Landowners of Paliwoda receive compensation for borrowed land

Photo By Staff Sgt. Joshua Ford | Command Sgt. Maj. James Norman, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, hands a woman 2.2 million Dinar (equaling more than $2,000), March 18, at the Joint Coordination Center on Forward Operating Base Paliwoda near Balad, Iraq. More than 70 people were compensated for the land they own, but cannot use, on Forward Operating Base Paliwoda.  

03.26.2007

Story by Spc. Joshua Ford 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Sgt. Joshua R. Ford
Public Affairs Office, 3rd Brigade Combat Team , 82nd Airborne Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PALIWODA, Iraq—More than 80 people waited outside the gates of Forward Operating Base Paliwoda to receive compensation for something they thought they had lost to coalition forces almost four years ago.

Soldiers with the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, and Detachment B, 125th Finance Battalion, compensated more than 70 Iraqis who own land that makes up FOB Paliwoda, March 18, at the FOB's Joint Coordination Center.

This was the second opportunity for FOB Paliwoda landowners to receive compensation. In September 2006, Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, compensated 83 of FOB Paliwoda's true landowners.

The event was publicized over radio stations and newspapers a month in advance so people would have time to get paperwork together to prove they owned land on the base.

Landowners with the proper documentation received $1,600 to $2,400 depending on how big the lot was – each ranging from 250 to 300 square meters.

More than 400 people own land on FOB Paliwoda, which is located outside of Balad, Iraq, and more than 150 have been paid.

"I had a bad feeling when the Soldiers took my land. I wanted to build a house on the land for my kids when they get older," said Pad Al Rzakh, a nurse at Balad's hospital and father of seven children. "Now with this money, I will be able to support my children by opening a shop and buying new clothes for them."

Like Rzakh, many of the landowners have big plans for their money.

Amem Karrim, a retired Iraqi soldier and veteran of the Iraq-Iran war, is trying to help his brother who is in a Baghdad hospital because he was shot by terrorists.

Mother of six, Pshar Muhammad, wants to do something nice for her children. She said she is going to buy all of her kids their own bicycle and then pay off her family's taxes.

"I have been very patient," said Muhammad. "I knew the (coalition forces) would give us something for our land. You can't just take something and not give anything in return. I am very grateful for today."

The payoff was more than just getting the people their deserved money, according to Sgt. Jose Guajardo, dispersing non-commissioned officer, Detachment B, 125th Finance Battalion.

It is a way to support commanders on the battlefield, said Guajardo. By paying the people for their land, it gives coalition forces a place to base strategic operations and builds a trust between the Balad population and the U.S. forces.

After the last payoff, the FOB was only attacked once for the rest of the time the Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division were there, said Staff Sgt. Chris Sorrum, legal non-commissioned officer, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. This showed Sorrum that the people gain a trust with the unit deployed to FOB Paliwoda.

"I think that it shows that democracy works and that it can work here," said Sorrum. "We're here to foster a relationship with them that will hopefully last beyond us occupying their land."

The army plans to pay landowners of FOB Paliwoda once a year. More than 150 landowners have been paid for the first year already.

Guajardo estimates that more than 250 landowners remain to be compensated, and the first year of payments will total more than $775,000. The soldiers occupying FOB Paliwoda plan to hold similar payouts throughout the year.

• Date Taken: 03.26.2007
• Date Posted: 03.26.2007 13:14
• Story ID: 9622