Victory Times Vol. II, Issue 103 Telling the Camp Victory story Sept. 14, 2006 Drowning Pool Rocks Camp Victory, Troops Story and photos by Cpl. Jessica Kent After Mistress Carrie on a terrific MNC-I PAO (voted the most popular show,” said disk jockey in the U.S.) Husack. A quiet night was interrupted by hundreds introduced the band, the After of screaming rock fans as servicemembers message was clear. h e a r i n g went surfing over the heads of swaying “Thank you for our some of bodies. While many audience members freedom,” said Ryan the band’s happily sprayed water into the air, others McCombs, Drowning new music, threw their arms up high and cheered on a Pool’s lead singer. “Thank i n c l u d i n g live rock band. you for what you do! Are s o n g s Members of Drowning Pool performed we ready to have a good inspired by for a crowd of servicemembers and time tonight?” D r o w n i n g civilians at the Kellogg, Brown and Root During the next three P o o l ’ s Entertainment Stage at Camp Victory, Sept. hours, members of the first trip to 10. audience appeared to enjoy Kuwait and The concert took place during the band’s the concert. Iraq, Husack third tour dedicated to supporting U.S. “Everyone looked like said he has a troops. In the past few years, Drowning they were having a blast. new level of Pool band members traveled across areas I was surprised that the respect for of South Korea, Kuwait, Iraq and Germany crowd was treating this like them. to spread a message. any concert from home,” “Drowning During the performance, a message was said Spc. Jesse A. Husack, Pool has relayed to the troops. billeting assistant, 38th always been Drowning Pool played three hours for troops. my favorite Infantry Division band, (but) I think better of them now. After Support Command, hearing some of the new music they played, M u l t i - N a t i o n a l it made me realize how patriotic these guys Corps-Iraq. are,” said Husack. “They informed me that As servicemembers on the next album, they are going to have went crowd-surfing a couple of songs that they wrote for the and threw water in Soldiers.” celebration, they It was obvious, Husack said after yelled for band meeting the band, that these musicians members to play their respect servicemembers for what they’re most popular song, doing in Iraq. “Bodies.” “These guys went out of their way to “When the band make sure anyone who wanted a photo or played it, there tried to get something signed, got it,” he wasn’t a person not said. “Besides having great music, they A Soldier surfs the crowd during the Drowning Pool Concert, Sunday. During the jumping and singing have great hearts as well.” three-hour concert, the crowd yelled, crowd surfed and threw water yelling for the band to play their popular song, “Bodies.” along. They can put See Drowning Pool, Page 3

In today’s Victory Times:

Page 2: Ramadan: Islamic Sea- Page 3: Chaplain’s Corner, Page 5: Camp Victory Operating son of Devotion, Prayer Page 4: Military History Hours Page 2 Victory Times Sept. 14, 2006

