Soldiers check on locals and Play a little pool in Tikrit

Photo By Master Sgt. Adam Phelps | Staff Sgt. Kenneth Stephens, 2nd Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment, plays a game of pool with Iraqi youth in Ouija, Iraq, while on a tactical operations patrol.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

08.19.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Story and photos by Spc. Adam Phelps
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, Tikrit, Iraq -- Task Force Liberty Soldiers patrol the streets of Tikrit, Iraq to make a presence and check up on how the Iraqi people and businesses are doing.

Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment visit Iraqi police and local businesses to see how they are doing and to make sure the area is secure from anti-Iraqi forces.

"We went out and showed a presence in Tikrit, and talked to some of the locals, as a show of force to any AIF," said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Stephens, personal security detail non/commissioned officer in charge, 2-7 and, a native of Oneida, Tenn.

The 2-7 also does regular checks on businesses and walks the streets to check on the Iraqi people.

"We went on a combat patrol, and checked out a couple of the little areas that we normally go to," said Sgt. Tamiko Ash, driver and gunner for 2-7, and a native from Miami, Fla. "We did a little walk through of the city to show a presence and we went down in Ouija and checked out a little recreation area, where we talked with some of the locals."

While the 2-7 is out they also check to see how the Iraqi forces are doing.

"We ask the Iraqi police how security is going and how things are in general," Stephens said. "We go downtown and see how the economy is doing and if they are progressing or not. A few of the stores downtown got started by money that we provided for them."

The 2-7's mission is proving to be effective.

"The mission is going great," Stephens said. "The Iraqi people are open minded and sometimes they will come up to us and tell us about AIF activities that are going on."

Now that the 2-7 is almost done with this mission they feel they have helped the people of Tikrit and done a good job.

"Our mission is very successful everything we do out here is good for us and the people of Tikrit," Ash said.

• Date Taken: 08.19.2005
• Date Posted: 08.19.2005 15:34
• Story ID: 2796
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