Iraqi police, Paratroopers uncover massive cache

Transcription

1 Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Friday, March 20, 2009 Iraqi police, Paratroopers uncover massive cache Multi-National Division Baghdad PAO BAGHDAD National Police Officers and Multi-National Division Baghdad Paratroopers captured a massive weapons cache, including a sizable quantity of rockets, March 19 while conducting combat operations in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad. Acting on a tip from a concerned local Iraqi, NP officers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th NP Brigade, 2nd NP Division supported by Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, uncovered three separate weapon cache sites in the district. After securing the sites, NP officers filled their vehicles to capacity in order to transport the munitions to a nearby joint security station. Officers and their Paratrooper partners safely removed 29 Katushya rockets, mm mortar rounds, mm mortar rounds, mm mortar rounds, 4 60mm mortar systems, 20 pounds of TNT, 15 anti-tank rocket propelled grenade rounds, 44 rocket propelled grenade rounds; along with substantial amounts of primers, mortar fuses, gunpowder and additional explosive materials and bomb making components. NP officers removed the munitions from the scene and transported them to an Iraqi compound for further evaluation. By Pfc. Mitch Taylor, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div. National Police officers stand watch over mortar rounds captured during a combat patrol March 19 in eastern Baghdad. Iraqi and U.S. Paratroopers discovered the large weapons cache after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen. By Pfc. Mitch Taylor, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div. Explosives, mortars and other materials cover the floor outside a joint security station in Baghdad March 19. By Pfc. Mitch Taylor, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div. Numerous mortar rounds lay on display after National Police officers and Multi-National Division Baghdad Paratroopers discovered a large weapons cache March 19 while conducting combat operations in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad.

2 PAGE 2 March 20, 2009 Continued security gains in Rashid By Pfc. Evan Loyd, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div. Lt. Col. Dave Bair (left), of Fairfax, Va., commander, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and Mr. Mustat (right), a local Sons of Iraq (SoI) leader eat at the Dining Facility at Joint Security Station Zubaida after discussing the continued presence of the SoI program and security improvements in the Rashid District of Baghdad March 12. By Pfc. Evan Loyd 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div. BAGHDAD Lt. Col. Dave Bair, of Fairfax, Va., commander, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, met with a local Sons of Iraq (SoI) leader at Joint Security Station Zubaida to discuss their continuing support of security improvements in the East Rashid district of Baghdad, March 12. The meeting served as an opportunity for Bair and Mr. Mustat, the SoI leader in East Rashid, to discuss sustaining security gains in the area and the SoI s continuing fight against the movement of explosives and arms into the Rashid District of Baghdad through a series of checkpoints within the area. Bair s unit, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad, works closely with Iraqi Security Forces and the SoIs in the area. Security is not something the Iraqi Army can control by themselves, said Mustat during the meeting. It s the responsibility of the Iraqi citizens to keep their homes safe. The SoI played a significant role in improving and maintaining security throughout Baghdad. At the height of sectarian violence, Iraqi citizens formed organizations similar to neighborhood watch programs to protect the members of their neighborhoods from the sectarian violence. MND-B took this grassroots effort and incorporated it into the SoI program. The members manned check points and patrolled streets. At its peak, the SoI program had over 50,000 members providing security throughout neighborhoods in Baghdad. In a recent interview with al-iraqiya television, Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-hashimi commented on the improved security situation in Baghdad and the role the SoI security members contributed. Thanks to the distinguished efforts of the [Sons of Iraq security] forces and the Armed Forces, the security situation in [Baghdad] has become excellent. There are no excuses for not preparing a road map to improve municipal and other services in the area, said al- Hashimi. From January 2008 to January 2009, MND-B reported an 80 per cent decrease in overall attacks within Baghdad. Attacks decreased from an average of nine per day to an average of two per day in the twelve month period. Staff Sgt. Brandon Holland, of Ferguson, N.C., who previously deployed to the Rashid area during , attested to the changes he has seen during his current tour. As a section sniper leader at a time when sectarian violence was ripping apart Baghdad on a daily basis, attacks during July 2007 averaged 37 per day. Things were really bad, AQI (al-qaeda in Iraq) and other terrorists were everywhere, said Holland, who was present during the meeting. There is a lot less violence in the area now that the SoI, NP (National Police), IA (Iraqi Army), presence has increased. Today, life is returning to a sense of normalcy in the area. The security environment has improved and stabilized. The quality of life has improved and merchants in the Doura market have returned to sell their goods. The Soldiers of the 1-505th and the SoI members remain committed to sustaining the security improvements, said Bair. The SoI members have played an integral part of the improved security situation in Baghdad. However, the Government of Iraq is transitioning the members to other training and employment opportunities. Since October 1, 2008 the GoI has assumed responsibility for the SoI. They are in the lead for their operations, payment and transitioning to other work such as the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Security Forces, the Iraqi Police or vocational and technical training. The GoI and MND-B Soldiers continue working together to ensure a smooth and timely transition of the SoI members into other employment without a degradation of security in the area. The Iraqi Army and Iraqi National Police have dramatically improved in size and capability in taking the lead in providing security to the Rashid area, according to Bair. We have a high respect for the part that the SoI have played in the security of the Rashid area, said Bair. I plan to come back in ten years and visit to see how safe it is in Iraq.

