School supplies make unique journey to Iraq

Transcription

1 Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Wednesday, April 8, 2009 School supplies make unique journey to Iraq By Maj. Patrick Simon, 225th Eng. Bde. Sgt. Natasha Green of Alexandria, La., and Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Mitchell of Baton Rouge, La., both members of the 225th Engineer Brigade, Multi- National Division Baghdad hand out school supplies to the students at Um Araybia School in western Baghdad, April 5. The school supplies were donated by 7th and 11th graders from Catholic High of Pointe Coupee in New Roads, La. By Scott Flenner 225th Eng. Bde. PAO BAGHDAD School children made up of 7th and 11th graders in the small town of New Roads La. might not be old enough to join the military, or old enough to vote, but that does not mean they can t make a difference half a world away in countries such as Iraq. Students from Catholic High of Pointe Coupee began their endeavor to make a difference by collecting school supplies for the children of Iraq. The Louisiana students amassed backpacks, pencils, notepads, soccer balls, stuffed animals and other school supplies that the children of Iraq need. The English teacher organizing the drive, Brandy Gosserand, has a unique connection to the children of Iraq. Her father, Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Major of Ventress, La., currently serves here with the 225th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division-Baghdad. Major helped organize the delivery of the donated items to school children in western Baghad. As a school teacher, my daughter naturally feels the need to help the children of Iraq, explained Major. Just like I would expect from my daughter, she crafted a project to teach her students how to share and provide for the needy. The deployed Louisiana National Guard Unit, 225th Eng. Bde., from Pineville, La. received the more than 14 boxes of supplies for the children. A plan to choose a school and distribute the supplies was formed and on April 5 that plan was executed. Members of the 2nd Battalion, 112 Infantry Regiment, alongside the 225th Eng. Bde., traveled to the Um Araybia School loaded down with the supplies they had just received from Louisiana, and distributed the goods between the more than 450 Iraqi elementary students who attend the school. These supplies are very important for the kids and for their future, said Major. Seeing the smiles on their faces was worth all the effort. The sight of the excited young Iraqi children spread contagious smiles for everyone involved in the supply drop, even to the face of their headmaster. What happened today brings all of us happiness, said the headmaster. Happiness for the kids is my happiness. stay INFORMED. read. crossed sabers on newstands NOW

2 PAGE 2 April 8, 2009 Pa. Cav troopers get their patch 1st Lt. Duncan MacQueen IV Cav. UPAR BAGHDAD Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry, reached a deployment milestone March 25. The cavalry unit, part of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard, was officially awarded their combat patch during a ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq. The combat patch is a tradition that dates back to the First World War, when Soldiers would attach their own copies of them to their right shoulder. During World War II, troops were officially authorized to wear this patch on their right sleeve, typically reserved for the United States flag. This was meant to distinguish those Soldiers who had combat experience from those who did not. It s an honor to have a Keystone on both shoulders because there is a lot of history behind the patch, Staff Sgt. Clint Martin, of Lancaster Pa. said. It s nice to deploy with the unit I trained with and not somebody else. This is the first time that the cavalry squadron received the right to wear the combat patch as a unit since World War II. It is an awesome feeling to share this with everyone else. Said Spc. Seth Steinmetz of Easton, Pa. They have been putting us through all these tests and trials and I think this deployment is long overdue. By Staff Sgt. Todd Chance, 2nd Sqdn., 104th Cav., 56th SBCT, 28th Inf. Div. Cpt. Nathaniel Lantz (left), of Bound Brooke, N.J., commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, shakes the hand of Pfc. Christopher Santos from Lebanon, Pa., also in Headquarters Troop, after promoting him in front of the rest of the Troop. By Staff Sgt. Todd Chance, 2nd Sqdn., 104th Cav., 56th SBCT, 28th Inf. Div. Lt. Col. Shawn Reger (right), of Palmyra Pa., commander of 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, talks with soldiers as he hands out the long awaited 28th Division s combat patch. This is the first time since World War II that the whole Squadron earned this distinction. 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 No. 40 was produced by Sgt. Lisa Heise, MND-B Public Affairs Office. The April 8th newscast includes the following stories: 1. Sgt. Lisa Heise reports on the arrest of three suspected insurgents and conficastion of deadly weapons, by MND-B and Iraqi soldiers. 2. The Joint Expeditionary Forensics Facility is helping bring Iraq into the 21st century with cutting edge technology and scientific analysis. Sgt. Heise reports how the JEFF is enhancing Iraq s legal system through the use of forensic evidence. To hear the Cav Roun-Up, click on the following links: NIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up SIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up Check out more MND-B news at the 1st Cavalry Division s homepage:

