FARNAN AL AMIN, Iraq - American and Iraqi soldiers at Joint Security Station Zubaida are looking back on the friendships they have formed as the Iraqi army prepares to take over the small post a few miles south of Baghdad.
Staff Sgt. Alan Cable, with Company G, 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team is proud of the two groups of Soldiers, who were able to bridge the cultural gap and form a lasting partnership.
"Our biggest accomplishment is developing a relationship with the Iraqi Army that shares this JSS with us." said Cable, of Winston-Salem, N.C. "We've not only developed a professional relationship with them, we've also developed a friendship."
1st Lt. Adnan Ganim, with 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, 55th Brigade, Iraqi army, agreed.
"The relationship between us is very strong." said Ganim. "It is more than a friendship. We have become brothers."
Living together on the small JSS has made it easy for the two cultures to come together under one title: Soldier.
"They are Soldiers just like we are." said Cable. "They are not really different. They're a different culture, in a different country [than the United States], but they are still human beings like us."
Ganim believes that the friendships formed here will help bring the two cultures together on a broader scale and is hopeful for what the future holds.
"We hope that not far in the future we can go to the United States just for fun," said Ganim. "At the same time, we hope that the American people can come to Iraq to visit, and walk around and not need security forces with them."
The 30th Brigade Soldiers will soon be leaving JSS Zubaida in the Iraqi army's hands. Cable plans to keep in touch with his new friends and said he will never forget them.
"When I walk away from here, what I will take with me is remembering these guys and the friendships I have with them." said Cable. "I am going to miss them."