Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Saturday, August 8, 2009 Forces plan to restore ancient arch By Pvt. Jared Gehmann “It was sad to see this “The first thing we are will be looked into. These 3rd BCT PAO place get torn apart in the going to try and do is build areas include the courtyard SALMAN PAK, Iraq — In 1990s when residents started a fence around this area and fountain, a nearby pool, visi- an attempt to restore national taking ancient bricks from the plant grass and trees, trying to tors’ center, and the large pan- pride and tourism to one of arch to build their houses and make the area more beautiful oramic building, which were the oldest landmarks in Iraq, walls,” added Kadhum. and inviting.” all built in the 1980s to help American Paratroopers and Iraqi and U.S. forces dis- Cheatham said another bring more people to the an- Iraqi Army Soldiers discussed cussed their hopes to start sev- goal for the project is to bring cient attraction. plans for renovating the area eral projects at the arch site some tourism to the area that “I’m really excited about surrounding the famous Arch within the next few months. will display Iraq’s history and the reconstruction and I hope of Ctesiphon in Salman Pak, “We want to start im- culture. it all goes well,” said Kad- Aug 5. proving the area by working “The Iraqi people need a hum. The all-brick arch was built around the arch, I think that’s sense of pride and heritage for Cheatham emphasized that nearly 16 centuries ago and is our quick fix,” said Capt. Dal- their country and few places the reconstruction of this area one of the oldest free stand- las Cheatham, of Fayetteville in Iraq are as symbolic as the would also symbolize the ing arches in the world. But N.C., the commanding officer arch,” said Cheatham. overall reconstruction of the years of neglect and war in of Company B, 1st Battalion, Cheatham also said once war-torn nation and would the region have transformed 505th Infantry Regiment, 3rd the surrounding area is com- give many of the Iraqi people the once popular attraction Brigade Combat Team, 82nd plete, restoration of the sur- hope and encouragement for into an Iraqi army outpost Airborne Division. rounding buildings on the site the country’s future. surrounded by acres of trash and rubble. However, as conditions in Iraq continue to improve, a new effort to renovate the area was discussed between U.S. and Iraqi army officials during a site assessment mis- sion in the hopes to bring some heritage and stabil- ity back to the people of the greater Ma’dain region. “About 25 years ago this area was very popular and people came from all over Iraq to trade at the market- place that used to be here,” said Iraqi Capt. Abbas Kad- hum, an Iraqi army officer who grew up in the region and currently oversees the outpost around the arch. Photo by Pvt. Jared Gehmann, 3rd BCT PAO “There was music play- Iraqi Capt. Abbas Kadhum (center) speaks with Lt. Col. Michael Shinners (left), of Alexandria, ing all the time here, and the Va., and Capt. Dallas Cheatham (right), of Fayetteville N.C., about the history of the Arch of large fountain used to have Ctesiphon and the area that surrounds it during a site assessment mission Aug. 5. U.S. and running water that the kids Iraqi military officers discussed several plans to renovate the once popular attraction in the would play in.” hopes to restore national pride in the country. PAGE 2 August 8, 2009 Cavalry keeps eyes, ears open By Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell of course we own the night… by-side, they feel safer, added MND-B PAO If they’re going to try to move, Arkan. BAGHDAD — “Alright we’re going to catch them.” “Doing these patrols also fellas,” a voice crackled on the “At night we can keep a legitimizes the Federal Police radio. “Keep yer eyes open.” smaller signature; we’re not force. We work with them and Under the cover of darkness, stirring up too much commo- things get accomplished,” said a convoy of Iraqi Federal Po- tion,” said Olvera, a native of Olvera, recognizing the need lice and cavalry scouts bumped San Benito, Texas. for teamwork. along dusty roads on their way As the vehicles switched off As Ibabao passed a dark to Subak Sur, a small, but stra- their lights and pulled up to the alleyway, something moved. tegically important town on the edge of the town, the Ameri- Without hesitation, he point- outskirts of northeast