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October 31, 2004 Battalion offers good news from Iraq [Link to Full Article]Green Bay woman tries to balance reports from war By Nathan PhelpsThe photo of Spc. Ryan Burkhart from Maine is one image of the war in Iraq that doesn’t garner the national headlines.In the photo, the member of the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion is saying goodbye to an Iraqi child after spending two months helping to rebuild a school in northern Iraq.Sgt. 1st Class Julie Friedman of Green Bay, who is deployed to Mosul, Iraq, took the photo.“Our main focus is just trying to...

MNF Detains Two, Including Suspected Fallujah Operative Mosul, Iraq -- Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained two people wanted for anti-Iraqi activities and foiled a roadside bomb attack Oct. 29 in northern Iraq. Multi-National Forces conducted a cordon and search in the northern Iraqi village of Daynach and detained a known weapons smuggler suspected of planning and conducting attacks against MNF in Fallujah. The suspect is in custody undergoing questioning. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in southern Mosul and detained one person suspected of planning and...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894   September 18, 2004Release Number: 04-09-55 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES DETAIN ANTI-IRAQI FORCES IN TAL AFAR MOSUL, Iraq -- Multi-National Forces from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) conducted cordon and search operations in northern Iraq Sept. 17 in a continuing effort to halt anti-Iraqi activities. In Tal Afar, Soldiers from the Brigade's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment detained seven people wanted for planning and conducting anti-Iraqi activities. During the search of a residence, intelligence...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 September 15, 2004Release Number: 04-09-45 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IRAQI POLICE, MNF-I THWART MORTAR ATTACK, FOIL ROADSIDE BOMB MOSUL, Iraq -- Iraqi Police and Multi-National Forces from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) thwarted a mortar attack, detained three people wanted for anti-Iraqi activities, foiled a roadside bomb attack and discovered a variety of weapons and munitions Tuesday in northern Iraq. Iraqi Police thwarted a possible mortar attack against Multi-National Forces when they discovered four anti-Iraqi personnel...

One Task Force Olympia Soldier Killed, 5 wounded American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2004 – One Task Force Olympia soldier was killed and five others were injured today when their patrol was attacked with small-arms fire on the western side of Mosul, Iraq. Also today, oil pipeline security contractors reported a fire along a pipeline near Bayji. The cause of the fire is under investigation by pipeline workers from Northern Oil Company. Security guards reported hearing an explosion, officials said. The flow of oil has been shut down, and the remaining oil will be allowed to burn...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 September 10, 2004Release Number: 04-09-25 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES, IRAQI NATIONAL GUARD CONTINUE OPERATIONS IN TAL AFAR MOSUL, Iraq – Multi-National Forces from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) and the Iraqi National Guard continued operations in Tal Afar Sept. 9. In other operations in northern Iraq, Soldiers detained 15 people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities and foiled a roadside bomb attack. Iraqi Security forces and Multi-National Forces in Tal Afar continue to work to establish...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 September 9, 2004Release Number: 04-09-18 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IRAQI SECURITY FORCES, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES INITIATE OPERATIONS IN TAL AFAR MOSUL, Iraq – Multi-National Forces and Iraqi Security forces initiated operations to restore control of Tal Afar to legitimate Iraqi government officials. The operation comes after MNF and Iraqi Security forces were repeatedly attacked by a large terrorist element that has displaced local Iraqi Security forces throughout the recent weeks. Numerous attacks in the past two weeks not only targeted MNF and...

      Convoy Multi-National Forces detain one, collect weapons Mosul, Iraq – Multi-National Forces from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained one person suspected of anti-Iraqi activities and discovered a variety of weapons and munitions Monday in northern Iraq. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in the Mosul neighborhood of Al Kahira and detained a suspected terrorist wanted for planning and conducting attacks against Multi-National Forces. The detainee is in custody undergoing questing. No injuries were reported during the operation. Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment...

Iraqi Security Forces Open the First JCC in Northern IraqStory by Task Force OlympiaMOSUL, IRAQ – The Iraqi Security Forces in the Ninevah Province increased their ability to protect Iraqi citizens and to react to emergencies, when they opened the first Joint Coordination Center in northern Iraq June 23. All security operations will operate from the Mosul JCC where a representative from every security force element will be stationed to facilitate coordination. Representatives from the Iraqi National Guard, Iraqi Police, Facility Protection Services and Iraqi Armed Forces will be stationed at the JCC to efficiently fight crime and terrorism....

Lt. Gen. Sanchez Meets with Security Leaders in Northern IraqStory by Task Force OlympiaMOSUL, IRAQ – Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of Multinational Force-Iraq, visited Mosul Monday to discuss the upcoming transfer of sovereignty on June 30 with Iraqi security officials from throughout Iraq’s three northern provinces – Ninevah, Irbil and Dahuk. Leaders and officials of the Iraqi Security Forces to include the Iraqi National Guard, the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Border Police, the Iraqi Armed Forces, Facilities Protective Services, and other civil defense leaders came from Dahuk, Irbil and other cities to discuss security needs and concerns with...