3 PAGE 3 April 8, 2009 Longknife helps clean the streets of northwest Baghdad By 1st Lt. C. Anthony Donley 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div. BAGHDAD Multi-National Division Baghdad and Iraqi leaders recently completed a refurbishment project at the al-zawiyah pump station in the Ghazaliyah district of Baghdad. The local Iraqi District Advisory Council in Ghazaliyah and the Ministry of Electricity and the Beladiyah, which runs essential services in northwest Baghdad, first proposed the project to leaders of 5th Squadron Longknife, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, late in The most important part of this project was to provide a transformer that would allow the pump station to operate on a continuous 24-hour basis, thus making the Ghazaliyah sewer system more efficient and literally cleaning up the streets of Baghdad, said Maj. David Morgan, Joint Project Purchasing Manager. This project not only helped sanitize the streets, but it provided local workers with a job and stimulated the local economy. According to Morgan, the project pumped over $30,000 into the local economy and employed 40 workers through a local Iraqi company. Iraqi officials addressed the health issues caused by an inefficient sewage system by increasing the operating hours and efficiency of the key sewage pump station. According to Col. Joseph Martin, the brigade s commander, after the proposal came to Coalition Forces, the Longknife Squadron leadership saw an opportunity to work with local Iraqis in Ghazaliyah, as well as build on the strong relationship shared amongst the Iraqi Government, CF and local nationals. The contractors additionally repaired the sewage station building, to include the walls and windows, removed the trash that surrounded it, leveled the ground outside and eliminated the sewage back-up problems by upgrading the pump. Photo courtesy of 4th Cav. Regt., 2nd HBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Iraqi workers place the new transformer for the al-zawiyah sewage pump station March 26. The transformer allows the station s pump to operate on a 24-hour basis. 319th AFAR paratroopers patrol the night in Karrada District By Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell, MND-B PAO BAGHDAD Sgt. 1st Class Eric Smoke Austin, a platoon sergeant assigned to B Battery, 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, uses his advanced combat optical gun sight to zoom in on a potential threat during a night patrol in the Karrada district of southeastern Baghdad, March 28. Austin, a native of Lawton, Okla., explained, We help the Iraqi Security Forces so they can do their own patrols and take care of their own security to become a peaceful nation. By Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell, MND-B PAO BAGHDAD Lawton, Okla. native, 1st Lt. Mark Ralston, a platoon leader assigned to B Battery, 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, talks with locals during a night patrol in the Karrada district of southeastern Baghdad, March 28. The Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces are the backbone of security for the community, explained Ralston.

4 PAGE 4 April 8, 2009 Paratroopers, EPRT assess market projects Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div. SHAWRA WA UM JIDIR, Iraq Spc. Ryan Ringi (right), of Suffolk, N.Y., talks to Lt. Col. Michael Shinners, deputy brigade commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad, during a foot patrol inside a market in the city of Shawra Wa Um Jidir April 4 in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad. Shinners, along with members of the embedded provincial reconstruction team and paratroopers walked the market in order to evaluate the current construction projects in the area. The projects will help to improve the city s economy, quality of life and create jobs for residents of the poverty stricken region. Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div. SHAWRA WA UM JIDIR, Iraq Members of the embedded provincial reconstruction (eprt) and Lt. Col. Michael Shinners, deputy brigade commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad, talk to a shop owner in the city of Shawra Wa Um Jidir April 4 in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad. Shinners, along with members of the eprt and paratroopers visited the city in order to evaluate the current construction projects. Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea SHAWRA WA UM JIDIR, Iraq Spc. Nicole Willson, of Hillsdale, Mich., places an adhesive bandage on an Iraqi boy s finger during a foot patrol April 4 inside a market in the city of Shawra Wa Um Jidir.

5 PAGE 5 April 8, 2009 On This Day In Military History On this day in 1945, a Soldier s courageous actions on the battlefield in World War II earned him the Medal of Honor. Staff Sgt. John R. Crews of Bowlega, Okla., was serving with Foxtrot Company, 253rd Infantry Regimet, 63rd Infantry Division, near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, when he singlehandedly destroyed two German gun emplacement. Foxtrot Company was advancing toward the village of Lobenbacherhof when heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire erupted from a hill on the right flank. Seeing the platoon leader was wounded, Staff Sgt. Crews acted on his own initiative and rushed the strongpoint with two of his Soldiers. Despite the fact that one of his Soldiers was killed and the other one was badly wounded, Staff Sgt. Crews continued his advance up the hill in the face of terrific enemy fire. Storming the well-dug-in position alone, Staff Sgt. Crews killed two of the gun crew at pointblank Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 80 F 57 F Tomorrow 82 F 59 F Crews range with his M1 rifle and wrested the gun from the hands of the German whom he had wounded. Staff Sgt. Crews then charged a strongly emplaced automatic rifle and silenced the entire position with accurate rifle fire, despite the fact that he had been wounded in the thigh by crossfire. Staff Sgt. Crews was awarded the Medal of Honor. He died on September 25, 1999 Friday 80 F 59 F David Letterman s Top Ten Signs You Have A Bad Long Distance Company 10. All calls are $2 for the first minute, $94 each additional minute. 9. Operator makes you describe what you re wearing. 8. Their so-called dial tone is just a guy with a kazoo. 7. You can only place long distance calls during an electrical storm. 6. They bill you for calls made by some guy named Pepe. 5. Whenever you call their office, you hear gunfire. 4. For some reason, your phone doesn t work unless you re wearing 3-D glasses. 3. Everyone you talk to sounds like the guy at the drive-thru window at McDonald s. 2. No matter what number you dial, you always get Richard Simmons. 1. Their slogan is: Reach out and touch yourself.

6 PAGE 6 April 8, 2009 Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker Quote For Today Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Dale Breckenridge Carnegie, American writer, lecturer PEGASUS OASIS DFAC HOURS BREAKFAST 0530 TO 0830 LUNCH 1130 TO 1330 DINNER 1700 TO 2000 MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 TO 0100 SUNDAY ONLY BRUNCH 0730 to 1330 DINNER 1700 to 2000 MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 to 0100 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. 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. Jon Soles 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 Spc. Howard Alperin 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 jon. soles@mnd-b.army.mil