Chuck Simmins | July 31, 2008

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 and need a place to live during their work shifts.

Category: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror | Comments Off
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Chuck Simmins | July 31, 2008

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.

Category: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror | Comments Off
Tags: Afghanistan, Chagcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team, Lithuania, Lithuanian soldiers

Chuck Simmins | July 31, 2008

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.

Category: Military | 1 Comment »
Tags: DeGas, Laos, Montagnards, U.S. Army Special Forces, Vietnam, Vietnam War

Chuck Simmins | July 31, 2008

I’m old and bold and often a scold.

Category: Blogging | 2 Comments »
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Chuck Simmins | July 31, 2008

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.

Category: Afghanistan, Medicine, Rebuilding, War on Terror | Comments Off
Tags: Afghanistan, sick girl, surgery, tumor

Chuck Simmins | July 30, 2008

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.

Category: Blogging, Other Bloggers | 1 Comment »
Tags: Cassy Fiano

Chuck Simmins | July 30, 2008

“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.

Category: Military | Comments Off
Tags: 157th Quartermaster Company, Army, Clothing Repair team, Fort Hood, Laundry, Laundry Advanced System, Shower, SLCR

Chuck Simmins | July 30, 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 play with actors from Iskandariyah. Food stands and vendors were also available for the festival attendees.

Category: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror | Comments Off
Tags: actors from Iskandariyah, arts festival, Iraq, Seddah, Seddah’s Happiness

Chuck Simmins | July 30, 2008

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 3-187th Inf. civil military operations team.

Category: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror | Comments Off
Tags: Iraq, Izdihar, micro grants, USAID, Yusifiyah

Chuck Simmins | July 29, 2008

Deep purple eggplant glisten in the sun while stacks of fresh watermelon rest on display safely under cover from the mid-day, 115-degree weather as Striker Brigade Soldiers walk the street admiring the produce and assessing needs of this popular Fish Market in the Suleikh neighborhood of the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad, July 24.

Category: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror | Comments Off
Tags: Adhamiyah Fish Market, baghdad, electricity, generators in disrepair, Iraq, Suleikh neighborhood of the Adhamiyah District

Chuck Simmins | July 29, 2008

Now, before you youngins start mocking me, remember that I grew up in rural New York before cable TV. The CBS station in Buffalo was the easiest and clearest we could pull in with our down-in-the-valley rooftop antenna.

Category: Media, Original writing, Television | 1 Comment »
Tags: 60's television, golden age of television, Television

Chuck Simmins | July 29, 2008

Wish John a very happy birthday at his site. Old soldiers never die, they just tractor away.

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Chuck Simmins | July 29, 2008

The local citizens who use the medical clinic in the Hateen apartments will now have 24-hour power thanks to the assistance of coalition forces.

Soldiers repaired the 30K generator that powers the clinic. It runs approximately 20 hours a day to augment the limited electricity available in the area, said 1st Lt. Jonathan Akers, a medical officer at the aid station for the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment.

Category: Iraq, Medicine, Military, Rebuilding, War on Terror | 1 Comment »
Tags: electricity, generator repair, Hateen clinic, Hateen PCH, uel-water separator