Mountain Warriors feed people of Al-Furat

Courtesy Photo | 1st Lt. Robert Andersen, a native of Elizabethtown, Ky., with 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Brigade, Kentucky National Guard, hands food to the local residents of Al-Furat, Iraq during a humanitarian drop Jan. 7. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Chris Cline, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Brigade)  

01.07.2007

Story by Spc. Shea Butler 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Shea Butler
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

AL-FURAT, Iraq – It was a common meeting between a coalition commander and an Imam. A normal conversation commenced between them. After discussing pressing issues the meeting ended with a handshake and a firm promise to help local residents.

"We didn't have much time to prepare but we got the job done, and we made a promise," said 1st Lt. Robert Andersen, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Brigade, Kentucky Army National Guard.

Within 48 hours of that promise, Soldiers from 1-149th "Mountain Warriors" quickly responded to the needs of the people of Al-Furat. They delivered enough food Jan. 7 for 300 people to live off of for a week.

"It was a quick mission. It only lasted 15 to 20 minutes," said Andersen. "We were able to deliver all kinds of food products and blankets."

Security was in place in and around the neighborhood which allowed the Soldiers to move around freely and complete the mission.

Al-Furat is a Sunni neighborhood surrounded by Shiites. They needed a little help and coalition forces were willing to do so, said Maj. Chris Cline, a Hodgenville, Ky., native serving with the 1-149th.

"Security was a big part of the mission too," said Anderson, an Elizabethtown, Ky., native. "Without the security the mission would have been more difficult.

"The locals were very thankful and willing to help unload the food," Cline said. "They were cooperative."

The Mountain Warriors didn't have much time to prepare for the mission because the people were in need, but it was completed without any complications, Andersen said.

"I credit the success of the mission to the fact that we are National Guard (Soldiers)," Cline said. "We are used to doing humanitarian missions in the states, as well."

• Date Taken: 01.07.2007
• Date Posted: 01.12.2007 10:16
• Story ID: 8795