Multi-National Corps-Iraq commander honors "regulars"

Photo By Sgt. Eric R. Weaver | Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Multi-National Corps-Iraq commander, praises the courage and sacrifice of the six Purple Heart and 13 Corps Commander's coin recipients assigned to 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division during a recent visit to Contingency Operating Site Garryowen. The U.S. battalion is deployed from Fort Bliss, Texas, to advise and assist Iraqi security forces in Maysan province.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARRYOWEN, IRAQ

08.11.2009

Story by Sgt. Eric R. Weaver 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE GARRYOWEN, Iraq - Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Multi-National Corps-Iraq commander, visited Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment "Regulars" at Contingency Operating Site Garryowen recently.

During the visit, Jacoby formally awarded the Purple Heart medal to six Soldiers from Company C, 4th Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. and recognized Iraqi police. Jacoby expressed his appreciation for the Soldiers receiving the Purple Heart and the sacrifices they made in support of the mission.

Sgt. Aaron S. Marques from Marysville, Calif., received one of his two Purple Hearts at the event.

"He jokingly told me I can't get any more purple hearts," said Marques who was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade that struck his Humvee June 10 and an improvised rocket-assisted mortar that impacted near him June 30.

The IRAM attack on Marques' unit was the only of its type in Maysan province since the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003.

Pfc. Timothy E. Anderson, a tank crewman from Forsyth, Mo., recalled the events the night he was wounded.

"I was asleep in the bunker when I woke to the sound of a small explosion. Initially I thought it was incoming mortars but later found that it was [rockets impacting]," recounted Anderson. "When I woke, I peered through a sliver in the wall and saw the blast. The windows shattered and cut me on my chest and face. I immediately jumped from my bunk and threw my boots on and made my way out of the building."

"The training that I have received helped me to not hesitate and do what needed to be done," Anderson added. "I have trained in stressful environments before and that made it easier for me to keep my composure and react quickly."

Also present at the award ceremony were 15 Iraqi police graduates from Charlie Company's Special Weapons and Tactics course that was run at the request of the 4th Iraqi Police Battalion Emergency Response Unit. Jacoby addressed the group of IPs, expressing deep thanks for their hard work and reiterated the need for a strong partnership between Iraqi security forces and U.S. Forces.

"Relations between ISF and coalition forces in Maysan province have been improving since 4-6 Infantry showed up," said Iraq police 1st Lt. Amir from 4th ERU.

Lt. Col. Ghazi, Commandant of the IP Academy, was also present and stated his appreciation for the relationships and training that 4th Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. provided. In addition, he noted that the "quality of the training Iraqi police receive at the Academy is continually improving. We are trying to provide training that is as good as if not better than the training they would receive from American Soldiers."

Leaders from both battalions remarked how their relationship has strengthened and coordination improved since the June 30 milestone in the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement.

• Date Taken: 08.11.2009
• Date Posted: 09.10.2009 06:44
• Story ID: 38535
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARRYOWEN, IQ