Baghdad. cans and Iraqis dismounted ed his weapon and flipped “This area is a logistics with vigilant eyes and weapons his flashlight on revealing a stopover and planning area for at the ready. shocked dog. An Iraqi federal stockpiling and making impro- “Yeah, bad things happen at policeman shadowing the Sol- vised explosive devices coming night, but we know the terrain dier mimicked his every move from [outside of Iraq] and down and we have a tactical advan- and also raised his weapon to- into Baghdad,” said 1st Lt. tage,” Olvera added. ward the dog. Mike Olvera, a platoon leader The commander of 4th “Everything that I looked assigned to 1st Squadron, 7th Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd into, he looked into. He was Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Brigade Iraqi Federal Police, pretty much on my shoulder,” San Benito, Texas native, Combat Team, 1st Cav. Divi- 1st Lt. Arkan Jamil Rasheed, said Ibabao of the Federal Po- 1st Lt. Mike Olvera, a pla- sion. It was the first time since agreed with his American coun- lice officer following him. “In- toon leader assigned to the June 30 Security Agree- terpart. stead of asking for our things the talks to a shop owner ment that troops have patrolled “We go out tonight like before, now they’re asking during a joint night patrol the area. That’s one reason why because most crimes happen at us for our techniques. We’re of Subak Sur, here, Aug. they arrived at night. night and we patrol every night giving them stuff out of our 3. “At night, it prohibits insur- because of this,” he said. handbooks.” gents from looking at us from a Not only does it deter crime The Soldiers are also giv- we’re always interacting with distance,” explained Cpl. Ivan in the area when U.S. forces ing them tips on how to win them.” Ibabao, a cavalry scout also as- work with their Iraqi Security over the trust of the people in Talking to the people in the signed to 1st Sqdrn., 7th Cav. Force partners, but when the the community by checking community helps the Soldiers Regt., 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. people in the community see up on businesses and talking and policemen gather informa- “They have to come to us and them working together, side- with children, added Olvera as tion about insurgents and other a young boy ran up to the Sol- criminal activities going on in diers. the area, explained Ibabao, a “That kid had a hurt foot. native of Houston. We tended to it a while back “We’re the eyes and ears,” and they remember us. Did you said Ibabao. “Being able to see how he ran up to us even gather information from the though we haven’t been in the ground, we’re able to get the area in a little while?” said Ol- big picture.” vera with a smile on his face. After talking with several “If they see genuine interest, community members, some and it has to be genuine, then shop owners that were working they’ll give you their trust,” Ol- late and securing three more vera added. potential micro-grant business- Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell, MND-B PAO “We’re not going to get any- es, it was time to return to the Staff Sgt. Michael Waddell, a section sergeant from thing done in this town if they vehicles. As the dark humvees Lakeland, Fla., assigned to 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry don’t trust us.” slowly turned the corner, the “Getting the trust of the street cleared out except for a Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Di- people is like being the poly- lone figure. The little boy with vision, patrols the small town of Subak Sur, here, with graph and getting the feel of the a hurt foot stood on the street Iraqi Federal Police Aug. 3. It’s the first time in about a community,” continued Ibabao, smiling and waving frantically month since Waddell and his fellow cavalry scouts have who’s on his third tour to Bagh- as the vehicles disappeared in been in this area. dad. “We’re always on the beat; a cloud of dust into the night. PAGE 3 August 8, 2009 Joint engineer mission spans Tigris By Sgt. Rebekah Malone est dozer, to move 6,000 cubic the dirt-moving portion of the The depth and speed of the 225th Eng. Bde. PAO yards of dirt. That is nearly 400 project. He said the Army engi- river’s current, coupled with the BAGHDAD — The Tigris dump trucks worth of dirt in or- neer surveyors have the difficult nearly 20 foot drop off raised River, or in Arabic Nahr