TF Summit Soldiers 'bring it' to Riyadh, Iraq

Photo By Staff Sgt. Margaret Nelson | Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment entertain the winning Sons of Iraq...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. Margaret Nelson | Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment entertain the winning Sons of Iraq soccer team of Riyadh with a victory dance following their, 4-1, defeat. This was the second loss for the Summit team who are undertaking a five-game series, playing various teams through out the Hawijah District in an attempt to demonstrate, "the human-side of the U.S. Soldier - the non-combatant," Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1-87, said. The team lost to a Mahus team last week, 6-1.  see less | View Image Page

IRAQ

06.27.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Margaret Nelson 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

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By Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

HAWIJAH, Iraq – A different battle occurred on June 11 in northeastern Iraq, one that lent unconventional methods in an unconventional war.

In this military operation, no body armor was necessary and no shots were fired. The goal; 'friendship' – and, scoring a few, for the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division in a game of soccer against a team of Son's of Iraq members in Riyadh, Iraq.

This was the second game in a five-game series for Task Force Summit Soldiers in an attempt to show the populace of the Hawijah district, "the human-side of the U.S. Soldier - the non-combatant," Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1-87, said.

Although their attempts were "valiant" and a solitary goal was scored, the Iraqi team showed the coalition force team that soccer is 'their' national sport and they dominated throughout. "We've improved since last week," Vanek said. "We are definitely getting better." Vanek is comparing the efforts of his mens' attempts the previous week in Mahus were they lost to another team, 6-1.

The 1-87 Commander's aspiration for the non-lethal approach to his battle space is convincing, when Ali, 14, visiting his uncle from Zaab, a western sub district of Hawijah, said that he liked the game because this was the first time he had seen American Soldiers out of uniform on a soccer field "trying" to play soccer with Iraqis.

"I've never spoken to a U.S. Soldier before and now I see them playing soccer with us. They are trying to get to know us. I think that is good and they are very nice," he said.

Over 500 locals attended the event.

The Hawijah District has seen a 90 percent decrease in violent attacks against its populace, security forces, and the CF since December. Although violence has struck home with the loss of three 1-87 Soldiers here in recent weeks, efforts such as these continue.

"I was torn," Vanek said about the decision to continue with the match. "Are we sending the wrong message?" The 1-87 commander said his concerns were quelled by the Soldiers themselves. "They decided that the best way to honor the memory of our fallen, is to show the enemy that our mission continues ... they cannot stop our efforts and those of the citizens of this region to establish stability and peace in this region."

The sacrifices of TF Summit and the gains they have established for the people of this region, in terms of stability and security, are not lost on those attending the match as the remnants of a youth center destroyed by Al Qaida in Iraq seven months earlier, is testament to this once contentious area where, "we did not play so much soccer because it was dangerous and we were afraid," Mohammad, 24, a Riyadh Sons of Iraq member pulling security at the event said.

"The terrorists blew our youth center up so that we could not meet as a community there and killed many of our people," he said. "The Americans want to bring us together, help us. And they have brought peace and security back to our city."

For the 1-87 Soldier who scored the TF's only goal, "the first game was the ice breaker," Spec. Brian Smith, 3rd Platoon, Company Alpha said. "I couldn't believe it when they said we were going to be playing our second game in Riyadh. "

Smith experienced his first fire-fight there in December.

"If you had asked me back then if I would be playing soccer here and on top of that without body-armor – I would have thought you were crazy," he said.

The 20-year-old Soldier on his first tour in Iraq, said that he was skeptical about security returning to this area until he witnessed first-hand the results of the efforts of the men and women of TF Summit.

"I'm convinced after seeing the changes here since my last visit, that we are accomplishing our mission and bringing a positive change to this area," he said.

Although the Soldiers who made up the soccer team were clad only in the Army's Physical Training uniforms, minus body armor, security was still a concern with snipers strategically placed on the ground and armed Soldiers with their ISF counterparts and member of the Sons of Iraq visible in all directions.

"It's a risk for everyone involved as it is still executed as a military operation with all the security aspects in-place," Vanek said. "We've taken every precaution necessary to ensure a successful mission. And I believe it was successful."