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EstaEstabblished in 1917 to honor those wlished in 1917 to honor those who serho ser vvee
Vol. 1, No. 14 july 23, 2006MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD “steadfast and loyal”
Baghdad is beautifulMND-B, Iraqi government
work to beautify city
Page 12
Fires brigade Soldierswork with Iraqi counter-
parts to aid populace
Page 3
4th Brigade CombatTeam Soldiers save life oftribal leader’s daughter
Page 17
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Sgt. Maj. of the Army
Kenneth Preston kicked off a four-day whirlwind
tour of Iraq July 8 when he visited the Soldiers of
Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
The goal of his trip, he said, was to simply sit
down, talk with Soldiers and to hear what concerns
they had on their minds.
“I am very proud of all of our Soldiers,” said
Preston. “I am very proud of what they’re doing
each and every day. My message to the Soldiers is
I want them to be proud of what they have accom-
Story by Master Sgt. Eric Lobsinger4th Inf. Div. PAO
FOB MAHMUHDIYAH, Iraq – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston speaks to the Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, after joining them for lunch July 8 at Forward Operating Base Mahmuhdiyah.
Astrological Signs Cartoon CornerFaces & Places
192023
This WeekMWR Calendars Religious Services Sports Round Up
222224
see visit, pg. 6
Sgt. Maj. of the Army visits MND – B Soldiers on four-day tour of Iraq, speaks on deployment, modularity
Photo by Spc. Kelly K. McDowell, 2nd BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.
FACE TO FACE
TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 2
Multi-National Division – BaghdadPublic Affairs Office
Commanding General:
Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman
Division Command Sergeant Major:
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling
Public Affairs Officer:
Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington
Public Affairs Supervisor:
Master Sgt. Eric Lobsinger
EditorSgt. 1st Class Mary Mott
Layout and DesignSgt. Kristin Kemplin
Photo EditorSpc. Rodney Foliente
Staff WritersStaff Sgt. Christian Farrell
Staff Sgt. Kevin LovelSpc. Karl Johnson
Spc. C. Terrell TurnerSpc. Jason Thompson
Spc. Jake Judge
Contributing Units1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
1st BCT, 10th Mountain Div.2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Div.3rd Heavy BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.4th BCT, 101st Airborne Div.
Combat Aviation Bde., 4th Inf. Div.Fires Bde., 4th Inf. Div.
16th Engineer Bde.Sustainment Bde., 4th Inf. Div.
july 23, 2006
The Ivy Leaf is an authorized publicationfor members of the U.S. Army. Contents ofThe Ivy Leaf are not necessarily officialviews of, or endorsed by, the U.S.Government, Department of the Army, or the 4th Infantry Division. The Ivy Leaf hasa circulation of 10,000. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including
inserts or supplements, does not consti-tute endorsement by the Department of theArmy, the 4th Infantry Division, or The IvyLeaf of the products and services adver-tised. All editorial content of The Ivy Leafis prepared, edited, provided andapproved by the Multi-National Division –Baghdad Public Affairs Office.
Do you have a story to share?The Ivy Leaf welcomes columns, commen-taries, articles, letters and photos fromreaders. Submissions should be sent to theEditor at [email protected]. andinclude author’s name, rank, unit and con-tact information. The Ivy Leaf reserves theright to edit submissions selected for thepaper. For further information on dead-lines, questions, comments or a request tobe on our distribution list, email the Editoror call VoIP 242-4464 or DSN (318) 847-1913.
NEWS FROM THE FRONT
The Ivy Leaf is produced by the 363rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Iraqi army, MND-B
Soldiers spoil kidnap
attempt, nab culprits
BAGHDAD – A local national
kidnapped early Tuesday was res-
cued by Soldiers of 9th Iraqi
Army Division, and Multi-
National Division – Baghdad’s
7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry
Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division, dur-
ing an unplanned cordon and
search operation the afternoon of
July 11 in Al Masara Village in
the northwestern area of
Baghdad. The captured kidnap-
pers are in custody. There were
no reported injuries or damage to
MND-B personnel or equipment.
(Courtesy of MND– B PAO)
pelled grenade rounds, an RPG
launcher, 31 60mm mortar
rounds, 91 mortar fuses, 48 M6
fuses, two bullet-proof vests,
eight AK-47 assault rifles, five
fragmentation grenades, five con-
cussion grenades, a sniper scope,
a pipe bomb, a mortar base plate,
seven sticks of dynamite, 57 shot-
gun shells, three rolls of fuse,
3,750 7.62mm rounds, two
Dragonov sniper rifles, and 300
PKC rounds.
The 3rd Bde., 6th IA Div., and
the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, continue to
conduct operations to provide a
safe and secure environment for
all Iraqis.
(Courtesy of 1st BCT PAO, 4thInf. Div.)
6th IA finds large cache
Cavalry regiment cap-
tures Anti-Iraqi forces
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from
the weapons platoon, Company
C, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team, 101st Airborne Division,
captured two suspected terrorists
June 28 during a planned cordon
and search at the Zaara Gas sta-
tion in Jisr Diyala.
During the operation, Soldiers
from Co. C were moving in on
their targets when the terrorists
attempted to escape from the back
door of the gas station.
The suspects are alleged to be
involved with the kidnapping and
murders of multiple local nation-
als, including a local district advi-
sory counsel member and small-
arms fire and rocket-propelled
grenade attack against Soldiers
from 3rd Platoon, Troop A, 1st
Sqdn., 61st Cav. June 10. The ter-
rorists were taken to a secure site
for further questioning.
(Courtesy of 4th BCT PAO,101st Abn. Div.)
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers
from 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army
Division found a large weapons
cache, while conducting a cordon
and search operation west of
Baghdad at approximately 2 p.m.
June 30.
The cache consisted of two
82mm mortar tubes, 19 82mm
mortar rounds, eight rocket-pro-
BAGHDAD – A local national
kidnapped early Tuesday was res-
cued by Soldiers of 9th Iraqi
Army Division, and Multi-
National Division – Baghdad’s
7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry
Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division, dur-
ing an unplanned cordon and
search operation the afternoon of
July 11 in Al Masara Village in
the northwestern area of
Baghdad.
The captured kidnappers are in
custody. There were no reported
injuries or damage to MND-B
personnel or equipment.
(Courtesy of MND– B PAO)
IA, MND-B Soldiers
spoil kidnap attempt
page 3TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
FOB KALSU, Iraq – Amidst the acts of terrorism, the
rebuilding of the city’s infrastructure, and Iraqi Security
Forces gaining a foothold in the provinces, an artist in
Hillah keeps his love of Iraq’s culture alive through his
sculptures while building a link with Coalition Forces.
Salim Shamkhy, a local artist in Hillah for 48 years,
designed a statue to be placed here representing the
blending of the two cultures and the partnership Iraq and
CF have experienced over the last three years.
Salim presented the sculpture to Col. John Tully,
commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, here July 6 in a short meeting and explained
the statue’s symbolism.
He said the female figure represents the statue of lib-
erty, a symbol of freedom and equality; the Hammurabi
represents the code of laws originating in Babylon; and
the sun, which represents a sun that gives light to all
without discrimination. Carved in the base of the statue
is the Ishtar gate, a horse symbolizing riding into a
bright future, the lion of Babylon and the Mushhushu, an
animal with the head of a dragon, the neck of a giraffe,
the body of a fish, the tail of a snake, the back legs of an
eagle and the front legs of a lion.
Salim teaches sculpture in and around the southern
Babil province and continues to hone his skills as a
sculptor, exhibiting his works at local museums.
Although it is often difficult at times to find or purchase
the materials, he said he feels it is important to continue
his work.
“History is happening right now, and I want to cap-
ture it how ever I can,” he said.
Tully graciously accepted the statue and plans to have
it mounted and placed on Forward Operating Base
Falcon in a location where Soldiers can enjoy it. An
engraved narrative plate explaining the piece will also be
attached to the base to capture the artist’s intent and to
explain the concept behind the sculpture.
2nd BCT commander accepts sculpture from Iraqi citizen Story and photo by Maj. Anna Friederich2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
FOB KALSU, Iraq – Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, accepts a
sculpture from local artist Salim Shamkhy here July 6 and listens while he explains the symbolism of the piece.
The statue will be displayed here as a symbol of the partnership between Iraq and Coalition Forces.
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq –
Approximately 60 American and
Iraqi soldiers teamed up in east-
ern Abu Ghraib June 24 to ren-
der humanitarian aid and med-
ical assistance to area residents.
The goal of the
mission was to intro-
duce the Soldiers
from 2nd Battalion,
20th Field Artillery
Regiment, Fires
Brigade, 4th Infantry
Division, to the local
populace, their Iraqi
counterparts, and to
acquaint the newly
arrived Soldiers with
the type of missions
they can expect dur-
ing the balance of
their tour.
Introducing them to the rear area of
operations were Soldiers from 3rd
Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, who have been working in the
area for almost a year and recently rede-
ployed to Fort Drum, N.Y. 2-20 FA
recently moved from Forward Operating
Base Q-West, where it spent the previous
six months on a different mission and
prior to assuming control of 3-6 FA’s area
of operations in Baghdad.
Four medics from Fires Brigade, 4th
Inf. Div., joined Soldiers from Battery A,
3-6 FA. The 3-6
FA Soldiers said
they believed the
missions are a
“successful deal”
for both
Americans and
Iraqis.
“People are
glad to get help,”
said Capt.
Edward Keel,
commander, Btry.
A, 3-6 FA. “It
makes them more
willing to give us information.”
Nearly 200 people lined up for aid,
which is close to the same number the
battery saw during a similar mission in
the neighborhood in October. A majority
of patients had common ailments, such as
sore throats, stomach aches or rashes, but
the medical staff reported a few surprises.
“We had two men ask for Viagra,”
laughed Staff Sgt. Roland Walker, medical
noncommissioned officer, 2-20 FA.
Walker, a Detroit native, screened
patients before they went to either the
male or female treatment tent. He said
both men who asked for the medication
were older than 60.
Another man asked if the medics could
provide him with an artificial eye.
“Obviously we couldn’t give him that,”
said Capt. James Mitchell, 3-6 FA medical
officer. The medics were armed with an
assortment of cough drops, pain relievers
and multi-vitamins – but no glass eyes.
The man was referred to a local Iraqi hos-
pital.
Maj. Barbara Bowsher, Fires Brigade
surgeon, said due to her usual routine of
pulling shifts at a troop medical clinic and
monitoring sick call at the brigade’s head-
quarters battery, this was her first trip
“outside the wire.”
Treating Iraqi patients through a trans-
lator, particularly women and children,
was “different,” she said.
“Working with the kids again was a lot
of fun,” said Bowsher, who previously
served as assistant chief of the adolescent
medicine clinic at Tripler Army Medical
Center in Honolulu.
“Even in a different culture, you can do
some of the same things to make the kids
smile,” said Bowsher.
Spc. Sarah Hess, medic, 2-20 FA, said
she learned some Arabic while the battal-
ion was on FOB Q-West, but she’d like to
know more. “Mostly, I wish I could com-
municate with the locals better,” said
Hess, a Kingston, Wash., native.
Bowsher and Hess, who primarily
worked with the children and female
patients in keeping with maintaining
respect for the cultural sensitivity of the
Iraqis, also had to learn to move around in
a crowded tent with all their protective
gear on.
The female tent was frequently more
crowded than the one set up for males,
especially since more local women than
men brought children along with them.
Despite the space and communication
difficulties faced, Hess said she enjoyed
working with the children and would like
to do similar missions in the future.
“Reaching out in this one way has been
a blessing,” said Hess, who is scheduled
to redeploy with Fires Bde. back to Fort
Hood, Texas, later this year.
MND-B, Iraqi Soldiers team up to give
medical, humanitarian aid to local IraqisStory by Spc. Allison Churchill
Fires Bde. PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
“Even in a different culture, you can do some
of the same things to makethe kids smile.”
Maj. Barbara Bowsher
Surgeon, Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 4
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq –
For new citizens such as Spc. Guillermo Paniagua,
a nuclear, chemical and biological specialist with
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,
enlisting into the Army meant more than just
joining the military – it meant joining the United States.
In a Fourth of July ceremony, Paniagua and 75 fellow
servicemembers from 29 different countries took the
Oath of Citizenship inside Al Faw palace, one of Saddam
Hussein’s palaces here, completed their journey and
became citizens of the country they so proudly serve.
“Thousands of immigrant troops are making extraordi-
nary sacrifices for America,” said Jack Bulger, district
director – Rome, Italy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Department of Homeland Security. “They are
defending with their lives, liberties which they have only
today secured for themselves. It is only fitting that, as a
grateful nation, we’re bringing the citizenship process to
them here in Iraq,”
Distinguished guests, Gen. George Casey, commander,
Multi-National Force – Iraq, and Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli,
commander, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, were on hand
to say a few words commending the Soldiers, Marines,
Airmen and Sailors for their achievement.
“Before us stand some great citizen-Soldiers of 29 dif-
ferent countries,” said Casey, “and we are happy to wel-
come them as the newest citizens of the United States on
this 230th birthday of our nation.”
“Troops, yours is the highest form of citizenship. You
have shown the courage and the determination in this dif-
ficult task of bringing freedom to the Iraqi people,” said
Casey.
“Citizenship is not limited by birth, background, gen-
der, race, ethnicity or creed,” said Chiarelli. “There is no
doubt our true multi-culturism is epitomized today.”
For servicemembers like Paniagua, gaining American
citizenship is the final step in a long process.
“It took a long time for my parents and I to establish
ourselves as permanent residents in this country,” said
the Soldier, who immigrated from Guanajuato, Mexico,
to the United States in 1984 with his family. “I am excit-
ed. (Twenty-two) years later, I can actually say I am a
citizen.”
Paniagua’s achievement has become more common
among the immigrant ranks of the U.S. Armed Forces.
