41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team gets the chance to make a difference

Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Hovie | Local villagers help Soldiers unload a box containing items donated by the Army during a Civil Military Operation by the Oregon National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.  

TALLIL, IRAQ

08.27.2009

Story by Spc. Cory Grogan 

41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CAMP ADDER, Iraq - Four years ago, the Australian army gave the children of a poor Iraqi village one of the greatest gifts that can be given when they built a school. The gift of education was given to a village where the children had previously never been to school, explained Lt. Col. Clint Moyer, Civil Military Operations officer, with the 287th Sustainment Brigade.

On Aug. 27, Lt. Col. Moyer went to that same village with Soldiers from Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion, 162 Infantry Regiment, of the Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. This civil military operation mission was to see how things were going and spread more good will.

Moyer mentioned that he has helped arrange visits to over 30 schools, since being in Iraq, and said that it has made a huge difference.

"When we first got here our convoys were getting rocks thrown at them every week; today, it is maybe once every two months," said Moyer.

The convoy brought school supplies, sandals, toys and a refrigerator to the village after the Executive Officer for 2-162, Maj. Sean McGann, had met earlier with the sheik from the village to find out what their needs were.

Moyer said that because the gun trucks from the 287th Sustainment Brigade are leaving, 2-162 will be called upon to do more CMO missions.

"2-162 is as, or more, professional than any unit I have been out with," Moyer said.

Sgt. Damon Graham, a truck commander with 2-162, expressed his sentiments about going out on CMO missions by saying that they make him feel like he is having more of a direct impact on the people of Iraq.

Graham, who went out on many CMO missions, while previously deployed in Afghanistan, said, "Winning people's hearts and minds is a lot more difficult when you're going out and kicking in people's doors rather than talking to them and seeing what they need."

Graham said that when the children in the village asked him his name, he wrote it in Arabic and was surprised to see looks of apprehension turn to smiles and laughter.

Charlie Company wants to ensure that the children in that area continue to get an education, Graham said.

CMO missions are an intricate part of strategic success in Iraq.

"The missions led to better connections in the areas we move through, and when you have those ties, people are more willing to share information," explained McGann.

McGann also said that 2-162 is hoping to do a lot more CMO missions in the future and that some are already planned.

The village 2-162 visited was very welcoming; even though Soldiers had not been there in a number of years, he said.

After being greeted by an assembly of people and waving children, the Soldiers were treated to a breakfast of barbequed lamb, flat bread, chai tea and Turkish coffee.

During the meal, McGann said, "The sheik told us, over and over again, that he supported the coalition forces being here."

McGann explained that the sheik gave an account of how, during the Saddam Hussein regime, they would sit on top of the same meeting house where they were eating breakfast and see Saddam's army coming. The sheik told McGann that everyone would run away because they would randomly kidnap people, take them to Baghdad, and kill them.

"That is one of many reasons why we are glad to have you here today," the sheik said to McGann.

CMO missions are important for accomplishing the goals of the Armed Services in Iraq, and Moyer said, that as long as American Soldiers are in Iraq they are going to continue to engage the population.

• Date Taken: 08.27.2009
• Date Posted: 09.10.2009 07:39
• Story ID: 38536
• Location: TALLIL, IQ