by Capt. Paul Greenberg, RCT-5
OBSERVATION POST EL DORADO, Iraq — Marines from Civil Affairs Team 4, Detachment 1, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 inspected one of their crowning achievements Sept. 28: the renovation of a meat-processing facility in Rutbah.
An Iraqi town of about 17,000 in western al-Anbar province, Rutbah is situated on a key route between Baghdad and crossing points into Jordan and Syria, Iraq’s major trade neighbors.
Sgt. Jonatan Minier, 24, a CA Team 4 Marine from Tampa, Fla., explained that the meat-processing plant project became a priority after the team had already addressed some other serious issues in Rutbah.
“Our first concern was providing water, sewage services and electricity, as well as medical supplies for the Iraqi clinic,” said Minier. “I think all these projects are stimulating the economy, because they are providing jobs to the people out in town.”
1st Lt. Dan Alldridge, 25, from Bloomington, Ill. is the officer-in-charge of CA Team 4. Supported by a crew of 10 Marines and one Navy corpsman, Alldridge spearheaded efforts and ensured all administrative steps were carried out to get the meat plant project off the ground.
The Rutbah city council presented the renovation idea to the CA Team in July, and the Marines then met with a special-projects committee from the city council to outline the scope of work. Local Iraqi contractors were brought in to bid on the project, and a decision was made based on the contractors’ cost estimates and their professional reputations.
Alldridge explained that the funding for the project came from the commander’s emergency response program, managed by the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Because the $92,000 price tag for the renovations exceeded the $50,000 ceiling for minor projects, it had to be personally approved by Maj. Gen. Martin Post, the I MEF deputy commanding general.
“This really is a good use of the CERP funds,” said Alldridge. “First off, it is an idea from the local government, and it is what the people want. This project will directly benefit the populace, as this will be a consolidated place to bring their animals to slaughter.”
The processing plant has been closed for about 15 years, according to Hashim Mohammed Ali, the local contractor who won the bid for the work. The citizens of Rutbah have been killing their animals in the street near the market and hanging the meat on hooks in the open air. The blood and remains left in the street, as well as the meat left to rot in the heat, has created serious public health risks. The new processing facility will address this issue when it is complete in the next few months. Furthermore, it will also be a boon to the town’s economy.
“This will bring in a lot of jobs,” explained Alldridge. “Veterinary staff will inspect the animals. Butchers will be employed full-time to slaughter them. Laborers will clean the place daily and remove remains. Drivers will take meat from refrigerators to the market in refrigerated trucks. That’s a lot of jobs for a city struggling with unemployment.”
Because of Rutbah’s location on a key thoroughfare through the country, the modern meat-processing plant may also attract much-needed outside business, as well.
Coalition forces turned over security responsibilities for Anbar province to Iraqis on Sept. 1. The economic development of Rutbah, and many towns like it, will likely have key strategic implications in the future of the fledgling Iraqi democracy.
by Lance Cpl. Paul Torres, RCT-5
HADITHA, Iraq – Almost 9,000 pieces of ordnance lined the recently excavated trenches. Iraqi Police officers and Marines smiled and congratulated each other on preventing such a large explosive-remnants-of-war (ERW) stockpile from falling into the enemy’s hands. The IP officers discovered the large ordnance stockpile near Haditha on a combined patrol with the “Warlords” of 2nd Platoon, Company E, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, Sept. 22. “This is the biggest (stockpile) we’ve ever found,” said Muhammed Jassim Muhammed, a member of the National Iraqi Intelligence Agency. “When we arrived, there was a 70-meter wide hole dug, but (the insurgents) had not finished burying everything. “We are extremely happy to find this (stockpile),” Muhammed said. “We scored a victory on the bad guys and prevented upwards of two-hundred possible vehicle-borne-improvised-explosive-device attacks. With every find we make, Iraq becomes a safer place.” Through the help of local Iraqi citizens looking out for the safety and wellbeing of their community, the police received information on the location of the stockpile. “The Iraqi Police are 100 percent responsible for finding this (stockpile),” said Staff Sgt. Robert Fertal, 26, platoon sergeant with 2nd. Plt., Co. E. “Their hard work and sacrifice has created an environment where Iraqi nationals freely offer information. This information has led to several smaller caches and ERW finds, as well as the large one.” The ordnance Co. E normally finds is less in quantity than this one. Finds are commonly linked to preceding disposal attempts of enemy munitions by Coalition forces. “We have never uncovered this amount of ordnance in the same location,” said Fertal, who is from Cleveland. “Our typical finds are usually five to 10 rounds and almost always classified as ERW. On average, we find ERW about twice a month. We also find unexploded ordinance (UXO) from previous controlled detonations. UXO is found more frequently.” With the quick response time of the IP and the help of citizens in the area, Iraqis are preventing insurgency operations in Iraq. Step by step they are becoming self-reliant and completely capable of protecting their people and their freedoms. “This find demonstrates the post PIC (Provincial Iraqi Control) capabilities of an Iraqi Police force in the lead, using its own intelligence to take the fight to the enemy by depriving him of a significant supply of ammunition,” said Lt. Col. Steven J. Grass, the battalion commander of TF 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines. “It was a big win.”