This is the seventh citizenship ceremony held in Iraq
since the start of the war.
The number of immigrants taking the oath continues
to grow partly as a result of an executive order enacted
by President George Bush.
“Out of respect for their brave service in time of war,
our president signed an executive order providing them
the opportunity to petition for citizenship in the United
States of America,” said Casey.
President George Bush issued the order July 3, 2002,
to speed up the three-year process of citizenship for
immigrants serving in the nation’s forces.
Immigrant servicemembers can now qualify for citi-
zenship after serving honorably for one year in the U.S.
Armed Forces or for serving on active duty during an
authorized period of conflict, among other qualifications
listed under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section
328.
“I applied for citizenship when I got to Iraq about
seven months ago,” said Spc. Andrey Agashchuh, a
native of Ukraine who gained his citizenship in the same
ceremony with Paniagua.
Agashchuh, a Missouri National Guardsman serving
with 110th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade,
MNC-I, said he originally planned to submit the applica-
tion for citizenship upon returning from the deployment.
Upon his arrival in Iraq, he found out he could complete
the process while deployed – a process that can take
immigrants outside the military up to five years to com-
plete.
Agashchuh said he was grateful the military had a
process making it easier for immigrants to become true
citizens.
Both Agashchuh and Paniagua agreed that gaining the
freedoms guaranteed to all American citizens on the day
of the nation’s birth made the event special.
“July 4th is a great day to be an American – but an
even greater day to become one,” said Bulger, who
administered the Oath of Citizenship.
Story and photo by Sgt. Kristin Kemplin363rd MPAD
Servicemembers serving in Iraq achieve
American citizenship on Independence Day
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Spc. Guillermo Paniagua (center), a nuclear, chemical and biological specialist with
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and fellow servicemembers from across Iraq recite the Oath of
Citizenship at Al Faw Palace here July 4. Seventy-six Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors from 29 different
countries became American citizens at the ceremony.
FOB KALSU, Iraq –
Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and
Airmen alike celebrated
Independence Day in grand style
here as they took part in a variety
of events scheduled around the nation’s
birthday.
The day was centered on the Warhorse
Commander’s Cup, pitting units against
each other in a variety of sporting events.
The day commenced in the pre-dawn
hours as the Oakland Athletics and Fox
Sports Net-Bay Area paid tribute to ser-
vicemembers in Iraq with a special
Independence Day telecast of the Detroit
Tigers-A’s baseball game on American
Forces Network.
Servicemembers stationed here were
the stars of the telecast, and their family
members, who reside in or near Oakland,
were special invited guests of the A’s at
the ballpark. Prior to the game, the troops
were interviewed and talked to their fami-
lies. The interviews were then shown
throughout the game and live shots of the
servicemembers watching the game were
televised. Players from the A’s gave spe-
cial greetings to the servicemembers.
“I was nervous talking to my favorite
player, Eric Chavez,” said Pvt. Bryant
Ullerich, signal support specialist,
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, “but it was great. He told me
that we were the real heroes and how
much they thought of us and what we do.”
“It had been a long time since I saw
my family,” said Navy Pett Officer 2nd
Class Angela McLane, combat camera
video journalist, Fleet Combat Camera
Group. “This was a great event. It’s nice
to know that people out there support us
so much.”
An early-morning fireworks show,
sponsored by terrorists, attempted to
derail the festivities as indirect-fire landed
here. No one was injured in the attack and
there was no damage to any buildings or
equipment – so the show went on.
Before the thermometer had a chance
to reach triple digits, several outdoor
sporting events began. Units competed in
volleyball, basketball, flag football, dodge
ball and horseshoes. The indoor events
were held after noon, including billiards,
dominoes, spades and weightlifting.
The dining facility served up Fourth of
July fare with hamburgers, barbecue
chicken and ribs and assorted deserts. The
DFAC also stayed open all-day instead of
its normal operating hours, to give the feel
of a cookout and provided everyone the
opportunity to eat when and how often
they liked.
The closing ceremonies were officiated
by Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd BCT,
who spoke to the troops and awarded the
Commander’s Cup to, Special Troops
Battalion, the winning unit. “This was a
great job by everyone,” said Tully.
“Terrorists tried to derail our Fourth of
July, but it will take a lot more than that
to stop Warhorse.”
Servicemembers celebrate Fourth of July; terrorists fail to derail Commander’s CupStory by Cpl. Michael Molinaro2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
page 5TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
BAGHDAD –
Marinated T-Bone steaks
smoking on the grill, barbe-
cue chicken, ribs and all the
finger lickin’ fixings helped
make this year’s Fourth of July celebra-
tion a little more like home for Soldiers of
Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division, serving at
Forward Operating Base Prosperity in
central Baghdad, took time from their
busy schedules and daily routines to relax
and enjoy each other’s company, play
games and enjoy backyard cooking in cel-
ebration of their nation’s Independence
Day.
“All the norms for a normal Fourth of
July and recognition of Independence
Day, the way Soldiers are use to it,” said
Sgt. 1st Class Audrey Smith, noncommis-
sioned officer-in-charge, King Cobra Café
Dining Facility. “Yes, we are out in a dan-
ger zone, but a little touch of home is
always nice.”
NCOs joined with Kellogg, Brown
and Root workers to serve up barbecue
and flip the finest meats available, adding
seasoning and marinating the entrees over
hot charcoal grills to give servicemembers
at FOB Prosperity’s King Cobra Café a
taste of a backyard grill for both lunch
and dinner in celebration of the 4th of
July, said Tracy Sanders, food service
technician, KBR.
Food wasn’t the only highlight of the
day for the Soldiers as the brigade’s chap-
lains, to include the 4th Special Troops
Battalion and the 1st Battalion, 12th
Infantry Regiment, invited all to attend a
fellowship gathering at the FOB
Prosperity Chapel.
Soldiers came together to enjoy the
atmosphere at the chapel overlooking
Lake Prosperity for food, fun and fellow-
ship, said Capt. Will Horton, chaplain, 4th
BCT.
“A lot of times Soldiers go a lot of dif-
ferent directions. Tonight they get togeth-
er, and they are doing it around food,
around great Christian music and a great
opportunity to fellowship together,”
Horton said.
Nothing really compares to an
Independence Day watching the fireworks
at his father’s house on the lake in Oak
Harbor, Wash., but for Spc. Tyler Rollis,
awards clerk, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 4th BCT, the
Fourth of July, deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom, is still a good
time to socialize.
“This is still great to have everybody
come together, meet people, hang out
together,” he said.
Spc. Shenika Landers, chaplain’s assis-
tant, HHC, 4th STB, who otherwise
would be spending the holiday with her
two children back at Fort Hood, Texas,
helped organize and set up the evening’s
events.
The Soldiers who attended the social
gathering played cards, board games, ate
even more food and talked with friends
and peers late into the night.
“This is pretty good for the Soldiers to
give them the chance to come out with us,
and listen to some music, and give them
the chance to hang out together and do
stuff that they would do back home,” said
the 23-year old Landers, a native of
Sandersville, Ga.
“We gave them the chance to relax and
get away for a minute and celebrate the
Fourth of July in a way they would back
home.”
Story by Staff Sgt. Brent Williams4th BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
Cobra Soldiers share food, fellowship
while celebrating Fourth of July in Iraq
BAGHDAD – Chaplains, noncommissioned officers and Soldiers from the 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, came together July 4 to celebrate the
holiday with food, fellowship and fun at the Forward Operating Base Prosperity
Chapel. The Soldiers ate food, played cards and games and enjoyed each other's
company during the Independence Day celebration.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – With all the inherent hazards of
war, access to adequate medical care is paramount to sav-
ing lives, whether on convoys or on camp.
Battery B of the 1st Battalion of the 117th Field
Artillery Regiment takes this truth to heart and not only
has a 97 percent Combat Life-Saver qualification record
for its personnel but also has an impressive on-site med-
ical care facility that operates out of a supply trailer.
The command emphasis on medical training from the
Andalusia, Ala., National Guard unit has led to nearly
every Soldier being CLS qualified, and an additional 16
personnel having attended the Ranger First Responder
Course, according to Staff Sgt. Jeff Birge, battery senior
medic.
What originally was used as a supply closet has
grown, piece by piece into a compact aid center for the
unit, complete with cardiac drugs, incubation equipment
and a defibrillator.
“It’s one of three places on Taji where a patient can be
defibrillated,” said Birge. The battery has enough sup-
plies and equipment on hand to treat everything but the
most serious injuries, allowing patients to be stabilized
during the crucial first minutes after injury while waiting
for an ambulance. “Those minutes could mean life or
death if this trailer wasn’t here.”
“[The trailer] is a lot more than a band-aid station,”
said Staff Sgt. Scott Burk, laughing. Burk is a driver with
the battery who is also called upon to assist with the
medical goings on due to his civilian paramedic experi-
ence. He helps monitor the wet-bulb thermometer and
posts the heat categories as they change throughout the
day, among other duties.
In fact, several personnel in the battery who are in the
medical field at home lend a hand when they can to the
training and medical needs of the battery. The battery is
home to several paramedics and registered nurses.
“A medic can be spread out on a convoy,” said Sgt.
Victor Staples, one of the battery’s “official” medics.
“Something can happen on one vehicle and I might not
be able to get to it in time.”
Having such a widespread number of Soldiers able to
perform first aid on injuries on and off the forward oper-
ating base makes the battery medic’s lives easier.
It is true that war-time injuries are unique, but the
civilian medical experience of the individuals available to
the battery is equally important in first aid.
“Trauma is trauma,” noted Birge. “Civilian and Army
care starts with the same steps. It doesn’t matter if some-
one is a ‘medic.’ You just do the steps.”
Story and photo by Sgt. Joshua Salmons4th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Sgt. Victor Staples searches through medical supplies stored in the unit aid center on Camp
Taji June 28. Staples is a combat medic with Battery B, 1st Battalion of the 117th Field Artillery Regiment, an
Alabama National Guard unit based in Andalusia, Ala.
Photo by Pfc. Jason Dangel, 4th BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
Medical care top priority for Alabama troops
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 6
plished and what they’ve done during
their deployment. Every Soldier over here
has a mission – they have a key role to
play in every operation. Everybody over
here has a key role that they play in the
success of the units here on the ground
and the success of America’s Army in the
global war on terror.”
His travels provided him the opportuni-
ty to visit with Soldiers at some of the
more remote sites most visitors normally
don’t get a chance to go to, such as Camp
Taji and Forward Operating Bases
Mahmudiyah, Kalsu and Iskandariyah.
“I think it’s a good morale booster,”
said Spc. Joshua Raven, an air defense
early warning specialist with
Headquarters, 1st Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, based in Camp Taji.
“I thought it was a good morale booster to
have the Sgt. Maj. of the Army going all
the way over here just to talk to us.”
“It really meant a lot,” added Staff Sgt.
Michael Williams Jr., a petroleum special-
ist with Company A, 404th Aviation
Support Battalion, Combat Aviation
Brigade, 4th Inf. Div. “It shows that he’s
looking after the Soldiers. He went and
broke everything down on what Soldiers
are looking for – the way the Army is
going and which direction. It meant a lot
to me. I think it was a very good visit.”
Following a brief visit at the MND-B
division headquarters at Camp Liberty, he
and MND-B’s Command Sgt. Maj.
Ronald Riling spent the next eight hours
hopping from base to base aboard Combat
Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div. helicop-
ters, meeting and talking to MND-B
Soldiers.
He kicked off his visit at the Eagle
Ministries Center in Camp Taji. The scene
was eerily quiet as he entered the build-
ing. Some Soldiers seemed to look on in
awe as if a rock star had entered the
building, only to erupt into booming
Hoooo-Aaaahs and he led eight groups of
Soldiers in a competition to see which
group was the loudest. Ultimately, group
four literally blew their competition out
the door.
Perhaps foremost on the mind of the
Soldiers he visited at each base was how
much longer Soldiers would be in Iraq
and when they could expect to see more
stability in their lives.
Oft-repeated questions were “How
long are we going to be in Iraq?” and
“Will the length of the deployment
decrease?”
The truth is, he said, he and his fellow
Army leaders truly do not know.
Perhaps his analogy said it best while
talking to Soldiers at Camp Taji: “I don’t
know,” he said. “I have a little crystal ball
on my desk about the size of a marble. So
far it hasn’t lit up and told me anything
yet.”
In all seriousness, he added, the mis-
sion itself will dictate how much longer
Soldiers will be here and in what strength
they will be here. With the current mis-
sions Soldiers are facing around the
world, there are only so many resources to
draw from.
The task the Army faces is perhaps a
daunting one when one considers there
are currently approximately 502,000
Soldiers on active duty, with an additional
98,000 United States Army Reserve and
National Guard Soldiers mobilized, for a
current troop strength of approximately
600,000 Soldiers on active duty.
Of those, said Preston, approximately
237,000 Soldiers are deployed to 120
countries around the world.
To meet the challenges facing the
Army with the current deployments, the
Army undertook the daunting mission of
expanding from 33 brigade combat teams
to 42, in addi-
tion to grow-
ing the active-
duty Army by
30,000
Soldiers, from
482,000
Soldiers to
512,400.
“As we go
through this
process, we’re
adding nine
additional brigade combat teams,” he said.
Currently, the Army is up to 38 fully
equipped and manned BCTs.
As for the challenges faced in creating
the BCTs, he said: “It’s people; it’s equip-
ment; it’s time. Right now, if you look at
the BCTs we’re building, we’re putting in
additional infantry, additional reconnais-
sance and more military intelligence
assets – embedding all those battlefield
operating systems within each of those
brigades – it is an increase in a lot of
those low-density, high-demand types of
career fields.”
And, he said, it’s not just the active-
duty forces that are experiencing the
changes but the National Guard units as
well as they convert to modularity versus
their legacy configurations. In addition to
manning the
brigades, the
Army is
embedding
new technolo-
gies into the
units as they
transition from
theater back to
their home
bases.
