Established in 1917 to honor those who serve Vol. 1, No. 18 MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD “steadfast and loyal” september 17, 2006 Iraqi contractors Together Forward Chaplain shares reunion, contribute to local IA, MND-B Soldiers provide reintegration tips for security, development medical relief in Ghazaliyah redeployment Page 6 Page 12 Page 21 FINPs, ORGINGStryker Brigade Soldiers continue securityA operationsHEAD in Adhamiyah BAGHDAD – Staff Sgt. Patty Arnold-Carney, a truck driver with 172nd Stryker Brigade Support Battalion, searches a greenhouse in the northern sector of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah neighborhood Aug. 29 with 1st Platoon, Troop A, 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. Carney worked with the platoon in case a female terrorist suspect needed to be searched during the operation to rid the area of terrorists and weapons caches. Story and photo by Sgt. Kristin Kemplin as part of Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 363rd MPAD Operation Together Forward. This Week BAGHDAD – It marked the third day in a row the Soldiers of n the early morning hours Aug. 29, Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Troop A, 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Movie show times 17 MWR Calendars 17 Multi-National Division –Baghdad’s 172nd Regiment, 172nd SBCT, and members of the Iraqi Cartoon Corner 22 Religious Services 20 Stryker Brigade Combat Team piled into heav- National Police patrolled the neighborhood, which Faces & Places 24 Sports Round Up 23 ily-armored vehicles and rolled into a cordoned is located on the outskirts of an Iraqi National I see STRYKER, pg. 15 section of Baghdad to continue clearing operations Page 2 The Ivy Leaf september 17, 2006 NEWS FROM THE FRONT INP, MND-B Forces The ISF independently set up throughout the three provinces “The security operations of Together Forward, after conduct combined and operated checkpoints thwarted several terrorist attacks, this event are another shining receiving a tip from a con- security operations in throughout the Babil, Karbala and seized several large weapons example of the increasing capa- cerned Iraqi citizen. The tip led Najaf provinces, ensuring the caches and detained multiple ter- bilities of the Iraqi Security Soldiers from 1st Battalion, support of Operation safe passage of the pilgrims rorist suspects. Forces as they take on more 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Together Forward moving to Karbala for the cele- The security forces seized 111 responsibility for the safety and Stryker Brigade Combat Team, BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security bration. AK-47 assault rifles, 302 hand security of their countrymen,” to a school where terrorists Forces, supported by Multi- “The success of the Shabani grenades, 17 pistols, four RPK said Elledge. were hiding three rocket-pro- National Division – Baghdad highlights the continued progress rifles, three PKC machineguns, (Courtesy of MND-B PAO) pelled grenade rounds, three Soldiers, continued security oper- of not only the coordinated efforts three rocket-propelled grenade RPG launchers, five 60mm ations in support of Operation of the security forces within the launchers, 20 sets of body armor, MND-B Soldiers expel mortar rounds, a 60mm mortar Together Forward into a new area provinces of Karbala, Babil and and detained 25 suspected terror- terrorists from Dora tube, a 125mm rocket, two as part of current efforts to Najaf, but the coordinated effort ists. school, seize cache 107mm rocket, a PKC machine- increase security and reinforce of the three provinces combined,” Along with Ashura and BAGHDAD – Multi-National gun, multiple small-arms peace throughout the Baghdad said Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge, Arba’een earlier this year, tens of Division – Baghdad Soldiers weapons with ammunition and area Sept. 10. executive officer, 2nd Brigade millions of Iraqis have been able seized of a cache containing various bomb-making materials. The 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Combat Team, 4th Infantry to celebrate and practice their weapons and munitions Aug. 27 Four male suspects were National Police Division, work- Division. religious beliefs without harm in Dora, a muhalla in southern detained from the cache site. ing with Soldiers from 2nd The ISF manning checkpoints throughout Baghdad and Iraq. Baghdad, during Operation (Courtesy of MND-B PAO) Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is conducting 24-hour operations to enhance security and disrupt ter- rorist activity in Baghdad's south- ern neighborhoods of Bay'aa and Risala of the al-Bay’aa beladiya during the first day of the opera- tions. The National Police and MND-B Soldiers will search homes for illegal weapons and register private weapons for fam- ilies who are using them for home protection in accordance with the Iraqi law. As part of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's immediate mandate to restore peace to the city, Operation Together Forward involves more than 40,000 Iraqi Security Forces and approxi- mately 8,000 Coalition Forces, making