Strike Brigade Uncases Colors, Takes Control of Northwest Baghdad, Pg. 4 Page 2 Commander’S Voice the Heart Beat Page 3 CSM Call the Heart Beat
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The H2nd Brigadeeart Combat Team, 101st AirborneB Divisioneat (Air Assault) Volume III, Issue 2 Dec. 2007 Strike brigade uncases colors, takes control of northwest Baghdad, pg. 4 Page 2 Commander’s Voice The Heart Beat Page 3 CSM Call The Heart Beat rather spent Thanksgiving at home with ian volunteers as well as many other attached units are doing. tions possibly affecting other patrols. The Strike 6 family and friends, we enjoyed our areas has made a significant impact At all levels, people seem to be comfort- decision to drive against traffic should be Thanksgiving here in Baghdad. It was and dramatically reduced the violence Strike 7 able with how events are unfolding in Bagh- deliberate and calculated (the exception not a time to reflect and give thanks for the from previous levels. The landscape dad. I, for one, am extremely pleased with the rule). wonderful support we have received here in west Baghdad has markedly the current situation. We all need to under- We also pull out in front of on-coming from friends and families back home. improved and I anticipate more vis- stand this is like “Driving on Ice.” traffic. There are many times it would be Since assuming responsibility on the ible change in the future. It doesn’t take long for things to go bad prudent to wait for traffic to pass your pa- 17th of November we have been busy Visible progress has been made under any conditions. There are a couple trol before moving into another lane. When learning about the area, assessing the in many areas. We all anticipate the things we can do for ourselves to insure we we pull into traffic we have to know the security situation and meeting with strengthening of local councils and make continued progress. on-coming vehicles see us. The best way many Iraqis here in west Baghdad. The eventual elections to bridge to a new First every Soldier needs to understand to do this is to look into the drivers eyes, or Soldiers of this brigade have done an and better environment for Iraqis to escalation of force procedures. It is absolute- look at the tires to ensure they have stopped excellent job and I appreciate the effort raise their families and prosper. We ly necessary that every Soldier understands rotating. This will limit the possibility of shown by all. In typical Strike fash- will continue to work closely with how to determine if they are being threat- traffic accidents as well as limit the need ion we have hit the ground running and the leadership here to support them in ened. for your gunners to cycle through the EOF I am certain we will continue to excel achieving normalcy. Across the Division there are between six procedures. during our deployment here. I believe You should all be proud of your and twelve EOF incidents weekly that result I am thankful for all of the great Sol- the Iraqi people just want peace and Soldiers here, they are performing in Iraqi civilians being killed or seriously in- diers in this task force. Showing the popula- normalcy for their families. We will wonderfully in this environment. We jured. One of the leading causes of an EOF tion respect is not a sign of weakness. This partner with the people here and do appreciate all the support from fami- Col. William B. Hickman Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder are patrols driving like it’s 2003. is our strength. When the occasion comes what we can to support them in achiev- lies and friends at home. The support We increase the probability of having an to confront our enemies, I expect you to Strike Soldiers and families, ing a better future. you provide truly does make a differ- Everything is going great. I am proud of EOF incident by driving against traffic. We confront, and pursue them relentlessly. I would like to wish everyone the I would like to bid farewell to the ence in the mission here. what the 2nd Brigade Combat Team and its also create traffic problems in both direc- Strike and Kill. best this holiday season. Our thoughts Soldiers of 2-12 Cavalry, they served and prayers are with our loved ones honorably and have set 1-75 Cavalry up Happy Holidays! always and especially during this time for success. Their effort with the Iraqi Strike brigade delivers payments to Iraqis for claims of year. Although we would have Security Forces and Ghazaliyah Guard- Strike! Story by paid nearly $1.2 million during its rotation. Sgt. James P. Hunter Working beside the U.S. troops are five local nationals, who work The eart eat 2nd BCT PAO out of the CMOC, and deal directly with the Iraqi making compensa- H 2nd Brigade CombatB Team In this issue of the Heart Beat 101st Airborne Division tion claims. Commander’s