“When you
redeploy a unit
back after the rotation, be it a National
Guard, Reserve or active-duty BCTs to
home station, you have to take those units
through reset – reset their equipment and
get them postured for future missions.
We’re using the tempo and the momentum
that we have from deploying units over
here into combat as we’re bringing them
back to reset them into modular configu-
ration.”
To meet the ever-changing requirement
involved in the new technology, the Army
is also in the process of adapting its per-
sonnel to meet the new missions.
“It’s a rebalance of the force – getting
the right tools in the tool box,” said
Preston.
To do this, he said 120,000 Soldiers in
high-density, low-demand military occu-
pational specialties are being moved to
low-density, high-demand jobs. It is a
challenge he said he felt today’s Soldiers
will easily meet.
Ultimately, the restructuring of the
Army, in addition to the Army “working
itself out of a job” in places such as Iraq
and Afghanistan, will pay dividends and
will eventually help reduce deployment
time as leaders and Soldiers continue their
quest to train up, and turn over, more of
the missions to the Iraq army, the Iraqi
police and the governance of Iraq, said
Preston.
The additional brigade combat teams
should prove to be a huge benefit for
Soldiers, he said, because they will help
provide more predictability and more
dwell time at home for Soldiers in the
long run. “We’re asking Soldiers here to
do some pretty tough things,” said
Preston. “This is the first time we’ve
fought a long-term fight with an all-vol-
unteer Army.”
He said he is confident in Soldiers’
ability to continue to adapt as the Army
continues to grow and change.
“We are the best Army that we’ve ever
been,” said Preston. “We continue to grow
and improve every day. I firmly believe
the Soldiers coming out of basic (training)
today are far better than those from even
just a couple of years ago. All of you rep-
resent the cream of our society.”
As far as the questions pertaining to
deployment time reductions, Preston said,
“If we could go to something less than a
year, we would do that. As we reduce the
troop strength here, we may be able to
reduce the deployment time.”
He said he would like to see the
deployments eventually reduced to nine
months in length, and perhaps even even-
tually to six or seven months. If that is
done though, there is also a possibility it
would cut down on the Soldiers dwell
time in the states with their families.
“With the number of Soldiers we
have,” said Preston, “we cannot reduce
the length of the deployment right now.”
As the Army continues to transform, he
said it is vital Soldiers continue to con-
centrate on being the best Soldiers they
can be.
“I had a specialist ask me one day,
‘Sergeant Major of the Army, I want to be
Sergeant Major of the Army one day,
what do I have to do to be the Sergeant
Major of the Army?’
“I said, ‘first of all, as a Soldier, you
concentrate as an individual because as an
individual you want to be the best Soldier
you can be. Whatever your career field,
you want to be a subject-matter expert in
that career field. If you’re an infantry
Soldier, an armor Soldier or a scout, you
want to be the best scout, armor or
infantry Soldier you can be – Be an expert
in your profession!’”
Once Soldiers are promoted and
become sergeants, he added, they can no
FOB ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston speaks to
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, during an event here July 8. The gathering was part of Preston’s
all-day visit with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers throughout MND-B’s
area of operation.
visit, Continued from pg. 1
Photo by Spc. Rodney Foliente, 4th Inf. Div. PAO
see preston, pg. 7
“If we could go to something lessthan a year, we would do that. As
we reduce the troop strengthhere, we may be able to reduce
the deployment time.”Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston
page 7TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
longer just look out for themselves as
individuals. “Now you’re responsible for
a little piece of the Army,” said Preston.
“There are two or three Soldiers that
you’re responsible for. So now, as a ser-
geant, it goes beyond just what do I want
to do as an individual. It’s what can I do
to make my little piece of the Army as
good as it can possibly be.”
As Soldiers progress to the rank of
staff sergeant and become the squad lead-
ers, their responsibility increases as well
to nine, ten, eleven or twelve Soldiers.
“You take that little piece of the Army
and make it as good as you possibly can
make it,” he said. “You do that at each
level of command as you move up. That’s
the difference as you make that transition
from being a Soldier to being a noncom-
missioned officer. You make a shift from
being focused on you, as an individual, to
being focused on your unit.”
Preston said he truly appreciates all of
the support provided by families as their
loved ones are deployed. In truth, he said,
merely saying “thank you” to the families
is not enough.
“All the families out there are making
some significant sacrifices,” he said. “If
you look at the role the families play, our
families are why we do what we do as
Soldiers. The families back there, in many
cases, those spouses are doing double
duty. They’re the husband or wife as well
as the father or mother. I’m very proud of
the contributions, sacrifices, and commit-
ment of the families out there that contin-
ue to support their Soldiers while they’re
deployed.”
MND-B Soldiers said they appreciated
the fact the Sgt. Maj. of the Army visited
with them and the fact he was so forth-
coming.
“He listened to all the Soldiers on what
their concerns are so the Army can
improve on the topics Soldiers who have
been here for quite some time feel are
very important,” said Sgt. Charles
Schreck, a military police sergeant with
Battle Team Battalion, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division,
based in Mahmudiyah. “He’s taking con-
sideration to topics that everybody is
thinking about all of the time. It shows us
that higher-ups are actually considering
those topics.”
The visit was a motivating one for the
Soldiers as well, chimed in Sgt. Frank
Aldaco, a truck driver with Company F,
204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., following
Preston’s visit to FOB Iskandariyah.
“The Soldiers have a lot on their
minds, and they just wanted to ask some-
body who knows,” he said. “I know a lot
of guys who had a lot on their minds got
the answers they were looking for.”
preston,
Continued from pg. 6
FOB MAHMUHDIYAH, Iraq – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston answers ques-
tions from Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Mahmuhdiyah July 8. Preston sur-
prised the Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 1st Battalion, 502nd
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, at a visit dur-
ing a tour of the Baghdad area.
Photo by Spc. Kelly K. McDowell, 2nd BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.
FOB KALSU, Iraq – The ability to say “mission accomplished” is perhaps
the most rewarding thing a Soldier can experience following a mission.
For the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, it represents the beginning of another quest to assist the
Iraqi Security Forces to achieve self-sufficiency.
Initially based out of Forward Operating Base Charlie, the squadron con-
ducted operations in the southern Babil province, provided assistance to the
Iraqi people in their endeavor to run a legitimate provincial government, and
trained the ISF to a level where it could plan and execute its own operations
without assistance from Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers.
“Our main task there was to continue to assist the Iraqis in developing their
government and also train the ISF to provide security for the area, which we
accomplished,” said Maj. Scott Gerber, operations officer, 1-10 Cav., 2nd
BCT.
After completing its mission in the south, 1-10 Cav. was tasked to move the
entire squadron north to FOB Falcon as part of the plan to continue transfer-
ring battle space in southern Iraq to the ISF units ready to tackle the responsi-
bility.
“The entire transition went very smoothly,” said Gerber. “It went by with-
out any bumps or hiccups.”
The relief in place/transfer of authority mission conducted with 1st
Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., was cleanly execut-
ed, said Gerber. The squadron moved four troops in less than a month, which
would not have been possible without the assistance of junior enlisted Soldiers
and support from the 1-22 Inf. Regt.
“Moving all the equipment and vehicles could have been a difficult task for
us,” said Pfc. Stephon Kowalski, cavalry scout, Troop C, 1-10 Cav, “but
everyone chipped in and worked as a team so we were able to complete the
move in record time.”
With new missions come new challenges.
“The hardcore insurgency at Charlie was almost nonexistent,” said Gerber.
“There was only a small dose of militia to worry about. But here at Falcon, it
is a different story. The enemy is better organized and willing to take more
risks than what we have seen before.”
Taking advice from the previous unit, Soldiers from 1-10 Cav. rely heavily
on after-action reviews to spot vulnerabilities in their strategies and to adapt to
enemy tactics, which in the long run will help them overcome the terrorists.
Soldiers from 1-10 Cav, although aware of the dangers present in their new
area of operations, said they look forward to the opportunity to help not one,
but two regions of Iraq overcome terrorism.
“Our mission is to set the conditions to transition battle space to ISF and
the Iraqi government,” said Gerber. “Our goal is for them to control the battle
space before we go back to the states.”
Soldiers continue mission to
protect Iraq, bring stabilityStory by Spc. Edgar Reyes2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
BALAD, Iraq – Pfc. Jonathan Gearhart, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., cannoneer crew
member, Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, walks down the stairs of an Iraqi house during a search while the
unit was on patrol July 3.
Photo by Pfc. Paul Harris, 3rd HBCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 8
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq –
In an effort to better prepare newly trained combat
medics, Sgt. Maj. Aaron Arch, 4th Infantry
Division’s Surgeon’s Office, teamed up with medics
of 5th Engineer Battalion June 17 to create a video
spotlighting valuable lessons learned by the medics of the
battalion.
The video will provide medics back in the U.S. a look
at what they should expect if deployed to Iraq as a com-
bat medic, said Arch.
Using lessons learned since arriving in theater, Arch
said he wants to pass knowledge on to other medics “as
soon as we find out.”
The video begins with a review of tactical combat
casualty care and then delves into the details of being a
medic in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Abroadger Lipardo, the senior medical non-
commissioned officer-in-charge for 5th Eng. Bn., and the
narrator of the video, lists equipment the battalion’s
medics carry during missions and talks about decision-
making factors in casualty evacuation scenarios. He also
conducts several “instructional demonstrations,” aided by
medics from the battalion.
The purpose of the video is two-fold. It provides com-
bat medics “a snapshot of the daily medical duties the 5th
Eng. Bn. medics perform in support of the battalion’s
route-clearance mission,” and to “demonstrate casualty
evacuation using the RG-31, a mine-proof clearing vehi-
cle used by the battalion,” said Lipardo, of San Diego,
Calif.
The medics of the battalion hit a learning curve when
they arrived in Iraq at the end of last year, said Lipardo.
With the battlefield proving to be increasingly mecha-
nized, the first few months were challenging for the
medics as they learned how to conduct their operations
with nonstandard vehicles, such as the buffalo, the
M1114 up-armored humvee and the RG-31.
“These are proven medics here,” said Command Sgt.
Maj. Kevin Curtis, 5th Eng. Bn., a native of Petersburg,
Va. “The (battalion) has clocked almost 40,000 kilome-
ters, and these medics have saved Iraqi army lives, Iraqi
nationals’ lives and Soldiers’ lives.”
One of the main challenges the medics faced was
extricating and evacuating casualties in the cramped RG-
31, the armored vehicle 5th Eng. Bn. Soldiers use most
often on patrols “outside the wire.” The vehicle’s narrow
interior limits movement in an emergency situation,
explained Spc. Aaron Handy, a medic for Company C,
5th Eng. Bn., who is a native of Adrian, Mich.
Handy, who graduated from advanced individual train-
ing at the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and
School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in May 2005, said he
and his fellow medics have learned to “carry only the
essentials so that there will be enough room to work if
there is a casualty.”
“We are not going to allow someone to die because
we don’t know how to extricate them,” said Arch. The
purpose of the video is to “increase awareness and famil-
iarization for combat lifesavers, medics and other first
responders,” he added.
For the video, a few of the battalion’s medics demon-
strated how to extricate a casualty from the gunner’s tur-
ret of the RG-31 as well as loading a casualty on a spine
board into the vehicle. Both demonstrations displayed the
challenges the medics must overcome dealing with the
RG-31’s tight space.
“The RG-31 sits high off the ground,” explained
Lipardo. “We discovered Soldiers needed practice load-
ing and unloading from this height.”
Medics also discovered that using a spine board
solved problems associated with loading a casualty into
the back of the cramped vehicle.
“AIT medics are used to handling litters,” said
Lipardo. “They train with litters constantly. But when we
got here, we learned the spine board is easier to use with
our vehicles than the litter. It has a smooth surface and
takes up a lot less space.”
Using spine boards instead of litters is only a small
portion of the feedback Lipardo and his team hopes to
offer fellow medics with their video.
“We are constantly pushing lessons learned to other
Soldier-medics,” said Sgt. Suzanna Liebman, a medic for
Company A, 5th Eng. Bn., and a native of Juneau,
Alaska. “This video will help AIT Soldiers to be more
confident in their role as combat medics if they are
deployed to Iraq.”
The video is not just for the students, Liebman said,
adding that she believes the video will be helpful for
instructors at the school, who were deployed to Iraq, to
illustrate their own experiences and “supplement their
teaching.”
For now, the video heads to the Combat Medic
Training Center on Camp Victory, where it will be made
into a final product. Once the video is complete, Arch
said he plans to pass it on to Forces Command, the 10th
Mountain Division Surgeon’s Office currently in
Afghanistan, and to the U.S. Army Medical Department
Center and School, among other places. Arch said he will
leave it up to the recipients to determine how the video is
used – whether it is used for “training, as a part of cur-
riculum or however they chose.”
Arch said he hopes that regardless of how the video is
used that it will “better prepare medics for whatever they
may encounter.”
Story by Sgt. Kristin Kemplin363rd MPAD
Soldier-medics make lessons learned video,
help fellow medics for future deployments
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Staff Sgt. Abroadger Lipardo, senior medical noncommissioned officer-in-charge for 5th
Engineer Battalion, demonstrates how to properly secure a casualty inside an RG-31 mine-proof clearing vehi-
cle with the use of a spine board June 17. Lipardo, a native of San Diego, demonstrated several casualty evac-
uation techniques during the making of a medic training video. The video is intended to pass valuable lessons
learned in Iraq to medics back in the U.S.
Photo by Spc. Karl Johnson, 363rd MPAD
Don’t let this happen to youFire prevention and safety tips:
Check for correct fuses in transformers.
Unplug appliances when not in use.
Know what you are plugging into.
No open flames in trailers.
