Knee Deep in the Hooah!

Here’s your weekly dose of good news from the front lines. Enjoy reading about all of the progress being made — progress and good news you will never hear about on the MSM! Once again you will see how the Iraq Army is stepping up to the plate and doing good work — thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of the US Armed Forces. Trust me, Iran had nothing to do with these successes! :rolleyes:

With no further ado:

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A Very Real Toy Soldier Steps Foot on American Soil
May 31, 2008
Knee Deep in the Hooah! News

(excerp from my brain)

The elusive blogger from False Motivation is the Definition of Hooah!, known best as “Toy Solider” has finished his tour in Baqubah, Iraq. Shortly after landing in Kuwait yesterday he was notified to not unpack anything because he was slated to leave on an earlier flight with 9 other fellow Company soldiers. Toy Soldier arrived in Illinois this morning at 5:30. He was glad to be back on American soil, and extremely glad to smell American air.

He called home first thing, and even though his mother was in bed sleeping, when she heard the special ring tone set for his US Cell phone she promptly jumped out of bed and yelled “WOO-HOO!” The cell phone ring tone is a sound she has been waiting to hear since Toy Soldier left the US for Baghdad back in April of last year.

Toy Soldier will remain at his post in Washington State until the Army is done with the debriefing process. He will then come home for a month of R&R where he will be spoiled rotten with visits from friends, family, and will feast on steak and cold beer. Stay tuned to Knee Deep news for follow ups!

My son is home, on American soil this morning. It’s the best feeling!

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Improved Iraqi Forces Contribute to Four-Year Violence Low
Friday, 30 May 2008
MNF

(Excerpt)

BAGHDAD — Last week, Iraq experienced the lowest level of “security incidents” since March 2004, a reduction that military officials attribute in part to improvements in Iraqi security forces.

“The collective efforts … to increase the capacity of the Iraqi security forces is a key part of the reason why we saw last week the lowest level of security incidents in Iraq the past four years,” Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said May 28 during a news conference in Baghdad.

“It is also why we are seeing Iraqi citizens increasingly supporting their security forces by calling in tips on criminal activity and illegal weapons,” Bergner continued. “And it is why we are seeing the Iraqi security forces conducting effective operations in Basra, Mosul and Baghdad to enforce the rule of law.”

Army Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik, commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, said he and other officials tasked with building and training the national security forces in Iraq are seeing continued progress.

“The last 12 months have witnessed a marked decrease in violence, along with a corresponding increase in the capability, professionalism and effectiveness of the Iraqi security forces,” he told reporters during the news conference. Read MORE

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Iraqi Army Aids Shula Residents
Friday, 30 May 2008
By Sgt. Paul Monroe
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

(Excerpt)

BAGHDAD — Leaders and Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division distributed humanitarian aid to residents in Shula, a neighborhood in northwest Baghdad, May 26.

Soldiers traveled door-to-door handing out staples such as rice, lentils and tomato paste to 100 residents.

At the end, nearly 300 residents throughout Shula received aid during a three-day period beginning, May 24.

Shula resident’s movement to and from markets had been hampered by criminal activity in the area, making Soldiers clad in desert uniforms bearing boxes filled with food a welcome sight.

Capt. Joseph Sincere, a fire support officer with the 1st Squadron, 75th Calvary Regiment part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division said, the Soldiers efforts had yielded an optimistic outlook for security going forward.

Some of the same streets used as drop points for humanitarian aid had been the site of recent Iraqi army clearance missions, where Soldiers traveled from house to house, searching and gathering intelligence in an effort to root out criminals taking refuge in the area. Read MORE

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Soldier Helps Iraqis Take Charge
Friday, 30 May 2008
By Army Spc. John Ahn
Special to American Forces Press Service

(excerpt)

CAMP TAJI — U.S. soldiers working together with their Iraqi counterparts is an important step toward Iraqis taking charge of their nation. A fire team at a joint security station near Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad, is a model for a successful transition from a dependent Iraq to a sovereign nation that can secure the people.

The fire team consists of both Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi soldiers from 36th Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division. U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Rios, a native of Sebastian, Texas, serves as the team chief. He is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division’s 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds,” 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warriors.”

The formation of the combined group initially came together out of sheer necessity when Rios’ soldiers were reassigned to other duties or left the area for environmental morale leave. The sudden moves forced the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers to learn to work together and overcome linguistic barriers.

Overcoming those barriers was a challenge, Rios said, but they were eased through the use of interpreters and hand signals. “The most amazing aspect of the fire team is that we speak so little to each other,” Rios said. “We work mostly by hand signals and knowing glances.” Read MORE

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More Iraq US troop cuts ‘likely’
Thursday, 22 May
BBC

(Excerpt)

The top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, says he expects to be able to recommend cuts in US forces before he leaves his post in September. Gen Petraeus told a Senate panel he hoped to make the recommendation at the end of a 45-day freeze on withdrawals, which is due to start in July.

He would not say how many troops would be withdrawn. The Senate panel is considering Gen Petraeus’ nomination to be appointed head of US Central Command. After the latest round of withdrawals is completed in July, the US will have about 140,000 troops in Iraq.

Gen Petraeus played a key role in the Bush administration’s “surge” strategy, which has been credited with helping reduce violence in Iraq. Read MORE

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Sons of Iraq successfully defend checkpoint from attackers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080530-04
May 30, 2008

(full press release — public domain)

Multi-National Division – North PAO
TIKRIT, Iraq – Sons of Iraq killed nine enemy insurgents today during a firefight at a checkpoint near Owja, south of Tikrit, May 29. Members of the local SoI group were attacked when a fuel truck, fabricated to hold enemy fighters, approached the checkpoint and engaged the SoI guards with small-arms fire.

As the SoI returned fire, the driver of the fuel truck exited the vehicle and detonated a suicide-vest.

No SoI sustained injuries from the blast. The eight remaining fighters then dismounted and attacked the SoI with small-arms fire. Iraqi Army soldiers and Policemen responded to the firefight, eliminating the threat. “If it were not for the SoI identifying the enemy threat, they would have moved through the checkpoint unnoticed, only to cause mayhem somewhere else,” said Maj. Phillip Borders, 1st Special Troops Battalion operations officer. “The SoI’s vigilance is keeping the people of Tikrit safe.

It was because of their actions that the enemy was defeated today.” Source link

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Business owners display wares at expo
by Sgt. Jeremy Todd
American Forces Press Service

(excerpt)

BAGHDAD (May 28, 2008) – More than 70 Iraqi business owners gathered in the Babylon Hotel on the Karadah Peninsula in southeastern Baghdad for the inaugural Rebuilding Karadah Expo and Conference, May 23-24.

Entrepreneurs and shopkeepers met at the hotel to display their products and services and to meet other Karadah business owners and community leaders. Participants setting up booths represented businesses in the fields of retail sales, construction, durable and industrial goods, and even a beekeeper selling honey.

In addition, several nongovernmental agencies and municipal officials set up and visited booths, and various Arab media organizations covered both days of the conference and expo. The Iraqi Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the two-day event, which the Baghdad 2 Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team officials estimate more than 2,000 visitors attended. Read MORE

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Iraqi troops capture mid-level AQI leader, six other suspects

(press release, public domain)

BAGHDAD (May 4, 2008) – Soldiers with the 5th Iraqi Army Division and a Muqdadiyah Special Weapons and Tactics team, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a mid-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leader and detained six other suspected terrorists in an operation in As Sa’diya, approximately 55 miles northeast of Baghdad, May 3.

ISF conducted the operation to detain the leader and disrupt the operations of an As Sa’diya-based AQI organization. The AQI group leader is suspected of managing AQI finances in the area and providing a safe haven for foreign fighters in the Hamrin Mountains. His group is also believed to be responsible kidnapping Iraqi citizens and attacking ISF with improvised explosive devices.

“The capture of these suspected terrorists will help to degrade the terrorist group’s ability to finance, plan and execute operations and will further reduce AQI’s influence over the local Iraqi civilian population,” said Col. Bill Buckner, MNC-I spokesman. Source link

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Good News from Afghanistan:

Civilian reports disrupt Kunar attacks
CJTF-101 (press release, public domain)
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan
(May 29, 2008)

Citizens of the Korengal valley came forward to Afghan troops and International Security Assistance Forces with information that lead to the disruption May 27 of an impending insurgent attack in Kunar province.

Late in the afternoon, several Korengal valley citizens approached a joint ANSF and ISAF patrol with information about the location of insurgents preparing an attack.

The information enabled ANSF and ISAF Soldiers to set up a surprise attack on the insurgents. During the attack, a second group of insurgents attacked the ANSF and ISAF positions. Around 7 p.m., precision munitions were dropped on both of the insurgent locations, eliminating the threat.

After returning to their bases, ANSF and ISAF leaders were again approached by concerned Korengal valley citizens who reported that insurgents had taken over a structure in the village of Qalaygal.

ANSF and ISAF soldiers positively identified seven armed insurgents gathered in and around the structure, and called in another precision airstrike to eliminate the insurgents.

Korengal valley elders have since verified that there were no civilian casualties. Provincial officials plan to address any concerns arising from these events in a shura scheduled to be conducted in the Korengal valley in the next few days.

No ANSF or ISAF Soldiers were killed or wounded over the course of the operations. Source link

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Engineer’s Transfer Authority

Story by Spc. Cynthia Teears
Posted on 05.30.2008 at 01:00PM

(excerpt)

TIKRIT, Iraq- Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 111th Engineer Brigade relinquished command of the engineering portion of Task Force Iron, Multi-National Division - North, to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 18th Engineer Brigade in a ceremony, May 29, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.

The Soldiers of HHC, 111th Eng. Bde., who deployed August 2007, have conducted route clearance, main support route and alternate support route maintenance, security operations and combat based construction.

“The engineers are the savior of everyone,” said Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, the commander, Task Force Iron MND-N. “The Sappers (a term referring to engineers) of MND-North are responsible for, as I understand,…the construction of 82 combat outposts, four Joint Security Stations and the route clearance of thousands of miles, Quoting a Soldier, Hertling said, “It’s like going to the moon and back several times.”

The engineer brigade has done many things to improve the living conditions for our own Soldiers and for the citizens of Iraq, said Col. Melvin L. Burch, the commander, 111th Eng. Bde. They have built many bridges, bypasses, contingency operating bases, joint security stations and control points. Read MORE

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IA Seize Weapons Cache, Find IEDs in Northern Baghdad

Courtesy Story
(public domain)
Posted on 05.30.2008 at 08:33AM

By Multi-National Division – Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Iraqi army soldiers discovered six improvised explosive devices and a weapons cache in northern Baghdad, May 29.

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, found six IEDs in the Sadr City District of Baghdad at approximately 8:30 a.m. Four of the IEDs were 155 mm rounds, and two were 120 mm rounds.

At approximately 11:35 a.m., Soldiers with the 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division, seized a weapons cache in the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad. The weapons consisted of one rocket propelled grenade and three RPG-7s.

“The Iraqi army is dedicated to making the streets of the Sadr City area safe,” said Allen Batschelet, Multi-National Division – Baghdad chief of staff. “With each cache taken off the streets of Baghdad, the Iraqi people are increasingly safe and secure.” Source Link

Tags: Good News (Iraq) //