Forward Operating Base Marez hosts first bazaar

Photo By Spc. Sharla Lewis | Troops stationed on Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul browse the base's first bazaar, hosted by the Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone, Oct. 17. This is the first bazaar held on the base and received positive feedback from its visitors.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

10.21.2009

Story by Spc. Sharla Lewis 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

MOSUL, Iraq — Forward Operating Base Marez hosted its first bazaar, Oct. 17, to promote the local economy and provide a variety of products for the residents of FOB Marez to purchase.

The bazaar will be held monthly and eventually more vendors will be added and the shops will be moved indoors.

The Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone coordinates with base defense operations cells on major U.S. bases throughout Iraq to set up bazaars so local Iraqi vendors can provide a variety of merchandise to the residents of the bases.

"This is the first of our monthly IBIZ bazaars. This is an opportunity for vendors to sell homemade or Iraqi-made products and we're just getting started here on Marez," said Maj. Gregory Younce, the IBIZ coordinator who works in the FOB Marez BDOC and is a native of Bakersfield, Mo.

The bazaar puts money normally spent on [non-Iraqi] vendors back into the local economy to rebuild what was torn down over the last few years, Younce said. "It benefits not only Americans, but it benefits the Iraqis as well. There are two sides to the coin as with any business transaction."

Vendors included Otohekal, which is a retail business in Mosul, and a contracted painter from Baghdad. The Widow's Association, a group of local women affected by the war, also had a booth. They will use proceeds from the bazaar to help similar groups in Mosul.

"The Widow's Association is here today and they are trying to raise some money in order to help other widows that have lost their husbands as a result of the war and the continued in-fighting that's been going on," said Younce.

The vendors sold a variety of products over the weekend, including hand-woven prayer rugs, hand-painted artwork, beadwork and jewelry. Soldiers, government employees and civilian contractors browsed the series of tables.

Everyone agreed that the first bazaar of its kind on FOB Marez was a positive improvement to the base.

"I was down in Basra and they had something like this there and I think it brings the cultures together," said Stanley Childress, a civilian contractor from Chicago. "I'm happy that the military has made something like this happen."

Shoppers weren't only impressed with the bazaar. They also felt like it showed the partnership that Iraqis and Americans are working together toward.

"I got two tapestries and a robe for myself." said Staff Sgt. John Redman, a Soldier with 1st Battalion, 230th Air Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard. "It's nice to see some of the locals brave enough to come in and do this."

• Date Taken: 10.21.2009
• Date Posted: 10.23.2009 09:23
• Story ID: 40558
• Location: MOSUL, IQ