Posted on 08/25/2005 1:38:46 PM PDT by Calpernia
BAGHDAD -- As part of a U.S. and Iraqi stability and support operation, several truck loads of humanitarian assistance rolled out from a forward operating base in southern Baghdad to provide Horajeb residents with basic food items, medical supplies, and recreational items Aug. 17.
Two transport trucks left before dawn, as a 29-vehicle convoy passed through the southernmost limit of the Al Rashid district, and made its way along streets with names like Toyota, Chicken, and Bulls that the U.S. Army has named to help guide American soldiers through the often sign-less streets they have become so familiar with over here.
The patrol was made up of Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team; and Iraqi forces from 1st Battalion, 4th Public Order Brigade.
“Expect to see the Army increasingly hand authority and responsibility over to Iraqi Security Forces, as part of the overall picture, to allow citizens to see and feel more comfortable with many of the new faces,” said Capt. Darrell Retherford, a team leader with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion during a briefing to his Soldiers.
Pointing to Iraqi Soldiers unloading supplies into the rear of a utility pickup, the Abilene, Texas, resident continued, “They are the ones who will be here long after we leave, and when that happens the people here need to know who is responsible for them, doing the patrols and protecting them.”
On this day it was not U.S. Soldiers but Soldiers from the POB who distributed the goods to the people. The Iraqi Soldiers will soon become responsible for security in this area as Americans begin to limit their presence.
The town sits removed from the steady stream of images coming out of more familiar parts of Baghdad. It is a few miles south of the city and west of the Tigris River—a postcard image of what one might imagine the Fertile Crescent to be with rows of orchards, date trees and watermelon fields.
This southern-most area of Al Rashid is generally considered an agricultural area. Lately, however, there has been less of a presence of Coalition Forces. Concerned local leaders and Iraqi Security Forces fear an increasing number of terrorists have moved into the area.
That’s one reason why Retherford helped orchestrate this mission named appropriately Operation Thunder Goodwill, a gesture toward entrusting local authorities and showing they are in charge here.
The local Imam of the town met with the commander of the POB for the first time Aug. 17 and the two exchanged a warm greeting as they stood near a table next to the trucks with several green burlap bags zip-tied and filled with food staples.
The POB Soldiers were in the background shouting “Emshee, emshee,” as they tried to run off the hordes of smiling children, hands clutching soccer balls and T-shirts. The Imam offered to work with the new POB to keep terrorist activity away from Horajeb, which has been without major incident for nearly five months.
The operation was conducted during the early-morning hours as Soldiers delivered rice, canned chicken, tomato sauce and medical supplies put together by organizations in the United States. The toys and soccer balls were donated by friends and family members of the 3/3 ACR and collected by the 490th CA Bn. for distribution.
“Our operations are not always about cordon and searches or raids,” said Maj. Eric Carpenter, chief of plans for 4th BCT. “Operation Thunder Goodwill allows us to support the ISF and get them on the streets, so they can talk to the residents and let them know we are working to make their neighborhoods safer.”
Retherford commanded the humanitarian mission and began by contacting friends from a local non-profit organization back home in Oklahoma City.
Many Americans would be surprised to learn how scarce many of these basic resources are and how difficult they are to get through normal Army supply channels.
“You can see that much of that early effort of what we did here back in Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 had a significant impact on the daily lives of Iraqis living in the area today. The food distribution today is mostly a goodwill gesture,” said Sgt. First Class Vester Bland, also from the 490th CA Bn. and an Abilene, Texas, native.
Coalition Forces understand that to beat back terrorism, humanitarian assistance operations like the one that occurred Aug. 17 must go forward as part of a larger strategy of using generosity to encourage peace.
An Iraqi girl holds a beanie baby and a handbill given to her by Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Public Order Brigade during Operation Thunder Goodwill in Horajeb Aug. 17. The POB Soldiers teamed up with elements of 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment.
Two transport trucks left before dawn, as a 29-vehicle convoy passed through the southernmost limit of the Al Rashid district, and made its way along streets with names like Toyota, Chicken, and Bulls that the U.S. Army has named to help guide American soldiers through the often sign-less streets they have become so familiar with over here.
I'll bet the Iraqi soldiers loved being a part of that. Most of them were raised in abject poverty themselves, and now here they are handing out largess to their own people.
Thanks for the ping!
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