America's North Shore Journal

Staff Sgt. Michael Montique, right, of Fayetteville, N.C., a civil affairs specialist with the 414th Civil Affairs Company, with the help of his interpreter, left, speaks with Ebrahem Aswad Ahmad about the new power lines that are being constructed in the village of Guddah, Iraq, during an assessment there Aug. 28. Guddah is one of the last villages in this area to receive power, and its residents are very excited at the prospect. Photo by Pfc. Justin Naylor

For the residents of the remote village of Guddah in the Kirkuk province of Iraq, it has been a long, hot summer. Although this village has a few air coolers, there is no electrical power source to plug them into. But this is about to change.

With the support of 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, local companies have begun constructing power lines in this village.

An initial assessment of the construction was done Aug. 28, when a civil affairs specialist from Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, traveled to Guddah to see how the project was progressing.

“This village is one of the last ones to get power in this area,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Montique, a Fayetteville, N.C., native with the 414th Civil Affairs Company.

“I am very excited,” said Ebrahem Aswad Ahmad, a resident of Guddah.

Although construction of these power lines is still in its early stages, the residents of this village expect it will be finished soon.

“Can you imagine life without electricity?” Ebrahem asked the Soldiers. “Life will be much better for my family. We will finally be able to use air coolers.”

Second Lt. Tyson Friar, a Phoenix native and a platoon leader with 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd HBCT, whose platoon works in this area, was very happy to see this project getting underway.

“It lets them know we are here to help them,” he said. “By doing this, we help them realize we have their best interests at heart.”

Often, Friar and his Soldiers travel to these villages and the residents will inform them of their different needs and the answer is always the same.

“We will see what we can do.” said Friar. “It’s nice to be able to accomplish something that helps them out.”

According to Montique, after the power lines are established, their maintenance and upkeep will be handled by the Iraqis.

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Justin Naylor