Voice Pg. 2 The Iraqi workers are the first to meet with the claimants, said Hoop- FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAWK, Iraq— When an Iraqi er. They are the facilitators, the intake officers, who provide all the in- Col. William B. Hickman Sergeant Major’s Call Pg. 3 Commander local national is injured, or his home or property is damaged by Ameri- formation to the forward claims commissioner. These workers are in Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder Brigade pays legal claims Pg. 3 can forces operating in sector, they can fill out an Iraqi Claims Card to contact with each claimant, making arrangements with them for when CSM receive compensation for their damages. they can come in to pick up their compensation. Maj. Jose F. Garcia TOA ceremony Pg. 4 Traveling from as far as 250 kilometers, local nationals come to the They have been working within this system for quite some time, and Public Affairs Officer Civil Military Operations Center on Forward Operating Base Hawk to know all the right information needed for a claim, and even know which Sgt. Paul Monroe Officer reflects on deployment Pg. 6 receive money for their compensation. Public Affairs NCOIC claims are going to get approved or denied. On Nov. 28, the legal office of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Laiyla, an Iraqi worker at the CMOC who works compensation Sgt. James P. Hunter 1-75 Cav. continues security Pg. 7 Editor Airborne Division (Air Assault), paid out $18,000 in compensation claims, said nearly 40-50 Iraqis come in weekly for compensation claims to Iraqis at the CMOC on FOB Hawk. Submissions: Pvt. Johnny Bishop Pg. 10 claims. To submit stories, photographs, editorials, comments and sugges Capt. Garrett Hooper, trial counselor and foreign claims commis- Laiyla, who is originally from Ameriyah, feels like she is giving tions, contact Sgt. James P. Hunter at [email protected]. Purrfect Angelz visit troops Pg. 14 Please include rank, first and last name, job title, unit and phone sioner, with the 2nd BCT, said any Iraqi who receives damage to their back to her country. number. Mechanics hard at work Pg. 15 home, family or property can come to the CMOC and make a claim. “I feel like I am doing something for the people; for my country,” The Heart Beat is an authorized publication for members of the “Ideally what happens is if an Iraqi gets into a situation where there she said strongly. Department of Defense. Contents of The Heart Beat are not necc- essarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government Three insurgents put out of work Pg. 17 property is destroyed, their home is damaged, their car is destroyed, (the Most of the local nationals who come through are very emotional, or the Department of Defense. unit causing the damage) give them a claims card,” Hooper, a native of said Laiyla, with tears in their eyes. Eagle STRIKE!!! Thanksgiving photos Pg. 24 Montgomery, Ala., said. But are these tears of truth? Not in every case. 2nd Brigade Combat Team -- “Strike” When a person comes in with this card, the legal office begins by One woman comes in weekly, trying to seek compensation. But the investigating the claim and contacting the unit who issued the card for problem is does not have a claim on file, nor has she filled one out. She verification, said Staff Sgt. Cristopher Hess, noncommissioned officer- is very aggressive in her manner, trying to receive money, most likely Pfc. Cezar Cocu, right, infantryman and native from Whiteplains, N.Y., and in-charge and pay agent. Once the claim is verified, the Iraqi can be paid to help feed her family. Staff Sgt. Danny Chappell, team leader from Timmonsville, S.C., both with 1st for any negligence the troops engaged in to cause this damage. In some cases, however, the emotions are real. Platoon,Company C, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, pull security while patrolling in northwest Baghdad, Nov. 20. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Thus far, the Strike Brigade has paid early $50,000 in compensation Hess remembers a lady from his last tour to Iraq. She lost both her Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs) claims. The unit the brigade replaced, 2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division, see CLAIMS, pg. 16 Page 4 The Heart Beat The Heart Beat Page 5 The Heart Beat The Heart Beat Strike brigade takes control of northwest Baghdad Strike personal security detachment: Story, photo by Security Forces and brave Iraqi citizens As the Strike Brigade assumes respon- Sgt. James P. Hunter who have delivered an opening for endur- sibility of operations in northwest Bagh- Trained, Ready and Proficient 2nd BCT PAO ing victory and a future where Iraqis are dad, they will not measured by religious sect or special have four group affiliation,” Burton said.