NEWS, SPORTS, COMMENTARY, POLITICS for Gloucester City and the Surrounding Areas of South Jersey and Philadelphia
By Spc. Elvyn Nieves,
USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
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| ADHAMIYAH, Iraq, March 24, 2008 - Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers
here witnessed the changes and progress in the area and its bustling market
during a joint dismounted patrol with the Iraqi army on Chem Street.
Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad
soldiers head toward Chem Street in Adhamiyah, Iraq, during a dismounted patrol,
March 20, 2008. Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division, regularly patrol the streets with their Iraqi
counterparts from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division. Photo by
Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA
(Click photo for
screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
| | The
3rd Infantry Division soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, attached to the 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, along with Iraqi army soldiers of 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi
Army Division, and members of the "Sons of Iraq" citizens security group have
been working hand in hand to provide Adhamiyah residents with enough security
for them to feel safe walking the streets.
The U.S. soldiers are working
with their Iraqi counterparts and putting them in the lead so the people can see
their country's army "is out there to help security as much as we are," said
Army Capt. Erik Kjonnerod, commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry
Regiment.
"We wanted to show them their Iraqi security forces are out
there as much we are. They're not sitting on checkpoints doing nothing. They go
out on patrols, just like the Americans do," he said.
Security in the
area has led to the awakening of the market on Chem Street.
"When we
first got here, we could see an average of 15 to 20 shops open," said Army Staff
Sgt. Germaine Seabrook, a cavalry scout in Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry
Regiment. "With the help of Iraqi forces, we helped keep the security tight.
Most of the Iraqi people started coming back, opening up shops, and the economy
started rolling better. The people from Adhamiyah can see how safe it is now."
The joint dismounted patrols allow soldiers to talk to people and assure
them they are there for security and that they do care about their concerns.
"In the beginning of our work here, the streets were pretty much
desolated," said Army 1st Lt. Matthew Jensen, a platoon leader in Troop A. "We
didn't see many people walking around. People were scared to get out of their
homes. Through civil affairs, micro-grants, the Sons of Iraq and our presence,
people started coming out. Most of the stores on Chem Street are opened now."
(Army Spc. Elvyn Nieves serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with
the 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
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Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq
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Army Staff Sgt. Germaine Seabrook
gets ready for a dismounted patrol with the Iraqi army on Chem Street in
Adhamiyah, Iraq, March 20, 2008. Seabrook is a cavalry scout with 3rd Squadron,
7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which is
attached to Multinational Division Baghdad's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA
Download screen-resolution
Download high-resolution |
 |
Army 1st Lt. Matthew Jensen, a
platoon leader in 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division,
which is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
Multinational Division Baghdad, patrols Chem Street in Adhamiyah, Iraq, during a
dismounted patrol with the Iraqi army, March 20, 2008. Photo by Spc. Elvyn
Nieves, USA
Download screen-resolution
Download high-resolution |
 |
Multinational Division Baghdad
soldiers and Iraqi army soldiers talk with people on Chem Street in Adhamiyah,
Iraq, March 20, 2008. Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd
Infantry Division, which is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, along with their Iraqi counterparts from the 1st Battalion, 1st
Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division, regularly patrol the streets of Adhamiyah
together. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA | |
