$100 Bills [Image 3 of 11]

HIT, IRAQ

06.11.2006

Photo by Staff Sgt. James Goodwin 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Maj. William Duvall IV, a 35-year-old from Charleston, S.C., counts out $100 bills - a compensation payment - to an Iraqi man in Hit, Iraq, June 11, 2006. Every two weeks, U.S. soldiers from Task Force 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment make claims payments to the city's citizens who have had property damaged during U.S. military operations. So far, the battalion has paid nearly $100,000 to locals to compensate them for everything from broken windows and doors, to damaged vehicles. U.S. soldiers from the Freiberg, Germany-based unit have spent four months now training and mentoring Iraqi soldiers in the region to eventually relieve U.S. forces of military operations in Hit, a city located 70 miles northwest of Ramadi in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. The U.S. military is also trying a more subtle approach when conducting military operations in the city to help ease tensions between locals and Coalition Forces. Instead of causing more damage, U.S. and Iraqi soldiers want to help locals rebuild. "Do you have to kick the door in when you can knock? Most people will let you right in," said Duvall, 1-36's executive officer. "I can't think of a single case when we had to do that." (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Goodwin)

• Date Taken: 06.11.2006
• Date Posted: 06.21.2006 07:05
• Photo ID: 23964
• Resolution: 729x1200
• Size: 316.5 KB
• Location: HIT, IQ