Troops’ Help Calm Southern Kentucky Army National Soldier in Heroic Battle Ghazaliya Violence Guard Making a Difference Receives Silver Star at Al Rasul School Page 14 Page 23 Page 24 Volume I, Issue 12 “Telling the MND-Baghdad Story” Monday, May 14, 2007 (U.S. Army photo) Iraqi Army troops from the 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division stand over munitions and explosives lined up for inventory following a weapons cache discovery in a northwest Baghdad neighborhood April 26. Iraqi-Led Mission Nets Large Cache Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs BAGHDAD – Iraqi troops from the 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, together with a military tran- sition team from the Multi-National Division - Baghdad discovered a large weapons cache in Baghdad’s Ghazaliya district April 26. The Iraqi troops acted on a tip and found the cache in the Shulla neighborhood, in the northwestern portion (Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel McClinton, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade) of the Iraqi capital. Following a cordon and search of the area, the Iraqi Sky Warriors troops found 127 mortar rounds, more than 200 pounds of TNT, 10,000 PKC rounds, 10 mortar tubes, 15 hand An AH-64D Apache helicopter fires flares as it conducts an air mission April 29 over in the Multi-National grenades, 13 rifles, including two M16s, 150 fuses and Division - Baghdad area of operation. The Apache is from the 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation three anti-tank mines. Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Camp Taji, Iraq. The Iraqi Army troops also detained seven suspect- ed insurgents in the operation. Baghdad’s Safe Neighborhoods Explained By Master Sgt. Dave Larsen barriers have been emplaced. Campbell noted Bagdad’s ened violence, and we’re protecting some of those communi- 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs International Zone and some Baghdad market places have ties with walls. already been encircled by the concrete barriers. He pointed to “Where they exist, we consult with the area district advi- CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Concrete barrier walls will out- a recent bombing outside of a Baghdad market where the bar- sory councils and neighborhood advisory councils,” line selected neighborhoods around Baghdad in an attempt to riers saved lives. Campbell continued. “We work in conjunction with them. help protect the Iraqi population from terrorists, a senior U.S. “Without those barriers, many more lives would have They represent the people of those neighborhoods. military leader in Baghdad said today. been lost,” Campbell said. Joint Security Stations, combat outposts and security “The intent is not to divide the city along sectarian lines,” He said protecting the population is the primary reason patrols continue operating around-the-clock in the Iraqi cap- said Brig. Gen. John F. Campbell, Multi-National Division – behind the concrete barrier emplacements, but added that ital, Campbell said. Placing barriers around troubled neigh- Baghdad’s deputy commanding general. “The intent is to pro- decision to construct protective barriers is just one of many borhoods is simply one more option. There are always les- vide a more secured neighborhood for people who live in security options available. The decision to emplace the bar- sons to be learned, he said. selected neighborhoods. Some of the people who I’ve talked riers is a cooperative one. “We’ll learn from the ones we’re putting in and we’ll to have had favorable comments about it, and they want us to “It’s based on the ground commander working with Iraqi adjust, as necessary,” Campbell said. “We’ll take feedback build some of them faster.” Campbell said several more gated security forces and also working with the community in those from the local communities. If we find that they’re not doing communities are being erected in the Iraqi capital. different neighborhoods,” Campbell said. “We’ve selected what they’re intended to do, we’ll certainly move them. We’ll He said troubled neighborhoods aren’t the only places communities that have seen an increase in violence, a height- add where we have to.” Page 2 News May 14, 2007 “There’s No Place Like Home” Kansas Soldiers Reach Out to Iraqi Community By Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma a pair of sneakers for an Iraqi child. 