Photo By Creighton Holub | Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, 25th Infantry Division deputy commanding general for...... read more read more
By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
MOSUL, Iraq – One man commands Iraqi army soldiers who relentlessly pursue terrorists down every street and around every corner; the other oversees the entire Iraqi police force in northern Iraq, hunting down the terrorists who manage to slip through the cracks and protecting Iraqi citizens from harm.
Both are loved by their men, both are hated by the terrorists, and both continue to lead the Iraqis through a sometimes cloudy present, toward a future filled with security, stability and prosperity.
On June 22, both Maj. Gen. Wathiq Muhammad 'Abd Al-Qudir Muhammad Al-Hamdani, Ninewa provincial director of police, and Brig. Gen. Jassim Moutaa Habeeb, commander of the 2nd Iraqi Army Division, were presented U.S. Army Commendation Medals, in recognition of those leadership values, by Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, 25th Infantry Division deputy commanding general for support, during a ceremony at Provincial Hall in Mosul.
"In the United States Army we reserve this award for only the best Soldiers. We give this award to those who have distinguished themselves not only in combat, but in peacetime," explained Col. Stephen Twitty, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
"(Brigadier) General Moutaa and (Major) General Wathiq have distinguished themselves here in Mosul in fighting the terrorists. They have led the army and police force with distinction, and are truly two heroes of Mosul," added Twitty.
As the room was called to attention and the citations were read, Wiercinski greeted each man with a handshake and pinned on the awards, creating an official record of recognition for both - a record that was already unofficially understood by the citizens of the Nineva province.
"This is not a medal just for them," Wiercinski said. "This is a medal for the IP and soldiers of the 2nd Iraqi Army Division who have given everything they have to fight terrorism here in Mosul and the Nineva province; and it represents the martyrs who gave their lives in defense of this country. It's because of leaders like them that we are able to continue this fight; and they are winning. This is not a city owned by terrorists; this is a city owned by the people of Mosul."
As the ceremony concluded, Wiercinski asked for quiet, as he had one (perhaps the most important) final point to make about the honoring of two of Mosul's finest.
"I forgot to mention one thing...these two are also my friends," he added smiling.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2007 09:03 |
| Story ID: | 11032 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 560 |
| Downloads: | 487 |
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