Soldiers resolve Iraqi claims

Photo By Sgt. Spencer Case | Spc. Gloria Ingalls (center), and other civil affairs Soldiers from 3rd COSCOM, help an Iraqi man file a claim at the north gate of Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Dec. 17.  

01.05.2006

Courtesy Story

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As a gesture of goodwill to the host population, Soldiers from 3rd Corps Support Command and the 29th Brigade Combat Team are meeting with local nationals to resolve claims against Coalition forces.

The meetings, usually held between 10:30 a.m. and noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, take place at the Civil Military Operations Center near the north gate. A small team of Soldiers from both units speak to Iraqis through interpreters, then make recommendations to the legal center at LSA Anaconda for compensation based on the evidence for each claim. Common claims include: auto collisions with military vehicles, military vehicles running into livestock, disputes over land, and houses damaged during U.S. counter-attacks.

"On an individual level, if someone gets hurt by us, we need to show them that we respect them and want to take care of them and that's why we're here," said 1st Lt. Keith Bishop, an assistant civil affairs officer for the 29th BCT who has been in charge of the center since the 29th BCT assumed the mission in March.

The easiest incidents to resolve are those in which the Iraqis bring cards left by the unit or units involved that explain the basic details of the case. Often, the claimants do not have these cards and Soldiers involved in civil affairs missions must do a little detective work to determine the validity of the request, Bishop said.

In tough cases, the Soldiers research in what unit's battle-space the incident occurred, look through unit logs and interview Soldiers who were present to get to the bottom of the claims.

One resolution that has proved particularly successful was when the U.S. compensated local farmers for land incorporated to LSA Anaconda under the authority of the Foreign Claims Act. Nine locals whose land has been used for force protection for a year or longer received a total of $21,000 in reimbursements, Bishop said. He added that two others will soon be reimbursed and that 3rd COSCOM will assume control of these and other claims.

Another rewarding instance was reimbursing an Iraqi family for injuries sustained during a collision with a military vehicle, said Maj. Marc Lawton, the OIC of the civil military operations section for the 29th BCT. The family of four was traveling home to Kirkuk after attending a wedding in Baghdad when they were struck by a vehicle from a U.S. combat logistics patrol in Baquba, Iraq, on May 13.

The driver sustained injuries including broken legs, a perforated liver and a punctured lung. The driver's wife, who was sitting behind the driver, also had a broken leg. Their two sons had minor injuries.

Lawton first learned about the incident from an interpreter. He contacted the hospital to find the date and time they were admitted, then traced it back to the medical evacuation unit to determine which unit sent in the 9-line request. He then sent medical information to the CMOC in Kirkuk so they were prepared to compensate the family before they even filed the claim.

"There's certainly a sense of personal satisfaction for being able to accomplish something that would have very likely otherwise not have been accomplished," Lawton said, "especially for a deserving family."

Since 3rd COSCOM's civil affairs team arrived in October, both units have been participating in the meetings together as part of an unofficial relief in place. In January, there will be an official transfer of authority and 3rd COSCOM will take over on their own.

"Since we are guests in this country we do all we can to normalize relations between the Coalition forces, U.S. forces and the Iraqi people," said Capt. Manuel Wong, who will be in charge of the CMOC when 3rd COSCOM takes control of it in January.

• Date Taken: 01.05.2006
• Date Posted: 01.05.2006 10:04
• Story ID: 4276