Cavalry secures the belt of Baghdad

Transcription

1 Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Thursday, August 6, 2009 Cavalry secures the belt of Baghdad By Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell BAGHDAD It was a standard mission for the cavalry scouts of 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment secure a thickly vegetated island, set up observation posts, find possible enemy routes, clear the area of dangers and fortify their position. Except this time, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commanding general for Multi-National Division Baghdad, was part of the platoon patrolling the island in northeast Baghdad, Aug. 3. The patrol took the Soldiers through dense underbrush and precarious terrain to find fast avenues of approach for the enemy, so we can defend the area, said Spc. Richard Olin, a cavalry scout from Metlakatla, Ala., assigned to 1st Sqdrn., 7th Cav. Regt., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The cavalry scouts provided security for engineers building a stronger bridge to the island to support the movement of larger U.S. vehicles. We re here to keep the engineers safe they need the security because they can t work all day and guard their equipment at night, too, added Olin, who s on his second tour in Iraq. After emerging from a possible enemy route deep in the thickets of the river bank, Olin and the other Soldiers were caked in mud while sweat stains started to spread on their camouflaged uniforms. Sometimes you get in there and can t move your feet, Olin said before he coughed. There s dust choking you when you re crashing through it s a little ruthless. It s so thick, if the enemy got to us they d be pretty tired when it s time to fight, he said about the 10-foot high reeds that blotted out the sun on the banks of the island. But its a little surprising when we re tromping through it all and I turn around and he s [Bolger] right there, added Olin with a smirk on his dirt-smudged face. To have the [commanding general] come out here and do something that staff sergeants and specialists are doing really shows these guys he cares, explained 1st Lt. Jed Sargent, a platoon leader from Stark, N.H., assigned to 1st Sqdrn., 7th Cav. Regt., It s good for us because we get a chance to see higher headquarters care about what we re providing. As the Soldiers stopped to draw up sectors of fire diagrams on the island, they took up a defensive perimeter. One of the most important aspects for leadership is to set the example, said Bolger, a native of Aurora, Ill., as he pulled security. I wouldn t ask the guys to do something I wouldn t do. The platoon leader for the mission agreed. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, the commanding general for Multi-National Division Baghdad, picks his way through reeds on the bank of an island in Baghdad. It brings back the human factor that shows they care and that goes up to the top echelon of leaders, added Sargent, who was a senior non-commissioned officer before earning his commission. The platoon quickly formed back up to discuss the map and establish good places to lay down obstacles to prevent any enemy movement into their area during nighttime. The Soldiers, though drenched with sweat and covered with dirt, joked with one another and flashed grime covered smiles. It boosts morale when he comes out here and does what we re required to do, said Olin after taking a drink of water. Since this island is on the outskirts of Baghdad, it s a good area to secure because it keeps the bad guys out of the city If we find a cache, then that s one less bomb going off in Sadr City. The outskirts of Baghdad have been high-traffic areas for insurgents funneling in weapons and materials for improvised explosive devices into the heart of the city. On the outer belt is where enemies hide weapons, explained Bolger. This is where we re taking the fight to them, to their bases It also helps our Iraqi Security Forces counterparts indirectly by taking the pressure off. By applying a little pressure, the cavalry scouts and Bolger have provided security for the engineers, cleared an island, prevented the flow of insurgent activity into the heart of Baghdad and have secured yet another piece of Iraq for the Iraqis.

2 PAGE 2 August 6, 2009 Black Knight medics treat Soldiers Photos by Sgt. Shejal Pulivarti 1st BCT PAO TAJI, Iraq Houston native Pfc. Andrew Britt, medic for Co. B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division connects the IV line for Dimondale, Mich. native Spc. Brandon Rich, a mechanic for Co. B, 1st Batt., 5th Cav. Regt. Aug. 3. Elgin, S.C. native Maj. Michael Simpson, the battalion surgeon for the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division prepares a syringe with the prescribed amount of lidocaine for a procedure. Houston, Texas native Pfc. Andrew Britt, medic for Co. B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division hangs a bag of saline with antibiotics in order to treat a Soldier with an infection. S.C. native Maj. Michael Simpson, the battalion surgeon for the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division checks Dimondale, Mich. native Spc. Brandon Rich s throat using a laryngoscope for signs of an infection Aug. 3 at the level 1 clinic on Camp Taji. Rich is a mechanic for Co. B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cav. Regt.