Don’t daisychain.
page 9TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
Combat Aviation Brigade company continues to support force with medical transport mission
Dustoff CompanyCAMP TAJI, Iraq –
The entire mission begins with a
firm knock on the door. The
transcription that follows signi-
fies the mission’s urgency – pri-
ority mission to move a patient to the 10th
Combat Area Support Hospital. Upon
receiving those orders, a flight crew
assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion,
4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation
Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, swings
into action.
The unit is solely responsible for the
movement of Coalition Forces and civil-
ians between medical treatment facilities
in the Baghdad area. Its missions may
include priority medical movements,
which include any non life-threatening
injury or roadside medical evacuations,
which are a necessity when Soldiers are
injured by improvised-explosive devices,
often in remote locations.
“Our overall mission is to facilitate the
safest and most rapid evacuation of casu-
alties from the battlefield, and that
includes all casualties, Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen and Marines, enemy prisoners of
war and non-United States military,”
explained Capt. Chris Chung, operations
officer, Co. C. “We evacuate civilians as
well.”
Chung said the missions his unit car-
ries out are either urgent or priority, based
on the seriousness of the request and the
condition of the patient.
The missions are forward operating
base to forward operating base, which is
from a secure area to another secure area,
or the more dangerous, point-of-entry
pickup.
During FOB-to-FOB transfers, patients
are picked up to be transferred to a higher
medical treatment facility. The point-of-
entry pickup includes roadside evacua-
tions because of IED strikes or vehicle
rollovers.
“Whatever happens outside the FOB,
we categorize it as a point-of-entry pick-
up,” Chung said.
To date, the unit has flown more than
3,500 patients throughout the Baghdad
airspace. Their mission began back in
November 2005, when the company sup-
ported the 3rd Infantry Division.
According to pilot-in-command Chief
Warrant Officer 2 Toby Blackmon, every
mission flown varies in someway from
the previous. He said he has found some
to be quite interesting.
“There have been several instances and
every mission you do is its own mission,”
he said. “Depending upon where it is,
we’ve had some mission’s right in down-
town Baghdad, where you have to come
down between light poles and wires.”
He pointed out that the landing was a
safe distance from the aircraft’s rotor sys-
tem, but added that setting the aircraft
down on a road in the center of the city,
despite security being in place, with all
the high buildings, he still has the feeling
of being insecure.
Blackmon pointed out that teamwork
was the key to being successful in mis-
sions such as that one.
“You just have to trust your mates and
crew chiefs to keep the aircraft clear as
much as they possibly can, and trust your
gut to do the
best job you
can,” he said.
“Getting the
patient on board
the aircraft is
what it’s all
about.”
Co. C is in
the midst of its
third deploy-
ment in support
of Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
The unit
deployed during
OIF I and II as the 507th Medical
Company, before being reassigned to the
CAB and deploying as part of the
brigade’s General Support Aviation
Battalion. Some Soldiers in the unit have
spent no longer than eight months at Fort
Hood between deployments.
Despite the unit’s high optempo,
Chung said morale remains high because
the Soldiers realize the importance of
their job here.
“The morale in the company is high,”
he explained. “About 20 percent of the
company is here for their third tour. We
were here for OIF I, II and now OIF 05-
07. About 50 percent is back for their sec-
ond tour, after serving initially in OIF II.
But no one flaunts that around. We all get
together and teach the younger guys.
There are always things to learn, no mat-
ter how many times you’ve been over
here.
“I think that because we keep that atti-
tude, we are
able to maintain
a level of cama-
raderie that
makes us a
great company,”
Chung added.
“Our morale
remains very
high because
everybody takes
pride in the
mission, which
is the most
important thing
here.”
Teamwork, pride and ownership of the
mission are what allow the MEDEVAC
Soldiers to stand tall throughout the rigors
of multiple deployments. Both Chung and
Blackmon agree that it comes from crew
coordination and unselfishness on the part
of each crewmember.
“Crew coordination is making sure that
everyone knows what their job is inside
the aircraft,” Chung explained. “I think it
helps out that everybody’s unselfish. They
know that when we’re flying, we’ve got
three other guys we’ve got to take care of,
in addition to the patient that we’re pick-
ing up. So, as pilots-in-command, it is our
job to ensure that we bring everybody
back.”
Blackmon said he agreed with Chung,
but added each crewmember plays a vital
part in accomplishing each mission.
“I think that’s correct, but I also think
we work well because you have a lot of
individual training, where one trains on
their specific job, but once we’re all
together in that aircraft, for us to run a
mission, there are four people who are
required to be on that aircraft. They are
the pilot-in-command, the pilot, the medic
and the crew chief. When you put all four
of them together, each one of them is the
most qualified on that aircraft for their
position.
“If you have one person missing from
that group, the others cannot work togeth-
er,” he added. “There is a lot of crew
coordination and understanding that
everybody on that crew must work togeth-
er.”
The more than 80 Soldiers of Dustoff
Company are operating from Camp Taji,
which is north of Baghdad, and at FOB
Falcon, which controls MEDEVAC opera-
tions in the area south of the city. Chung
pointed out that this is the same operation
the unit ran while supporting the 3rd Inf.
Div.
The unit will be among the CAB’s first
to redeploy back to Fort Hood in the
upcoming months, but Chung and
Blackmon both refuse to look that far.
“It’s a short amount of time, but we
still have a lot to do,” Chung said.
“A whole lot to do,” Blackmon added.
Story and photo by
Sgt. 1st Class Reginald RogersCAB PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
BAGHDAD – Staff Sgt. Pablo Garza, a flight medic assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat
Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, watches as medics from the 10th Combat Area Support Hospital in Baghdad prepare a
patient before loading him onto a CAB MEDEVAC aircraft for transportation to another medical facility July 1.
“They know that when we areflying, we’ve got three other
guys we’ve got to take care of,in addition to the patient we’re
picking up.”Capt. Chris Chung
Operations officer, Company C,2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment,
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 10
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq –
For many Soldiers in Iraq,
communication, both on
and off the forward operat-
ing base, has become
something they take for granted.
Company A, Special Troops
Battalion, 4th Infantry Division’s
mission is to keep it that way.
With that goal in mind, the
Soldiers put their abilities to the
test by participating in a 30-meter
mast training exercise here June
20.
“The 30-meter mast is used to
connect two line-of-sight radios
together so that the signal platoon
that is providing services on each
end can communicate,” said 2nd
Lt. Michelle Arnold, platoon
leader, Co. A, STB, 4th Inf. Div.
The training ensured that all the
multi-channel transmission sys-
tems operators and maintainers
can safely set up and operate a
vital part of the communications
mission in Iraq.
“We are the division’s commu-
nications asset,” said Arnold, a
Highlands Ranch, Colo., native.
“Basically all the 4th Infantry
Division’s communication that
goes on at Camp Liberty, that
leaves the FOB, goes through our
company’s Joint Network Nodes.”
Standing under a 30-meter mast
can be an intimidating experience,
said Arnold. Rising into the sky
nearly 100 feet with little more
than a small base and several
cables to support its weight, the
30-meter mast requires precision
assembly to operate safely. For
these reasons Co. A performs this
training event monthly.
According to Sgt. John Young,
and primary instructor for the
exercise, the 30-meter mast is the
largest man-deployable antenna
tower in the Army. All larger
masts require the use of mechani-
cal assistance.
“It is very important to know
how to assemble this piece of
equipment because the communi-
cations mission in Iraq is always
changing and growing,” said
Arnold. “We could receive a mis-
sion at any moment that would
require the use of this piece of
equipment.”
“In the STB, we take combat
readiness very seriously,” said
Spc. Kyle Phillips, a multi-channel
transmission systems operator and
maintainer for Co. A, STB, 4th
Inf. Div. “Familiarity, teamwork,
and accomplishment of the mis-
sion are priority to us – and we
don’t leave until the job is done
and it’s done right.”
After donning protective head-
gear, gloves and eyewear, the
Soldier-trainees began piecing the
mast together one section at a
time.
Within the first two hours, the
exercise proved a worthy experi-
ence when the mast team realized
they had made a mistake early on
that made it unsafe to continue the
upward progress of the mast.
After correcting the error, the
Soldiers continued with the project
and managed to finish the con-
struction on schedule.
“Our Soldiers must continue to
practice putting (the antenna)
together because it is an intricate
process,” said Arnold “If they do
not know the proper procedure to
follow in putting (the antenna)
together, it could result in an
injury to personnel or damage to
the equipment.”
In the end, Soldiers agreed the
exercise had proved successful for
all. “The bottom line is that every-
one learned something new and
we were able to complete the
training faster and more efficiently
than last time, so overall the mis-
sion was a success,” said Arnold.
Story and photos by
Spc. Karl Johnson363rd MPAD
MND-B Soldiers raise 100-foot tower
ABOVE: CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Spc. Kyle Phillips (left) and Sgt. Philip McKenzie, both multi-chan-
nel transmission systems operators and maintainers with Company A, Special Troops Battalion,
4th Infantry Division, work together with their fellow Soldiers to raise a 30-meter antenna tower
during a training exercise here June 20. The tower is the largest man-deployable tower in the
Army.
BELOW: CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Maj. Michael Brough (right), a Killeen, Texas, native, and execu-
tive officer for Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, works with a team of Soldiers June
20 to secure the base of a 30-meter mast.
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Spc. Kyle Phillips (left), a multi-channel trans-
mission systems operator and maintainer with Company A, Special
Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, secures the base of a 30-
meter antenna tower June 20 during a training exercise.
page 11TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – As the tempera-
tures soar under an unforgiving Iraqi sky,
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division, are constant-
ly looking for a little relief from the
scorching sun of Camp Taji.
That’s where the Ground Support
Equipment Section of Company B, 4th
Support Battalion, comes in: it is their
mission to fix air conditioners.
“We support mainly the 4th Support
Battalion, but STB (1st Special Troops
Battalion, 1st BCT) and 1-66 (1st Bn.,
66th Armor Regiment, 1st BCT) don’t
have any AC guys, so they depend on us
too,” said Staff Sgt. Jeff Tremusini, non-
commissioned officer in charge of the
section.
“For a while, we were getting a lot of
business because when it starting getting
hot, people realized they needed to get
their ACs fixed quickly. But now, it’s
tapered down to a couple of repairs a
day.”
With the first day of summer in the
rear view mirror, Soldiers of the brigade
have to contend with many days of blis-
tering heat.
In addition, the up-armored humvees
that troops take off the camp are not
equipped with roll down windows due to
potential terrorist threats. So, mix in the
heat outside, a broken down AC in an
enclosed vehicle and Soldiers wearing all
their protective gear, some may feel like a
Thanksgiving turkey roasting inside an
oven all day.
“The MPs (Military Police) love us,”
said Pfc. John Dydasco, quartermaster
and chemical repair. “The best part of my
job is working on the AC lines because
it’s fun. For one, it’s a job I can do
myself, and number two, I have the satis-
faction of knowing I fixed that truck. I
worked on a few ACs before I got in the
Army, but now I can fix any AC thanks to
the Army training me.”
The biggest problem the section sees
with vehicle ACs are the compressors,
belts and lines. The heat of the day causes
pressure to build up in the lines, which
causes the AC compressor to blow. Also
rubber, which many parts are made of,
doesn’t do well for very long in prolonged
periods of extreme heat.
“Nobody really thinks about their ACs
until theirs go out because if it’s 100
degrees outside, it’s 120 degrees inside –
and with all that stuff on (personnel pro-
tective equipment), its worse,” said Spc.
Kevin Mateika, AC and heating repair-
man. “I’m not saying I’m saving lives, but
I’m definitely making their lives better.
Story and photo by
Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
When AC breaks down, ground support equipment section called upon
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Pfc. Jonathan Jobba, quartermaster and chemical repair,
Company B, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
changes out an air-conditioner belt on a humvee here June 23.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq –
Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers
from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, continue to support and work
closely with the Iraqi army as it attempts to provide a
safe and secure environment in the Tarmiya region.
At the Tarmiya Patrol Base, Soldiers from Company
E, 1st Bn., 66th AR, work in the same building alongside
the soldiers of 1st Mechanized Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army
Division, to provide protection and security to the Iraqi
citizens in the area.
“We are based out here to assist the 2nd Battalion, 1-9
IA in joint dismounted operations and manning the entry
control points,” said 1st Lt. Chris Mowry, executive offi-
cer of Co. E. “We help execute missions that the Iraqi
army conducts. The battalion commander will come
across the hall and ask for vehicles and personnel to sup-
port the Iraqi army and basic structure operations.”
MND-B Soldiers work at the patrol base for a period
of days before rotating back to Camp Taji.
While in Tarmiya, Soldiers begin the day with patrols
and manning entry control points before swapping out
periodically with their Iraqi counterparts and then
debriefing the chain of command about the days events,
said Staff Sgt. Kevin Easter, squad leader with the
mounted squad of Co. E, 1st Bn., 66th AR.
The company recently took over for Company A, but
this is not the first time at this location for them.
“We put the patrol base up, so we already knew the
base,” said Staff Sgt. Howard Moffet, platoon sergeant,
Co. E. “When we came back, they (Co. A) took us
around and showed us the new stuff in the area, like the
air-conditioning units and the new Qada building. We
provide security for civil affairs by clearing the buildings
and securing the compound before they come in.”
Moffet noticed that the mission in Tarmiya thus far is
a quiet one. “We got here two weeks ago and things have
been quiet,” he said. “We haven’t had any problems so
far. I go to the gate with an interpreter to talk the locals
about things like power concerns, medical issues. This is
low-intensity compared to where we were before around
Husseniya.”
The MiTT team rotates personnel into the patrol base
every four days and provides support to the Iraqi army.
“We help the Iraqis pass info to Co. E and assist them
with whatever they need,” said Spc. Edward Hoglund,
advisor to 2nd Mech. Bn., 1st Mech. Bde., 9th IA Div.
“Recently, I went out with them to resolve some curfew
violation issues. These guys are friendly and are more
motivated now than they were when I first got here.”