it one of the largest secu- rity operations in Baghdad since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. (Courtesy of 4th BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.) ISF provides security for millions of Iraqi citizens during 12th Imam celebration BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces successfully provided Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div. security for more than four mil- MND-B Soldiers provide free medical checkups for Iraqi citizens lion Shiite pilgrims Sept. 8-9 dur- MND-B Soldiers provide free medical checkups for Iraqi citizens ing the celebration of the birth of CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Pvt. Nicole Manley, medic, Company C, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, the Shabani, or 12th Imam, in checks the ears of a young Iraqi girl for an ear infection Sept. 2 at a medical operation in Sheik Hamid Village north of Baghdad. Baghdad’s Karbala province. Public Affairs Supervisor: 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. tute endorsement by the Department of the 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Div. Army, the 4th Infantry Division, or The Ivy Master Sgt. Eric Lobsinger 2nd BCT, 1st Armor Div. Leaf of the products and services adver- 3rd Heavy BCT, 4th Inf. Div. tised. All editorial content of The Ivy Leaf Editor 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div. is prepared, edited, provided and Sgt. 1st Class Mary Mott 4th BCT, 101st Airborne Div. Combat Aviation Bde., 4th Inf. Div. approved by the Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs Office. Multi-National Division – Baghdad Layout, Design and Photo Editor Fires Bde., 4th Inf. Div. Spc. Rodney Foliente 16th Engineer Bde. Public Affairs Office Sustainment Bde., 4th Inf. Div. Do you have a story to share? Staff Writers 172nd Stryker Bde. The Ivy Leaf welcomes columns, commen- Staff Sgt. Kevin Lovel taries, articles, letters and photos from Commanding General: Sgt. Kristin Kemplin The Ivy Leaf is an authorized publication readers. Submissions should be sent to the Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman Sgt. Brandon LeFlore for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of Editor at [email protected]. and Spc. Jason Thompson The Ivy Leaf are not necessarily official include author’s name, rank, unit and con- Division Command Sergeant Major: views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. tact information. The Ivy Leaf reserves the The Ivy Leaf is produced by the right to edit submissions selected for the Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling 363rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Government, Department of the Army, or United States Army Reserve the 4th Infantry Division. The Ivy Leaf has paper. For further information on dead- a circulation of 10,000. The appearance of lines, questions, comments or a request to Public Affairs Officer: Contributing Units advertising in this publication, including be on our distribution list, email the Editor Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. inserts or supplements, does not consti- or call VoIP 242-4464 or DSN (318) 847-1913. September 17, 2006 The Ivy Leaf page 3 BAGHDAD – Col. Michael Shields, commander, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, listens to the concerns of a resident of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah neighborhood Sept. 2. Shields, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, 4th Infantry Division, and Soldiers from the 172nd SBCT, walked along the streets of Adhamiyah and met with local citizens to discern and gauge the needs of the people. DAC, MND-B Soldiers provide humanitarian assistance to residents of Adhamiyah Story and photos by Operation Together Forward in we’re here to help them,” said Capt. dents of the neighborhood to discuss safe- Sgt. Brandon LeFlore Adhamiyah Sept. 2. Andrew Corbin, a native of Austin, Texas, ty, street cleaning and any other needs 363rd MPAD Only days after Iraqi army and MND- and civil affairs team leader with 414th identified by the community. BAGHDAD – B Soldiers cleared the area, the 414th CA CA Bn. “All the people I’ve talked to in he District Advisory Council of Bn. set up a civil military operations cen- The DAC and Soldiers from the battal- Adhamiyah say they like the security Adhamiyah and Multi-National ter in Adhamiyah to bring local leaders ion contracted with area vendors to pro- that’s been established,” said Shields. Division – Baghdad Soldiers and military officials together to discuss vide more than 15 generators to local “We’d like to build on that.” Tfrom the 414th Civil Affairs the needs of the people while members of leaders, school headmasters and business Residents of Adhamiyah came out in Battalion provided humanitarian assis- the DAC handed out generators and food. owners as well as more than 3,000 bags of large numbers, filling the streets for an tance to Iraqi families in support of “We’re showing the Iraqi people that food to families in the Adhamiyah district. opportunity to talk to Shields, 172nd “We’re giving out food to those who SBCT Soldiers, and Command Sgt.