IA assumes control of Patrol Base Shanghai

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy | Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Jassim Muhammad Hassen Al Frejee, 17th Iraqi Army Division commander, and Col. Dominic Caraccilo, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, salute during the playing of the national anthems for the United States and Iraq during a transition ceremony at Patrol Base Shanghai, Sept. 30, 2008.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.30.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – The Rakkasans handed over Patrol Base Shanghai to the Iraqi army during a ceremony, Sept. 30, 2008.

Company B, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) traded places with 3rd Co., 1st Bn., 23rd Bde., 17th IA Division.

"Today is an honor for us [to receive] Shanghai," said 2nd Lt. Muhammad, commander of 3/1/23/17th IA Div.

In spite of the pomp and circumstance and VIPs, the commander of Co. B, 3-187th Inf. said the day was just an official recognition of what the IA troops have been doing all along.

"Today the Iraqi army is not doing anything out of the ordinary. They are not assuming any more area; they are just moving from one home to another," Capt. Joshua Gaspard said. "The Iraqi army is doing what it has been doing for the past 13 months in the ... area. They provide security; they support the people – they care. The Iraqi Army has been and is ready. Nothing has changed."

Gaspard touted Mohammad and his Soldiers as "the best Iraq has, there is no better."

Muhammad said he and his Soldiers have seen and accomplished a lot and appreciate the opportunity to continue to secure the area.

"Today is another day, a normal day where the Iraqi army continues to make me proud and forever grateful to have been a brother with them," Gaspard said.

PB Shanghai is the seventh patrol base the Rakkasans have transitioned to the IA.

Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Jassim Muhammad Hassen Al Frejee, 17th IA Div. commander, Col. Dominic Caraccilo, commander of 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT), and Lt. Col. Amon, commander of 1/23/17th IA Div., attended the event.

• Date Taken: 09.30.2008
• Date Posted: 10.02.2008 07:57
• Story ID: 24415
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