This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/12-30hearing.php last modified on April 12, 2005 10:42 AM
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DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Curt E. Jordan, Jr., 25, of Green Acres, Wash., died on Dec. 28 near
Bayji, Iraq. Jordan died of non-combat injuries. Jordan was assigned to the 14th
Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Wheeled), 555th Combat Engineer Group, based in Fort Lewis, Wash (part of TF Ironhorse). This incident is under investigation.
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It appears that progress continues to be made in Tikrit...
Iraqi Spiritual Leaders Form Committee
By JASON KEYSER
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - Influential spiritual leaders from Saddam Hussein's hometown - a bastion of anti-American sentiment - are joining forces to persuade Iraqis to abandon the violent insurgency, one of the leaders said Monday.
The effort marks a new, open willingness to cooperate with U.S. forces - a shift in the thinking of at least some key members of Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority, which lost political dominance with the fall of Saddam and has largely formed the most outspoken and violent opposition to the U.S.-led occupation.
Sheik Sabah Mahmoud, leader of the Sada tribe, said he and 10 other tribal elders have formed a reconciliation committee in Tikrit to speak to other Iraqi leaders about trying to persuade rebels to put down weapons. He said he took that message last week to a group of scholars, religious leaders and other prominent figures meeting in Baghdad.
``It's about time we put our differences aside and looked to the future,'' Mahmoud said. ``I told them, 'The reality is they (American forces) are here on the ground; the past is dead. Give the Americans a chance to see what they are going to give us.'''
The committee was formalized Saturday, he said.
``It's just the beginning,'' the sheik said during a meeting in the provincial government building with a U.S. Army commander and seven other spiritual leaders.
The committee is one of the fruits of a forum that has been meeting since the summer. Such gatherings offer a glimpse into deepening ties between U.S. commanders and Sunni leaders in a rebel stronghold, even as attacks against coalition forces and those who cooperate with them continue.
Initially, the Sunnis participating in those sessions did not advocate cooperating with American forces. The early meetings were mainly gripe sessions - their only outlet for complaining to U.S. commanders about arrests, raids, night curfews and so forth.
Sunnis ruled Iraq for centuries and dominated the country under Saddam's regime, filling high-ranking positions and reaping economic benefits. But they make up only 20 percent of Iraq's 25 million people, concentrated in Baghdad and villages to the north and west.
With the U.S.-led occupation trying to install democratic government, the Shiite Muslim majority - long oppressed under Saddam - is positioning itself to hold sway in Iraq. Sunnis apparently are realizing they must cooperate with the occupation if they are to have a role in the country's future leadership.
Lt. Col. Steve Russell, who heads the meetings on the American side, welcomed the idea of a formal effort at reconciliation. ``It's some good news,'' he said. The elders responded, ``Inshallah,'' Arabic for ``God willing.''
Russell also credits tribal leaders with help in recruiting some of the men that American forces are training for the new Iraqi army. The sheiks have also helped disperse crowds of angry protesters, he said.
Russell, of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said his superiors from Central Command were surprised by reports he brought back of stronger ties with the Sunni sheiks, whom he greets with a few words of Arabic and the traditional custom of a kiss on the cheek.
``They were somewhat surprised that we had had such an established dialogue, because everyone imagines that Tikrit is such an evil place that nothing will ever happen here,'' he told the sheiks, drawing laughter.
Russell now wants the Sunni leaders to help spread a message of cooperation - and the tribal leaders seek some U.S. concessions in return.
U.S. forces operating in the area of Tikrit and the cities of Kirkuk and Baqouba still detain 248 Iraqis suspected of involvement in attacks on coalition troops. Their release tops a list of demands from the sheiks who now find themselves fighting to save their credibility with their own people.
``Everybody knows we are meeting with the Americans, and they ask what we did and if we talked about prisoners,'' said Sheik Mahmoud al-Nada, leader of the powerful Nassari tribe from the village of Uja, Saddam's birthplace, just outside Tikrit. ``Right now our credibility and honor are on the line.''
Russell said he was able to release three detainees last week based on information the elders provided him. He promised to check into other cases. But Russell told them bluntly that some would have to stay in custody.
To prove his case, Russell showed the elders photos of weapons seized from one detainee's house - grenades, assault rifles and ammunition, some of them hidden under a baby's bed.
Also joining the meeting was Brig. Gen. Abdullah al-Jabouri, the Iraqi provincial chief of military affairs, who said active and visible U.S. involvement in improving in the lives of residents will help bring an end to the violent resistance.
``Then people will see that these are not occupation forces. They'll change their view,'' he said.
