America's North Shore Journal

Here are two articles from the military illustrating our efforts to help the Iraqis secure their long border with Iran.

At the graduation ceremony, Brig. Gen. Abd Al Kareem, commander of the school, presented each student with a certificate of completion for the course and congratulated them on being the first students to graduate from the class.

The students were enthusiastic about returning to their units to put their new knowledge and skills into practice.

“The Air Force is here to see that the rules and regulations are followed by the contractor,” said Wohlfert. “Iraq does not have the same building codes as the U.S. The electricians and plumbers are learning new skills on this project. The quality of workmanship has grown in leaps and bounds.”

The project in turn benefits the community by using a local contractor, Sameh Saber owner of Black Gold Holding Company, was born and raised in Kirkuk.

The school, which has been under construction for four months, was built with the village’s future in mind and to house the students in the growing community.

“The old school had only three classrooms, said Arif Jabbar Mutar, the chairman of Tikrit City Council. “It’s not enough to absorb all students from the village.”

With six classrooms, working latrines and two rooms for the teachers, this school will pave the way toward education. The new school has enough room to house 200, 6-to-12-year-old students and their teachers.

There is a feeling of peace and security now, as markets are open and children are playing in the streets.

“The citizens are calling in reports,” he said during the interview. “The people have turned against violent extremists.

The casing of the II MEF colors signified completion of the Marine Corps mission in Iraq. As the Marine color guard marched their colors off the stage, the Army color guard replaced them. Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Division-Center commanding general, said the accomplishments of the Marines in the region will not be in vain.

They were escorting TF-BSO personnel to evaluate the Al Majaar Al Kabir Sugar Factory, in need of renovation. The manager of the sugar factory brought in engineers and representatives from several departments within his corporation to meet with the taskforce.

TF-BSO recently completed two inspections with “B” Btry. The first was an initial evaluation of the factory’s buildings. The second was to examine the machinery inside and the sugar cane fields once used to supply the factory.

The fields still grow sugar cane, but, without the means to refine it into a finished product, locals have to sell the cane to factories outside of Maysan. The refined sugar then makes its way back to the province and is resold at increased prices in local markets.