Photo By Sgt. 1st Class James Wilt | An Iraqi man, who voted on the ratification of Iraq's proposed constitution, reaches...... read more read more
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Pfc. James Wilt
82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office
Task Force White Falcon
TALL AFAR, Iraq - Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, provided support to the Iraqi people during the country's constitutional referendum here, Oct. 15, 2005.
"The [mission of the] 82nd Abn. Div., specifically the 2nd Bn., 3-2-5, was to provide for a safe and secure environment and to promote a conducive environment for the citizens of greater Sarai (a section of the city), who would come out an exercise their patriotic duty," said Lt. Col. Christopher Gibson, commander of the 2nd Bn, 325th AIR.
With the help of Iraqi Security Forces, the "White Falcons" successfully completed their mission.
Election day went by without any instances of violence in the paratrooper- controlled sector of the city.
"We let [the Iraqi Security Forces] take the ball and they ran with it," said Spc. Lucas J. Mills, an infantryman with the "White Falcons."
In the battalion's sector, the Iraqi government utilized three polling sites, which the paratroopers assisted in keeping secure through out the day.
"They provided area security essentially denying the enemy the ability to provide
direct-fire on polling sites, Gibson said.
"The Iraqi Security Forces had the site security and our forces were conducting area security to ensure that the enemy's freedom of movement was denied and that he did not have the ability to provide direct fire weapons to the election sites," Gibson said.
The security efforts paid off for the Iraqis.
"Over 8,000 people voted in our zone," Gibson said. "Both Sunnis and Shiites had very good turn outs during this election."
Paratroopers in the battalion are partially attributing the high number of voters to the security efforts put forth by the Coalition Forces.
"They knew we were going to protect them if they went to vote," Mills said.
Mills, who also provided security for Iraq's inaugural elections, noticed a difference in the voters" attitude.
"Last time in Mosul, they seemed a little bit weary, I guess you could say they weren't sure what to expect," he said.
This time they seemed a little bit more confident and understanding of the situation, he added.
Paratroopers who were patrolling the streets could see the people's confidence first hand.
The majority of the citizens in the city had ink stains on their index fingers.
"We came here to give them the ability to vote and they just wanted to show us "hey look, I did what you guys wanted, I'm free like you,"" said Spc. Phillip A. Smith, an
infantryman with the 325th AIR. This is the Cincinnati native's first deployment.
"They come up to us to show us that they're trying to get better lives for themselves and their children, and their children's children and so on," Mills said.
"The people coming out to vote like they did also shows that they want change," added Mills, a native of Columbus, Ga.
Regardless of whether the voters checked yes or no, the "White Falcons" consider the mission a success.
"I'm very proud of the paratroopers that in concert with the Iraqi security forces, helped make history," Gibson said. "I'm also very proud of the Iraqi people who took a stand against terrorism yesterday."
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2005 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 3374 |
| Location: | TAL AFAR, IQ |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 80 |
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