Soldiers give compensation to landowners near Balad

Photo By Staff Sgt. Joshua Ford | Thana Mohamed, merchant and land owner, signs papers to receive compensation for his property Sept. 28, 2006, at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda for the first time since coalition force procured the land in July 2003. US Army photo taken by Spc. Joshua R. Ford (released)  

09.28.2006

Story by Spc. Joshua Ford 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

by Spc. Joshua R. Ford
3rd BCT, 82nd (AA) PA

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PALIWODA, Iraq (September 28, 2006)—When Coalition Forces came to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they borrowed land from Iraqi landowners throughout the country to facilitate military infrastructure needs to base strategic operations.

The nearly 3.5 thousand acres of land that makes up Forward Operating Base Paliwoda was borrowed in July 2003. Now, three years later, the United States Army is giving compensation for what most of the true landowners of Paliwoda thought they had lost forever.

Lt. Col. Jeffery Martindale, commander, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, and Balad government officials – including Balad mayor Amir Abdulhadi Marhun – paid 64 landowners during a ceremony Sept. 28, 2006, on FOB Paliwoda.

"It is a pleasure to pay you today," said Martindale. "I thank you for allowing us to use your land and I thank you for waiting so long to receive this money."

The lot owners of Paliwoda were paid from July 2003 all the way up to March 31, 2006, said Staff Sgt. Omar B. Dave, paralegal noncommissioned officer, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg.

"We were disappointed when America took our land but now we are happy because we have legal honor to what is rightfully ours," said Thana Mohamed, a Balad merchant and owner of a small lot on FOB Paliwoda.

There are approximately 419 true landowners of the FOB and each will receive compensation depending on the size of the lot they own on Paliwoda. Paying all 419 Iraqis will cost the United States Government approximately $775,000.

Out of the 419 Iraqis, each owns approximately 250 to 300 square meters and will receive $1,600 to $2,000 for their property.

Sgt. Brian White, Balad radio station liaison, 310th Psychological Operations Company, reached the owners of the land on Paliwoda with Balad's only radio station to broadcast the message.

Immediately after the broadcast, dozens of landowners went to the local Joint Coordination Center to claim their property for a deserved compensation, said White.

To receive payment each landowner had to go through a series of screenings to determine if they were a legitimate landowner in the first place. The screenings included verification of land deeds dated before July 2003 and identification that matched the name on the deed. Unfortunately, all 419 land owners could not make it in time to receive payment.

"People that did not show up to get paid will get their money when they come forward with the proper documentation," said Dave. "This is just the beginning. Units that deploy to Paliwoda in the future will pay the leases to the owners."

It has not been established as to how often the Iraqi landowners will get paid, but it will not be a monthly event. The leases will be paid every six months to a year, added Dave.

"We came here to help the Iraqi people and we needed a base to conduct operations from. Since we aren't an occupation force we're going to pay these people for the land they've let us use," said White.

"My family is happy. It's like anyone who would lose something and then regain it. It brings true joy to my family," said Mohamed.

• Date Taken: 09.28.2006
• Date Posted: 10.02.2006 13:36
• Story ID: 7882