Photo By Spc. William Hatton | Sgt. Fred Suddeth an engineer with the 887th Engineer Support Company, 20th Engineer...... read more read more
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By Pfc. William Hatton
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD – Every day it's the same thing, hop into a well used bulldozer and clear and move mounds of dirt. Everything about this scenario sounds common of a typical construction yard across America, but there is one small thing that makes this bulldozer and the mound of dirt unique.
The bulldozer happens to be armored for explosive attacks and gun fire and today the mound of dirt happens to be ground needing to be cleared for a new combat outpost being opened in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliya.
For Sgt. Fred Suddeth an engineer with the 887th Engineer Support Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, operating a bulldozer in Iraq is more then just a job, it's something that provides happiness in an unhappy place.
Joining the Army started off as an opportunity to gain money for college, said Suddeth, a native of Eagle, Idaho. Over time and learning the job, it became something quite fun, he added.
"It's really something else being able to break down and rebuild something," Suddeth said.
Starting off, training for the job was a lot different then how things turned out to be in Iraq, Suddeth said. Now into his second deployment, every day is different as missions change, he added.
"The job tends to be very versatile, every day seems to be different," Suddeth said.
During his first deployment, Suddeth's job was mostly clearing dangerous routes of improvised explosive devices, he said. Now Suddeth and his unit seem to do more building and setting up combat outposts.
Although operating a bulldozer is what he's been tasked for during his current mission, Suddeth finds himself doing numerous jobs as his unit builds different combat outposts, he said.
Another difference about this tour compared to his last is being in a young unit with Soldiers who haven't worked with new equipment, Suddeth said.
"It's sometimes a challenge, but it is rewarding being able to teach the guys in the unit how to do something they didn't know how to," Suddeth said.
As Suddeth clears the ground during a mission, his fellow Soldiers are able place concrete barriers which will help in protecting from incoming mortars, Suddeth said.
With the combat outpost complete, work will continue elsewhere. For Suddeth, another mission will bring more opportunity to do what he loves.
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2007 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 9496 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 84 |
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