Beginning of the end: Joint Security Stations change hands in Iraq

Photo By Dustin Gautney | Finalizing paperwork to hand over Joint Security Station Ashura to the Iraqi army, Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Ross Coffman, 1-64 AR, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, marking the start of withdrawal of U.S. Soldiers from Iraq, May 15.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, IRAQ

05.15.2010

Story by Spc. Dustin Gautney 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – The Joint Security Stations Ashura and Tal Abtha, located in northern Iraq, were signed over to the Iraqi military and local government, May 15. Within an hour of the short handover ceremony, U.S. forces had successfully withdrawn from the bases.

"This is a special day for the Iraqi security forces," said Capt. Russell Thomas, 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and former commander of JSS Ashura. "To be able to take control of this JSS and provide security over the area of Ashura is directly contributed to the hard work of the Iraqi security forces."

In May 2008, four Iraqi police were killed outside the gate of JSS Ashura, since then Iraqi and U.S. forces from the JSS have secured the peace of the region. Schools and other local projects to restore the area have continued to flourish in the area, said Capt. Thomas.

"There are certain days in people's lives that they will always remember … those here will be able to say, I was there on that historic day when Iraqi forces took full control over JSS Ashura and Tal Abtha," said Lt. Col. Ross Coffman, commander, 1/64th AR, during the official signing of both JSS' to Iraqi Security Forces.

Even though this is Coffman's fourth deployment to Iraq, which he now considers a second home, his current deployment is the one that will have the lasting memory of what U.S. forces working jointly with ISF have been able to accomplish for the country.

"Carry the message that we are true to our word," said Coffman, in reference to the U.S.'s promise of withdraw from Iraq, which he said is a direct reflection of the success of ISF, and the relationship between both countries' military forces. "You are and always will be our brothers."

Sameer-Al Haddad, mayor of Tal Abtha, agrees that this success is directly contributed to the joint efforts of the U.S. and ISF.

"Some might not realize the importance of today now, however one day when people look back they will see this day as a truly historic day, and will see all that had been accomplished because of the sacrifice and blood of the [U.S.] and ISF," said Haddad. "I hope one day in the future the Soldiers of the [U.S.], especially 1/64 AR, will be able to return to Iraq and see for themselves what their sacrifices have helped the country of Iraq become."

• Date Taken: 05.15.2010
• Date Posted: 05.24.2010 06:44
• Story ID: 50151
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, IQ