Tomahawk Battalion takes Iraqi partners to dinner

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones | Lt. Col. Chuck Hodges (left) commander, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, presents his Iraqi Army partner, Brig. Gen. Hadayet, commander, 19th Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, with a tomahawk representing the toughness of the partnership between the U.S. and Iraqi Armies during a partnership dinner at Forward Operating Base Grizzly, Sept. 30.  

IRAQ

09.30.2009

Story by Spc. Anthony Jones 

145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

"This is a celebration of the beginning of a new partnership," Lt. Col. Chuck Hodges, commander, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, said about a dinner his battalion hosted for its Iraqi Army counterparts, Sept. 30.

The new partnership Hodges spoke of was that between his battalion and the 19th Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Hadayet.

Hodges' "Tomahawk" Bn. recently assumed responsibility for the partnership between U.S. forces and 19th Bde., 5th IA.

"My battalion has worked with Gen. Hadayet back in 2006 and 2007 during operations here in Diyala," said Hodges. "This has been a chance to reunite with him, and he has been as helpful now as he was back then. He is a very conscientious officer and puts the needs of the Iraqi people before his own."

Hadayet, who has worked with U.S. forces since the beginning of the war said this phase of partnership may be new, but it comes as part of a longer, larger partnership between the Iraqi and American armies.

"We have very strong relations with [U.S. forces]. This partnership is very old, and as our commander directs, we maintain our relationships with [U.S. forces]. I consider all soldiers, whether Iraqi or American, as my sons and brothers," said Hadayet.

Hodges said it's good to work with a commander who already understands how U.S. forces operate. He knows how to implement U.S. troops as combat multipliers to complement his brigade with maintenance programs and logistical assistance.

"It's good to have a guy who understands what our capabilities are, so when he comes to us, he comes with an education of what we can really do for him," said Hodges.

Under the current partnership, each of the companies under 1st Bn., 23rd Inf. is partnered with a battalion from the 19th Brigade, which operates in northwestern Diyala province.

During the partnership dinner, each Iraqi Army battalion commander sat with his U.S. Forces partner and joined in an American style meal of steak and shrimp.

"Iraqi hospitality is unlimited. Every time we go to one of their headquarters, a meal is always offered," said Hodges. "This was a chance for us to reciprocate and give them some good old American steaks.

After the dinner, Hodges presented Hadayet with a tomahawk, a representation of the Native American heritage each of the 1st Bn., 23rd Inf. companies is named for: Apache, Black Hawk and Comanche. Each of the Iraqi Army battalion commanders was also presented a tomahawk by their U.S. partner.

"The Native Americans had great, strong warriors dedicated to their cause and a good brotherhood together," said Hodges. "The symbolism of our giving the Iraqi leaders a tomahawk is that they are our brothers in arms. While we are separated by the flag we fall under, we still have the strong brotherhood of being soldiers."

• Date Taken: 09.30.2009
• Date Posted: 10.10.2009 04:48
• Story ID: 39909
• Location: IQ