Ramadan: Islamic Season of Devotion, Prayer Story by Col. Duncan Baugh profane words or gestures is strictly forbidden. Respect for MNC-I Deputy Chaplain these sensitivities will be greatly appreciated. After sundown, Muslim families celebrate with a large meal. It is customary Ramadan is the most sacred of all Islamic religious for families and friends to come together to share this meal. It observances. It is celebrated or observed by a month of fasting. is also likely that there will be an increase of pilgrims visiting Fasting is the third of the five pillars (guiding principles) of shrines and mosques. Islam. Muslim believers understand fasting as a process of Islamic history observes that this is a time of heightened purification, a means to attain the consciousness of Allah and religious sensitivities and a time for the special providence to guard against the schemes of Shaitan (Satan). of Allah. Not only was Ramadan the time which marked Muslims believe that Muhammad was visited by the Angel the receiving of the Qur’an, it has been a time of significant Gabriel in Ramadan 610 AD. This was the occasion where military successes. The Battle of Badr was fought in Ramadan, tradition reports that the initial verses of the Qur’an (Islam’s March 17, 624. This battle has been passed down in Islamic sacred scripture) were imparted to Muhammad. The Qur’an history as a decisive victory. The victory is attributed to divine makes observance of Ramadan obligatory. intervention and is often referred to as the first Jihad. The dates for the observance of Ramadan are determined The conquest of Mecca by Muhammad occurred during by the Lunar Calendar. The Lunar Calendar is based upon Ramadan 629. This victory was secured without a battle. 255 days rather than the 365 days associated with Western It resulted in the establishment of Mecca as Islam’s most calendars. As a result of the shorter cycle, the dates for sacred city. The Kaaba was purged of the offensive idols and Ramadan begin 11 days earlier each year. The start date for dedicated as Islam’s most holy site. Ramadan is determined locally through a combination of Other notable Islamic military successes occurred during astrological and eye witness methods. This year the dates are Ramadan to include the defeat of Roderick in Southern Spain on or about September 24 through October 23 . in 710 AD where forces of Islam maintained authority for 800 The essential practices of Ramadan are framed years. The crusaders were driven from Syria by Saladin in by observance of the fast from sunrise to sunset. The fast Ramadan 1178. The Mongols experienced their first decisive includes no food or water. The time is spent in prayer and defeat in Ramadan 1260. The Ramadan (Yom Kipper) War reading the Qur’an. The believer dedicates this time to Allah was launched in Ramadan, in 1973. This attack was named and Allah alone. Operation Badr commemorating the battle acknowledged as The most significant observance during Ramadan is the the first Jihad. Lailat-ul-Qadr’ (Night of Power). This night is believed to In more recent times, the first and five subsequent be the very night that the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad. Palestinian Intifadas (1987-1993) were launched during Muslims spend this night asking for forgiveness for their sins Ramadan. Al-Qaida’s attack on the US destroyer, The and reciting the Qur’an. Sullivans, in Yemen was on the Night of Power in 2000. The The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrates the end of the fast Al-Qaida attack on the U.S.S. Cole was conducted Ramadan, and the end of Ramadan. This festival lasts for three days 2000. and is exemplified by joyful celebration of enhanced piety, Though this is a time of heightened religious devotion moral victory, peace, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. This and dedication, a strong historical association with military celebration is the time for expressions to Allah for his help successes does not preclude faithful Muslims from viewing and strength. this time as a time in which Allah may smile upon their military When interacting with Muslims during this period, it is endeavors. Believing that this is a particularly providential important to be sensitive to this time of fasting and refrain from occasion for divine intervention, Muslims have historically eating, drinking or smoking in their presence. Because this is conducted some of their most successful and ambitious a time of heightened religious sensitivity, lying or the use of military operations during the month of Ramadan. Page 3 Victory Times Sept. 14, 2006 Chaplain’s corner The Lieutenant’s Success by Chap. (Maj.) Charles Herring evening in my devotions. The veteran Soldier had shared all the mission-essential information that resulted in his success Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not as a young leader of professional Soldiers. Reflecting on their be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will situation, I was reminded of another “Right Seat – Left Seat be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Ride” discussion between Joshua and God. Joshua had been the deputy commander until the death of There have been many new Soldiers lately on Camp Victory. Moses and had suddenly found himself in command of a difficult As some units end and others begin their missions, the “Right mission that involved the decisive conquest of a brutal and Seat – Left Seat Ride” is an important duo-phase requirement in powerful country. In order to succeed in his mission, Joshua the final transition and integration. During the “Right Seat Ride” listened as God told him three mission essential tasks: (1) Be the new Soldier figuratively and some times literally sits in the strong, (2) Be courageous and (3) Be not discouraged. The passenger seat to observe and begin familiarization with the day- mission demanded physical fitness (strength). It was not a mission to-day operations of the unit as the veteran shares his practical for a weakling. The mission demanded moral fitness (courage). knowledge and professional expertise. During the “Left Seat It could not succeed with a coward. The mission demanded Ride” the veteran Soldier sits in the passenger seat to observe intellectual fitness (intelligence). It would be doomed if he was and monitor the progress of his replacement. not sufficiently intelligent to conduct his risk management and One evening in the Coalition Café, I listened attentively as prepare a strategic battle assessment that would defeat the larger two young Lieutenants engaged in a Right Seat – Left Seat Ride and powerful armies. discussion. Both were deeply meshed in the process and it was The effectiveness for these three mission essential tasks was evident in their voices that they were electrified and charged by summed up in the last line of the famous “FRAGO” – “…for the the Soldiers they were to lead and have led. At the conclusion of Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This mission their discussion, I heard the veteran Lieutenant say, “Look, if you essential task list for strength, courage and intelligence has not forget everything I’ve said, remember ‘Be strong and courageous. been improved upon by any later FRAGO, and it is as necessary Don’t be scared; do not be discouraged, because God will be with today as it was to Joshua and the two young Lieutenants. you wherever you go.’” After all the professional wisdom had My prayer tonight is that my mission essential task list is been disclosed, the veteran shared some spiritual wisdom. found to be that of Joshua and two young Lieutenants in the I specifically prayed for both those young Lieutenants that Coalition Café.