by Lance Cpl. Paul Torres, RCT-5
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Civilian life can wait. At least that was how Sgt. Jonathan J. Gray felt when he found out his unit needed him.
“I was getting close to the end of my six-year contract when I found out that my platoon was shorthanded,” said Gray, 28, from Hemet, Calif., who is the acting platoon sergeant and tank commander with 1st Platoon, Company A, 4th Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5. “They said they could use me, so I volunteered to stick around for the deployment.”
This will be Gray’s second deployment to Iraq with 4th Tank Bn. During this deployment and the previous one, his leadership skills and quick thinking have proven to be beneficial to his fellow Marines.
“When we deployed last year to Fallujah during a quick-reaction-force mission, we had a post that was taking fire from a junk yard of old trucks about a kilometer west of us,” said Sgt. Steve L. Farrier, 25, from San Diego, who is a gunner with Company A. “Gray was in the lead vehicle, and when we turned a corner there was an insurgent who sprayed AK-47 fire. The rounds hit all over the vehicle, including the turret, and the gunner would have been hit if Gray hadn’t pulled him down.”
This deployment, Gray and his fellow Marines have spent most of the time in their tanks as a support element to infantry units wherever they are needed.
“We basically go out for a month or more at a time and live in the tanks out in the desert,” said Gray. “We have cleared grid squares in the desert, helped clear out cities and towns and patrolled the Syrian border.”
For these long missions, it is important to keep a positive attitude, and Gray is often able to lighten the mood whether he means to or not.
“I have never really seen him get mad, except for one time he was trying to close the overhead tank commander’s hatch because it was raining,” said Farrier. “The handle on the hatch was broken, so he was trying to close it with a (multi-tool). When the (multi-tool) broke, he wound up punching himself in the head and almost knocked himself unconscious.”
“That was the hardest I have ever been hit,” said Gray as Marines around him started laughing. “Seriously, I was seeing stars.”
After this deployment is over, Gray is planning on finishing up his school at Montana University so he can become a high-school history teacher.
“I love history,” said Gray. “The Roman era and the beginning of the republic are my favorites. I think we learn a lot about ourselves through history, just about how the world came to be where it is today. Plus, I always enjoyed teaching Marines. I remember being in high school and having a good teacher, and I think that is something I can do.”
by Lance Cpl. Paul Torres, RCT-5
COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq – The Warlords of Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 recently passed the five-month mark of their deployment to al-Anbar province, Iraq, which is reason alone to smile. However, the Warlords have another reason to show off their pearly whites.
Many Marines in the battalion are due for annual dental exams, and some have dental problems that need attention.
Since the recent opening of a dental facility on Combat Outpost Rawah, Sept. 3, more than 140 service members have had exams and routine dental care provided to them.
“My section wanted me to (visit the dentist) out here vice doing it back in the States,” slurred Sgt. Steven Niemi, 23, a watch chief with TF 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines with a numb jaw. “They told me they could fill (the cavity) here or when I get home, so I just had it done and they did a really fast, good job.”
