What We Accomplished

Have you ever really sat down to consider what we are really doing here? Why we are in this conflict and what the outcome may be? Are we here to fight the "Global War on Terrorism" or are we here because of something else? Maybe we are just biding our time until we can PCS or ETS, maybe we are here just to be able to be with our families when we return, maybe we are here because of our battle buddies to our left and right. But maybe it is still something else. Or maybe we understand that not everyone in the world lives in a culture where they are free to do as they choose, that not everyone in the world enjoys the freedoms that we take for granted, and not everyone in the world has the ability to change their environment without a little help. I struggle with this dilemma every day. I look at an overload of information about terrorists and insurgent groups and everything begins to bend together. I see the bad and the ugly but not always the good. I have been focused on the next target or the next operation, no matter what level, and have not seen the "what we have accomplished."

We fight for what we believe. We are a patriotic nation and subsequently a patriotic military. We follow the orders of our superiors whether we like them or not, even if there is a better way. We are experts at inserting the square peg in the round hole..."and it will work damn it." Too many times we find ourselves thousands of miles away from home, away from family and friends conducting our jobs in countries where we are not fully accepted, where we find we have few allies. Culture plays a big part in this as does the history of a nation. Our history is easy to recite. Our culture is second nature. We have learned about it from the day we began school and the first time we made a friend. But can you say that about the Arabic culture or the culture of Korea? Can you pick a significant date in the histories of these two nations and explain why that date is significant? Do you even know a significant date? Do you even care? We must, as a military, if we are to fully understand the conflict we are a part of and what we have to offer.

I can tell you off the top of my head that we successfully accomplished over 11 Brigade level operations, 58 Task Force level operations, 50 company level operations, and 35 engineer sweep/cache operations, not to mention the enduring tasks of Mad Max operations or ASP 102 guard or FOB security. I can also tell you that we have destroyed over twenty tons of weapons and munitions designed to kill other human beings, that we have detained over 1800 potential insurgents and have sent nearly 900 of those individuals to the Ramadi detention facility for further internment. Of those 900 individuals, 500 were sent to Abu Gharaub for being involved in the insurgency we are fighting. The walls in my shop are lined with the famous and the infamous, pictures poking fun at the people we have detained; our way of making light of what we do. Everyone remembers who the "Asshole" was or who Centcom #5 was but can you tell me the name of a Khalidiyah city counsel member or the Sheikh from Abu Fleis? What about the name of a school we have helped rebuild or an Imam we have co-opted to spread a pro-Iraqi IO message? Are those not as important or do we overlook them in-spite of what we do? Or maybe we are still trying to justify our 16 Fallen Heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice doing the job they loved for the country they loved, for family and friend. There is no justification. We must live with the heartache of loss for the rest of our lives, knowing that we cannot bring them back and there is nothing to justify their deaths, but honoring their memories and giving them that moment of silence at every opportunity. So what was it all for? What have we done that has made a difference and what is the outcome going to become?

Iraq, as a nation, is going through a whirlwind of change. The British ruled here as a monarchy in the early 20th century and Saddam Hussein ruled as a dictator until deposed in 2003. There is no national pride. There are bonds to family and tribe, Sunni and Shia. Heavy handedness, crime, and bribery have been the way of life. This culture knows nothing else. Iraqis have always been told what they will approve of and disapprove of by King and Dictator, Sheikh and Imam. In our small part of this province, the local Sheikhs control their people and know their every need and problem. Tribe members have always had everything done for them. Jobs are given to family members, even if there is a special skill necessary. In this way, money and influence remains within the family or tribe and increases the position of the Sheik, his small area of fiefdom. Schools belong to the local community and may only be of one family or tribe. Money is received from the sale of tangible goods but also from threats and bribes. City counsels do not really exist to support the cities but line their own pockets. Stealing and looting are daily occurrences and if one Iraqi kills another Iraqi, the family of the individual killed has the right to demand the death of the killer, or may prefer payment in cash (the current going price for an adult male is about $2,500 and for a young girl is as little as $500). Once the family has been satisfied, everyone has tea and life goes on. Religion plays a big role in daily life and everything is done "God willing." It is hard for us, from a very different culture and upbringing, to understand this mindset. When we begin to scrape the surface, everything seems upside down or backwards. There is no coordinated effort to make a difference. It is "Fix my water or electricity and provide me security while you do that, but do not count on me to do anything for you. I am going to stand to the side and watch...and complain when you do not finish just because the insurgents attacked you." As I have heard COL Clark say on many different occasions when meeting with local leaders, "You cannot have it both ways. Help us help you. You cannot have security, if you are not going to tell us who are conducting the attacks and still expect us to re-build your school while we fight the terrorists. You are either with us or with the terrorists." That is a strong statement, very black and white. But this is a gray culture with many different shades of gray.