Dijlah, der to level the ground for the task of carrying equipment back eyebrows when the engineers winds itself through the very Mabey Johnson. and forth across the river. began the project. But their pro- heart of Baghdad. For centuries, Combat engineer, Sgt. Maj. “It’s a tough job, bouncing fessionalism and skill has so far it has provided life-sustaining James Reppond, of Pineville, around to give cut and fill grades, kept the Soldiers safe as they water and enabled trade in Mes- La., explained that the near and then coming back [to check work on the banks of the river. opotamia. far sides of the river needed again],” Deluna said. “The num- “Were there concerns? Yes. Traversing the fabled wa- huge amounts of dirt removed to bers are changing constantly.” Difficulties? No,” Pearson said terway is what a joint U.S. and level the ground to emplace the This is Deluna’s second de- with pride. “The project is easy Iraqi engineer project hopes to bridge. ployment. On the first deploy- because we have young Soldiers accomplish. “[We have to] build an area ment, he completed a project that are motivated, enthusias- The 225th Engineer Brigade, identically, same elevation, same similar to the one he is supervis- tic, and want to see the finished with help from the 555th Engi- size, same everything where the ing now, just further down the product.” neer Brigade, out of Balad, Iraq, actual bridge will go on both Tigris. It is expected to take 12 days and Iraqi Army engineers aim to sides of the river,” said Rep- “This is my second time to to complete the dirt work, and complete an iconic Mabey John- pond. have fun by the river,” Deluna another 15 days for the 555th son Float Bridge that will span By early morning, heavy said with a smile. “Anytime we Eng. Bde. and Iraqi Army Engi- the banks of the Tigris River by equipment operators, surveyors, get to do a big project we have neers to install the actual bridge Taji, north of Baghdad, by the combat engineers, maintenance fun. We’ve been waiting on this before it is ready for military ve- beginning of September 2009. personnel and a security detail project for over a month!” hicles to drive across. The bridge, known for the are on site working in full pro- speed in which it can be built, tective gear to finish the project its dependable nature and the on time. Most nights do not end heavy weight capacity make the until close to sundown. Mabey Johnson a perfect fit for Heavy equipment operator, the nearly 90 meter span of river Sgt. Thomas Pearson, of Spo- that engineers must cross. kane, Wa., 277th Eng. Co., said Currently, the 56th Stryker high motivation is what gets the Brigade Combat Team holds re- Soldiers through the long, hot, sponsibility for the land west of tiring days. the Tigris in Taji area. Once the “Our work ethic means we Pennsylvania National Guards- will never miss a deadline,” men redeploy in a few weeks, Pearson said. “If you treat your Soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Soldiers the right way, it gives Team, 1st Cavalry Division will them the right motivation to suc- add the area of west of the river ceed, no matter what the cost.” to their current battle space. On the west side of the river, Without the bridge, troops an area 14-by-94 foot wide had would have to take a route into to be cut and dirt removed in the cities late at night, a two hour preparation for the bridge; on the one-way trip, in order to support east side, another 8-by-100 foot the rest of the BCT on the west wide must be removed. side of the river. The bridge cur- The dirt was then used to rently in place cannot support make a road from the current ac- neither the weight nor height of cess road to the new bridge. A large military vehicles. boat ramp also had to be made in “Building this bridge helps order for the boats to be launched reduce U.S. forces’ traffic in the and bridge pieces to be built and city,” said Lt. Col. Dave Dancer, launched. Compaction of the soil to sup- of Geismer, La., operations of- Photo by Sgt. Rebekah Malone, 225th Eng. Bde. PAO ficer for the 225th Eng. Bde. port the bridge is the next step. “It cuts travel time for 1-1 CAV “Whenever we get ready to Pfc. Kenneth Gould (right), of San Antonio, uses water down by one and a half hours.” compact the soil, if you wet it from the Tigris River to compact the dirt engineers from Seven days ago, the first step before you run your compactor the 277th Engineer Company, 46th Eng. Bn., 225th Eng. of the project kicked off with over it, it will bind together and Bde. moved as Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Major, from set up and be more stable,” Rep- the 277th Engineer Company, Ventress, La., looks on. The engineers have to move 46th Engineer Combat Battalion pond explained. (Heavy), 225th Eng. Bde., using Sgt. Adam Deluna, of San nearly 6,000 cubic yards of dirt to level the ground for D9 Bulldozers, the Army’s larg- Antonio, Texas, is in charge of Johnson Float Bridge to be emplaced. PAGE 4 August 8, 2009