3 PAGE 3 March 20, 2009 Ironhorse MPs gear up for Iraq Sgt. Shejal Pulivarti 1BCT, 1CD PAO CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait On a dusty and overcast morning, military police began their training on the personal security detachment (PSD) lanes in Kuwait to better serve Soldiers of 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division during their rotation in Iraq. During the three-day training event in the desert ranges of Kuwait, the troops learned the basic skills they ll use as personal security team members in Iraq. The PSD is a special team, handpicked to specifically travel with particular people, called principals, solely to protect them. The PSD lane was the most [relevant] training to us that we have went through, said Sterling, Alaska native, Sgt. 1st Class Travis Huggard. The training is sculpted to introduce the different ways to respond in order to successfully secure the principal and dissolve any hostile situation. Troops learned how to screen vehicles when driving, successfully engage a target while moving and clear a house in order to keep the principal safe. This training gave the Soldiers the awareness of what their role is in the team and how tactically and technically sound they need to be to be proficient and successful in any PSD mission, Huggard said. It also gave the team leaders the chance to step up and take charge of their team. Through all the scenarios, the team leaders communicated the appropriate action to their Soldiers. This is my first experience doing anything like this and By Sgt. Shejal Pulivarti, 1BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div. Detroit, Mich. Native, Pvt. Matthew Osborne, a gunner from 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, drags a wounded troop to an established casualty collection point to further assess him during the personal security detachment training in Kuwait. By Sgt. Shejal Pulivarti, 1BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div. The military police platoon from 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, line up and engage their targets on the close quarters marksman range during the personal security detachment lane in Kuwait. the leadership was great, said Woodville, Texas native, Pvt. Dustin Lynch. The MP platoon members trained and prepared for a variety of security, escort and protection missions. We train on many different types of missions, said Huggard. We are flexible to provide whatever mission support is needed. I m confident in my Soldiers and we are fully capable in whatever way necessary.

