By Capt. Cliff Kazmarek and Capt. Rick Hawkins
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
YUSIFIYAH, Iraq - Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company B, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division air assaulted into Mufargi village, April 4.
The mission was to assess electricity and economic viability in the village.
"This routine work - assessing and improving the economy and essential services - is our main effort," said Lt. Col. Andrew Rohling, 3-187th Inf. Regt. commander. "(This is) what will win a lasting peace for the people of this area."
After landing at the Tanja school, the Soldiers discovered the electrical wire powering the village had been cut. They went to see Sheikh Nuri, Sheikh Mahdi and Abbas, a local official, about the problem. Abbas agreed to repair the wire and check the power feeder near Patrol Base Dragon; the wire was repaired within a few hours.
As part of the economic assessment, Company B Soldiers visited a mechanic and tire salesman, blacksmith, butcher, cell phone store, ice cream store, pharmacy and various vendors, recording the shop owners' names and phone numbers.
With the assessment complete, the Soldiers returned to Patrol Base Shanghai.
"It's all in a day's work," said Sgt. Matthew Madill, Co. B, 3-187th Inf. Regt. radio telephone operator.