41st Soldiers use civilian skills to take on unique mission in Iraq

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan | Spc. Josef Lewis from Roseburg, Ore. with Charlie Company 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team bumps fists with a local national from a village near Camp Korean Village, Iraq, Sept. 22.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

09.25.2009

Story by Spc. Cory Grogan 

41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Al Asad, Iraq — 1st Sgt. James Terrel, who is a Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor from Roseburg, Ore., said members of the Army stationed in Al Asad, Iraq said, "Whoa!" when his light infantry unit ordered a couple thousand board feet of lumber upon arriving at their remote Forward Operating Base, called Camp Korean Village, which is an important stopover for convoys in western Iraq close to the Jordan border.

"People in Al Asad were asking, 'What is a light infantry unit doing ordering lumber," Terrel said.

However, Charlie Company from 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment of the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team is doing much more than just the infantry tasks that are also a part of the mission.

The Roseburg based group is putting their civilian skills to work and proving that they are not just typical Soldiers.

Terrel explained that CKV has been a survival post with a 30, 60 or 90 day rotations where nobody has ever taken ownership of a place that was pretty run down when Charlie Company arrived. He explained that they want to be the ones who finally take ownership of CKV.
Shortly after arriving, Charlie Company requested—and were granted—the opportunity to take over the Mayor's cell which handles facilities and infrastructure at the temporary base.
Terrel said that one of the first things the group did to clean up was remove 30, ten yard dump trucks off the FOB. They have also been making improvements to the Southwestern Asia Huts they live in, getting internet set up, working with local villagers, putting up new structures, making security improvements, and more.

"If you want to eat here you have to fill a sandbag because before going into the chow hall because they are used for FOB security," stated Terrel.

This is all in addition to their base mission of providing convoy security, force protection, quick reaction force and base defense, explained 1st Lt. Troy Halacka from Gresham, Ore., who is the Officer in Charge of the Tactical Operations Center at CKV.

"It is a sense of pride claiming some ownership and taking responsibility here; they have done a lot in a real short period of time," said Halacka.

Spc. Blaine Wilson of Roseburg said, "Sometimes it's hard when you go to finally relax and someone says, 'Hey, we need a detail to go do this, and go do that,' but after you are done you feel a sense of accomplishment."


The Soldiers in Charlie Company are quick to mention their civilian jobs when talking about the improvements made at CKV; Terrel said they have electricians, carpenters, plumbers, engineers, a surgical nurse, and even an Executive Officer, Cpt. Frank Klug, who is a rocket scientist.

"We don't know if we will be staying, but the oldest motto I can remember is always leave it better than when you found it, and were all about making this a better place," mentioned Terrel.

Spc. Josef Lewis said most of the bases in Iraq are like small cities, but Camp Korean Village is like a small town, and Charlie Company Charlie is taking pride in making it a better place with a community feel.

"The commander is pushing for us to stay out here because we've got a whole lot of nothing that we can make into something. It's a good adventure and life experience, and I like coming out here because it breaks up the monotony," Lewis said.

Spc. Blaine Williams explained that whether it's the trash, trenches or bunkers, we have seen some major changes; everyone who is here, including the KBR employees, are excited we are here because we are the ones who are actually doing something. He said everyone who came before showed up for like 2 or 3 months and didn't care about the FOB.

"You have to be industrious and a jack of all traits out here," Williams said.

Pfc. Matthew Dooley said he likes being in a small place. "It is peaceful, we work hard, and interact with the local nationals—it gives a sense of accomplishment making this base a better place."

Terrel said that what Charlie Company has done at CKV shows why the National Guard brings a lot to the table.

"With the National Guard you have plumbers, you have construction workers, you've got carpenters, we have a higher skill pool to draw from so we can fix things up ourselves without having to rely on KBR as much to re-build a building, or fix up a place, or re- wire something, and it helps us accomplish the mission more effectively"

• Date Taken: 09.25.2009
• Date Posted: 10.02.2009 09:32
• Story ID: 39578
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