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs The collaboration of all the people, back home and here in the Iraqi capital, resulted in BAGHDAD – Although the Emerald two tons worth of donations. City gates and a yellow brick road are Pederson said that he knows that people, nowhere to be found, these “Sunflower companies and corporations back home want State” Soldiers are definitely not in Kansas to help. Whether it’s during a hurricane dis- anymore. aster or tsunami, the American people are With family and friends back home known for their generosity and compassion, wanting to help the cause and the Iraqi peo- he said. ple needing so much help, one Topeka, Kan., “Through our (radio) drive, the first Army National Guard unit stepped up to the donation we got was an anonymous donor. plate and killed two birds with one stone with He walked up to the disc jockey and rolled Operation Ruby Slippers. out five $100 bills and said, ‘This is for the “Operation Ruby Slippers is a result of Soldiers. I didn’t know what to get, but take being outside in the battle space and recog- this money and go buy what they need for the nizing the humanitarian aid piece with the Iraqi people,’” Pederson said. Iraqi people that isn’t being provided right Despite all the generosity, one challenge now,” said Lt. Col. Kirk Pederson, a civil still stands in their way. affairs officer with Headquarters and “We are having difficulty via the Headquarters Battery, 130th Field Artillery requirements of the Denton Amendment, get- Brigade. ting an Iraqi custodian to accept the dona- Pederson said that taking his brigade (Courtesy Photo) tions and acquire the customs approval in Iraq,” Pederson said. commander out to the Civil Military An Iraqi civilian talks to a Kansas Army National Guard Soldier about picking Although many people have pulled Operations Center, a place where Iraqis can up the donated basic medical supplies April 9. come get medical treatment and pick up together to get this humanitarian aid project some supplies, is what tipped the scales bandages, wraps – the essentials for the from our family and friends and neighbors rolling, it will cost an estimated $20,000 to toward starting up the operation. basic first aid kit – to clothing and school from back home, its all welcomed with open privately ship the rest of the donated items “It was that experience and that interac- supplies. arms and sincerity by the local leaders that from Kansas to Iraq. tion with the Iraqi people and the children Pederson added that they will be deliver- we get it to,” Pederson said. “The local lead- Pederson said he knew that getting that made us say, ‘We need to do some- ing these donations directly to the Iraqi peo- ers can make sure the right people in their donations - because they’re National Guard, thing,’” said the Shawnee, Kan., native. ple who need it most. neighborhood get what they need.” because they’re military and because they’re The operation asked for the surrounding “Whether its soccer balls, pencils, Contributions have been as big as pro- family - would be the easy part. communities of Topeka to donate everything school supplies or doing a medical operation viding the warehouse holding area for all the “Now,” he said, “it’s about getting it from over-the-counter medicines, tape, where we augmented with supplies given things being donated or as small as donating from Point A to Point B.” Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr. Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl Command Information Supervisor: Master Sgt. Dave Larsen Print NCOIC: Sgt. Michael Garrett Editor: Sgt. Nicole Kojetin Contributing Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Timmons, Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Conner, Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert, Sgt. Jon Cupp, Sgt. Mike Pryor, Sgt. Robert Yde, Sgt. Robert Strain, Spc. Alexis Harrison, Spc. Nathan Hoskins, Spc. Shea Butler, Spc. L.B. Edgar, Spc. Ryan Stroud, Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma, Spc. Alexis Harrison, Spc. Courtney Marulli, Pfc. William Hatton, Pfc. Benjamin Gable, Pfc. Ben Fox, Pfc. Nathaniel Smith Contact Crossed Sabers at VOIP 242- (Photos by Sgt. Robert Yde, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) 4093, or DSN 318-847-1855 or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]. Georgian Defense Minister Visits Crossed Sabers is an authorized publica- tion for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of Crossed Sabers are not nec- (Above) David Kezerashvili (left), the Georgian Defense Minister and essarily official views of, or endorsed by, Col. Zaza Gogava (second from left), the Chief of Defense tour Forward the U.S. Government, Department of Operating Base Union I in central Baghdad, which houses the 33rd Defense, Department of the Army or the First Cavalry Division. All editorial content Light Infantry Battalion of the Georgian Army, during a visit to the Iraqi of Crossed Sabers is prepared, edited, capital April 26. (Right) Georgian Defense Minister David Kezerashvili provided and approved by the 1st Cavalry (front) tours the facilities of Forward Operating Base Union I, which Division Public Affairs Office and posted houses the 33rd Light Infantry Battalion of the Georgian Army, during on the First Team website at www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/. a visit to Baghdad April 26. May 14, 2007 News Page 3 Baghdad News Briefs Efforts Against Extremists Continue By Master Sgt.