www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/ Telling the MND- Story Monday, April 23, 2007

(Photo by Maj. Kirk Luedeke 4-1 Inf. Public Affairs) Checkmate! Pvt. Hershell Ross, and Sgt. Cleveland Upton, both members of 1st Battalion 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, play a game of chess in between combat patrols in Baghdad's Aamel region April 12. doctors hold medical mission in Haifa St. clinic By Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim the public because they are so poor," the local area came by the clinic to seek 2-1 Cav. Public Affairs Issa said. "It is my duty; of course there treatment for such ailments from com- are risks - I have to take all those risks." mon colds to shrapnel wounds. BAGHDAD - Dr. Haitham Issa, According to Maj. Bruce Rivers, Last month, Rivers, who calls with his stethoscope, walked from exam the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Washington, D.C. home, and a team of room to exam room monitoring his staff Cavalry Division's brigade surgeon, the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, and patients in the Al Karkh Public clinics in Karkh, around the 1st Cav. Div. medics went to Haifa St., Health Clinic April 14. district, all shut down due to the vio- and ran a sick call, of sorts. It's something he hasn't been able to lence of the past year or so. Only until According to Rivers, although it do for a while during the violence in the recently, as the Iraqi security forces and went well, his intent was to have the Karkh district, and the burden of not coalition forces helped provide that medical mission "totally" run by Iraqi being able to not only do his job, but to important piece have the local residents, doctors and nurses. fulfill the oath he took when becoming a doctors and other medical staff been So, this time, with the local Iraqi doctor has been hard on his conscious. able to come back and open up one clin- "I'm afraid to come here, but I am a ic. doctor; I have to give something back to Approximately 180 patients from See Haifa Page 2 Page 2 Feature April 23, 2007 Karkh doctors overcome fear, fulfill their oath Haifa From Page 1 national police and 4-9 Cav. Soldiers providing security around the area, a team of Iraqi doctors, nurses and pharmacists completely ran the medical mission. "I've been able to stay back and work on just the planning," Rivers said. According to Lt. Col. Patrick Matlock, 4-9 Cav.'s commander, having the Iraqi security forces lead the charge in this medical mission was a "really big deal." "[The residents] have to associate good with their local government," said (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2-1 Cav. Public Affairs) Matlock of Chico, Calif. A local woman brings her son in to be seen by one of the Iraqi doctors during "They have to see the the medical mission in Baghdad, April 14. local government as strong … al surgery in that area for a cine." received. our job is to make that a real- long time, but had to take a According to local health Being able to operate as ity," he said. break due to the recent vio- officials, the clinic plans to they did before has been For local doctor, Mustafa, lence. stay open for as long as the "great" for Issa, who is the new level of security in "It's really nice to have security in the area allows for happy that he gets to fulfill and around Haifa St. is "nice." all the security now," he the locals to receive the care his duties as a doctor and A doctor since 1963, said. "It was also very safely, and to get back to the also to help his fellow Mustafa, has practiced gener- good to bring all the medi- amount of patients it once Iraqis. Arabic Phrase Iraq of the Day 3-DDay zaabut Weather Today Tomorrow Wednesday Defined: Report High: 86 High: 90 High: 91 officer Low: 59 Low: 66 Low: 66

Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr. Contact the Daily Charge at VOIP 242-4093, DSN 318-847-2855 or e- Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl mail [email protected]. Command Information Supervisor: Master Sgt. Dave Larsen The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of NCOIC, Print Production: Sgt. Michael Garrett the Daily Charge are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Editor: Spc. Shea Butler Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 1st Cavalry Division. Staff Writers: Sgt. Nicole Kojetin, Spc. L.B. Edgar, Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma, Pfc. All editorial content of the Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Ben Gable, Pfc. William Hatton 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office. Contributing Writer: Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, Sgt. Michael Leonhardy Page 3 News April 23, 2007

Baghdad in Brief

Clearing operation nets five weapons caches in Mansour BAGHDAD - Coalition forces and Iraqi Army troops continued clearing operations in the Iraqi capital's Mansour security district, uncovering five weapons caches April 21 during Operation Arrowhead Strike 9. The weapons and ammunition discov- ered included one submachine gun, five AK- 47 assault rifles with eight full magazines, two pistols with four full magazines, one full can of blasting caps used for improvised explosive devices, two small two-way radios (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Scott Pharis, 2-12th Cavalry) and one sword. Iraqi Army troops from 1st Battalion, Soldiers from 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. pull out buried ordnance at a weapons 5th Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, cache site they discovered in Baghdad's Ghazaliya district April 15. along with U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division participated in the clear- Cache found in western Ghazaliya ing operation. By Sgt. Michael Leonhardy small cache, maybe only ten rounds. Every ISF respond in aftermath 2-12 Cav. time we picked up one round, we would of terrorist attacks find three more buried in the dirt around BAGHDAD - During a night patrol in it," said Pharis. BAGHDAD - Iraqi police and emer- the farm fields of western Ghazaliya April As the Soldiers began to dig, they real- gency services responded to a pair of vehicle- 14, Soldiers from Multi-National