Soldiers from different cultures learn to work together

BALAD, IRAQ

10.04.2005

Courtesy Story

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Spc. Jimmy D. Lane Jr.
1st BCT PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE O'RYAN, BALAD, IRAQ -- With the operation tempo of units mobilizing and deploying, many times units are thrown together to compensate for open slots. Often units are made up of more than one element.

Such is the case at Forward Operating Base O'Ryan. Soldiers living on the FOB are made up of three separate units from three very different places. The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment of the Hawaiian Army National Guard, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment of the Wisconsin Army National Guard and 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee National Guard make up Task Force Eagle. The three units have learned to live and work together since deploying late last year.

Each of the units has the same impression of the other unit, although all units respect each other. The 100-442 Inf., or Konohiki, are known to be sensitive and tolerant of the Iraqis.

"The Konohiki are more culturally sensitive than the rest of us," said Sgt. 1st Class Rathburn Ray, a 3-278 ACR fire support non-commissioned officer. "They seem more tolerant of other people's culture, more laid back."

Capt. Brice Buckingham, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-128 Inf. said the Soldiers from Hawaii are a very nice, easygoing group of people.

"They are very friendly, pleasant people to me," Buckingham said. "Everything is half full to them. They're a little more laid back and appreciate camaraderie within their group."

Buckingham said the guys from Wisconsin are all business when it comes to their missions, and have a harder time unwinding.

"It is definitely a different culture," Buckingham said "Up where we are from we are a lot more pragmatic. We do things by the book. We're kind of a stoic people."

"They're more aggressive than we are when it comes to their work," said Staff Sgt. Rene Baliscao, a 100-442 Inf. medic. "They don't have the Aloha spirit like us Hawaii boys do. I think we approach people trying to understand their culture more. The guys from Wisconsin jump in and get the job done. They are very hard working and take their work seriously."

Ray said the Wisconsin Soldiers are more sensitive of their grammar than their free time.
"The Wisconsin guys aren't as playful," Ray said. "They don't joke around as much as we do. They are more grammar oriented than we are. They are very detail oriented and very professional."

The Soldiers from Tennessee, on the other hand, are viewed as true southerners. Their laidback attitude and their distinct speech are noticed by everybody on the FOB.

"The Tennessee boys are more playful, cowboy guys," Baliscao said. "One thing that sticks out in my head is their accent; their twang. Our guys have accents, being from all over the Pacific, but with the Tennessee guys you really have to pay attention to understand what they are saying."

One thing different about the Soldiers from Tennessee is their work ethic, Buckingham said.

"People from Tennessee work hard and play hard," Buckingham said. "There is no in between for them. We work hard and don't play enough. I think we could all learn something from each other. When it's time to work, they work really hard. When the mission is over, they take their play time just as seriously."

Buckingham said his fellow Wisconsin Soldiers"outlook as well as their social skills comes from their environment up north. The cold accounts for their attitude.

"We have those bitter winters where we are from, and we are used to isolating ourselves; retreating to our caves and huddling next to our fires," Buckingham said. "We don't get out and socialize as much."

• Date Taken: 10.04.2005
• Date Posted: 10.04.2005 16:46
• Story ID: 3190
• Location: BALAD, IQ