Free Republic

An Adwaniyah middle school student receives school supplies during the school's grand opening. Some of the supplies were donated by American students to Iraqi students. The remodeled school will hold traditional and religious classes. FORWARD OPRATING BASE KALSU — Adwaniyah citizens who were once afraid to leave their homes because of al-Qaeda in Iraq, freely gathered last week to celebrate the grand opening of a middle school and health clinic. Much of the work was done using Commander’s Emergency Response Program funds. Coalition forces assisted in rebuilding the school and clinic but the Government of Iraq was key to the...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A local tip led Iraqi Security Forces to the largest explosively-formed penetrator cache found to date in Multi-National Division – Center’s area of operation, April 2. The munitions were discovered in a 6-ton truck in a garage in al Qasim, Iraq. The cache contained more than 1000 EFP components, more than 3000 pounds of explosives and multiple 107 mm rockets and stands. The cache also included more than 200 C-4 demolition charges, more than 10,000 feet of detonation cord, more than 2,000 projectile boosters, 10 devices used to detonate improvised explosive devices, 250 PKC...

An explosive ordnance disposal team conducts a controlled detonation on munitions recovered by Soldiers of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and 5th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division, April 2, in Kutimiyah, Iraq. Photo by Sgt. Luis Delgadillo, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs. FOB KALSU — In the early morning of April 2, Iraqi Army (IA) Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division, questioned a suspected insurgent who said he knew the location of buried weapons. "For the past couple of weeks the IA had...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Coalition forces, residents of Maderiyah and a team of Iraqi Army Soldiers helped clear five improvised explosive devices from roads north of Joint Security Site W-1 March 29. During the mission, Soldiers of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, a route clearance team and an explosive ordnance disposal team successfully cleared a vital road for residents of Maderiyah and Kutimiyah. First Lt. Samuel Scott Gilstrap, executive officer of Battery B, said when Coalition forces arrived in the area, the road was impassable and the bridge which existed...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Chicken farming in Iraq is moving toward pre-war levels, as Coalition forces work with farmers to overcome challenges. There are about seven functioning chicken houses in the region where 3rd Battalion, 7th infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division operates, and dialogue has begun with the owners on how to increase production. One of the first areas where the unit discovered chicken houses was the community of Abu Lukah. It has four chicken houses, three of which are functioning. The first visit by the unit was at the end of January during which...

FOB Kalsu, Iraq -- Those who believe that the campaign in Iraq is a lost cause better not tell that to the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division -- they think they’re winning. That’s not just their Commanding General, Rick Lynch talking -- that’s the word from every soldier we have listened to for the week we have been with them. These troops ought to know -- many of them are here on their third, year-long tour of duty in Iraq. Those we have been interviewing for an upcoming special edition of War Stories were part of the initial attack...

FOB KALSU, Iraq – U.S. Soldiers captured more than 100 insurgents as well as weapons and explosives during a recent operation in the vicinity of Owesat. Items seized and destroyed included 186 mortar rounds, three 122mm artillery rounds, 65 hand grenades and 500 pounds of explosives. Rocket-propelled grenades, launchers, small-arms ammunition and aiming equipment were also found and destroyed. The Soldiers are from the 150th Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team. The 155th BCT is a U.S. Army unit assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.