Strikers dedicate new dining facility to fallen comrade

Photo By Master Sgt. Jerry Saslav | Lt. Col. Kevin Gregory, a native of Ireland, W. Va., commander 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, Lt. Col. Troy Otto, a native of Mount Holly Springs, Pa., commander, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND - B, Lt. Col. Yeaeya, the commander of the 3rd Batt., 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division and the interpreter known as "Eminem" cut the cake dedicating opening of the Maj. Mark Rosenberg dining facility at Forward Operating Base War Eagle in Baghdad's Adhamiyah District, Nov. 16. Maj. Mark Rosenberg was killed when an improvised-explosive device struck his vehicle, April 8. "Eminem" was Rosenberg's interpreter and lost his leg in the attack.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.16.2008

Story by Sgt. Jerry Saslav 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq – The Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, never forgot Maj. Mark Rosenberg, and in his memory, they commemorated the opening and dedication of their new dining facility in his name, Nov. 16.

Approximately 75 people gathered for the dedication ceremony at Forward Operating Base War Eagle.

"We dedicate this facility with the name of one who gave of himself," said Maj. Chip Nicholas, a native of Orlando, Fla., who serves as the 3rd BCT chaplain. "We pray that this occasion will bring honor to his memory."

Rosenberg, a native of Fort Carson, Colo., assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., Multi-National Division – Baghdad, was serving as the chief of the Military Transition Team with the Iraqi army's 3rd Battalion, 42nd Brigade, 11th Division, when he was killed when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle, April 8.

"The type of Soldier you want in your unit," said Lt. Col. Kevin Gregory, a native of Ireland, W.Va., and Rosenberg's commanding officer, about his former Soldier.

There were three other people in the vehicle with Rosenberg that day; "Eminem," his interpreter, who lost a leg in the explosion, was at the dedication ceremony.

"Maj. Rosenberg ... He was a funny man; we always laugh," recalled Eminem.

Rosenberg was Jewish; Eminem is a Sunni Muslim.

"He [Rosenberg] tried to do his best, and he respect the Muslims," said Eminem. "He was a very good man; He had a big, big heart."

Compared to the facilities it replaced, it is a big, big building.

"It's a vast improvement over what we had before. The diners love it. The kitchen is almost state of the art compared to other FOBs and [other] sites in Iraq," said Sgt. 1st Class Richard Pena, the cooking supervisor, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

The new building is 60 feet wide by 90 feet long and can comfortably fit two hundred people at one time. The kitchen, serving areas and dining sections are all in the same building for the first time; before, they were in two separate buildings and a tent.

Besides a new building, new equipment was also added for the military chefs.

"We actually have tilt grills, deep fat fryers, flat tops [grills] ... we're improving every month," said Pena, a native of Camden, N.J.

Diners will now have the choice of a main line or a short order line at lunch and dinner, along with separate salad and sandwich bars. Omelets will eventually be offered in the morning.

"We have the equipment and the facilities to do special meals, like Italian night and soul food night," said Pena.

For Pena, the new meal choices were not the only special things in the new facility.

"We have a minimal staff. The Soldiers who work in here are going above and beyond," said Pena. "We can feed the Soldiers ... get the morale up and go home happy."

• Date Taken: 11.16.2008
• Date Posted: 11.17.2008 13:37
• Story ID: 26450
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