Iraqi people receive much needed water

Courtesy Photo | A woman carries home water she received from Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Nov. 1, 2008 during a humanitarian water drop after terrorists attempted to destroy a vital waterline in the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad. Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers distributed more than 10,000 water bottles.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.07.2008

Story by 2nd Lt. Josh Woodke 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By 2nd Lt. Joshua Woodke
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division supplied Iraqis from the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad with much needed water Nov. 1, 2008 after terrorists attempted to destroy a vital waterline in the district Oct. 30.

Second Lt. Brendon McNichol, a platoon leader for the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment contacted Mohammed Mathoon, the Qahira Neighborhood Advisory Council chairman and Shaykh Adel Moohamad, the imam of Al Ani Mosque prior to the humanitarian water drop.

"Shaykh Adel Moohamad arrived and was extremely helpful organizing the local populace into a line to receive water," said McNichol, a native of Morris, Conn.

McNichol said both Iraqi leaders assisted in the coordination of the mission while the government of Iraq immediately began working to repair the damage caused to the waterline.

The humanitarian mission consisted of two drops which started in the Wazeriyah neighborhood just north of the Al Ani Mosque and continued with a drop in the Qahira neighborhood at the Al Kindy School both in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad. As Soldiers from Company A, 1-68 AR arrived on site they established security for the distribution point, while others prepared to hand out water bottles.

"The people of Wazeriyah were thankful for the water and waved as we headed for the next drop," McNichol said.

"On behalf of the Adhamiyah City Council chairman we would like to thank the coalition forces and its initiative to help the Iraqi people," said Abdul Hussein, District Advisory Council Energy chairman.

McNichol said the water drop also provided the platoon with the opportunity to pass out handbills and make speaker announcements asking for assistance from the population to help coalition forces and Iraqi security forces defeat the terrorists in Adhamiyah.

The people of both neighborhoods were thankful for the water they received and expressed their appreciation to the Soldiers.

"Thank you coalition forces for the water and brining help to the people," said Waael Ibrahim, a muktar of Muhallah 309.

Over all, McNichol's platoon distributed more than 10,000 water bottles and passed out 2,000 plus handbills.

• Date Taken: 11.07.2008
• Date Posted: 11.07.2008 05:45
• Story ID: 26036
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