Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, a Hattiesburg, Miss., native, and the commanding general of...... read more read more
By Sgt. Mark Matthews
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
IRAQ - Mission. Soldier. Family. Team. These four words represent the motto of the 4th Infantry Division, and each segment of the motto represents a crucial element in the overall success of the Multi-National Division – Baghdad's mission in Iraq.
During the 4th Infantry Division town hall meeting, Feb. 28, it was the division's families who were at the forefront of importance. The town hall meeting was broadcast live, via satellite, to the families of the 4th Inf. Div. at both Fort Hood and Fort Carson. The families in Texas and Colorado were also able to participate in the meeting over the internet, via webcast and on the 4th Inf. Div. website.
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, the commanding general of 4th Inf. Div. and Multi-National Division - Baghdad, spoke to the families, who were attending the event back home, and answered questions from the stateside audience.
Not only did the live town hall meeting provide Hammond an opportunity to discuss important issues, such as retention, soldier healthcare and media engagement for families, it also provided an opportunity to encourage stateside loved ones and to thank them for all of their support.
Hammond opened by updating the family members and friends on just a few of the milestones the Ivy Division has accomplished since taking over the reigns of MND-B only a few short months ago.
"We're doing good, real good," said the native from Hattiesburg, Miss. "In just 60 days, we have captured or killed 178 al-Qaida operatives and 198 (Jaysh al-Mahdi) special group operatives."
When it comes to the business of hunting down and eliminating the threats to soldiers, he said, the division is doing an exceptional job.
Hammond also invited a special guest to address the audience when he motioned for Pvt. Donna Redman, a native of Worley, Texas, to join him in the spotlight. Redman is the division's youngest deployed soldier at the age of 18 years and 10 days.
Armed with a bubbling personality, she shared her story and a little about her life in Baghdad with the distant audience. She is assigned to Company C, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., and serves as a cable maintenance and install specialist.
"I was pretty happy about coming over and doing my job, not in a training environment, but actually in the field," she said. "So far, this deployment has been great – although it is a little muddy right now because of the rain, but it's pretty good."
"The team I work with is pretty cool, and we are becoming fast friends," she added. "They are helping make this a home away from home for me."
Besides being the youngest soldier in the division, Hammond said Redman is remarkable in that she graduated from high school at the age of 15 and could possibly be the president of the United States some day.
He shared a few special 4th Inf. Div.-specific items with the stateside audience, which were donated to the division from several organizations, such as a football helmet that is adorned by University of Southern Mississippi and 4th Inf. Div. on each side, and two football jerseys, one from West Point and the other from the University of Southern Mississippi. Both of the football jerseys were emblazoned with the 4th Inf. Div. emblem as well.
Another treat the commanding general had for the friends and families present at the event was a look at the new 4th Inf. Div. retention video.
"Even deployed here in Iraq, we continue to set and exceed the retention objective for our army," said Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, a Buffalo, N.Y., native, who serves as the senior enlisted soldier with the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B. "This video encompasses the heart of this division – its soldiers."
The Ivy Division and MND-B commander then addressed each of the family members concerns in turn. One of the questions he responded was from a spouse about how she should engage media without jeopardizing the soldiers' mission in Iraq.
"I think you should be honest," Hammond answered. "There is nothing you can tell the media – if it's honest and comes from the heart – that can get you into trouble. "Family members should not know any operational security-related information, and if they do, then that's our fault and shame on us."
Hammond also addressed concerns about healthcare for soldiers while deployed to Iraq and the different medical services available.
"You know, I tell soldiers that they probably get the best care in the world here," Hammond said. "We are getting the highest quality, skilled people here. We're doing great with this"
He concluded the division's second town hall meeting since its deployment by showing his appreciation to not only the soldiers, but the families, friends and communities back home for their unwavering support.
"We know you are all back there, deployed in that direction, and we appreciate what you are doing," Hammond said. "It's hard, but it gets easier each day as we get closer to when we can reunite and be home, as one. I thank you for standing with us."
The division's town hall meetings will continue each month through the end of the 15 month deployment.
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.28.2008 15:01 |
| Story ID: | 16793 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 237 |
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