The 1st Bn., 66th AR will continue to support Iraqi
army missions in Tarmiya and across the Taji region.
Story and photo by Spc. C. Terrell Turner1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
Soldiers, Iraqi’s work to secure Tarmiya region
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Spc. Dustin Rosinki, combat engineer, Company E, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, (left) carries a battery June 30 with Spc. Jason Decker, mechanic,
Company F, 1st Bn., 66th AR, towards a refrigerated storage container in need of a repairs on the Tarmiya Patrol
Base.
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 12
BAGHDAD –
Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, in coordina-
tion with local Iraqi governments, continue their efforts
in Operation Baghdad is Beautiful, which is a joint oper-
ation aimed at helping to restore and improve Baghdad
through the removal of trash, debris and barrier materials.
A recent milestone in the operation occurred June 28 with the
completion of a monthlong project to clean up the Karada Peninsula.
The Department of Cleaning for the municipality of Karada
played a large role in the process and was primarily responsible for
cleaning the main streets of the peninsula, said 1st Lt. Jared Miller, a
resident of Asheville, N.C., and effects coordinator, 1st Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, who has been pivotal in efforts to beautify and revitalize
the Karada Peninsula. The local government was impeded from per-
forming routine cleaning on many secondary streets due to large non-
negotiable barriers and masses of debris.
The responsibility for facilitating the removal of unnecessary bar-
riers on both secondary and main streets, as well as disposing of huge
piles of accumulated rubbish and debris, fell to the MND-B Soldiers
of the 4th BCT, said Miller.
In an effort to both clean up the area and help bolster the local
economy, MND-B hired local contractors to conduct the work, he
added. The brigade’s main task laid in assessing what needed to be
done, providing security while the work was being carried out, and
then verifying that the contractors performed their duties to standard,
he said.
It was important to clean and clear up all of the roads to help facil
itate the handing over of security responsibility for the Karada
Peninsula to the Iraqi police, said Miller. The completion of the oper-
ation not only provides an improved platform from which to govern,
Story and photos by Spc. Rodney Foliente4th Inf. Div. PAO
Baghdad is beMulti-National Division – Baghdad, Iraqi gov
BAGHDAD – A Soldier from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infan
Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, walks by a home
tion in the Karada Peninsula June 28. Iraqi residents have witne
efforts of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the local munic
the surrounding area through the removal of trash, debris and ba
RIGHT: BAGHDAD – A mother waits with her children while their father talks to Multi-National Division – Baghdad
Soldiers June 28. The family was visiting the area but expressed noticeable improvements to the roads and walk-
ways.
page 13TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
ina-
orts
oper-
dad
e
sula.
for
ler, a
n,
ze
per-
non-
bar-
f huge
diers
al
he
be
and
dard,
facil-
oper-
vern,
but will also help the local government to police the area.
“Cleaning up (the streets) also opens up traffic flow and makes it
easier for the (Iraqi Security Forces) to respond to any (situations)
that arise,” said Miller. “(Operation) Baghdad is Beautiful helps the
population by cleaning the neighborhoods to give them more pride in
their community,” he said.
The municipality of the Karada Peninsula will take over the
responsibility for keeping the streets of the area clean, said Miller.
Throughout Baghdad, the process of bringing back the beauty of
the city continues, said Lt. Col. Tris Cooper, reconstruction officer,
civil military operations, 16th Engineer Brigade, attached to MND-B.
There are approximately 50 such projects completed to date, with
an approximate $6 million price tag paid from the MND-B
Commander’s Emergency Response Fund. The CERP is an appropri-
ation approved by the United States government that enables com-
manders to respond to urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction
requirements within their areas of operations by identifying needs,
then originating and paying for programs designed to immediately
assist the local populace, said Cooper.
“(Civil Affairs’) main focus is to work with the (Iraqi government)
to help them coordinate their essential services with (Iraqi) contrac-
tors and personnel to rebuild their infrastructure and help their own
people,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Dowdy, a resident of Deerlodge, Mont.,
who serves as a civil affairs noncommissioned officer, Company B,
414th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry
Regiment, 4th BCT.
“When other districts see what can be done, they will want to get
more involved with similar projects,” continued Dowdy. “If you can
demonstrate success in one area, it’s easier to convince other areas
that the project can be done.
“Civil Affairs is a very important part of stability in the lives of
the Iraqi citizens and they seem to appreciate the help. I am glad to
be a part of it.”
eautifulgovernment launch operation to clean up country’s capital
Infantry Regiment, 4th
home under construc-
witnessed the clean-up
municipality to enhance
nd barrier materials.
BAGHDAD – 1st Lt. Jared Miller, a resident of Asheville, N.C., and an effects coordinator with 1st
Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who has been pivotal
in cleaning up the Karada Peninsula, greets a local citizen June 28. The man expressed his approval
over the improvements and the recent clearing of the roads and cleaning of the area.
BAGHDAD – A group of Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division,
attached to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pulls security on a recently trash-, barrier-
and debris-choked street June 28 during the final stage of cleaning Baghdad’s Karada Peninsula, part of the citywide Operation Baghdad is
Beautiful.
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 14
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – “TheGeneral, ever desirous to cherish virtuousambition in his Soldiers, as well as to fos-ter and encourage every species ofMilitary merit, directs that whenever anysingularly meritorious action is per-formed, the author of it shall be permittedto wear on his facing over the left breast,the figure of a heart in purple … not onlyinstances of unusual gallantry, but also ofextraordinary fidelity and essential serv-ice in any way shall meet with a duereward.”— General George Washington.
The Purple Heart, established during
the Revolutionary War in Newburgh, N.Y.
August 7, 1782, by the first United States
president, Gen. George Washington, is the
United States Armed Service’s oldest, and
one of its most prestigious, awards.
Pfc. Eric LaBarge, a truck driver and a
Fulton, N.Y., native, and Sgt. John Cantu,
a truck driver, who hails from Corpus
Christi, Texas, both serving in Operation
Iraqi Freedom with the 68th Engineer
Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 16th
Engineer Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,
joined the 200 year-plus heritage of brave
men and women June 16 who have been
so honored.
LaBarge and Cantu were wounded on
the same mission January 26 when a 20-
ton dump truck driven by LaBarge was
struck by an improvised explosive device.
The Soldiers were in the process of mov-
ing limestone to Forward Operating Base
St. Michael, in Mahmudiyah, where
LaBarge was assisting the 68th Combat
Support Equipment Company with recon-
struction of a road to better the quality of
life for Soldiers living on the FOB.
“I feel honored for receiving the Purple
Heart,” said LaBarge.
“Sgt. Cantu is the ultimate profession-
al,” commented 1st Lt. Joseph Stahl, exec-
utive officer, 68th Eng. Co.
“He encouraged his (fellow) Soldier to
complete the mission despite both of them
being wounded and the truck partially dis-
abled. He was back leading his squad
later the same month and has been an
instrumental part in the success of numer-
ous missions since,” continued Stahl.
“Sgt. Cantu does not seek attention or
recognition but quietly drives on with his
fellow Soldiers.”
LaBarge and Cantu returned to the unit
to continue their mission as truck drivers
for the balance of their deployment to
Iraq.
Cantu returned to duty the first week of
February. Labarge was treated a number
of times at medical facilities for the
injuries he received in the IED blast and
was restricted to limited duty for several
months. He returned to full duty with his
squad in May.
The Purple Heart was presented to the
Soldiers by Lt. Col John Boule, 62nd Eng.
Bn., and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard St.
Cyr.
Brig. Gen. Robin Timmons, 16th Eng.
Bde., Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Riley
and Capt. Robert Kimmel, commander of
the 68th CSE, also attended the ceremony
with several honored guests.
The Purple Heart is awarded in the
name of the President to any member of
the Armed Forces of the United States
who, “while serving under the competent
authority in any capacity with one of the
Armed Forces, who has been wounded or
killed, or may hereafter die after being
wounded” in any action against an enemy
of the United States.
Story and photo by Spc. Jake Judge363rd MPAD
Engineer Soldiers presented Purple Heart
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Sgt. John Cantu, a Corpus Christi, Texas, native, who serves with the 68th Engineer Company, 62nd
Engineer Battalion, 16th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, shakes hands with Command Sgt. Maj. Victor
Riley, 16th Engineer Bde., after being presented the Purple Heart medal June 16. Riley was one of three guests of honor pres-
ent to congratulate the Purple Heart recipients.
BAGHDAD – The goal of increasing the Iraqi
Security Forces presence in Baghdad and using Coalition
Forces primarily as support has provided Iraqi citizens
with an opportunity to build their confidence in the Iraqi
army’s military police.
A local informant provided Lt. Col. Ma’ad, battalion
commander, Iraqi Military Academy, with key informa-
tion about a possible insurgent cell location, leading to
IA soldiers conducting an early morning cordon and
search on multiple locations in the Southern part of
Zafariniya June 21.
A platoon from Battery A, 4th Battalion, 320th Field
Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad,
led by 2nd Lt. Robert Morris, worked with the MPs to
provide an outer cordon and onsite consequence manage-
ment of the mission.
Upon arriving at the Iraqi Military Academy, Morris
and his platoon were briefed on their involvement in the
mission prior to movement.
“Our platoon had to provide security and overwatch
for the IA soldiers when they entered the homes and then
inspect the homes to ensure the residence was not dam-
aged due to entry,” said Staff Sgt. Jamie Villarreal,
Battery A, 4th Battalion, 320th FA. “The IA was fast,
professional and organized when conducting the raids.”
During the combined cordon and search, the IA was
attacked by small-arms fire but suffered no injuries or
damage to personnel or equipment. The operation netted
a total of 10 detainees, along with numerous bottles of
unknown chemicals. The IA also uncovered two notable
terrorist cells, one of which involved a militia battalion
commander in Baghdad.
“They were very happy to have captured this insur-
gent, (whom) they called the big fish,” said Morris.
The next location led to another high-valued individ-
ual and his six sons. “This cell had their own specialty in
the operation, such as the internet, making improvised-
explosive devices, ransom and murder,” said Morris.
“By capturing this (terrorist) and his sons, we put a
big dent in the militia military operation,” said Morris.
“They don’t just work for the militia military, but they
are hired guns for the highest bidder.”
The IA conducted tactical questioning at a holding
facility with the assistance of Morris, which resulted in
the confessions from the (terrorist) and his sons in their
involvement in the recent attacks in Zafariniya, indirect
fire attacks on one of Coalition Forces’ forward operating
bases, murder, kidnapping of female Iraqi citizens for sex
then killing them, and kidnapping Iraqi citizens for ran-
som.
As a result of the combined operation, Zafariniyah and
the surrounding areas should see less mortar activity, said
Morris. “At the end of the day, we shook hands with the
IAs and told them it was a pleasure working with them.”
4th Brigade Combat Team, Iraqi army launch
combined cordon, search, net terrorists in ZafariniyaStory by 1st Lt. Georginia Bradshaw4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div. PAO
page 15TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006 TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leaf
BAGHDAD – The 4th
Infantry Division Band, led by
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Otha
Wayne Hester, gave an “all-star”
concert presentation July 4 at the
U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as
they watched history unfold
before their eyes.
“It was neat to see democracy
taking shape first hand,” said
band 1st Sgt. Chris Lopez, a
native of Copperas Cove, Texas.
Guests of honor at the event
celebrating the 230th
Anniversary of the United
States’ Independence Day
included Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad,
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq; His
Excellency Jalal Talabini, presi-
dent of the Republic of Iraq; and
Gen. George Casey Jr., com-
mander, Multi-National Forces –
Iraq.
Numerous high-level officials
from the Iraqi government were
present at the unprecedented
event signaling American, Iraqi
and British solidarity and democ-
racy.
The band, consisting of
approximately 40 members,
played selections including “God
Bless the U.S.A.,” “God Bless
America,” “Hands Across the
Sea,” “American Soldier” and
the “National Anthem.”
Sgt. 1st Class Aulio
Marroquin, a native of San
Antonio, and the band’s opera-
tions supervisor, said it took two
months to put the trip together,
working closely with Embassy
and State Department officials
but said “it went exactly as
planned.”
The “Queen’s Own” British
Royal Marine Band also played
at the event, complete with for-
mal British sparkling white and
red-accented uniforms. It was a
striking compliment to the 4th
Inf. Division band in its combat
cammo.
“I feel out of my whole career
that this (performance) was one
of the most exciting and mean-
ingful,” said Hester.
Hester noted that the two
bands, American and British,
bonded immediately. The transi-
tion from the Brits playing of the
Iraqi National Anthem to the
U.S. National Anthem was a
flawless blend that did not miss a
beat.
The Brits “were amazed by
the versatility and variety” of the
4th Inf. Div. band, said Hester.
Several of the band’s “specialty
groups,” such as a contemporary
rock band, a Latin band and a
classic rock quartet, entertained
Soldiers the evening of July 4. A
classical woodwind quintet,
brass band and jazz combo also
played at several locations dur-
ing the band’s two-day trip to the
embassy.
Bands play in Baghdad for Independence Day
BAGHDAD – Chief Warrant Officer 3 Otha Wayne Hester (far left), band master and commander of the 4th Infantry Division Band, jokes
with Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, United States Ambassador to Iraq, following a band concert at the United States Embassy in Baghdad July
4. The 4th Inf. Div. Band was invited to play for the ceremony, which included high-profile guests His Excellency Jalal Talabini, presi-
dent of the Republic of Iraq, and Gen. George Casey Jr., commander, Multi-National Forces – Iraq. Standing behind the Ambassador,
(from left) are band members Staff Sgt. Scott Magnuson from Astoria, Ore.; Sgt. Kayla Gaddis from Hoyt Lakes, Minn.; Staff Sgt. Troy
Hascall who hails from Atlantic, Iowa; Spc. Michael Mendoza from El Paso, Texas; and Master Sgt. Stephen Mohacey from San Antonio.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
ABOVE: BAGHDAD – Sgt. 1st Class Aulio Marroquin (left), from
San Antonio, listens after introducing United States Navy Rear
Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, who spoke outside the United States
Embassy in Baghdad July 4 prior to a band concert. Marroquin, a
27-year Army and band veteran, serves as operations noncommis-
sioned officer for the 4th Infantry Division Band.