Since Marines on deployment don’t always have the opportunity to see a
dentist immediately when dental problems arise, aching teeth can become a distracting nuisance.
“(Dental problems) can become irritating and painful, which takes people’s minds off of what they should be focused on and can make them combat ineffective,” said Niemi, a native of Marquette, Mich.
Whether deployed or home in the States, proper dental care is always a priority for Marines and sailors. Marines and sailors are required to have semi-annual appointments to ensure they do not need any dental work, but that’s not always possible when deployed. The new dental facility will help Marines deployed here maintain oral hygiene.
“Usually Marines are pretty well taken care of before they (deploy),” said Navy Lt. Chris Beale, 28, from Cadillac, Mich., a dental surgeon in training with 2nd Combat Logistics Battalion, which is attached to 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines. “We’ve done a lot of exams, (repaired) chipped teeth, extractions and other routine stuff. Some people have a lot of decay from high (carbohydrate) diets and drinking too many (sports drinks), but we haven’t seen too many people who don’t take care of their teeth.”
by Capt. Paul Greenberg, RCT-5
Camp Korean Village, Iraq — Reserve Marines from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment and 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, both attached to Regimental Combat Team 5, spent the day Sept. 24 delivering food supplies for economically disadvantaged families in Rutbah, a town of about 17,000 residents in western al-Anbar province.
Navy Lt. Ray Rivers, the 2nd LAR chaplain, created “Operation Widow” in June to provide both non-perishable food items and fresh fruit, milk and juice to widows and their families in Rutbah.
“This has definitely improved relations between the Coalition forces and the Iraqis,” said Rivers, a native of Sumter, S.C., who was himself a Marine Corps infantry officer for seven years before going back to school for his master’s degree in divinity in 1993.
“It has helped those who are the most helpless,” continued Rivers. “It shows not only the generosity of the United States, but it gives the [Rutbah] City Council credibility in the people’s eyes.”
Operation Widow, with the help of the Iraqi Police who deliver the food directly to the families’ homes, has provided parcels for more than 110 families since June. Each parcel contains enough nourishment for a family of four to eat well for several weeks.
Rivers explained that the program, in addition to providing needed aid, breaks down religious barriers between people of different faiths. After the food is taken to the Rutbah City Council, Rivers, personally meets with the city’s imam, a key Muslim spiritual leader who has great influence on the city’s 17,000 residents.
The two men look for common ground between the different faiths and troubleshoot any issues that arise between Coalition forces and local residents.
“The imam was key in forming this relationship,” said Rivers. “By opening up to us and trusting us, he was key in making this program work.”
Mahmoud Ahmed Nudin Obid, the gray-bearded imam of Rutbah, expressed his deep appreciation for Coalition forces’ efforts in his city and the importance of working together to improve the lives of impoverished families.
“According to the Koran,” said Obid, “if you help the crying of the widows, God will bless you. We must take care of them … this is our religion. We love everybody. Our God orders us to open our hearts toward others. There is no difference between Christians, Jews and Muslims. Our goal is to live and work in peace.”
As Rivers’ seven-month tour in Iraq comes to a close, he took the opportunity Sept. 24 to introduce 2nd Bn, 25th Marines’ chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Kobena Arthur, to the city council leaders.
The Reserve battalion arrived in Iraq earlier this month for an expected seven-month tour. They will assume management of many infrastructure and development programs in Rutbah that were previously spearheaded by 2nd LAR Bn. as control of the region is gradually handed over to the Iraqi Security Forces.
Arthur pledged his commitment to not only continuing Operation Widow, but to help it evolve into a larger program incorporating non-governmental organizations which can sustain the pace of economic and educational development after the U.S. Forces leave the region.
“This is not a new beginning,” stated Arthur. “This is a continuation of the work my predecessor has done.”
by Lance Cpl. Paul Torres, RCT-5
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- The M1A1 Abrams main battle tank makes an intimidating foe for any insurgent planning mischief. As a show of force, these tanks have been vital to the success the Marines have experienced in al-Anbar province. Despite the power these tanks possess, they still require some love from time to time.
