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    Soldiers Tear Down Past to Build the Future

    Soldiers Tear Down Past to Build the Future

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Boston, Mass. native, Sgt. Adam DeLorey, an engineer with the 92nd Engineer Battalion,...... read more read more

    By Sgt. Jon Cupp
    1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

    HUSAYNIYAH, Iraq – Iraqi Army troops from the 5th Special Troops Company, 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized), Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment and Army engineers from the 92nd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division tore down remnants of this city's past Jan. 30 to pave way for its future during a joint operation here.

    During the operation, Iraqi Army troops and U.S. Soldiers conducted a cordon and search and then tore down several abandoned buildings from which terrorists conducted operations, hid weapons caches and executed improvised explosive device attacks. The buildings were destroyed to prevent their further use by insurgent forces.

    After Iraqi soldiers and artillerymen from Battery A, 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt. cleared the area of civilians near the abandoned buildings, the 92nd Eng. Bn. Soldiers used heavy equipment—bulldozers and back hoes—to knock the walls of the buildings down.

    "This is a great event for the Iraqi security forces and the people of Husayniyah," said Maj. John Haubert, an operations officer for 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt. "Any time we can help improve the security of the Iraqi people—it's a good event.

    "The people here want to see a safer Husayniyah and a safer Iraq. They don't support insurgents using abandoned buildings in their town to harm Iraqi civilians, Iraqi security forces or coalition forces."

    Haubert, a native of Fort Lewis, Wash., added that building up the security of the area will also help Iraqi and coalition forces as they continue bringing future projects into the city.

    Working with the Iraqis, U.S. civil affairs units and others, the Soldiers of the 1st Bn., 37 FA Regt. have already helped bring in several projects aimed at improving the quality of life for the people of Husayniyah.

    These on-going projects have included providing gravel for roads, rewiring the city's powerlines, a new Husayniyah fire station, a new city council buiding, sewage systems and providing area schools with supplies, heaters, air conditioners and water purification systems.

    Spc. Jeff Thompson, a field artilleryman with Battery A, said he understands the underlying importance of clearing the Husayniyah landscape of havens for insurgents.

    "When you look into the faces of the children and see them happy, it makes you see how important and worthwhile the things are that we do here," said Thompson, who hails from Grand Island, Neb. "Protecting them is protecting Iraq's future and what we did today gives the terrorists one less place to hide--one less place from which they can harm someone, especially these children who are out here playing everyday."

    Lynchburg, Ohio native Pfc. Daniel Shepherd, also an artilleryman in Thompson's battery echoed his sentiments.

    "This is a just cause, and gives us the chance to work with the Iraqis to rid them of terrorist threats," said Shepherd.

    Thompson added that, as with the day's joint operation, he always looks forward to working the IA troops and hopes to continuing building bridges of cooperation with them.

    "The Iraqi Army is alright, and they're very squared away," Thompson said. "You can tell they get better at what they're doing every day.

    "What I'm taking away from the experience is an understanding of another country, their people, ways of life and customs and a better understanding of myself," he said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.01.2007
    Date Posted: 02.01.2007 14:30
    Story ID: 9026
    Location: HUSAYNIYAH, IQ

    Web Views: 865
    Downloads: 666

    PUBLIC DOMAIN