LEFT: BAGHDAD – The 4th Infantry Division’s rock band,
“Average Joe’s,” entertains outside the United States Embassy in
Baghdad July 4. Rock band members shown (from left) are, Sgt.
Chris Williams from Orlando, Fla., on trumpet; Sgt. Kayla Gaddis,
singer and flute player, from Hoyt Lakes, Minn.; Spc. Cindy
Lowrey from Santa Cruz and Salinas, Calif, vocalist; and guitar
player and vocalist Sgt. Bradford Bailey from Las Vegas. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Mott, 363rd MPAD
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Mott, 363rd MPAD
Story by
Sgt. 1st Class Mary Mott
363rd MPAD
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 16 TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leaf
BAGHDAD –
Five broadcast professionals, representing radio
markets in five major U.S. cities with a cumula-
tive population exceeding four million, visited
Iraq in late June to get “the real story.” Their
impressions – shared with their respective loyal, radio
audiences, allowed Americans eager to hear, first-hand,
the facts about progress in Iraq.
The quintet came from across
the U.S. – Baltimore, Cleveland,
Phoenix, Tampa, Fla., and
Wichita, Kan., – and their sta-
tions’ listeners represented a
unique opportunity for getting
both current and correct news
out to a broad audience.
Among their stops in Iraq
was a visit to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers – Gulf
Region Division/Projects and
Contracting Office in the
International Zone.
While with GRD/PCO, they visited Iraq reconstruc-
tion projects and talked to government service profes-
sionals and contractors from their respective listening
areas. They also met and interviewed Soldiers from the
4th Infantry Division from nearby FOB Prosperity, whose
area of operations is central and southern Baghdad.
This was the first trip to Iraq for Tom Marr of WCBM
in Baltimore, who has worked in that market since 1967.
Baltimore Orioles fans will remember him from his days
as part of the Orioles radio play-by-play team and his
world championship ring affirms that achievement. Marr
said he knows winners when he sees them!
“I can’t say enough about the job being done by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said Marr. “No other
organization in the world could do what they are doing
under such trying and dangerous circumstances – 24
hours a day, seven days a week.”
“From sewers to schools, hospitals to roads … power,
water, you name it, they are getting this country on its
feet and taking care of the needs
of our troops as well.”
Marr concluded that “it starts
with leadership and boy, do they
have it! I spent an hour talking
with GRD’s commanding gener-
al, Maj. Gen. William McCoy
and Command Sgt. Maj.
Gregory Glen, from Baltimore.
They understand what needs to
be done . . . how, and now! I was
very lucky to get to spend time
with these two as a great deal of
their time is working “outside the wire.” They lead by
leading, not simply sending others out. That sort of com-
mitment and professionalism is why we will prevail in
Iraq.”
During their visit to Iraq, the group also visited the
Aliwaya Children’s Hospital. Wichita’s “Rockin’ Rich”
Regan, KZN, a 30-year veteran of the business, described
his experience with “an incredible Iraqi doctor who was
in charge of an operation (who told) me of the progress
that has been made and that without the help of the
American people, many more children would have died.
Anything we are doing here to help these children is the
right thing.”
A visit, to Ibn Sina Hospital in the IZ – a facility that
cares for both U.S. and Iraqi casualties – proved to be an
emotional one for the radio personalities. Greg Saber, of
Cleveland’s WTAM, spoke of how this, and the earlier
reconstruction site visits, left an impression on him he’d
long remember.
Jim Sharpe from WTAM in Phoenix, who, during his
broadcast career has covered numerous major news
events, including Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge
Earthquake, said he was impressed by the “tenacity, pro-
fessionalism and commitment exhibited by U.S. military
and civilians as well as the exceedingly brave and com-
mitted Iraqis.”
Eben Brown of Radio Station WFLA in Tampa, whose
fan base reaches Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg and
Clearwater, told the GRD team that the visit “makes it
hard for a journalist to ignore examples of American-
Iraqi cooperation in rebuilding one of the planet’s most
ancient and enduring civilizations. The engineers and
their local national counterparts are busy building (proj-
ects as diverse as) hospitals and academic halls, despite
the turbulence and threats by violent people.”
As the quintet of radio professionals departed for their
trip back to the states, they agreed they had been changed
by their experience in Iraq and were looking forward to
sharing it with their fans.
Hopefully, their visit will spur other journalists to
come, see and report the good news about Iraq recon-
struction and development.
Story by Tom ClarksonGulf Region Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Baghdad radio market expands
“From sewers to schools, hospitalsto roads ... power, water, you nameit, they are getting this country on
its feet and taking care of theneeds of our troops as well.”
Tom MarrBroadcaster for WCBM in Baltimore
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – A crew chief looks around to provide visual support for a clear landing as two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters land at the cross sabers July 4
inside the International Zone in Baghdad. The cross sabers are part of a parade field used by Saddam Hussein when viewing his army.
Photo by Pfc. David Hodge, 4th Inf. Div. PAO
Landing zone
page 17TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — The spirit of the volunteer
is the foundation the Army is built on. It is what has
helped make the Army the best and most professional for
the past 231 years. A Soldier in 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 101st Airborne Division, exemplifies the outstand-
ing volunteer spirit that permeates through our service.
Spc. Samuel Harrington, an intelligence systems
maintainer with Company B, Brigade Troops Battalion,
received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service
Medal for volunteer work he performed while attending
advanced individual training at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
“While I was in AIT, two other Soldiers and I coached
a nine and ten-year-olds basketball team in Sierra Vista,”
said Harrington, a native of Grandledge, Mich. “It was
the first time I volunteered, and I had a great time. It was
awesome.”
According to the American Veterans website, the
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was estab-
lished by Executive Order 12830. It is awarded to mem-
bers of the Armed Forces who performed outstanding
volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and
consequential nature.
“I found out just before I graduated from AIT that I
would be getting the award, but the paperwork got lost
somehow,” Harrington said. “The orders for the award
just got here about three months ago.”
“As a person, I thought it was great,” Harrington said
of his volunteering experience. “We all loved basketball,
so that’s why we decided to do it. We taught these kids
how to play basketball. They loved it; the parents loved
it, and it was a great time.”
Soldiers who work with Harrington were not sur-
prised to find that he had been awarded the Military
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal since his daily
actions in the workplace prove that he has a helpful
nature.
MND-B Soldier receives outstanding volunteer service medalStory and photo by Spc. George Welcome2nd BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Spc. Samuel Harrington, an intelligence systems maintainer with Company B, Brigade
Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, climbs the stairs to the work trailer where
he monitors and works with sensitive electronic devices used in war-fighting operations. Harrington is the recip-
ient of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
FOB RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq – The
Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, currently working with
the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Infantry Division, Multi-National
Division – Baghdad, were able to provide
desperately needed medical attention to an
Iraqi citizen who was close to death June
17 at Forward Operating Base
Rustamiyah.
Hiba Mohammed Abdul Ridha was
injured by shrapnel during a terrorist mor-
tar attack on her college May 2.
The injury was unable to heal because
of a preexisting lupus infection. Ridha’s
father, Sheik Jabratallah, a tribal leader in
Fedaliyah, contacted the 3-67 AR in a
last-ditch effort to save his daughter’s life.
The family brought Ridha directly to
the gates of FOB Rustamiyah, said 2nd
Lt. Joshua Prentice, battle captain, 3-67
AR Tactical Operations Center. Ridha’s
condition was assessed at the gate, and it
was clear she was in need of immediate
assistance.
Because of lupus-like symptoms, it
was determined that the leg was in dan-
ger, Prentice said.
“Six weeks ago, she was in class at her
college and there was a mortar attack. She
received a minor injury,” said Capt. David
McCaughrin, fire support officer and Civil
Affairs officer-in-charge for 3-67 AR.
“Unable to heal, it was only a matter of
time before the wound became gan-
grenous,” McCaughrin said. Gangrene,
once started is usually irreversible. In this
case it progressed so fast Ridha’s life was
in danger.
“The girl definitely would have died,”
said Lt. Col. Mark Bertolini, commander,
3-67 AR. “Certainly in a week or two,
and probably within three or four days.”
Ridha had several medical problems.
Gangrene was one, but liver failure was
another, separate problem, said Capt.
Michael Curtis, battalion surgeon, 3-67
AR.
“When she arrived, she was unstable,
and we were able to stabilize her,” said
Curtis, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Here, we were able to have our female
medics and our female providers care for
her,” Curtis said. 3-67 AR took pains to
accommodate Ridha in a manner sensitive
to Iraqi cultural sensitivities.
“As it turned out, once we got her in
here, it was obvious her leg actually
should have been amputated a couple of
weeks ago,” said Bertolini. “Obviously,
her family was very grateful for the care.”
At this point, the case no longer
focused on the loss of a limb; Ridha’s life
was in danger. 3-67 AR made sure that
females were tasked to transport her to the
aid station, and that only females were in
the room where she was cared for, said
McCaughrin.
Ridha remained in the care of 3-67 AR
for 24 hours. The Soldiers contacted Maj.
Aaron Baker, brigade surgeon, 4th BCT,
101st Abn. Div., at which point she was
medevaced to the 10th Combat Support
Hospital and then sent to Medical City
Hospital for further treatment.
“We remained culturally sensitive, and
when we do that, it shows the local Iraqis
that we care about their well-being,” said
Bertolini. Giving this type of aid demon-
strates to the local populace that the U.S.
Army is willing to provide scarce
resources to help them, Bertolini said.
Jabratallah is a good friend of
Bertolini’s, as well an extremely influen-
tial member of the community,
McCaughrin said.
“He has been a big part of our security
here,” said Bertolini. “One story like this
carries a long way. It wouldn’t surprise
me if a couple of thousand people hear
about this in the next few days.”
Story by Pfc. Paul Ondik4th BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div.
MND-B Soldiers help save local girls life
FOB RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq – Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, and 801st
Brigade Support Battalion, serving with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne
Division, bring an Iraqi girl for treatment for a leg infection here June 17. Treatment
by Soldiers at 3-67 Armor Aid Station and subsequent treatment at the 10th Combat
Support Hospital helped save the girl’s leg and her life.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Army
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 18
GUIDANCE
Twenty years ago when
I left the “Regular”
Army to join the
National Guard, all of
my medical records were
either misplaced or lost in
the mail, or a combination
thereof. Because
of that, I had to get a whole
new physical and repeat the
mandatory shot series. This
kept me from joining my
new Guard unit for about
two months and cost me
several hundred dollars in
pay and multiple punctures in my arm.
My lesson learned was to always keep back-ups of all
important military-related documents, a practice that has
come in handy on several occasions since then.
Today in the digital information age, it is much easier
for Soldiers to take control of their important records. An
example of this is a new module available through Army
Knowledge Online that allows Soldiers to conveniently
view and download copies of their computerized Vaccine
Administration Record, on DD Form 2766C.
To access this information, just follow these simple
steps:
Log in to AKO with your user name and password;
follow the link to the “My Medical Readiness” page; find
the “Immunization Profile” section and click on the
“View Detailed Information” link.
The next screen will advertise MEDPROS. Look
under the “Forms” section and click on the link for
“Electronic Immunization Record.”
Your record will open up automatically with the free
Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
Review your record for accuracy. If you think it is miss-
ing something, talk to your medical personnel to see
about getting your shot list updated on MEDPROS.
If you are like me, you will want to keep a copy for
possible future reference. Just use the “Save a Copy”
function on the Adobe Acrobat toolbar to name the file
and save it. Because this record contains personal infor-
mation, including your full name, address, date of birth
and social security number, identity thieves would love to
get their grubby hands on it.
Therefore, I strongly recommend saving it in a “hid-
den” folder on your hard drive, then encrypting it or
making it password-protected. If you are not sure how to
do this, contact your unit Information Management
Officer or computer security specialist for assistance.
Don’t get stuck … your shot records are now available on AKO
By Lt. Col. Mitch
Meyers, preventive
medicine officer,
4th Inf. Div.
ARMY NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
BAGHDAD – General Sir John Reith, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization’s supreme allied command-
er, Europe, visited the NATO Training Mission – Iraq
July 7 as a part of a two-day working trip to the country.
At NTM-I Headquarters at the Cultural Centre
Compound in Baghdad, Reith was briefed by Italian
Army Maj. Gen. Ernesto Alviano, NTM-I deputy com-
mander, about the latest successes of the mission and its
future tasks.
Reith toured the Cultural Centre Compound, where
NATO is assisting Iraqis in building the Iraqi Doctrine
and Training Command for Iraqi Security Forces. The
ITDC is well under way to achieving its function of
organizing and directing general training for ISF person-
nel.
Reith visited the Iraqi Lessons Learned Centre, which
NTM-I assisted Iraqis with establishing in November
2005. The ILLC is providing important input into the
training programs of the ISF. Its latest task was to evalu-
ate the operation of the NATO-led Joint Staff College in
Ar Rustamiyah. Reith also met with Iraqi Defence
Language Institute which opened in February and is sup-
ported by NTM-I. The first course has been completed
and the first graduation of 33 English-speaking students
took place July 9. Both the ILLC and the DLI are part of
the Training and Doctrine Command.
After visiting the Cultural Centre Compound, Reith
traveled to Ar Rustamiyah on the outskirts of Baghdad,
where NTM-I has a forward headquarters to support the
establishment of the Joint Staff College and the Iraqi
Military Academy Rustamiyah. Italian Army Brig. Gen.
Agostino Mazzei, who leads NTM-I work at the site, dis-
cussed the recent graduation of 50 students from the
Junior Staff Course and 37 students from the Senior Staff
Course, which are due to graduate shortly. Selection of
students for the next year is ongoing.
