Blackjack Soldiers reopen pool, enrich neighborhood

Photo By Maj. John Farmer | A local Ameriyah boy smiles after taking a swim in the renovated Ameriyah pool Nov. 22. Soldiers from the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, operationally attached to the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, worked for more than a year with local citizens and the government of Iraq to reopen the pool.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.26.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Brian Tierce 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Brian Tierce
2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD – In many American communities, the neighborhood pool is a place to meet up with friends and have some fun while trying to beat the hot summer days.

In the spirit of summer, though a little after the season, the citizens of the Ameriyah neighborhood of northwest Baghdad received a welcome gift when they reopened the Ameriyah pool Nov. 22.

The pool has been closed since 2003. According to Shihad Ahmed Abdullah, the lead contractor for the project, the area has seen a number of terrorist attacks and the pool itself has been vandalized and stripped of all necessary resources to maintain a functioning pool.

The fortunes of the neighborhood pool took a drastic turn for the best when Soldiers from the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, which is based out of Fort Carson, and operationally attached to the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, made renovating the pool one of its top priorities.

"It's really about working together with the community," said Capt. Kelly Lanphere, 4-10th Cav. fire support officer. "We pooled our resources together to work with the local community and local government to reopen this pool and now, today, we are reopening the Ameriyah pool."

The reconstruction project did not just call for the pool to be rebuilt but also the pool house in the complex which added a new air-conditioning system.

"This is another place where people can come and enjoy themselves," said Shihad Ahmed Abdullah. "Thanks to the air-conditioning system, local citizens can now host computer training, catered events as well as wedding parties."

With improved security and the quality of life on the rise in Baghdad, Blackjack Soldiers said they knew they had a golden opportunity to provide a boost to the morale of the local citizens and they took full advantage of the chance.

"I think this pool's great; it's a great project," said Lanphere. "More than anything, it represents hope. Ameriyah was a very bad place for a long time, and today is really a sign of hope of things to come."

Once the ribbons were cut, children from the community had the chance to take a quick dip into the pool. Although the cold of November was in the air, the warming sense of pride in their new pool could be seen all over their faces and that sense of pride was shared by the Soldiers of 4-10th Cav.

"We're making progress one day at a time," said Lanphere. "All the projects we're doing, they're making an impact for the people."

• Date Taken: 11.26.2008
• Date Posted: 11.26.2008 02:18
• Story ID: 26812
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