| With Water Flowing, Soldiers Solving Traffic Flow Problems |
| Saturday, 24 May 2008 | |
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU – With the Yusifiyah Pump station up and running, water is flowing into the Maderiyah area, 25 kilometers south of Baghdad, providing water for both drinking and irrigation. Now, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Soldiers are working to get something else flowing – traffic. Although drinking water is now available at the Maderiyah water station, traveling to the water treatment pumps is sometimes difficult. To help streamline traffic and ease accessibility, Soldiers of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, are working with Iraqi contractors to help solve the issue. |
On May 21, Battery B Soldiers visited resident handyman Nassier Adnin to assess the work he completed. Adnin, who owns several earth-moving equipment pieces, has already accomplished jobs for Coalition forces and said he was glad to take on this new project.
“It’s a good job,” he said. “I make good money for improving my neighborhood.”
Currently, the improvements include building a bridge to link routes Bismark and Aggies, as well as widening these roads and Route Charger.
“It will make things much more accessible,” said Sgt. Kyle Nygaard, 1st Platoon sergeant. “It lets the people get water without as much hassle.”
Besides bringing water back to the area more easily, it also brings in money and jobs. Adnin said the construction project has allowed him to hire 25 local workers.
“We want money to stay in the area,” said 1st Lt. Greg Highstrom, 2nd Platoon leader, and native of Cedarburg, Wis.
Keeping money in the area increases its economy, in turn increasing prosperity and pride in the community.
It is such pride that led Battery B, 1-9th FA Soldiers to work so hard to improve the area they have called home for the last year.
“We’re building trust between us and them, helping them out,” said Nygaard, a native of Houston.
Projects will continue with help from local Iraqi contractors through the final months of the battery’s deployment. Continued projects include school restorations, road improvements and canal restoration; some of which will also be funded by the Government of Iraq. Currently, the GoI has approved funds for two area schools and the paving of Routes Bismarck and Chevy.
Feature Stories
| Piledriver Ends, Projects Continue |
 CAMP STRIKER — Operation Marne Piledriver kicked off in earnest April 15 with an Iraqi Army-led air assault and clearing operations in the Mahmudiyah area, about 26 kilometers south of Baghdad.
Although the IA has led air assaults in the past, this particular mission showcased its abilities. |
| Odierno Tells Senate U.S. Military Headed in Right Direction in Iraq |
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WASHINGTON — The United States “is not out of the woods yet” in Iraq, but the nation is headed in the right direction, the man nominated to be the next Multinational Force Iraq commander said May 22. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would not take the job “if I didn't think that we could be successful” in Iraq. Odierno, who served as Multinational Corps Iraq commander until October 2007, said Iraq has made significant progress, specifically over the past 18 months. |
| Four-legged Defenders Sniff Out Trouble |
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For Charlie, a German shepherd deployed here, this attack is no less a priority than if it were a real insurgent attempting to harm coalition forces. |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Government of Iraq making progress (Baghdad) |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Battlefield promotions award extraordinary Soldiers |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Keeping traffic flowing (Marderiyah) |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Suspected al-Qaeda senior leader captured (Mosul, Baghdad) |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Iraqi Special Operations Forces capture wanted financier (Az-Zubayr) |
In Sight
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | DoD Identifies Army Casualty |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Iraqi Special Operations Forces capture mid-level terrorist cell leader in Mosul |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Uthman Feed Mill renovations complete (Mahmudiyah) |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | IA seize weapons cache at schoolhouse in Sadr City |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Soldiers receive the gift of golf (Iskandariyah) |
Tactical
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | ME outreach program provides medical care to Iraqi residents in Doura community |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | MND-C Soldier attacked by IED |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Coalition forces capture four suspected Special Groups criminals (Baghdad) |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | IA Soldiers remove dangerous weapons from streets of Sadr City |
Stallions
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | MND-B Soldiers find weapons cache (BAGHDAD) |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | So which one is Memorial Day? |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Coalition forces provide aid in Zuwarijat |
| Friday, 23 May 2008 | Iraqi Army seize weapons caches in separate operations Multi-National Division – Baghdad |
Stumble It!