Camp Victory Three-day Forecast

Friday Saturday Sunday

Sunny Sunny Sunny High: 104 F High: 104 F High: 104 F Low: 76 F Low: 75 F Low: 75 F

Drowning Pool “When (Drowning Pool members) first landed, I shook each and every one of their hands and let them know we appreciate it. In addition to motivating troops in Iraq, the band’s music This has been a blessing on both halves,” said Sgt. 1st Class Troy has been used in several motivational videos for the military. L. Dumes, MWR representative, 38th DISCOM, MNC-I. “They Drowning Pool is proud to support the military. really want to be here, and just for the sake of them coming over “That means the world to us; it’s the greatest feeling in the here, that speaks great credit on their part as Americans.” world,” said C.J. Pierce, vocalist and guitar player. “We love The concert lifted morale for Soldiers, Dumes said, playing for the troops. We’re thinking of them, and we appreciate and the morale boost may last for days. He expressed what they’re doing for us.” thanks to Drowning Pool for giving Soldiers an opportunity to Band members are not the only ones who appreciate the mentally get away from work, physically relax and enjoy the sacrifices that have been made. entertainment. Page 4 Victory Times Sept. 14, 2006

This Week in Military History with Lt. Tom Lewis, Australian Forces If you’re Airborne, this is not a good memory. Sixty two years ago this week, on 17 September 1944, the ambitious WWII Operation Market Garden was launched. It dropped thousands of paratroopers behind enemy lines in Europe to secure bridges in Holland. Their aim: to allow Allied armies to advance north into Germany, bypassing the Siegfried Line, a massive German ob- stacle. The war, it was thought, would be over by Christmas. The invasion of Europe which had started with D-Day in June 1944 was not going well. Allied armies were hampered in their ad- vance by a severe lack of fuel and reliance on too few ports in which supplies could be landed. The Germans were attacking Britain with the fearsome V2 rocket, which remotely crossed the Channel and detonated on target in southern cities. Market Garden was conceived to make a single thrust into Germany rather than a joint eastern assault as had been planned. With Market referring to the airborne element, and Garden to the ground troops, a combined drop was planned consisting of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, British 1st Airborne Division, and the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade. On 17 September, 1, 500 aircraft rocketed and strafed enemy troops in the area. Pathfinding paratroopers were dropped to mark landing fields. Nearly 14, 000 troops were brought in over three days by gliders, parachute, and aeroplanes. Gliders brought in 1,689 vehicles, 290 howitzers and 1,259 tons of ammunition and other supplies. The Germans were completely surprised by the assault, but they rallied quickly. The Allies’ targets were eight water obstacles such as rivers and canals. Although initial success was encouraging and the ground units of ‘Garden’ advanced in good order, the Ger- mans’ effective fighting defence, and a lack of speed and finer planning on the part of the Allies, meant the operation became less effective as it advanced over six days. As the film A Bridge Too Far shows with fair accuracy, the operation was too ambitious. Finally, faced with an effective defence at the last target bridge on the Rhine river, the whole assault ground to a halt. After 10 days of savage fighting the operation ended with what was left of the 1st British Airborne Division evacuated from the drop area. Allied casualties numbered around 18, 000 to the Germans’ 13, 000 and the final result was failure. Did you know…the history of who made the first parachute jump is confused, but it is well-established that in WWI ‘chutes were only used by German airplane pilots – the Allies did not establish the practice. However, both sides equipped their balloon observers with parachutes. The balloons – used mainly for artillery spotting – were particularly targeted as they markedly increased the guns’ accuracy, and so they were well-defended by ground fire. This hazard had to be braved by any attacking aircraft, and inevitibly they would target the observers, even under their parachutes, as the availability of trained personnel was far less than a new balloon. Page 5 Victory Times Sept. 14, 2006