“For every hour we spend operating them on a mission, we will spend about two hours on maintenance and repairs,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel S. Lindsay, 34, from San Diego, who is the platoon sergeant with 1st Platoon, Company A, 4th Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5.
The Marines with 4th Tank Bn. recently returned here from a seven-week mission along the Syrian border. Many of the tanks, due for their annual repairs, will undergo extensive maintenance to ensure they are operational for future missions.
“Most of the patrols we go on last anywhere from eight to twelve hours,” said Sgt. Joshua D. Barder, 26, from San Diego, who is maintenance chief with 1st Platoon. “We schedule maintenance days while we are (outside the base), but when we bring (the tanks) back (to base), it allows us to catch up on any maintenance and repairs we couldn’t do while out in the field.”
The maintenance checks and services required for the tanks usually take about a week of solid work. The tanks have their engines removed for a close inspection and for replacements or repairs of any gaskets or filters that need work.
“The sand puts a lot of wear and tear on several parts, and the turbine engine makes the heat a huge factor,” said Barder. “The dust is constantly clogging the filters so we have to pull those off and clean them regularly.”
The Iraqi desert takes a heavy toll on the functionality of the tanks and requires every Marine to pitch in whether they are an operator or mechanic.
“Every Marine is responsible for helping maintain the tanks systems,” said Lindsay. “They tend to be very maintenance hungry machines because of the dust and extreme heat, so to keep up with all the work, every Marine is a wrench (turner).”
The value of a fully operational battle tank is undeniable when it comes to patrolling the open desert. The tanks are designed to engage other tanks in combat, but when there are no enemy tanks to eliminate, the tanks are still able to support infantry units as they patrol unknown parts of the desert.
“We are not really doing what tanks are designed to do, but it is an ever-changing battlefield, and by just showing up, it is enough to intimidate people into not trying anything,” said Lindsay.
by Capt. Paul Greenberg, RCT-5
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Reserve Marines from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, headquartered in Garden City, N.Y., arrived here during the latter part of September to support RCT-5’s security and stability mission in western al-Anbar province.
“We’re here primarily to conduct counter-insurgency operations with joint and Coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said Maj. Timothy Murphy, the battalion’s intelligence officer.
Maj. Byron Duke, the battalion executive officer, emphasized that the Marines will also mentor and provide operational overwatch for Iraqi Security Forces as they assume more responsibility for the area’s security.
Korean Village was first utilized as a forward observation base by the Marines in 2004 to monitor the Syrian and Jordanian borders with Iraq, both less than a hundred miles from the base.
According to Maj. Christopher Donnelly, the RCT-5 historian, American troops gave Korean Village its moniker because the camp was the site of an area inhabited by Korean laborers who built the main supply route leading from Baghdad to western al-Anbar Province during the reign of Saddam Hussein.
The name stuck, and Coalition forces still use the base as a launching pad for operations to intercept criminal elements crossing over the border and heading east toward Baghdad and other population centers.
The battalion will share the area of operations with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, RCT-5, an active-duty Marine unit based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The reserve battalion’s current deployment is their second overseas in support of the Global War on Terror. Their expected tour of duty here is seven months.
by Capt. Paul Greenberg, RCT-5
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq.— Lt. Cmdr. Kobena Arthur’s odyssey has taken him across America and around the world to minister to the young men and women who serve on the front lines of the Global War on Terror.
resident of South Orange, N.J., Arthur is currently serving as the battalion chaplain for the reserve Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 in Iraq’s western al-Anbar province.
The battalion is comprised of reserve and active-duty Marines and sailors from 16 companies and detachments in 12 states.
Regardless of where the service members are from or their religious background, Arthur’s job is to reach out to them all, both as warriors and as human beings.
“Chaplains are a force multiplier, as they provide spiritual care and support to all members of the command, helping ensure that Marines are able to perform their military duties,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Jim Hightower, the deputy chaplain of the Marine Corps. “The unique role of the chaplain in the command allows them to observe and monitor personal and family readiness. Chaplains are able to provide their commanders with advice and insight on critical morale and readiness issues, helping ensure that the unit is fully capable of fulfilling any mission.
