Photo By Spc. Alexis Harrison | Sgt. 1st Class Andre Bundick, a Painter, Va., native with Troop A, 4th Squadron 9th...... read more read more
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by Spc. Alexis Harrison
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – Keeping the balance between being a force to be reckoned with and being a symbol of peace and prosperity can be a difficult task. For many of today's Soldiers in Iraq, it's not part of the game, it is the game.
Soldiers from Troop A, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have been walking that proverbial tightrope while patrolling the streets of the Iraqi capital's Karkh District.
Not only are they charged with being keepers of the peace, they also know they must be a part of the everyday lives of those living where they patrol.
The platoon of infantrymen permanently embedded into the structure of "Apache" Troop admit they know how important it is to dismount their vehicles for a walk around one of the many central Baghdad neighborhoods they keep secure and get face to face with the people who count on them for so much.
Recently, the troop commander, Capt. Joseph Guzowski, returned after suffering an injury that took him away from the fight for almost three months. He immediately went back to work after thanking his leaders for performing so well under such averse conditions.
While on the ground with his troops, he and members of the Neighborhood Advisory Council took time to visit a couple schools in the area to see the progress being made. The renovations were complete in one and just beginning in the other, and according to Guzowski, it's a sign of the times.
"We have one of the safest sectors in all of Baghdad. There are several national police checkpoints in the area; the Iraqi army has an entire battalion working here and we also have a constant presence in the area," he said. "The [Neighborhood Advisory Council] has really stepped it up since the security has improved."
Guzowski said that security is everything to the NAC council members. They freely travel to sites of reconstruction and help provide vital insight into what's happening in their community.
Two main examples of the council's efforts can be seen in the school renovation projects that will allow the children in the area to go back to school.
One project is complete and the school will reopen in a matter of days. The other has just begun construction to totally renovate the school inside and out.
"We're all kids at heart," said Sgt. 1st Class Andre Bundick, the mortar platoon's top non-commissioned officer. "We're here to help these people and also show them what the future may bring."
These were soft words spoken from a hardened infantryman, who, last time he was in Iraq, found himself raining steel down on the enemy. Bundick and Guzowski admit that they have the ability to change gears from lethal force to humanitarian at a moment's notice. While sustaining security in the area is a top priority, treating the kids to a little sweet stuff is always their pleasure.
Almost every mission they go on, they bring with them boxes of toys and candy to hand out to kids. Their supply of sweets seems to never run out, thanks to one Soldier and his wife.
Spc. Greg Russell was talking with his wife, Melissa, one day and she asked if there was something she could do to help the people in her husband's area out.
She got together with some of the people she worked with and set up donation boxes to gather candy and toys to ship to Russell and the troop to hand out on their patrols.
Russell was rather surprised when he started to get boxes filled with gum, taffy and candy weighing more than 40 pounds. Russell said that the kids they give it to have mixed reactions about getting all the sweet stuff.
"They really don't know how to react sometimes," he said. "The girls are really shy and we have to get through the crowd to give them something. All the kids seem very thankful to be getting something."
According to Guzowski, the kids are thankful for not only candy, but for the schools opening up, too. He said that many kids he talks to are excited about going to school. For the kids, it's something they've never had a true opportunity to do.
Guzowski chuckles when he thinks of American kids dreading school, but Iraqi kids are so curious and willing.
"There are approximately 25,000 people living in this small, concentrated area," he said. "Hopefully, this all makes a difference."
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2007 14:53 |
| Story ID: | 12038 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 401 |
| Downloads: | 378 |
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