Photo By Bethany Huff | Staff Sgt. Ricardo J. Gomez watches over Cpl. Bracy L. Bahm, a heavy construction...... read more read more
By Pfc. Bethany L. Little
Multi-National Division - Center
ALBU HASSAN, Iraq – Soldiers of A Company, 9th Engineer Battalion, performed much needed maintenance on an Iraqi road outside of Albu Hassan while Iraqi army soldiers provided security, Feb. 3.
The road is a shortcut for Iraqi citizens to travel from various villages to bigger cities like al-Hillah and Karbala.
The 9th Eng. Bn. coordinated the project and contacted the IA to provide security for U.S. Soldiers on the ground.
IA soldiers secured the surrounding area while Cpl. Bracy L. Bahm, a heavy construction equipment operator from Company A, filled in holes, graded mud and smoothed out the road with a D7 Dozer.
"The IA know what they are doing, and they are always monitoring their sectors," said Bahm. "This is my second mission with the IA, and I trust them to protect me while I am working out here."
The road is located next to a heavily-used railroad track, which is potentially dangerous for the citizens who travel along the route.
"Many of the bad areas on the road forced local nationals to walk around leading them close to the dangerous rail road tracks," said Bahm, a resident of Havelock, N.C.
"The Iraqi citizens are now able to walk back and forth to the villages and cities while they maintain a safe distance from the railroad tracks."
The road provides an easier route to the various markets within the province, which encourages economic activity.
"Citizens can bring their goods to the markets using this road, rather than taking the long drive around other cities and towns," said Sheik Abas Sabur al-Sultani, a student at the Democratic Religious University in al-Hillah. "Approximately two million Shiite citizens will also utilize this route for the upcoming Arba'een pilgrimage."
The improvements were completed and all the Soldiers safely left the area. Iraqi pedestrians and motorists started using the freshly graded road to travel between the towns and cities immediately.
"It may not seem like much," said Bahm. "But we fixed three miles on this road and provided an easier means of travel for the Iraqi citizens."
| Date Taken: | 02.03.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.07.2009 08:15 |
| Story ID: | 29753 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 66 |
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