“In addition to accommodating for the religious needs of personnel in the unit, chaplains provide spiritual support, confidential counseling and ethical and moral instruction,” added Hightower. “Chaplains are present to assist Marines with issues of faith and conscience, care for their spiritual health and morale and address issues related to combat stress and resiliency – maintaining combat readiness.”
Arthur, a four-year veteran of the battalion, understands his role. And more importantly, he understands his Marines.
Born in Potsin, Ghana, in 1955, Arthur moved to the U.S. at the age of 24 to attend an undergraduate program at Patten University in Oakland, Calif.
“More than anything, I wanted to be a minister,” said Arthur. “I could do that in Ghana, but there were so many more educational opportunities in America.”
He explained that because of nepotism and “the good old boys’ network” in his native country, he was limited in where he could study and what professional opportunities were open to him.
Arthur embraced the world of American academia. He was ordained in the Methodist Church in 1985 and shortly after earned a master’s degree in divinity from Southern Methodist University.
“That was my number one dream, to be a minister,” said Arthur. “Ever since I was young, I felt it was my calling.”
He served as a pastor in Methodist churches in Texas for several years. With a Socratic love for learning, Arthur returned to school in 1987 to pursue a doctorate degree.
“Knowledge is power,” said Arthur. “Knowledge helps you to be able to communicate with everybody, regardless of their educational, economic or social background.”
Arthur’s perseverance paid off. Over a six-year period, he earned a doctorate in higher education administration and counseling from the University of North Texas while concurrently working as a parole officer for the state and raising three children with his wife, Mary, who came to the States from Ghana with him.
“Trying to help individuals change their lives, motivating them to get a higher education and open opportunities, that was my goal,” said Arthur.
He returned to California in 1992 to pursue his second doctorate in psychology at the Center for Psychological Studies. He also worked as an outreach consultant for the Oakland City School Districts, helping to develop a program to keep at-risk adolescents in school.
“I tried to keep them away from drugs and gangs and get their parents more involved in their lives,” said Arthur, who did his doctorate dissertation on the subject of retention of at-risk students. “It really opened my eyes to the social influences on adolescents in America.”
One night in 1995, Arthur had a dream that he was a U.S. Navy chaplain. He couldn’t get back to sleep, and in the morning he called the local U.S. Navy Officer Recruiting Office.
He was pleased to find that he met all the requirements to enter the chaplain training program. This included holding a master’s degree in divinity, serving at least two years as a pastor in a church and being formally endorsed by his denomination.
“I saw myself as a good candidate for providing service to the men and woman of the Navy and their families based on my academic and professional skills,” explained Arthur.
After completing all the coursework for his second doctorate degree in psychology, Arthur set off for the U.S. Navy Chaplain Course in Newport, R.I., in the winter of 1996.
He spent nine weeks with a diverse group of about 50 chaplain candidates from nearly as many religious faith groups. Together, they studied U.S. Naval history, culture and the role of the military chaplain. Following graduation, Lt. j.g. Arthur, then 41, headed to the Fleet.
“That’s the uniqueness about the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps,” said Arthur. “I’m a people’s chaplain in the Navy,” he insisted. “I am not a Methodist chaplain. I serve everyone.”
Arthur explained that regardless of service members’ religious backgrounds, he must find a way to reach out to them spiritually and intellectually in order to help them find answers to existential questions which young people are confronted with for the first time. He guides them in resolving personal issues with relationships, finances and difficulty with adjustment to military lifestyle.
His four-year active duty tour was at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., where he ministered to the new recruits at the Navy’s only Recruit Training Center and fledgling sailors at the advanced service schools.
“I worked closely with the Navy psychologists to determine which sailors were truly in need of psychological help and which could resolve their issues through informal counseling,” explained Arthur.
Arthur left active duty in 2000, but served as a drilling reservist with a U.S. Naval Reserve Support Unit at Great Lakes while working as a financial consultant for a non-profit organization in North Chicago, Ill.
