces as they handover the JSS with improved conditions in the community. It is a great step forward for Iraq. Cav troopers have shed blood for this day. It is a historic day. To hear the Cav Round-Up, click on the following links: NIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up SIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up Check out more news at the 1st Cavalry Division s homepage:

4 PAGE 4 June 24, 2009 On This Day In Military History 1862 President Abraham Lincoln meets with retired General Winfield Scott, a hero of the Mexican War and the commander of all Union forces at the outbreak of the Civil War. Scott, aged and infirm, still possessed a sharp military mind. More important, he was one of the few impartial advisors surrounding Lincoln. On June 23, Lincoln took a train from Washington to West Point, New York, and called on Scott GRANT the following day to discuss Union strategy in Virginia. Lincoln had doubts about George McClellan s ability to lead the Army of the Potomac, which was stuck in a stalemate with Robert E. Lee s Army of Northern Virginia outside of Richmond. He also sought Scott s opinion on the various Federal armies operating in northern Virginia. Scott recommended that Irwin McDowell s corps be sent to aid McClellan on the James Peninsula, since a defeat of Lee at Richmond would, in Scott s words, be a virtual end of the rebellion. Although it may have been sound advice, Lincoln did not move McDowell s force. McClellan had provided no evidence to Lincoln that he would effectively apply the reinforcements against Lee. Instead, Lincoln consolidated McDowell s corps with the commands of John C. Frýmont and Nathaniel Banks, who had recently been bested by Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. John Pope, under whom Frýmont refused to serve and so went on inactive duty, led the newly formed Army of Virginia. This new army would face its first test in August at the Second Battle of Bull Run, where it suffered a humiliating defeat. More than anything, this visit fueled Lincoln s disenchantment with military advice. Lincoln spent the war s first two and a half years learning about military affairs and searching for the right advisor. He would not find that voice until the fall of 1863 from Ulysses S. Grant. MND-B Pic of the day! Photo by Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB PAO AL-TAJI AIRBASE, Iraq After a meeting with officers of an Iraqi Air Force unit and a tour of their base, leaders of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad, sit down with members of the Iraqi AF for lunch, here, June 18. Famous Feats of Chuck Norris Did you know? Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.

5 PAGE 5 June 24, 2009 Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker Quote For Today If you tell the truth, you don t have to remember anything. Mark Twain, American Author Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 113 F 87 F Trigger s Teasers The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in. Tomorrow 113 F 87 F Friday 116 F 89 F Yesterday s Answers Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs Office Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Philip Smith Public Affairs Chief: Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner Editor: Spc. Howard Alperin Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp Staff Sgt. Peter Ford Sgt. Joshua Risner Sgt. Jon Soles Spc. Laura Johnson Spc. Phillip Adam Turner The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Daily Charge are not official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army, or the 1st Cavalry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry, or The Daily Charge of the products and services advertised. All editorial content of The Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Multi-National Division Baghdad Public Affairs Office. Do you have a story to share? The Daily Charge welcomes columns, commentaries, articles, letters and photos from readers. Submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs NCOIC nicholas.conner@mnd-b.army.mil and include author s name, rank, unit and contact information. The Daily Charge reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper. For further information on deadlines, questions, comments or a request to be on our distribution list, the Editor at howard.alperin@mnd-b.army.mil