Locals doing part to make area safe

Photo By Michael Molinaro | FOB KALSU, Iraq – An Iraqi citizen sweeps away loose gravel Aug. 26 after filling one of many holes left by roadside bomb attacks in Rasheed. Local contractors repaired the area roads, enabling locals to once again use the often-traveled route. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt.)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

09.07.2006

Story by Michael Molinaro 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Cpl. Michael Molinaro
2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

FOB KALSU, Iraq – "Iraqis helping Iraqis" was the theme in the Rasheed district Aug. 25-28 as locals helped patch together a road that had been blown apart by terrorists.

Local contractors disregarded terrorist threats and ventured out to repair the roads and allow Iraqis to travel uninhibited.

"The workers did a great job and worked very hard for two days to complete this monumental task," said Staff Sgt. Micah Greene, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Company B, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to Multi-National Division – Baghdad. "This road repair demonstrates the local contractor's patriotism and courage by standing up to the cowardly terrorists and working hard to fix this road."

Numerous roadside bombs have detonated between Adwaniyah and Hawr Rajab, which left huge craters and made the roads impassable. Soldiers from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, provided security while the contractors worked on the roads.

Many projects have been started in the Rasheed area because of the willingness of the local populace to end terrorism in their backyard, said Greene. The trash cleanup project not only beautifies the area but also gives terrorists less places to hide bombs on the side of roads.

Projects like road repairs make it easier for local civilians to get to work and makes it more difficult for the terrorists to find another hiding spot for their bombs. Road repairs hamper the terrorists' efforts to repeat emplacing the bombs in areas they have established safe escape routes.

The repairs to the road also eased travel in the area, which has allowed the local economy to slowly recover, said Capt. Jon Bodenhamer, commander, Troop A, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt.

Prior to the repairs, shops on the damaged roads shut down for extended periods of time.

"Business has greatly improved because of this road repair," said one Iraqi citizen. "It is easier to get Benzene from the local Benzene station because more fuel trucks can get there faster."

Iraqis in the region continue to gather their own information on the actions of suspected terrorists in the area and turn that information over to Iraqi army soldiers and Coalition Forces, Bodenhamer said. This allows the IA and CF to stop any terrorists before innocent people are harmed or killed. Rewards are often given to those who help assist getting terrorists off of the street.

"More and more Iraqis are stepping up to the challenge every day and standing up to the terrorists," Bodenhamer remarked. "They are beginning to realize that if they stand together, the terrorists cannot win."

• Date Taken: 09.07.2006
• Date Posted: 09.07.2006 09:35
• Story ID: 7648
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