Always looking for a new challenge, Arthur moved to the East Coast to attend Seton Hall University and serve as assistant pastor at a church in South Orange, N.J. He also began teaching psychology at Essex County College in Newark, N.J., in the fall of 2002. He drilled with a Navy Reserve unit at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, N.J., until joining 2nd Bn., 25th Marines in 2004.
While at Seton Hall, Arthur concurrently worked on his second master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations and his third in jurisprudence.
This education, combined with his personal knowledge of the U.S. immigration system, has given Arthur the tools to advise many Marines and sailors in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship and acquiring visas for spouses overseas.
“The chaplain is a force multiplier because he brings peace to our Marines,” said Sgt. Maj. Anthony Allen, the battalion sergeant major.
“He gives the Marines clear ears, a clear mind, and a clear heart,” insisted Allen. “When the chaplain speaks, people listen.”
Over the course of his tenure with 2nd Bn., 25th Marines, Arthur has deployed with the battalion during their annual training exercises in Senegal, Norway, and Quantico, Va. He was eligible to rotate to another Navy or Marine Reserve unit this year, but extended his tour with 2nd Bn., 25th Marines in order to remain with them for their upcoming seven-month deployment to Iraq.
“I have been training with them every step of the way,” asserted Arthur. “They know me, from the commander down to the individual Marines. By deploying to Iraq with them, I can make an impact. One of my senior chaplains told me that I am the flesh and blood of the battalion. I welcome this opportunity to deploy with my Marines.”
Sgt. Julio Barrera-Riveira, a battalion administration chief from Brooklyn, N.Y., has forged a close bond with the chaplain over the past two and a half years.
“He makes a personal connection with the Marines,” said Barrera-Riveira, who narrated a story about the battalion’s three-week annual training in Senegal during the summer of 2007. “Even if you haven’t known him for a long time, he makes an effort to get to know you.
“Things were tough toward the end of the deployment,” said Barrera-Riveira. “But he was always there, whenever the Marines were in the field, he was always there, and his message was the same: ‘keep on keepin’ on.’ And then everyone started saying it— ‘keep on keepin’ on.’”
With only one chaplain for more than 1,100 battalion personnel, Arthur is in high demand. He delivered eight services to Marines and sailors at three ranges scattered across the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms’, Calif., training areas on June 29, undaunted by the temperatures topping 110 degrees.
"Chaplain Arthur brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the battalion,” said Lt. Col. Michael J. Froeder, the Battalion executive officer. “He is a true gentlemen; his sincerity in his dealings with others and his genuine concern for the Marines and sailors of (2nd Bn., 25th Marines) have enhanced the morale and readiness of the battalion. Additionally, his work with the Key Volunteer Network has promoted strength and cohesion among our families. He has been and continues to be a force multiplier for (2nd Bn., 25th Marines). His motto, ‘Keep on keeping on,’ and daily interaction with all personnel have been instrumental to the battalion's success and high level of motivation throughout pre-deployment training."
The battalion was mobilized on May 17 and shipped out from locations throughout the U.S. on May 27 for about four months of intense training in the Mojave Desert.
For many of the reservists, the transition from a sedentary civilian career or university campus life in the Northeast to the brutal summer heat and grueling Marine Corps training here has been a great challenge.
Arthur has sweated alongside them every step of the way, always armed with his spiritual guidance and words of encouragement.
Maj. Danan Campbell, the battalion’s security force executive officer working at Al Asad Air Base, expressed the sense of pride he has in serving with Arthur and his fellow Reserve Marines.
“The chaplain is a perfect example of the people we have,” said Campbell. “The man has five graduate degrees, and he could be doing anything. And what has he chosen to do? He chose to come out here. He wants to serve with us.”
After striving to become personally acquainted with about 1,000 Marines and sailors during the battalion’s three-month pre-deployment training at Twentynine Palms, Arthur arrived in Iraq on Sept. 7 and flew to Camp Korean Village in the western region of Iraq’s al-Anbar province on Sept. 20. The battalion’s expected tour of duty here is seven months.