Operating hours

Coalition Cafe Breakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m. Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dinner 5:30 - 8 p.m. Midnight Dining 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Sports Oasis Breakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m. Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dinner 5 - 9 p.m. Shopette Open 24 Hours Camp Liberty Post Exchange Everyday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fitness Center Open 24 Hours Post Office Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday 1 - 5 p.m. Golby Troop Medical Clinic Sick Call Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - noon Dental Sick Call: Monday - Friday 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Saturday 9 - 10:30 a.m. Mental Health Clinic: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - noon Post Deployment Health Briefings: Monday - Friday 1 p.m. Pharmacy: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon, 1 - 4:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 7:30 a.m. - noon Legal Assistance/Claims Saturday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Personnel Service Support Centers Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. ID Cards Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Worship Opportunities

Victory Chapel (Bldg. 31) Friday: Jumu’ah (Islamic Prayer) 1 pm Sunday: Traditional Protestant Service 7 am – 8:45 am Roman Catholic Confession 10 am Roman Catholic Mass 10:30 am Gospel Protestant Service 12 pm Latter Day Saints Service 2 pm Episcopal/Lutheran Service 4 pm Contemporary Protestant Service 6 pm Submit letters from home Saturday: 7th Day Adventist Service 11 am Is your loved one deployed in support of Multi-National Corps-Iraq? Would you like to write him or her a Roman Catholic Mass 8 pm message in the Victory Times? Send messages, three to four lines of text to [email protected]. Ensure to include Soldiers name, rank, and unit. Mini-Chapel (Bldg. 2) Church of Christ Worship Service 3 pm Monday – Friday Roman Catholic Service 4 pm Friday Victory Times welcomes columns, commentaries, articles and letters from our readers. Send submissions Jewish Service 6:30 pm Sunday or comments to [email protected]. Church of Christ 3 pm Latter Day Saints Service 7:30 pm We reserve the right to edit for security, accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

New Location For Army National Guard MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli Retention Office MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Michelle L. Martin-Hing MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Paul J. Stevenson MNC-I Command Info Chief: Sgt. 1st Class Laurence R. Lang NOW LOCATED IN AREA 51 GO INTO AREA 51 PAST FUEL POINT MNC-I Production Chief: Staff Sgt. Jason B. Baker TURN LEFT AT BUS STOP Layout/Design: Spc. Curt Squires GO THROUGH FENCE ON LEFT SIDE OF MWR LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM PBO Victory Times Staff writers/ photographers: Sgt. Brian James Anderson, TRAILER 51TR8 Spc. Curt Squires, Spc. James P. Hunter, Cpl. Jessica Kent, Spc. Sean Finch

STOP BY AND CHECK OUT YOUR OPTIONS Sgt. 1st Class JOHN GRAY, THEATER RETENTION NCO Victory Times is an authorized electronic publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of this electronic publication are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office of Multi-National Corps Iraq.