On This Day In Military History 1863 - In the MND-B Pic of the day! aftermath of his defeat at Gettysburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee sends a letter of resignation as commander of the Army of Northern LEE Virginia to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Photo by Pfc. Kelly LeCompte, 30th HBCT PAO The letter came more than a month after Lee’s retreat from Pennsylvania. YAASKHDIR, Iraq — Staff Sgt. David Roberson, At first, many people in the South of Kinston, N.C., tries to cool in the shade during a joint Iraqi and U.S. patrol in Yaaskhdir, in the wondered if in fact Lee had lost the Radwaniyah District, south of Baghdad, August battle. Lee’s intent had been to drive the 3. Roberson and fellow Soldiers of Company D, Union army from Virginia, which he 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Bri- did. The Army of the Potomac suffered gade Combat Team talked with villagers, gathering information on the area and assess the needs of over 28,000 casualties, and the Union people living in the rural village. This was the first army’s offensive capabilities were time the Soldiers have visited the village since ar- temporarily disabled. But the Army riving earlier this year. of Northern Virginia absorbed 23,000 casualties, nearly one-third of its total. Multi-National Division– Baghdad As the weeks rolled by and the Union Morale, Welfare & Recreation and army reentered Virginia, it became clear 225th Engineer Brigade that the Confederacy had suffered a serious defeat at Gettysburg.

Famous Feats of Chuck Norris

Did you know? In the movie ‘Jurassic Park,’

AUGUST 26 1800 AUGUST 28 1730 the T-Rex wasn’t Join Us at Oasis Dining Facility Rally outside Oasis Dining Remembrance Room Facility chasing the jeep, to Commemorate the Anniversary of March to Division Chapel Chuck Norris was Women’s Right to Vote Inspirational message featuring All day viewing of BG Heidi V. Brown Deputy Commanding General for chasing the T-Rex “Iron Jawed Angels” Sustainment Cake cutting ceremony MNC-I AND the jeep. PAGE 5 August 8, 2009

Quote For Today Iraq 3-Day “Be more concerned with your Weather Today Tomorrow Monday character than with your reputation, 105° F | 78° F 105° F | 80° F 105° F | 80° F because your character is what you Report really are, while your reputation is TRIVIA TIME!! merely what others think you are.” What opportunistic country declared war on —John Wooden, 1910- Japan 5 days before its surrender in 1945? American Coach, Author, Statesman Last Issue’s Answer: The Nuremberg war crimes trials Cav Round-Up radio newscast available MND-B PAO 1. Helping to keep Baghdad safe created to recovery any aircraft that BAGHDAD — The Cav Round- with unmanned aircraft. has made a precautionary landing Up is a three-minute radio newscast The Gas Micro Air Vehicle is a or has had an incident which may from Baghdad covering military camera equipped unmanned un- have forced it to the ground. The units and events across Multi-Na- manned vehicle about the size of recovery goes out and return the tional Division — Baghdad. a waste paper basket. The GMAV aircraft and crew. Today’s Cav Round-Up # 128 can go in front of a target and take NIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up was produced by Sgt Erik Fardette, pictures while flying backwards. SIPR LINK: Cav Round-Up MND-B Public Affairs Office. 2. Downed Aircraft Recovery Check out more news at the 1st The August 7 newscast includes Team prepared for any situation. Cavalry Division’s homepage: the following two stories: The aircraft recovery team was www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/ Trigger’s Teasers The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a Yesterday’s Answers game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in.

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