Division- ized they could not even see how deep the borne improvised explosive device detona- Baghdad found what they thought to be an cache went. tions in southwestern Baghdad that killed 25 improvised rocket launcher. This small find The Scout Platoon and EOD worked Iraqi civilians and wounded 50 more, includ- led to a very large cache buried nearby. vigorously for 14 hours straight to remove ing 15 Iraqi security forces, in a morning While moving through a field, observers all the ordnance out of the deep mud holes attack near an Iraqi police station April 22. from the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 2nd of the cache. Iraqi police and Multi-National Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd What they found were 178 120mm Division - Baghdad troops arrived on scene Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, mortar rounds, 126 57mm rockets, 108 in Baghdad's Risalah neighborhood shortly noticed three pieces of ordnance with the unidentified rounds, four homemade after the 10 a.m. attack, established check- improvised rocket launcher in a cinderblock bombs, seven shape charges, three initia- points and began to evacuate the wounded shack. The Soldiers secured the area and tors, two 81mm mortars, two cell phones, to local hospitals. waited for daylight to excavate the site. three hand grenades, two rocket-propelled Iraqi emergency service personnel also When sunrise came April 15, the grenade warheads, one 130mm mortar responded to the scene, extinguishing sev- observers linked up with the rest of their round and one 155mm artillery round. eral fires and assisting with the medical Scout Platoon and started investigating the After all the dust had settled, the Scout treatment of bystanders injured in the blasts. site. 1st Lt. Scott Pharis, on advice from Platoon uncovered more than 400 different A third VBIED detonated in the West his platoon sergeant, called in an explosive pieces of explosive material and munitions. Rashid security district at approximately ordnance disposal team to help with the This marks the biggest cache found by 2- 4:20 p.m., killing four Iraqi civilians and live ordnance. 12th Cavalry since the battalion took over wounding 10 others. Initially, all the Soldiers found was a their sector of the Iraqi capital in early A patrol from Company C, 1st Battalion, wooden box, about the size of a coffin, November. 18th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat buried next to the shack. Further investiga- EOD conducted a controlled detona- Team, 1st Infantry Division responded to the tion found mounds of dirt that looked like tion to blow the ordnance in place. The explosion site providing security and assis- they had been recently disturbed. explosion was so big it was felt by Soldiers tance to the Iraqi Police and emergency per- "Initially, we thought there was a at Camp Liberty, more than six miles away. sonnel with casualty evacuation. Page 4 Health April 23, 2007 Protect yourself against crawling, flying vermin By Sgt. Nicole Kojetin help," said Ortiz. 1st Cav. Public Affairs He also added that using bed nets or mosquito netting CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - also deters bugs, but sand Creepy crawlers, pests, ver- flies can still get through if min, insects, bugs… whatev- the nets are not treated with er they are called, most peo- an insecticide. ple would consider them Other tips, he added, annoying but rarely think of were trying to avoid standing them as being dangerous. water and conducting good But they can be. hygiene practices including Moving to a different washing uniforms frequent- part of the world means that ly. there are different dangers For those who are lucky within the bites and stings of enough to live in trailers, he the flying and crawling crit- said to limit the amount of ters than in the United food consumed inside, clean States. up crumbs and try to block "The biggest threats here areas of entry. are the mosquitoes and sand The staff will also do flies," said Capt. Ruben their part. Ortiz, an environmental sci- (Graphic by Dr. D.S. Martin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) "We have traps all over, ence officer for Multi- Leishmaniasis, a disease spread by sand flies, creates and when we reach a certain National Division - ulcer-like sores on the skin. Maj. Chris Medellin, a Multi- threshold of bugs per trap the Baghdad. "The mosquitoes National Division - Baghdad preventive medicine officer, contractors will spray the from the Anapheles species said that is important to seek treatment immediately base," Ortiz said. On the after discovering symptoms of the disease. can carry malaria, and the smaller combat outposts and sand flies can carry ed sore, it is time to come manders to adopt and the joint security stations, in," Medellin said. enforce the Department of the company field sanitation Leishmaniasis." As the warmer months Defense Insect Repellent teams can spray. Malaria makes people ill are swiftly approaching, System. The traps not only allow with fevers and severe chills bugs are out and active and This system starts with them to track the density of that could result in death, if the Soldiers living without ensuring that Soldiers treat the bugs, but the collections not treated. common amenities are more their uniforms with get shipped to Europe to be Leishmaniasis affects vulnerable. Permethrin, which is the tested for diseases. So, they the health of the skin, creat- "Due to the surge, we standard military insect know what the troops are ing large open sores. have more Soldiers living in repellant that can last for facing. "When the infected sand tents or in (joint security sta- approximately 50 uniform Medellin, also, warned fly bites, the parasite gets tions) instead of trailers," washes, said Ortiz. The uni- against other critters, such as under the skin cells creating Medellin said. "The threat is form itself is a barrier snakes and scorpions. slow healing wounds that are higher in those living condi- against insects, too. "If you get stung, don't much like ulcers," said Maj. tions." Next, they should apply try to catch it or suck the Chris Medellin, a preventive "Many of the JSSs use the insect repellant DEET to venom