4 PAGE 4 March 20, 2009 Fulfilling Jacob s wish By Staff Sgt. Alex Licea 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div. BELADIYAT, Iraq A month after a Colorado boy collected his toys and sent them to Iraq, a group of U.S. Paratroopers distributed the items to children in eastern Baghdad s 9 Nissan District, March 16. Spc. Greg Moreland, 25, a native of Hershey, Pa., and 2007 graduate of Penn State University, received the toys from his penpal Jacob Poehls, an 8-year-old boy from Summit Cove, Colo. Jacob adopted Moreland as a penpal several weeks ago through the website. The two have become fast friends and have been exchanging s on a consistent basis. It s great to see that there are people like Jacob who care about others and want to make a difference in people s lives even if they are thousands of miles away, said Moreland. The adoption of Moreland was not the first by the boy. Several months ago, Jacob adopted Marine Gunnery Sgt. Baltazar Pineda, then deployed to Iraq. The two became great friends and Pineda encouraged Jacob, a special needs student, to improve in school. Their strong friendship was well-documented when the boy and his mother, Nora Hall, made an appearance on NBC s Today Show last month. Pineda joined them live, via satellite, from an undisclosed location in Iraq. Though Pineda and the boy were penpals, the Marine was due to return to the U.S. after the donated packages would arrive in Iraq. Jacob and his family then decided to mail the packages to Moreland. On a breezy morning in Baghdad, Moreland made it a priority to complete this wish for Jacob and all of Summit Cove. The people of Summit Cove put a lot of time into organizing and collecting these items, said Moreland. I made it a personal mission to fulfill this request and make sure these gifts were handed out to the Iraqi children. Moreland, along with Paratroopers assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, handed out the box full of stuffed animals, along with the stockpile of cookies and candy to children at the Abuthare and Rufayda Elementary School. The children gathered at the school s courtyard and eagerly waited as Paratroopers gave the children the donated items. Through the use of an interpreter, Moreland showed a picture of Jacob stuffing the box full of the toys to the school s headmaster. Moreland told the headmaster that the toys and treats were donated by Jacob and his classmates at Summit Cove Elementary School. Thank you Jacob and all the people of Colorado, said Mr. Nanah Almohsen. It s great to see that the children in America care about the children of Iraq. We are very grateful for this. Moreland and fellow Paratroopers then walked into each By Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn Spc. Greg Moreland, a Paratrooper with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, hands a stuffed animal to an Iraqi girl at the Abuthare and Rufayda Elementary School March 16 in the 9 Nissan District of eastern Baghdad. The Hershey, Pa. native gave the toys to the children on behalf of his penpal Jacob Poehls, 8, of Summit Cove, Colo. classroom and gave each child a handful of candy. After returning from his mission, Moreland got on his computer and ed Jacob. Moreland felt it was important to tell him how his day went and that the toys were appreciated by the children. Despite being tired and going on 18 hours with no sleep due to working the evening shift, Moreland said he felt obligated to write the boy an . I felt I had to share this special day with Jacob and I couldn t wait to tell him, he said. I want him to know that his donation is something these children will never forget. Moreland said the experience of distributing the items and talking to the children will be with him for the rest of his life. This day will be with me forever, said Moreland. I can t wait to tell this story to my family back home and show them the pictures. By Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn Students and facility of the Abuthare and Rufayda Elementary School and Paratroopers assigned to 82nd Airborne Division, hold a sign thanking Jacob and the citizens of Summit Cove, Colo., for their generous donation March 16.

5 PAGE 5 March 20, 2009 On This Day In Military History On this day, March 20, in 1967, a 1st Cavalry Division Soldier s courageous actions on the battlefield in Vietnam earned him the Medal of Honor. Spc. Charles Chris Hagemeister of Lincoln, Neb., was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Binh Dinh Province in Vietnam when his platoon became involved in a firefight with the enemy. Spc. Hagemeister s platoon came under heavy attack from three sides by a wellconcealed enemy force. When two Soldiers were wounded in action, Spc. Hagemeister raced through the deadly hail of enemy fire to provide them medical aid. Upon learning that the platoon leader and several other Soldiers were also wounded, Spc. Hagemeister continued to brave the withering enemy fire and crawled forward to render lifesaving treatment. When Spc. Hagemeister came under fire from a sniper, he grabbed a rifle and killed the sniper and three more enemy soldiers trying to surround him and silenced a machine gun. Spc. Hagemeister continued to move wounded men to safety, even as his every move brought fire from the enemy. Spc. Hagemeister was later commissioned an officer and retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel. Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 77 F 59 F Tomorrow 73 F 55 F Hagemeister Sunday 78 F 57 F David Letterman s Top Ten Signs You Have A Bad Commencement Speaker 10.The entire speech is Testing 1, 2, 3... testing. 9. He s wearing a cap, but no gown. 8. Only bit of wisdom: There s a white Ford Taurus with the lights on. 7. His introduction: And now, the equipment manager for your Memphis Grizzlies. 6. The repeated references to how delicious grape jelly is. 5. Halfway through the speech he chokes on his tassel. 4. He leaves early to beat the traffic. 3. Angrily denounces so-called booklearnin 2. Thanks to the honorary degree, he s now Dr. Hasselhof. 1. There s a 15 minute stretch of just Uhh...

6 PAGE 6 March 20, 2009 Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker Quote For Today What do we mean by patriotism? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility... a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. Adlai Stevenson American politician, ambassador 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