At the end of his visit to Ar Rustamiyah, Reith com-
mented on the immense progress of the mission since his
last visit in November.
He said that NATO has contributed significantly to the
training of military and security forces in Iraq and was
instrumental in the establishment of a self-sustaining
Iraqi training program. He was appreciative of the mis-
sion’s contribution, which despite limited resources was
accomplished in such a short time.
DSACEUR visits NATO training mission in IraqStory by Maj. Steinar SveinssonDirector, public information
NATO Training Mission – Iraq
page 19TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
SSUUNNSSUUNN MMOONNMMOONN TTUUEESSTTUUEESS WWEEDDWWEEDD TTHHUURRTTHHUURR FFRRIIFFRRII SSAATTSSAATT
Volleyball Night
@ 8 p.m.
Pool Tourney
@ 8 p.m.
Karaoke Night
@ 8 p.m.
Salsa Night
@ 8 p.m.
Dodge Ball Team
Capt.’s Mtg.
@ 6 p.m.
R&B Night @ 8 p.m.
Dodge Ball Tourney
(TBA)
Closest to the Pin
@ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Spades Tourney
@ 8 p.m.
4 on 4
Volleyball Tourney
@ 7 p.m.
Karaoke Night
@ 8 p.m.
Basket-
ball Capt.’s
Mtg. @ 6 p.m.
Salsa Night
@ 8 p.m.
R&B Night
@ 8 p.m.
5 on 5 Basketball
Tourney (TBA)
Closest to the Pin
@ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Dominoes Tourney
@ 8 p.m.
Volleyball Night
@ 8 p.m.
Ping Pong Tourney
@ 8:30 p.m.
Karaoke Night
@ 8 p.m.
Frisbee Football
Capt.’s Mtg.
@ 6 p.m.
Salsa Night
@ 8 p.m.
R&B Night
@ 8 p.m.
Frisbee Football
(TBA)
5K Run Check-in @
5:15 a.m.
Closest to the Pin
@ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Texas Hold’em Night
@ 8 p.m.
4 on 4
Volleyball Night
@ 7 p.m.
Karaoke Night
@ 8 p.m.
Softball
Capt.’s Mtg.
@ 6 p.m.
Salsa Night
@ 8 p.m.
R&B Night
@ 8 p.m.
Softball Tourney
(TBA)
Closest to the Pin
@ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Chess Tourney
@ 8 p.m.
Volleyball Night
@ 8 p.m.
Pool Tourney
@ 8 p.m.
Karaoke Night
@ 8 p.m.
Salsa Night
@ 8 p.m.
11 22 33 44 55
66 77 88
August Division MWR Calendar
1111110099 1122
TTUUEESSTTUUEESSVolleyball Tourney
@ 7 p.m.
WWEEDDWWEEDDKaraoke Night
@ 8 p.m.
TTHHUURRTTHHUURRSalsa Night
@ 8 p.m.
Softball Team
Captain’s Mtg.
FFRRIIFFRRIIR&B Night @ 8 p.m.
SSAATTSSAATTSoftball Tourney
(TBA)
SSUUNNSSUUNNClosest to the Pin
@ 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
MMOONNMMOONNTexas Hold’em
@ 8 p.m.
JulyDivision MWR Calendar
2277
2266
2255
2288
3300
2299
3311
1133 1144 1155 118811771166 1199
2200 2211 2222 225522442233 2266
2277 2288 2299 3300 3311
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 20
GUIDANCE
CAMP STRIKER CHAPEL
Sunday
9 a.m. Catholic Mass
10 a.m. Contemporary Protestant
10:30 a.m. Protestant (Pad 6, Tent
410)
11:15 a.m. Traditional Protestant
4:30 p.m. Protestant
6 p.m. LDS
7 p.m. Praise Service (Gospel)
7:30 p.m. Praise and Testimony (Pad
6, Tent 410)
Monday
9 a.m. Catholic Mass
Wednesday
9 a.m. Catholic Mass
6 p.m. LDS Bible Study
7 p.m. Prayer/Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Prayer/Bible Study (Pad 6,
Tent 410)
Thursday
5 p.m. Purpose Driven Life
7 p.m. Praise Choir Practice
Friday
9 a.m. Catholic Mass
11:15 a.m. Catholic Mass (TOC
Conference room)
Saturday
6:45 p.m. Catholic Mass (Pad 6,
Tent 410)
Daily 6:30 a.m. TOC Prayer Service
(TOC Conference room)
DIVISION CHAPEL
Sunday
9 a.m. Contemp. Protestant Worship
10:30 a.m. Roman Catholic Mass
1 p.m. Episcopal Worship Service
3 p.m. Gospel Worship
8 p.m. Collective Protestant Worship
Monday
6 p.m. EML Chaplain's Briefing
7 p.m. Bible Study
Tuesday
7 p.m. Bible Study
Wednesday
6 p.m. EML Chaplain's Brief
7 p.m. Bible Study
8 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursday
6:30 p.m. Bible Study (Women)
7:30 p.m. Gospel Choir Rehearsal
Friday
12 p.m. Islamic Prayer
6 p.m. EML Chaplain's Briefing
7 p.m. Bible Study
Saturday
7 p.m. Bible Study (Men)
8 p.m. Contemporary Protestant
Praise Band Rehearsal
WARRIOR CHAPEL
Sunday
9:15 a.m. Roman Catholic Mass
10:30 a.m. Contemporary
Protestant
12:30 p.m. Gospel Protestant
5 p.m. Latter Day Saints
7 p.m. Non Denominational
Christian
Wednesday
7 p.m. Gospel Prayer
Thursday
7 p.m. General Protestant
Friday
6:30 p.m. Wicca Circle Meeting
ENGINEER CHAPEL
Sunday
8 a.m. Roman Catholic Mass
10 a.m. Traditional Protestant
11:30 a.m. Lutheran Worship
1 p.m. Latter Day Saints
7 p.m. Traditional Protestant
Tuesday
7 p.m. Bible Study
Wednesday
7 p.m. LDS Bible Study
Thursday
7 p.m. Bible Study
Friday
9 p.m. Prayer & Praise
Saturday
10 a.m. Reunion & Suicide Brief
CAMP VICTORY CHAPEL,
BLDG 2
Sunday
9 a.m. Orthodox Liturgy
Monday
4 p.m. Roman Catholic Mass
7 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous
Tuesday
4 p.m. Roman Catholic Mas
Wednesday
4 p.m. Roman Catholic Mass
7 p.m. Men’s Gospel Fellowship
Thursday
4 p.m. Roman Catholic Mass
7 p.m. Spanish Bible Study
Friday
4 p.m. Roman Catholic Mass
6:30 p.m. Shabbat Service
8 p.m. Women’s Gospel Bible Study
Saturday
5 p.m. Orthodox Vespers
11 a.m. Seventh Day Adventist
Religious services, AA meetings,
and mandatory R&R briefingsChaplain’s CornerPolishing schoolVICTORY CHAPEL SER-
VICES, BLDG 31
Sunday
7 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
Traditional Protestant Worship
10:30 a.m. Roman Catholic Mass
noon Gospel Protestant Service
2 p.m. Mormon Worship
4 p.m. Episcopal/Lutheran
Worship
6 p.m. Contemporary Protestant
Service
Monday
10 a.m. SGM’s Meeting
1:30 p.m. Protestant Gospel
Prayer Meeting
3 p.m. R&R -- Reunion and
Suicide Intervention Briefs
7 p.m. Gospel Protestant Bible
Study
Tuesday
7 p.m. Gospel Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday
9:30 a.m. R&R -- Reunion and
Suicide Intervention Briefs
7 p.m. Korean Bible Study
8:30 p.m. Protestant Music
Rehearsal
Thursday
6 p.m. Roman Catholic Music
Rehearsal
6:45 p.m. Men’s ‘Purity’ Bible
Study
Friday
1 p.m. Jumu’ah (Islamic Prayer)
5 p.m. Prayer Gathering Service
6:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship
Music Rehearsal
8:30 p.m. Protestant Music
Rehearsal
Saturday
9 a.m. Seventh-Day Adventist
Music Practice
11 a.m. Seventh Day Adventist
3 p.m. R&R -- Reunion and
Suicide Intervention Briefs
4 p.m. Gospel Choir Rehearsal
7 p.m. Roman Catholic Music
Rehearsal
8 p.m. Roman Catholic Mass
One person described a group of peo-
ple as being like a rock tumbler. As
the rocks bang against each other,
their sharp edges get broken down.
The rough spots become smooth as the smaller
rocks rub against even smaller rocks. Grit and
water are added to aid the polishing process. The
large rocks certainly have an impact on the small-
er ones. The smaller ones, including the fine grit
in the water, serve to polish the larger stones. If
left in long enough, each stone emerges with a
shiny appearance.
Consider our time here in Iraq as being like a
rock tumbler. Through our interactions, we polish
and hone one another. I think that if we are hon-
est, there are probably at least one or two people
that we have met here with whom we have had
some degree of difficulty. The sharp edges of our
personalities have probably made at least one
appearance. Those sharp edges have caused awk-
ward or even painful situations that we have had
to endure.
Sometimes, the sharp edges that need polish-
ing come out because of situations that we
encounter. For example:
1. Our internet or cable access may go down
– frequently.
2. We may have to change our Environmental
Morale Leave dates.
3. We may have to write a FRAGO or an arti-
cle like this.
4. We may have to brief in a meeting when
we are not prepared.
5. We may get assigned to be noncommis-
sioned officer or project officer for something
that we have little or no interest in.
6. We may have to room with someone we
don’t get along with especially well.
7. The dining facility may not be able to make
our eggs like we want them for breakfast.
8. The vehicle, phone, office, computer or
hooch we have is taken away.
9. Someone else gets promoted and we don’t.
10. Someone has a cappuccino machine and
won’t share it.
11. We don’t get the rating or evaluation we
were expecting.
12. One DFAC checks both sides of the identi-
fication card, the others don’t.
Hopefully, polishing takes place on both sides
in these encounters. We may find ourselves in
working relationships that we do not enjoy but
cannot escape. Previous encounters have left us
bruised and hurt. The hurt and bruises might be
the result of some of our rough edges getting
knocked off; or, these and other situations may be
grit that helps to polish us.
In the 4th Infantry Division, we hear a lot of
references about “IRON.” Iron Horse! is part of
the greeting of the day. There are Iron Eagles,
Iron Caissons, and of course, my favorite, the
Iron Gunners. Proverbs 27 speaks of iron in the
following manner in verse 17: As iron sharpens
iron, so one
man sharpens
one another.”
(NIV)
Similar to the
analogy of the
rock tumbler;
we sharpen
one another as
we engage with each other.
Iron was a precious commodity during the
time that Proverbs was written. It was so scarce
that people had to make choices in how to use it.
There is a familiar passage from the prophet
Isaiah that is carved in a monument at the United
Nations building: “They will beat their swords
into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks.” (Isaiah 2:4 NIV) Other prophets, like Joel
and Micah, speak not of a time of peace – but of
war, and encourage just the opposite – to take
farm instruments and make weapons of war out
of them.
Iron was reshaped and sharpened by using heat
and other pieces of iron. The people had to make
choices of how to use their limited resources. The
iron which they had could be used for positive
purposes, such as a plowing the ground or har-
vesting the crop. Iron could also be fashioned into
weapons of war, like spears and swords.
It is our relationships with one another that
shape and sharpen us. Our relations are also a
scarce commodity. How we choose to relate to
one another can be in a productive manner which
brings benefits to us and those around us. Our
relationships can also be destructive and painful
to those around us.
At times it may be painful, but I encourage
you to stay engaged in the process. At this point
in our tour of duty, many of us are at the halfway
point. Don’t drop out of “polishing school.” Just
think of how much grit this environment is pro-
viding you for the polishing process!
Psychologists once studied Peace Corps volun-
teers who choose to go to foreign countries. They
agree to invest two years of their time in projects
that have positive outcomes for all involved. The
study revealed a pattern that could not be denied.
From the halfway point to the three-quarter point,
there was a marked drop in morale and productiv-
ity – kind of like watching the third quarter of a
Spurs basketball game!
I have noticed a similar pattern in military
deployments as well, and length of time does not
seem to matter. The half-way point of a three-
week rotation at JRTC has similar results as the
halfway point of a six-month deployment to the
Sinai Peninsula. The same follows for the
halfway point of a year-long tour in Korea.
The apostle Paul wrote these words to the
Church at Phillipi, “ . . . continue to work out
your faith with fear and trembling.”
Allow the “polishing process” to continue in
your spiritual life as well.
Maj. Michael Allen
Fires Brigade chaplain
Mon. - Fri. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Chaplain’s
office on Pad 1
Stop by the Coffee House!
page 21TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
GUIDANCE
Many Soldiers
seeking legal
advice on
obtaining a
divorce are often unaware
of the extent of advice
that the Judge Advocate
General Legal Assistance
Office can offer. This
article explains the scope
of advice that you can
expect to receive if you
are contemplating a
divorce from your
spouse.
Military lawyers in the
JAG Corps differ from
civilian attorneys in private practice in a fundamental
way that directly affects the extent of legal advice that
judge advocates can give.
Civilian attorneys are licensed to practice law in par-
ticular states, and their advice is based on their state’s
laws. Judge advocates, on the other hand, represent the
entire United States and therefore, generally are not
experts in any particular state’s law, although they may
become well-versed in the laws of the state to which they
are assigned. As a result, in a deployed environment
where Soldiers from various states seek legal assistance
on the same subject matter, Judge advocates will not nec-
essarily be knowledgeable in all of those states’ laws and
procedures. Fortunately, many states have similar laws
and procedures in various areas of the law. The following
is a discussion of the type of counseling you can expect
to receive when you walk into our office with questions
about divorce.
Residency Requirements.The state where you can file for divorce depends on
where you meet the residency requirements, which may
not necessarily be the same state where you got married.