12/29/03 14:29 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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>From a Central Command news release on 12-29-03:
FIVE-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHTY ROCKETS CONFISCATED
TIKRIT, Iraq – An Iraqi citizen provided information to U.S. Air Force airmen concerning a large weapons cache that he said consisted of close to six hundred rockets. The Air Force in turn asked the U.S. Army for assistance. Air Force personnel and a patrol from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment went to the identified site in the evening of Dec. 27 to investigate.
The intelligence acquired suggested the rockets could be found hidden in some undergrowth along the river next to a tree line. After a short search, the soldiers and airmen found a berm near a tree line that was approximately 35-feet long and four feet high. Buried in the berm, covered with plastic and dirt, they found 580 57-millimeter rockets. The unit secured the perimeter of the site and coordinated with an explosive ordinance disposal team for the destruction of the weapons.
The soldiers secured the position overnight until an explosive ordinance disposal team could destroy the rockets.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Luxembourg - Battle of Bulge:
30 December 1944 - D+208
The enemy continued to maintain its defensive strength east of the Sauer and Moselle rivers. Artillery fire was scattered and harassing. Two enemy planes strafed south of Olingen at 1000.
Patrols of the 8th Infantry reconnoitered the western banks of the Sauer and Moselle rivers, both in daylight and during the hours of darkness. Enemy activity was negligible.
Reconnaissance patrols of the 12th Infantry reconnoitered the south bank of the Sauer river within their sector.
Two reconnaissance patrols of the 22nd Infantry were able to cross the Sauer river in the vicnity of Minden during the hours of darkness, 29-30 December, but two other patrols were frustrated in their attempt to cross in the vicinity of Rasport.
Units not actively engaged conducted training in demolitions and the use of flame throwers.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Got a phone call and a card for Christmas. My husband (B CO 1-12) is doing about as well as can be expected. "I know I need to keep my head in the game, but it's impossible to do when you consume my every thought." He claims that this Christmas is more difficult than he expected, but he's also a very determined man; he's ready to get the job done so he can return home to his family. Thanks for the much needed updates and encouragement during the holidays!
2) I really just wanted to give my condolences to the families who lost a loved one over the holiday. I pray every day and night that another soldier will not fall. I prayed even more that at least God lets all our soldiers get passed the holidays since we all unfortunatly know that there will be more Soldiers who will fall while they serve and protect our country and Iraq. God Bless Our Troops with a Safe and Speedy return home. We're more than half way there!!! Please everyone keep praying! From a proud army wife!
3) (Your news would be included here - if you had sent it to me....)
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Families Share R&R Moments:
1) My son is with the 1/68 Armor in Balad. While he was here visiting he also tied the knot. What a wonderful surprise and present for Mom! He had a great visit and wasn't too upset about going back. He said the hard part was behind him now and he has so much to look forward to coming back. He did let me know that he re-enlisted for another 4 years and will be at home for at least a year before being reassigned. I'm praying he and his new bride will have a wonderful first year when he gets back. I've never looked forward to Spring as much as this one. There were a lot of parties while he was home. Not one night went by without something happening. We also had a big reunion in Colorado. His father and step-mom met us there and their son also got leave a week later! So we had a new baby and a wedding to celebrate besides the fact we had our Soldiers home for two weeks. They are both back in Iraq
now, but I know they'll have a great holiday to remember. We're all sending many pictures that were taken while they were here. My son called from his base and said they have computer phones and email access now. The phone was a terrible connection, at least on my end. His end was all broken up but he heard me just fine. He now has an email address and you can bet we'll be using that!
2) I just wanted to let everyone know that my husband who is with 2/20 FA was home for leave. We got to spend the holidays together which was great for the kids. Today he left to go back and it has been just as hard as when he left the first time. I also wanted to let everyone know that although it was great to have him home it was not all peaches and cream. My husband was unable to relax because he knew he had to leave again. I think we were both afraid to let loose and get too close because we knew we would have to say goodbye again. Don't get me wrong. Having him home was a dream come true, but I wasn't prepared for the awkwardness and the feeling of holding back as to not make it more difficult for all of us when the time came to say goodbye. I love my husband very much and can't wait until he comes home for good.
3) My son was home for his 2 weeks R&R at Thanksgiving time. He did his Christmas shopping/ordering for the family then, with orders not to open until Christmas. I waited and his thoughtfulness is immeasurable! He had a sterliing silver replica of his dog tag made for me, and added the birthstones for him and his 2 children. I am proudly wearing it now - how many grown women do you know who get excited about wearing a dog tag? He's doing well, and hiis experiences in Iraq have certainly transformed him into a caring adult!
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