Wolfowitz Visits Officials in Northern Iraq By Kathleen T. RhemAmerican Forces Press ServiceLAKE DOKAN, Iraq, June 17, 2004 – Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz visited several areas of northern Iraq today, spending time with U.S. military commanders and local leaders. At Logistics Support Area Anaconda in Mosul, officers of Multinational Brigade North briefed Wolfowitz on security issues facing the area, relationships with the local population, and the performance of Iraqi security forces. A senior Task Force Olympia officer told Wolfowitz the situation in Mosul is nothing like that in the restive city of Fallujah. "You're not going to see...

U.S. Soldiers Detain 15 Suspects, Collect Weapons MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. Soldiers detained 15 suspects in two raids May 15 in Northern Iraq, and collected or destroyed large caches of weapons. In the Mosul neighborhood of Al Jededa, Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 10 people suspected of conducting improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces. In the eastern Mosul neighborhood of Al Karama, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment detained five people suspected of planning and conducting attacks against Coalition forces. No Soldiers were hurt in either raid. Also during the...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 May 11, 2004Release Number: 04-05-21 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IRAQ POLICE, COALITION FORCES CONDUCT RAIDS IN MOSUL MOSUL, Iraq - More than 50 Iraqi police officers conducted three simultaneous cordon-and-knock operations in southwest Mosul May 7 to attempt to capture three people wanted for attacking Iraqi police in the Tal Ar Ruman neighborhood a week earlier. Task Force Olympia supported the raid by establishing the cordon around each targeted location. The operation, planned by the Iraqi police with Coalition assistance, began...

Discovery of Weapons Caches Result in Safe Removal of Weapons from Mosul Streets MOSUL, Iraq - Information provided by two Iraqi adults and a child led to the discovery of three weapons caches May 7 and the seizure and safe disposal of more than 250 artillery rounds, mortar rounds and other munitions west of Mosul. The first cache consisted of more than 100 82mm and 120mm rusted mortar rounds lying in the open, exposed to the elements. As soldiers secured the site, a child directed their attention to a second site that consisted of about 45 82mm and 120mm...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 May 3, 2004Release Number: 04-05-02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TF OLYMPIA EOD DISARMS LARGE IED NEAR MOSUL MOSUL, Iraq - Task Force Olympia contract security forces discovered a "daisy chain" of more than 10 live mortar and artillery rounds near Mosul on Saturday. Numerous inert mortar and artillery shells were also found in the same area. A contract security company working for Task Force Olympia in Mosul originally found a 155mm artillery shell and contacted an explosive ordnance disposal team. When...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 April 26, 2004Release Number: 04-04-24 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TF OLYMPIA SOLDIERS DETAIN 14, DESTROY IED, CONFISCATE WEAPONS MOSUL, Iraq - Task Force Olympia Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 14 people wanted for anti-Coalition activities, destroyed an improvised explosive device and collected a variety of weapons and munitions in Northern Iraq April 23. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment conducted cordon and searches in the northeast neighborhood of Hashimiyah and detained 14 people...

  Coalition soldiers train Iraqi Armed Forces to join fight By Spc. Aaron Ritter Staff Sgt. Russell Cotton, a member of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, helps an Iraqi soldier from 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion get the correct fighting stance during a close-quarter exercise at Tal Afar Castle.Spc. Aaron Ritter TAL AFAR, Iraq (Army News Service, April 5, 2004) -- Iraqi Armed Forces soldiers are quickly learning, with the assistance of coalition forces, what type of training is required to become an effective fighting force. The Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, working in northern Iraq, is made up...

  Task Force, Iraqi Police Detain 10 MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) and Iraqi police detained 10 people suspected of anti-Coalition activities during several operations in northern Iraq March 30. In one incident, soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment responded to a rocket attack near Hammam Al Alil, detaining five suspects who were attempting to flee the scene. Elsewhere in Hammam Al Alil, soldiers captured two suspects during a raid and detained one suspect at a traffic control point. Finally, Iraqi police responded to shots fired at a Mosul...

Tuesday, March 23, 2004 Troops make inroads with Kurdish political parties By Seth Robson, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Tuesday, March 23, 2004 Seth Robson / S&S A member of the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps stands guard in Diyana, Iraq. Seth Robson / S&S Staff Sgt. Bobby Mathews (left) of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion inspects some of 20 Nissan Patrol SUVs delivered to Kurdish mayors in Diyala, Iraq, with the help of his unit while a Kurdish man looks on. Anas Dulami / S&S 1st Lt. Tim Hilfiger of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion talks to Erbil lieutenant governor Tahir...

  1/14th Cavalry Puts Eyes in The Sky MOSUL, Iraq - A cavalryman completes the five-count sequence and issues the command "launch, launch, launch." The tactical unmanned aerial vehicle is suddenly airborne moving at 70 knots. The crewmembers exchange grins, knowing the mission has started off on the right. They also know that when it ends, the information gathered on this mission might save lives. The UAV, otherwise known as a Shadow, is operated by Fort Lewis-based Troop D, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team). UAVs continuously provide real-time imagery for...