During a conversation with a civilian-job recruitment agency last year, the interviewer asked Arthur why, with all his education and earning potential, he has elected to serve as a Navy chaplain.
Arthur’s modest response was, “It’s all about service to your country, and service to God. The satisfaction I get from working with these Marines is worth more than a million dollars.”
by Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray, RCT-5
AL ASAD, Iraq – Service members engaged in deployments all over the world often miss important family events during their months away.
Numerous options, such as internet service and phones, are made available to Marines to ensure they have the opportunity to stay in touch with their families. However, personally experiencing a once in a lifetime event alongside their loved ones is not a frequent occurrence.
Lance Cpl. Jovan Rodriguez, 20, a warehouse clerk with the Warlords of Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, traveled to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to be with his wife through video teleconferencing for the birth of their first child, Liliana Rodriguez.
Like any father expecting the birth of his first child, Rodriguez wished to be there when his daughter was born. However, operational commitments made it impossible for him to be there, so he looked for an alternative solution.
“When we found out I couldn’t go home, we did some research and found out we could do it by webcam,” said Rodriguez, who is from Chicago.
After Rodriguez and his wife explained their situation and worked out the details with the hospital staff at Underwood Memorial Hospital, Franklinville, N.J. The staff agreed to allow a video teleconference for them during the birth of their baby girl.
Rodriguez had to fly from Camp Al Qa’im to Al Asad for the event and spent several days and nights waiting for the baby to arrive.
“I consider myself one of the luckiest men in the world,” he said. “I know a lot of (service members) don’t get to see the birth of their child, and I was blessed to be able to.”
When the day finally came, Rodriguez spent hours at the Morale Welfare and Recreation Center aboard Al Asad, privately joining his wife through a two-way audio and video connection.
“If something went wrong, they would have cut off the video and I would have been scared because it’s my first time,” said Rodriguez. “I could see her and listen to her the whole time, and the labor went very smoothly.”
Other Marines with 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines have mentioned the possibility of making the trip to Al Asad for the births of their children. Working with hospitals and the MWR centers, Marines may be able to interact with their loved ones during significant events like childbirth through a simple internet connection.
by Lance Cpl. Paul Torres, RCT-5
AL-ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq-- The lifeblood that helps rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure is commerce, and Iraq’s roads and bridges are the veins through which the lifeblood flows.
This makes the Wahid Bridge, which connects the two towns of Jubbah and Jubbah Ria, extremely important.bbah and Jubbah Ria. and Jubbah Ria. eins through which they flow.
“The bridge is basically a shortcut to cross the Euphrates,” said Sgt. John A. Esquivel, 22, from Duarte, Calif., who is the utilities chief section head with Support Platoon, Company A, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5. “The bridge was originally installed back in May and has since developed some problems due to the heavy presence of algae in the river. The algae have caused the anchor and buoy cables to sink below water level and have produced a curve in the bridge.”
Iraqi Army engineers assisted the Marines from Company A to dig four extra anchors along the river banks in order to give the floating-panel bridge extra support. The anchors will later be tied to the bridge by another team of engineers.
Having IA engineers assist the Marines showed that the Iraqis are making progress toward conducting operations such as this without the assistance of Coalition forces.
“By the IA engineers being out there and using their equipment to help us install the anchors, they were able to show that they are capable of supporting their people,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 John H. Walter, 37, from Lake Elsinore, Calif., who is the platoon commander for Support Platoon.
The day-long mission took some on-the-site coordination between the Marines and the IA engineers.
To avoid using heavy machinery on a local farm, the Marines used their excavator to dig on one side of the river and the IA engineers used their backhoe on the far side. Marines posted security on both sides of the river until the operation was complete.
“We didn’t want to just go on that (farmer’s) property and tear up his field,” said Walter.
The bridge is still usable by the locals and the IA while they wait for the extra anchors to be attached.
“The only other places to cross the Euphrates are about 50 kilometers in either direction,” said Walter. “The bridge has made a huge impact on this area. Both locals and the IA use it, and they are really happy with it.”
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