3 PAGE 3 August 6, 2009 Month of generosity celebrated in Iraq By Sgt. Joshua Risner BAGHDAD Soldiers serving in Iraq will find that operations and the local citizens might be a little different from usual beginning Aug. 22 and continuing through most of September. Things will be different as most Iraqis will observe Ramadan. Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins with the sighting of the new moon and continues for 30 days. On the Western solar calendar, the month of Ramadan moves ten days forward every year. This year, 1430 by the Islamic calendar, Ramadan starts on August 22 and ends on September 20 for Sunnis, with the Shi a starting and ending a couple days later. Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the Islamic year, regardless of faith or sect, according to Kadhim al-waeli, cultural advisor for Multi-National Division Baghdad. All Muslims respect Ramadan; they look to it as the month of mercy and generosity, he explained. You cannot be true Muslim if you don t fast during Ramadan - it is one of the five pillars of Islam - you have to do it. The month is characterized by fasting, additional prayer and charity for the less fortunate. Muslims reflect on their lives and use this period to get closer to God. Fasting takes place through the entire month from sunrise until sundown. In addition to refraining from eating, Muslims are also taught to refrain from sinful thoughts and deeds. The Arabic word for fasting, sawm, means to refrain, not only from food and drink but from evil actions, thoughts and words. The fast is meant to teach patience, modesty and spirituality. Soldiers operating outside the wire on daytime operations during Ramadan are encouraged to respect the practices of the locals, said Kadhim. What we recommend for our Soldiers is no chewing gum, eating, drinking, smoking or dipping in public, he said. You can do it, but we re talking about having respect, so it s best that you are not seen with anything in your mouth. There will be designated places reserved for those who are not fasting to eat and do other things, al-waesi added. This includes non-muslims and Muslims who are exempt from the fast including the elderly, mentally ill, pregnant women and children. In addition to minding what goes into their mouths, Kadhim suggested watching what comes out. I would recommend our Soldiers to be very careful and patient when they talk to people especially no curse words, he said. The people are going to be very hungry, thirsty and tired, and we need to be very gentle with them, especially this month. Tell them Ramadan kareem, which means generous Ramadan ; they will respond to that. Ramadan is a time for increased prayer and mosque attendance. Muslims are also encouraged to read the entire Quran during the month of Ramadan. A special prayer, called the Tarawih, is given at mosque, and recites 1/30 of the Quran each night of Ramadan. Courtesy photo Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins with the sighting of the new moon and continues for 30 days. On the Western solar calendar, the month of Ramadan moves 10 days forward every year. This year, 1430 by the Islamic calendar, Ramadan starts on August 22 and ends on September 20 for Sunnis and starts and ends a couple days later for the Shi a. There are some important dates for U.S.forces to keep in mind, according to Kahim. For the Shi a, the 15th of Ramadan [Sept. 5] marks the birth of Imam al-hasr, the son of Ali, and the 19th through 21st [Sept. 9-11] marks the wounding and death of Imam Ali Hussein, whose tomb is in Karbala, he said. These are very important dates for the Shi a. Another set of dates important to all Muslims are Sept , one of which is the Laylat al-qadr, or Night of The Power, in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad by the Archangel Gabriel. This night is believed to be one of the last nights of Ramadan, Kadhim explained. They don t know exactly which night it is, so they pray every night, he said. A large celebration of the breaking of the fast, Eid ul- Fitr, signifies the end of Ramadan when the next new moon is sighted. Food is donated to the poor, everyone puts on their best clothes and communal prayers are held at mosque. Despite the fact that Ramadan is traditionally a time reserved for forgiveness and reflection, American forces operating in sector need to be aware that insurgents have a reputation for disregarding notions of peace. The onset of Ramadan has historically not been accompanied by a halt in attacks, so complacency is something no one can afford. The month of Ramadan is a sacred time for the majority of Iraqis, bringing special considerations for U.S. forces. A little familiarization, patience and courtesy can go a long way to further improving relations between American Soldiers and the people of Iraq.

4 PAGE 4 August 6, 2009 On This Day In Military History 1945 Hiroshima, Japan, was struck with the uranium bomb, Little Boy, from the B-29 airplane, Enola Gay, piloted by Col. Paul Tibbets of the US Air Force along with 11 other men. The atom bomb killed an estimated 140,000 people in the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare. Major Thomas Wilson Ferebee (d.2000 at 81) was the bombardier. Richard Nelson (d.2003) was the radio operator. Navy weaponeer, Captain W.S. Parsons, USN, armed the atomic bomb. The bomb is a uranium fission weapon and the yield is in the region of 20,000 tons on TNT. Sixty percent of the city is destroyed in the blast and the firestorm that follows. About 80,000 Japanese are killed. Many more are severely burned and others become ill later, from exposure to radiation. It is not the most devastating bombing attack of the war but the economy of the effort involved in sending only one plane on a mission to destroy a city shows only too well the complete change in military and political thinking which has begun. Meanwhile, other American aircraft raid Tarmuizu, Kagoshima and Miyakonoju. MND-B Pic of the day! Pvt. Murphy Photo by Maj. Brian Carlin, BAGHDAD Lt. Col. Kurt Connell, 1st Ironhorse Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division intelligence operations officer and Greenfield, Ind. native, is congratulated by Maj. Luke Calhoun, the brigade operations planning officer from Vienna, Ga. Connell was promoted to Lt. Col. on Aug. 1 in the brigade headquarters at Joint Security Station War Eagle. by Mark Baker Famous Feats of Chuck Norris Did you know? When Chuck Norris wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.

5 PAGE 5 August 6, 2009 Quote For Today The quality of a person s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardlesss of their chosen field of endeavor. John Wooden, American Coach, Author, Statesman Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 111 F 84 F Tomorrow 113 F 86 F Saturday 111 F 84 F Cav Round-Up radio newscast available 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 # 126 was produced by Sgt Erik Fardette, MND-B Public Affairs Office. The August 5 newscast includes the following two stories: TRIVIA TIME!! What was the first war the U.S. took part in that was partially financed with lottery dollars? Last Issue s Answer: Germany and Japan 1. Wolf Academy hones I.A. soldier s tactical skills. Seasoned noncommissioned officers with lots of experience shared knowledge with the Iraqi Security forces. The techniques ranged from room clearance to detainee searches. The academy is a week long course and Iraqi Soldiers are trained every few weeks nd Airborne division soldier s train their Iraqi counterparts. The Iraqi Soldiers attend leadership classes, improvised explosive training and have marksmanship taining. The Soldiers earn 82nd patches if they complete course. NIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up SIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up Check out more news at the 1st Cavalry Division s homepage: 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: Staff Sgt. Peter Ford Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell 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