Multi-National Force - Iraq - Soldiers Provide Humanitarian Aid in Diyala
BAGHDAD — The Soldiers of 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., have seen their share of combat since deploying to Iraq in April. Raids, clearing operations and air assaults are what these combat Soldiers have prepared for and are executing daily in their new area of operation, Diyala province.
But the Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment played a different role recently at Forward Operating Base Warhorse during a humanitarian aid mission to assist the citizens of Northern al Hashmiyat.
“This was the first humanitarian mission my platoon has run,” said Sgt. 1st Class Keith Shekishiro, 2nd Platoon Sergeant, Troop C, 2-1 Cav. “We have been doing a lot of missions lately with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police; not necessarily humanitarian missions, but assisting them in providing their own security in their towns and villages.”
Northern al Hashmiyat was recently controlled by al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) . Troop C kept a heavy presence in the area, but since 4th Stryker Brigade’s move into Diyala, the AQI presence in al Hashmiyat has been diminishing. Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) groups began taking over responsibility of the security in the area. CLC checkpoints arose around the villages.
“We used to provide a heavy presence there,” Shekishiro said. “But the CLCs have been successful at providing their own security for the past month.”
2nd Platoon escorted a convoy of CLC trucks from the villages of al Hashmiyat back to FOB Warhorse, Dec. 11. Once back on Warhorse, the CLC trucks were loaded with 10,000 pounds of rice, 10,000 pounds of flour and 180 liters of cooking oil.
“The CLC checkpoints in northern Hashmiyat will distribute the food to the local villages in the area,” Shekishiro said.
“It’s common for Iraqis to make bread every morning,” said Ali Mustafa Abu Asah, a leader in the CLC organization of Hashmiyat. “The rice will help nourish our people and we will use the oil over the rice.”
Working side by side with the Iraqis helped build relationships, as well.
“We had fun doing it,” Spc. Christopher Nollenberg, a cavalry scout in 2nd Platoon, said. “We taught them a few English words and they taught us a few Iraqi words.”
“Relationships are key when working with the CLCs,” Nollenberg added. “If we don’t have good relations, they aren’t going to give us information in order for us to do our job.”
“We are very grateful to the Coalition forces for this food,” Abu Asah said. “We are trying to work with Coalition forces in order to keep our villages and roads secure from al-Qaida.”
Although a change from the daily combat operations, missions like these could prove to be just as fruitful.
“Hopefully, they will see that we are trying to help them, and hopefully they will try to help us,” Nollenberg said. “This is my first HA (humanitarian assistance) drop. It’s a good change of pace. We can’t be out there chasing the bad guys all of the time. Sometimes, we have to help the people in other ways. Hopefully, they will see that we are trying to help them and they will help us catch more bad guys.”
(Strory by Multi-National Corps - Iraq)
Soldiers Provide Humanitarian Aid in Diyala
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