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Massive Baghdad Hospital Renovations
Two quality healthcare facilities will boost Baghdad’s medical community. Once a thriving cardiac hospital, the Ibn al Bitar Hospital was severely damaged during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The hospital, located in an urbanized area of Baghdad west of the Tigris River, was destroyed by looters who stole all of the equipment and burned the building to the ground. Only the concrete foundation and the ground floor remained. The hospital’s director general and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division, worked together to rebuild a new modern and functional critical care unit. Construction of this two-story building began November 2007 and, at a cost of $371,000, is now complete. The facility includes 16 residential apartments within the hospital grounds for the doctors and staff who reside outside of Baghdad … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Lithuanian Soldiers Help Afghans Recover
Afghans in Ghowr province, whose houses burned down several days ago in an accidental gas fire, received humanitarian aid from ISAF soldiers July 29. One Afghan died in the blaze that wounded six others who are now being treated at the hospital in Chagcharan. Lithuanian soldiers from the Chagcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team gave the village elder shoes, clothes, metal and plastic dishes, blankets and food. “Of course, your good delivery will not re-build their burned houses, where they used to live for a long time. But, for sure, this support is the first steps toward building new houses,†said Mhadi, the spokesman of the village’s leader. “I imagine Lithuanian families instead of Afghan ones, and this accident caused seventy-six people to stay without their home and their things,†said Lithuanian Major Ricardas Kazlauskas. ISAF … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Helping Those Who Helped Us
We owe these people. Helping them is the right thing to do, for all Americans. We did it for the Hmong. We should show our gratitude here, as well. In 1986, several hundred natives of Vietnam, called either DeGas or Montagnards, and their families were relocated to the United States as refugees. In the latter part of 1992, close to 400 additional DeGas were granted asylum in the United States and were resettled in North Carolina, particularly in Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheboro. Were it not for the involvement of retired U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers, it is unlikely that the Montagnard people would have ever gotten to the U.S. When the leaders of the Montagnards were brought to the U.S., they were asked where they wanted to settle, according to retired U.S. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Military
It Is My 53rd Birthday.
I’m old and bold and often a scold. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging
Surgery Saves Afghan Girl
Afghan and American surgeons working together July 24 saved the life of Tourpekai, a 10-year-old girl. Dr. Hamid Rahmani, from Farah Hospital, and U.S. Army Captain (Dr.) Patrick McGraw, a surgeon with Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team, performed the surgery with the assistance of Aref, an anaesthetist with Farah Hospital. When the surgery was completed, they had removed a 10-pound tumour from Tourpekai’s abdomen. “That tumour weighed 10 percent of the girl’s body weight,†Captain McGraw said. Tourpekai’s family grew desperate when their daughter stopped eating and drinking, and had constant pain. The family began to search for help. When they arrived at the gates to Farah PRT, Captain McGraw knew he was the girl’s final chance. “If we didn’t do something to help her out, she would have died in a few weeks from … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, Medicine, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Happy Birthday to Cassy Fiano
Cassy is one of the new generation of women political bloggers, takes us guys on and winning on our turf. She is also one of the very few who have avoided all contact with me. So, Cassy, happy birthday. Y’all go over and wish her well. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, Other Bloggers
The Dirtiest Job in the Army!
“We’ve got the dirtiest job in the Army!†said acting First Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Finley, 157th Quartermaster Company, 15th Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command. “You’ll be surprised what comes through in a laundry bag,†said the Dallas native. 157th QM was reenergized upon receipt of the Army’s newest Laundry Advanced System in July, making their Shower, Laundry, Clothing Repair teams once again able to provide full services to Fort Hood units while deployed or in the field. The 157th is currently the only unit in the Army with the new touch screen, full service, 250 gallon field washer-drier combos. “It’s an outstanding piece of equipment because of the morale it brings to the units who are allowed to enjoy our services,†said Cpl. Renata Franklin, a New York … Read entire article »
Filed under: Military
Arts in Iraq, New Since Saddam
The citizens of Seddah held the first Seddah City Arts Festival in the Seddah City Park since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division attended the festival, which was titled “Seddah’s Happiness,†July 26, 2008. “During Saddam’s time we were not allowed to conduct such festivals,†said Seddah Mayor Ali. “The only festivals were religious. Since the liberation of Iraq, the security situation was bad and not safe enough to conduct any festivals. Your team has made our area safe, and this is the reason we were able to hold this festival.†The festival lasted six nights with different events each night including puppet shows, skits, painting, sculpting, literature reading, photography and a theatrical … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Kabob King Grows With Micro Grant
As violence decreases in Iraq, non-governmental organizations and relief organizations play an increasingly important role in restoring social, cultural and economic stability. Since 2003, the U.S. Agency for International Development has invested more than $150 million in Iraqi micro-loans. The Rakkasans of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) living in rural Yusifiyah recognized an economic challenge facing the citizens in their area. They searched for a solution to the scarcity of loans available for independent business owners. The result is a non-governmental organization known as Izdihar. The organization uses USAID funds to implement a loan program. Izdihar established regional offices and training loan officers to evaluate potential recipients and disburse loans. “It’s great because it teaches responsibility and independence,†said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Coming Soon: Future Posts
- Declaration of War 1812 (in 132 days)
- USS President vs HMS Belvidera (in 137 days)
- General Hull Invades Canada (in 156 days)
- First Battle of Sacketts Harbor (in 163 days)
On Y!CN
- Radioactive Gravel from Japanese Nuke Disaster Used in Buildings
- Fuel Supplies Reach Nome
- Fuel Convoy Reaches Nome
- Russians Sail to Rescue of Ice Bound Alaska Community
- Pope Embraces Anglicans in U.S. with New Ordinariate
- Nebraska Nuke Plant Placed on Special Inspection Status
- Radioactive Water Leaks at Japanese Nuke Site
- Japan Damaged Nuke Plants Still Not Under Control
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