Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | Maj. Roy Outcelt, team leader for the 401st is busy checking the progress of ongoing...... read more read more
by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq (Mar. 10. 2006) -- The 401st Civil Affairs Battalion followed up on several projects in Hammam Al Alil to verify the reconstruction progress currently under contract Mar.10.
The reconstruction projects will improve the quality of life for the residents of this northern town once controlled by anti-Iraqi forces.
"Ten months ago we could not walk down the streets without worrying about being shot at," said Maj. Roy Outcelt, team leader, CA Team-A 4013, 401st CA Bn.
According to Outcelt the first major project was upgrading and paving 16 kilometers of a local road, at a cost of $1.89 million.
He said the residents of Hammam Al Alil tried for 30 years to get this road repaired. Saddam Hussein refused to fix the road, as it would benefit the Al Jaborri tribe.
Outcelt met with Mayor Khalif Jaborri to discuss reconstruction projects in Hamman Al Alil. He said the mayor has been instrumental in helping coalition forces work in the area despite intimidation and instability.
"Contractors are still afraid to work there, and we can do little without his assistance, and I don't know if anyone could do what he has done in the last two years," Outcelt said.
Jaborri and Outcelt discussed projects such as a new fire station and a school project in Arij and the completion dates for the two.
"The fire station will be done soon," Jborri said.
According to Outcelt, the fire station will cost $165,000 and the school project will cost $63, 000 to complete.
"I was very impressed to see the [school] principal working as a laborer on the project, to get the most out of the money, and work to improve his school," Outcelt said.
Other projects the CA team completed are a school renovation for $15,000, reconstructed two municipal buildings that were destroyed by anti-Iraqi forces at a cost of $40, 000, and the Arij medical clinic project for $227,000.
"We are also working with higher headquarters to complete an unfinished UNICEF clinic left abandoned at the start of the war," Outcelt said.
Jaborri thanks the Americans for everything that has been done in Hamman Al Alil.
According to Outcelt, his team is accomplishing what they were sent here to do, to establish relationships with Iraqis, to coach and mentor men like Mayor Jaborri to become democratic leaders.
"It has not always been easy, and we haven't always achieved what we attempted," Outcelt said. "I am very proud of our achievements and helping get a new democracy established. Iraq will not be perfect when we leave, but will be better in a small way then when we arrived."
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2006 13:48 |
| Story ID: | 5735 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,338 |
| Downloads: | 818 |
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