CPT Monte C. Hibbert
116th BCT Public Affairs
FOB WARRIOR, Iraq- Coalition religious and governmental officials allowed visits by family members and worshipers to a cemetery and newly-renovated shrine located on Forward Operating Base Warrior May 21.
Approximately 15 individuals with family members buried at the cemetery visited the shrine dedicated to Imam Sultan Saqy, a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed, located on the FOB. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Worster, 116th Brigade Combat Team chaplain, and Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Toney Vick, 506th Air Expeditionary Group chaplain, were among coalition religious leaders who accompanied the group during the visit.
Community members requested permission to enter the FOB to visit the site through Lt. Col. Anthony Wickham, 116th BCT local government liaison, while he was doing regular business at the Kirkuk Government Building recently. The FOB houses the headquarters of both the 116th BCT and the 506th AEG
"We felt it would be very appropriate to allow these individuals access to the graves of their loved ones," said Wickham. "Saddam forbade them to visit this cemetery when he seized the surrounding area for the airfield.
This is the first time many of them have been allowed to visit the graves of their fathers and grandfathers for over 20 years."
Coalition leaders arranged to bring the family members on base and provided transportation for them to the cemetery and shrine complex.
Promoting good will in the local community is one way the 116th BCT is helping the people in the provinces of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.
Members of the brigade are also helping local Iraqis establish their new government, train their security forces, stimulate their economy and facilitate their communications.
With component units from the states of Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, New Jersey and Maryland, the 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units that is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2005 08:24 |
| Story ID: | 1984 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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