Your residency is either your permanent home of record
or the state where you are stationed on active duty. In
Texas, the residency requirement is that one of two
spouses in a marriage must have lived in the state of
Texas for at least six months and resided in the filing
county for at least 90 days prior to filing for divorce. If
you are not sure where you can file for divorce, the
Client Services Office can help resolve your concerns.
Legal Separation Requirement.Not every state requires a legal separation prior to
obtaining a divorce. Texas does not recognize a legal
separation. In Texas, a husband and wife are either mar-
ried or divorced. If you are interested in a speedy
divorce, it would be better to file in a state without a sep-
aration requirement.
Powers of Attorney.If you are in the process of getting divorced, or in the
midst of contemplating one, you may want to cancel any
Powers of Attorney you have given your spouse. You can
accomplish this either by retrieving the Power of
Attorney document from your spouse, which can some-
times be difficult, or having the Legal Assistance Office
execute a written revocation of a Power of Attorney. The
Legal Assistance Office will advise you on how a written
revocation operates.
Family Support Requirement.If you and your spouse have decided to terminate your
marriage, as a Soldier you are still responsible to provide
financial support until a divorce is finalized. The Army is
concerned with ensuring that Soldiers’ families are taken
care of. The Army has implemented Army Regulation
608-99, which requires a Soldier to provide a minimum
amount of support to their dependents pending a divorce.
The amount of support is based on the BAH-II, with
dependent rate, and is determined according to the
Soldier’s rank. There are certain situations where you
may not be required to pay the full amount. If you are
not sure how much you have to pay each month, please
visit the Legal Assistance Office to make sure you are
paying the right amount.
Bank Accounts.Spouses often have joint bank accounts. A joint bank
account means that the two people who share it have
equal access to 100 percent of the funds in the account. It
does not mean that both parties split the funds evenly.
Therefore, a spouse on a joint account is legally entitled
to completely clear out the joint account.
Soldiers often fear that their spouse will clean out
their joint account. Although you may not be able to stop
this from happening, you can take steps to protect new
income that is coming in.
As long as you are complying with the AR 608-99
financial support requirement, you can establish a sepa-
rate bank account in your name only. You can have the
Defense Finance and Accounting Service change your
allotment from your joint checking account to your new
separate account. You do not have to share the new pin
number with your spouse. But remember, you should
only do this if you are still providing financial support to
your spouse and can verify it either through your Leave
and Earnings Statement or a copy of a check, money
order or any other method of payment.
Military Spousal Benefits.The legal assistance office can determine what types
of Veteran’s Administration benefits, if any, your spouse
will be entitled to receive upon getting a divorce. This
includes your pension, health care, legal assistance and
commissary privileges.
Other General Advice.There are other considerations that you must keep in
mind when getting a divorce. An example is your state’s
property distribution scheme, such as whether it is an
“Equitable Distribution” state or “Community Property”
state. For example, Texas is a Community Property state,
which means that the general rule is that all property
acquired during the marriage is split equally between
spouses. Another example is the likelihood of your
spouse receiving spousal maintenance (alimony), which
in Texas is very difficult to get.
Qualifications for the Pro Se Divorce Program
at the Legal Assistance Office.In order for the legal assistance office to assist you in
filing for a divorce, you must meet three requirements:
You and your spouse must have no children of your own
together, you must not own joint property, and your
spouse must not contest the divorce – meaning your
spouse must be willing to sign the divorce papers. If you
are seeking a divorce in Texas, the office only has the
forms for the counties of Bell and Coryell, so you must
be filing in one of those counties.
Unlike civilian attorneys, judge advocates do not rep-
resent Soldiers in court; however, they will supply you
with the guidance you need to effectively represent your-
self in your divorce proceeding.
For Soldiers seeking a divorce in a state other than
Texas, recommend the following options:
1. Visit your nearest Legal Assistance Office during
environmental morale leave or redeployment and initiate
a divorce proceeding.
2. If you want to begin a divorce proceeding prior to
EML or redeployment, contact a civilian attorney and see
whether you can begin proceedings while in theater. You
will have to pay for this service.
3. If you are a Reserve or National Guard Soldier,
after redeployment you may be entitled to continued
legal assistance for a period of time and should check
with your nearest Legal Assistance Office.
Regardless of your status, if you have any issues or
concerns, please feel free to stop by the 4th Infantry
Division Legal Assistance Office on Camp Liberty,
which will assist you in every possible way.
What Soldiers need to know about divorce
By Capt. Monica
Ojeda Restrepo,
chief, client
services/claims,
4th Inf. Div.
Steadfast & Legal
1. A specialist from
Company D, 10th
Mountain Brigade
Support Battalion,
10th Mountain
Division, pled guilty
at a special court mar-
tial June 22. He was convicted of wrongful possession
of a controlled substance and solicitation to wrongfully
possess a controlled substance.
The military judge sentenced him to reduction to E-1,
confinement for five months, forfeiture of two-thirds
pay for five months, and a bad conduct discharge.
2. A sergeant from Company B, 1st Battalion, 87th
Infantry Brigade, 10th Mountain Division,, pled guilty at
a special court martial June 24. He was convicted of vio-
lation of General Order 1, false official statement, larce-
ny, wrongful possession of a controlled substance and
adultery.
The military judge sentenced him to reduction to E-3,
hard labor without confinement for 45 days, and forfei-
ture of two-thirds pay for three months.
3. A sergeant from 4th Brigade Combat Team, pled
guilty at a special court martial June 24. He was convict-
ed of wrongful use of a controlled substance, possession
of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled
substance and larceny of a controlled substance.
The military judge sentenced him to reduction to E-1,
confinement for three months and forfeiture of two-
thirds pay for three months.
Criminal Justice Statistics
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 22
ENTERTAINMENT
CCaarrttoooonn CCoorrnneerr
Keep in mind as you
read this that the
below descriptions
are about your sun-
sign only. You have other
planets that affect you as an
individual and no two individ-
uals have the same astrologi-
cal make-up.
The sun tends to be the
most obvious part of your per-
sonality – your conscious self.
Your moon sign and rising
sign are also important in
determining your personality,
so if you know your moon
sign and/or your rising sign, read them as well as your sun-
sign.
The moon sign you possess generally indicates how
you will act in emotional situations and is more or less the
subconscious self. The rising sign is your “higher self,”
your expectations and what you are looking for from life.
It is also frequently how you look physically, i.e., your
build, etc.
Lastly, this column is not meant to be taken as a serious
reflection on who you are, or what kind of a Soldier you
are; it is a light-hearted look at astrological sun signs for
amusement purposes only.
This issue, we will look at the Fire signs.
Leo (Jul. 22 – Aug. 22). The lion, ruled by the Sun.
This is a fixed fire sign and a spiritual protector. The Leo
Soldier sees all. This can be illustrated by watching a
Lioness; you will see that despite her beautiful, serene
appearance, she is constantly vigil, protecting her young
and those she loves, as is the male of the pride. The Lion
is an animal that readily understands and accepts life’s
obstacles. He is already on the battlefield every day of his
life, committed to his cause. Just like the great cat, Leo
Soldiers are highly regarded for their ability to “fight the
good fight” without reserve. They are tenacious and loyal
friends.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21). The archer, a
mutable Fire sign ruled by the planet Jupiter. A spiritual
servant. In olden times, all warriors were depicted as
Soldiers; they were not known as male or female, just as a
warrior; that was all that mattered to the King. In fact, in
some legends and drawings, they were depicted as half
woman and half horse. They were held in high esteem and
with great honor since they were always at their post and
were placed as the guards at the gates. Sagittarius epito-
mizes this warrior of old and is usually an incredibly com-
petent natural Soldier. Look to them for leadership.
Aries (Mar. 21—Apr. 19. The ram, ruled by the plan-
et Mars; a cardinal fire sign and a spiritual leader. Aries
Soldiers are courageous and feel that if it was left up to
them they could pretty much “win” the war single-handed.
All they need is plenty of time and enough ammunition!
However, they recognize that friendship is even more
important and are always looking out for the welfare of
their buddies. Like the ram, they will push in and conquer
in situations that look impossible. They are very straight-
forward – disarmingly so sometimes.
Final thought from Nancy: You are unique. There
is no one else like you in the entire universe. In honor of
your unique self, it is good to acknowledge and embrace
the special qualities that make you the person that you are.
The Astrology of Soldiers: What your “fire sign” says about you
By Nancy Anderson
Astrologer
Waukomis, Okla., the
Spirit of America
page 23TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy Leafjuly 23, 2006
SPORTS
There are a
lot of
unmistak-
able
sounds in a combat
zone – the bop, bop,
bop of an automatic
weapon firing or the
thundering BOOM
of an artillery gun
sending some heat
down range. Call
‘em the sounds of war. But after seven months in Iraq,
even those once startling noises don’t jolt us much any-
more. Our senses have become acclimated to life in the
war zone.
Recently though, I did hear a noise on Camp Liberty
that did stop me in my tracks – the distinct squeaking
that results when sneakers rub against a hardwood floor.
It’s the sound of basketball … indoor basketball, and you
can now hear such a noise inside the brand new Camp
Liberty Fieldhouse.
“Compared to what we were playing on, this is heav-
en. It’s been two-plus years in the making. The project
was started and stopped more than once,” said Prince
McJunkins, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation supervisor
for the 4th Infantry Division MWR facility on Camp
Liberty.
The indoor basketball complex officially opened its
doors July 15-16. To christen the brand new 94-feet long
by 50-feet wide basketball court, MWR held a tourna-
ment.
“It was supposed to be a 12 team tournament, but 23
teams showed up for the captain’s meeting,” explained
Prince. “It makes more work for us, but this is what
we’re here for.”
According to Prince, you’d have to travel some 50
miles north to Camp Anaconda to find an indoor facility
comparable to the Liberty Fieldhouse, with its digital
scoreboards and AIR CONDITIONING.
“This is really nice,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robbie
Rohren of Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “We play out-
doors at Camp Victory, but for old guys like me, playing
on the concrete surface is hard on your back and knees.”
Rohren’s Team
Victory squad had
the chance to play
a couple of games
on the fresh hard-
wood before
being eliminated
43-31 in the quar-
terfinals by Camp
Liberty’s two-
time defending
outdoor champi-
on, team “Most
Hated.”
Most Hated,
comprised mostly
of Soldiers from
the 10th Mountain
Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, came in as tourna-
ment favorites. They were the only team to receive a
first round bye.
Liberty’s “Concrete Champs” are led by Spc. Aaron
Lashley, a petroleum supply specialist, 1st Brigade
Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, by day, and a
smooth shooting assassin by night. According to the
confident Lashley, moving his game indoors only makes
it worse for opposing teams. “We’re going to win it. No
doubt about it.”
The championship game was a tight game. But the
team from Fort Drum (Most Hated) claimed bragging
rights in a hard-fought victory 34-31 over “Whateva,”
becoming the inaugural Camp Liberty Fieldhouse cham-
pions. Winning another championship was the only mis-
sion Lashley and his battle buddies had left to do in Iraq.
The following day, they were waking up, boarding a
plane and heading home – mission complete, champions
of the desert.
Editor’s note: The Camp Liberty Fieldhouse is opendaily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s located behind theDivision MWR.
HHaarrddwwooooddSports Roundupwith Staff Sgt. Christian Farrell363rd MPAD
hheeaavveenn
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Petty Officer 2nd Class Nelson Vega, a member of an explosive ordnance disposal team,
3rd Ordnance Battalion, attached to Multi-National Division – Baghdad, squeezes his way past the defenders to
nail a layup July 16 during the semifinals of a Morale, Welfare and Recreation-sponsored basketball tournament
here. The gym, the first of its caliber to be built in Iraq, is a new addition to Camp Liberty through the efforts of
Soldiers from 1st Battery, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, attached to Multi-National
Corps – Iraq. The 17th FA is responsible for garrison concerns of the Victory Base Complex, which predominate-
ly includes Camps Liberty, Victory, Slayer and Stryker.
Spc. Rodney Foliente, 4th Inf. Div. PAO
CAMP LIBERTY,
Iraq – Staff Sgt.
Bryant Hill,
awards noncom-
missioned officer-
in-charge with
human resources,
Special Troops
Battalion, 4th
Infantry Division,
lunges for a loose
ball July 16 during
the semifinals of a
Morale, Welfare
and Recreation-
sponsored basket-
ball tournament
here.
Spc. Rodney Foliente, 4th Inf. Div. PAO
july 23, 2006TThe Ivy Leafhe Ivy LeafPage 24
FACES AND PLACES
Photo by Spc. Rodney Foliente, 4th Inf. Div. PAO
ABOVE: FOB KALSU, Iraq – A Soldier from Company E, 2nd
Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, prepares to spike the ball during a volley-
ball match with Soldiers from Special Troops Battalion, 2nd
BCT, July 4 during the Warhorse Commander's Cup. The com-
petition was held in conjunction with the brigade's Fourth of
July celebration.
RIGHT: BAGHDAD — Staff Sgt. Sean Dowdy, a resident of
Deerlodge, Mont., who serves as a civil affairs noncommis-
sioned officer with Company B, 414th Civil Affairs Battalion,
attached to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade
Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pulls security as an M-1114
humvee gunner, manning an M4 carbine rifle and M-249 squad
automatic weapon June 28 during the final stage of cleaning
Baghdad’s Karada Peninsula, part of the citywide Operation
Baghdad is Beautiful.
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — Les
Miles, the Louisiana State
University head football
coach, jokes with 1st Lt.
Benjamin Mitchell, Company
A, 415th Military Intelligence
Battalion. Miles, along with
Lou Holtz, college football
coaching legend, and
Vincent Naimoli, Tampa Bay
Devil Rays’ owner, visited
troops here June 21.
Photo by Spc. Karl Johnson, 363rd MPAD
Photo by Cpl. Michael Molinaro, 2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.