Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Matthew Moore (from left), commander of 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment,...... read more read more
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Story by: Capt. Brandon Stevenson
BAGHDAD — Brig. Gen. Ricky D. Gibbs, deputy commanding general – operations, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – South, reunited Dec. 18 with a noted community leader and a strategic partner he met during his last deployment to Iraq.
Gibbs, then a colonel, commanded the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division during its 2007-2008 deployment to Baghdad. Dr. Moyad, a cardiologist for Iraq’s former régime, helped Gibbs with his intricate knowledge of the Rasheed area’s social, civic and political complexities. Moreover, he shared the same ideas for improving the Rasheed District, allowing the two leaders to closely work together to bring about change in the area.
Gibbs, whose division is winding down a yearlong deployment overseeing USD-S, was in Baghdad visiting Col. Paul Calvert, commander of 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, to check on his unit’s progress and while in the city decided to make a stop at the home of Moyad.
The atmosphere of the reunion was one of an old friend—Gibbs—making a long-awaited return to a house that he once practically lived in.
Lt. Col. Matthew Moore, commander of 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., along with his troops, facilitated and secured the site of the reunion between Gibbs and Moyad. Moore was an operations officer who worked closely with Moyad at the same time Gibbs was last deployed in Baghdad.
At Moyad’s residence everyone shared a meal. Moyad, Gibbs, Calvert, Moore and a host of soldiers shared stories from their previous deployments to the Rasheed area. Lt. Col. Moore recalled the years of the surge as the “dark days” of Baghdad and marveled at the improvements that the Rasheed district has made in the past three years.
Moyad cited Rasheed as a case study that underscored Moore’s observation.
“Iraq must not forget, or want to forget, the great contribution of America to the security of Iraq,” Moyad said.
When Brig. Gen. Gibbs spoke of Moyad’s dedication, he described him as “a true patriot of Iraq.”
In the years since Gibbs has last visited, Moyad has spearheaded various projects ranging from the procurement of a generator for each neighborhood of Rasheed to the construction of a hospital in the Doura neighborhood in east Rasheed. He has also hosted Christian reconciliation meetings and a local art show at his home.
“Dr. Moyad provided an insight into the culture of the Rasheed District for past and present unit commanders that few…ever have the luxury of seeing,” Moore said. “Because of Dr. Moyad’s ability to paint the social, civic and political battlefield for these commanders, they have been able to acutely identify and resolve problems within Rasheed.”
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.15.2011 07:31 |
| Story ID: | 63603 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 289 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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