out," he said. medicine officer with MND- (barriers made from loose all exposed skin. One appli- "You are just wasting B. sand and rocks) and sand- cation can last up to 12 valuable time. Get to the The San Antonio native bags. These are great habi- hours, he said. nearest medical facility,"he stressed the importance of tats for sand flies," Ortiz "The Soldiers (on the said. getting medical attention as said. "The standing water is ground) need to remember Avoidance and the use of soon as possible, noting that an issue, too. That is a breed- that when they take off that insect repellent, Medellin Leishmaniasis will leave ing ground for mosquitoes." uniform, the skin underneath large scars. Ortiz, from San is no longer protected. stressed, is key to preventing "As soon as you notice a Sebastian, Puerto Rico, said Applying additional DEET vermin-related illnesses and fever with chills or an infect- that it is essential for com- before going to bed can injuries. Page 5 People April 23, 2007 Tomahawk troop trades in battlefield for college classroom By Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma wavierable. Two requirements 1st Cav. Public Affairs which can be waived are the requirement to have no more BAGHDAD - Transitioning than three dependents, includ- from fighting on the battlefields ing a spouse, and not be a sin- of the war-torn Iraqi capital to gle parent. reading the pages of heavy text- Ruth said if he is accepted books in a college classroom is a into the program, all the hur- change of scenery one Soldier is dles he had to jump through to about to make. get his packet turned in will be As Pfc. Joshua Ruth, an well worth the effort. infantryman with 2nd Platoon, "For the most part, it's Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd been me running around get- Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker ting stuff done. It's definitely Brigade Combat Team, 2nd more difficult to get stuff done Infantry Division, nears the end (Photo by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma 1st Cav. Public Affairs) here than it would have been in of his first deployment, he gets Pfc. Joshua Ruth, with Co. C, 1st Bn., 23rd Inf. Regt., 3rd the rear," Ruth said. "Here, ready to go back to school SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div., communicates with the driver and everyone is really busy and through the Army's "Green to vehicle commander while he pulls rear security during you're constantly running Gold" program. a clearing operation in the Iraqi capital's Ghazaliyah around doing missions and The program is designed to neighborhood while the remaining members of his going in and out of the wire." squad conduct searches of nearby houses March 24 allow qualified and inspired For this young trooper, young enlisted Soldiers, like he has experienced will help dates must be able to pass the becoming an officer is all about Ruth, to return to college, him in the future," said Pfc. Army Physical Fitness Test and the responsibility that comes receive their baccalaureate Brandon Kroger, an infantry- meet height and weight require- with it. degree and earn a commission man in his squad. ments according to AR 600-9. "I want to lead men into as an Army officer. But to get back into a col- If Soldiers meet the stan- combat. It would be a pretty The Elizabethtown, Ky., lege seat, there are some require- dards, they must also obtain let- amazing thing. I want that native found his higher calling ments Soldiers must meet. ters of recommendation from responsibility," said Ruth. "I and signed up to become a A Soldier must be active their school of choice offering had good examples of what Soldier a couple days after duty for at least two years, as the Army Reserve Officer leadership should be, which has Christmas 2005. Even with a well as three months for every Training Corps program and a made me want to be a good brief stint in the Army, he has one month of specialized train- letter from the professor of mil- leader for other Soldiers. heard of the many opportunities ing, and be under the age of 27 itary science of that Army "(I want to be) someone the Army offers its Soldiers. on June 30 the year of their ROTC battalion. who's willing to stand up for the "When I heard about the commission. An extension of Candidates must also pro- guys they're responsible for, that Green to Gold program, I up to three years can be given, vide a favorable national agency looks out for them, teaches thought it was a good idea to based on years of service. check, go through a Department them." take what enlisted guys learn The Soldier must have a of Defense Medical Examination Kroger said Ruth has the and apply them as officers like General Technical score of at Review Board, which deems assertiveness and confidence it the basics of working with a least 110, have a minimum Soldiers physical capable of the takes to take charge of other team, with a squad, with a pla- American College Test score of tasks ahead, and he or she must Soldiers and get the job done. toon," Ruth said. 19 or Standard Aptitude Test be eligible to reenlist. After graduating from He said he thinks having a score of 920 for a three or four- Soldiers wanting to go school, Ruth will put on the deployment to add to his reper- year scholarship, have a cumu- Green to Gold cannot have gold bars of a second lieutenant toire and all the experiences lative high school or college either Uniform Code of and finish out his Army career being on the ground will make grade point average of 2.5 and Military Justice or civil convic- as an officer. him, or any cadet, a more be a high school graduate or tions, nor have any such actions "I think I'll like it," he said. rounded Soldier. equivalent, pending, or been convicted of a "If I enjoy what I am doing and "It's good to have a In addition to scholastic domestic violence crime or be a enjoy the life that I have, I am deployment under your belt. requirements, all Soldiers have conscientious objector. probably going to be a lifer, do (Ruth) will have experienced to maintain physical fitness stan- Although the requirements my twenty years as an officer things first hand and the things dards. The Green to Gold candi- seem many, some of them are and retire."