COP Attack - Five months later, troops made outpost 'home'

Photo By Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Smith | Spc. Joseph Mueller, a Soldier with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment from Columbus, Ohio, rocks out during his downtime at Combat Outpost Attack, Aug. 3.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.10.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Smith 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

By Pfc. Nathaniel Smith
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – Doing a lot with a little. It's the story of the U.S. Soldier: being faced with unfavorable odds, being given the necessities to work with, and being expected to accomplish something great.

The Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division have upheld that tradition in southern Baghdad.

"Attack Company" was given an abandoned recreation center in the Aamel neighborhood of the Rashid District. Out of a gym that was covered in bird droppings with a flooded basement and cluttered weight room, the Soldiers created a fully-functional combat outpost (COP) where they live and work.

In addition to the Co. A Soldiers, the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade Iraqi Mechanized National Police Training Team operates out of the COP.

On March 16, the troops moved in under cover of darkness and began work. Operating continually for 72 hours, the unit set up guard positions to establish a foothold in the middle of the Rashid District.

Now, the "Black Lions" have the "Jewel of southern Baghdad," as their battalion commander, Lt. Col. Patrick Frank, calls it.

Spc. Alan Noe, a Miami native with Co. A, 1-28 Inf., said it's easier to unwind there than at Forward Operating Base Falcon while off mission.

"A little more relaxed than the FOB," Noe said. "There's no saluting. It's more of a relaxed environment at the operating base."

To help the Soldiers loosen up when they're on a mission, the COP has been outfitted with new air conditioners, refrigerators and generators to provide electricity.

"The quality of living has improved a lot since we first established an operating base," Noe said. "We like it here a lot. We all like it here."

Pvt. Coleman Hykes, an Okolona, Miss., native with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-28 Inf., said in addition to preferring the COP to the FOB, the outpost helps the company accomplish it's mission.

"We're right here in our (area of operations). If something happens, we can go right out there," said Hykes, who is attached to Attack Company. "We don't have to do anything to get out here to get to our objective."

In addition to assisting with accomplishment of the mission, the outpost has multiple services available to the Soldiers, such as a phone service, unclassified Internet access and a television hooked up to the American Forces Network.

Hykes added that while he feels safe and well connected to his family back home, even his buddies have noticed the amenities COP Attack has to offer.

"I have friends that live back at (Joint Security Station Black Lion), and they say this is better."

Of all the services provided to the Soldiers, one of the most popular is the weight room. Noe said he appreciates the benefits of some quality physical training.

"Getting a good work out is good for the body," he said. "It makes you feel better and improves your health."

"It's pretty sweet," said Pfc. Matthew De Leon, a gunner for Company A, 1-28 Inf. from Yucaipa, Calif. "We can work out after every mission or when we're just chilling."

'Chilling' is not something these Soldiers get to do a lot, running approximately 200 missions a month. At any moment, they can go from relaxing to responding to enemy activity in their area of operations.

• Date Taken: 08.10.2007
• Date Posted: 08.10.2007 08:22
• Story ID: 11729
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