Meetings between local leaders and our Chain of Command are held at our Front Gate regularly. A recent meeting brought together the Director Generals for many of the civil services (electricity, sewage, telephone, ect), several city counsel members including the City Manager, and a few Sheikhs from the local area. All in the same room, all working towards the same goal of making this area better than it has been before. How did this happen when there is such a division between tribal boundaries and national institutions? In January, Iraq had its first democratic elections ever, to elect regional representatives who would elect a President and Prime Minister. In order to make this happen, we combined Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces to provide security for the thousands of polling sites across the country. Since then, we have begun to train the newly formed Iraqi Army Forces and shape them into competent and disciplined units capable of conducting operations using organic equipment and supplies. This has been a success. Every mission we have conducted since March has had Iraqi Armed Forces incorporated into it, from teams to squads, to platoons, to companies. Very soon, these companies will begin independent operations within their own dedicated battle-space. We are supporting the establishment of a Division Headquarters while assisting in the transition of FOB Habbaniyah to complete Iraqi Army control. An entire battle-space with an Iraqi Division operating as the security force, hunting down the terrorists, built from nothing into a competent fighting force; all from under our tutelage. Everything we have accomplished has been in preparation for the ratification of the 1st Iraqi Constitution in October and a new National Assembly election in December. Did you ever imagine this would happen while you were here – that you would be a part of history in the making? We can truly say we are part of the nation building process. What impact was felt in our area, though?

We conduct operations in every section of our battle-space. Everywhere we go we encounter the same problems: water, sewage, and electricity. There is never enough clean water to drink, sewage creeks run down the middle of every street, and there are never enough hours in the day with continuous electricity. Did you know we have completely refurbished three Water Treatment plants and upgraded a fourth, adding new water pumps and run piping that allows local residents to receive fresh, clean water every day? There is even an emergency water truck to deliver water in case one of the treatment plants becomes un-operational. We have purchased and delivered three sewage trucks and fixed a fourth that allow residents of these communities to clean the sewage out of the streets and dump the waste in dedicated dump areas. This has been augmented by building two septic tanks to mitigate sewage overflow from existing sewer lines and repairing those same damaged lines. In these areas we have also provided trash receptacles so that residential areas do not accumulate piles of garbage where germs and bacteria can fester and grow were children play soccer. We have rebuilt two schools and renovated another, painting the walls, adding fans and lighting, and providing books and school supplies. These can now be used to educate the children and young adults and begin the long term process of a developing a formal education system. When the roads were cleared, was it done only for safety and protection? That was one reason, but in clearing the roads, we removed hazards to, both, our soldiers and the local population. We were, also, able to clear out the canal on the northern side of MSR Michigan in order to provide increased irrigation for the fields, orchards, and palm groves and provide a means to wash away sewage build-up from the residential neighborhoods. What about the medical supplies that we have delivered to the Khalidiyah hospital and the clinics in Civil and Coolie Camp? The doctors, now, have the supplies to treat minor illnesses and injuries. Let us also not forget the humanitarian assistance mission conducted in Civil Camp in November for the thousands of the displaced civilians following military operations in Fallujah. And this is just the beginning.

This battalion has a very long and distinguished legacy. We have added to this legacy. That can never be taken away from us. We have successfully operated in two completely different cultures, from the cold-war environment in the mountains of Korea to combating terrorism in the deserts of the middle-east. As we prepare to re-deploy to Ft Carson and then begin our new assignments, take a little time and think about how much of a difference we did make. We have been involved in the full scope of military operations from combat operations, to Stability and Support Operations, to nation building. Returning to our families and the United States will hold challenges for each of us and we will deal with each of them in our own way. Many of us will return to Iraq before our careers in the military end. You will see the fruits of your labor. Always remember, what you have accomplished in this year long deployment to Iraq may not have seemed like a lot and may have brought frustration and pain. However, you have earned your way into the history books that will be used to teach your children. You have earned the right to be called a "Band of Brothers." I salute each and every one of you. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. STANDS ALONE! CURRAHEE!