ISAF is aware of media reports that an operation in the Baram Cha area of southern Helmand in which a number of insurgents are reported to have been killed.

ISAF can confirm that an operation was conducted in that area the evening of October 12 against a small group of Taliban commanders.

After positively identifying these insurgents, ISAF attacked them with precision air strikes, killing the insurgents and destroying two of their vehicles.

ISAF

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On Oct. 8, a cargo ship from the United Arab Emirates came alongside South Port, Umm Qasr, with six Defender Class Fast Small Boats (FSB) in her hold. The Iraqi Navy and the UK-led Naval Training Team, both based at the port, have eagerly awaited the arrival of these vessels. Along with twenty others due to be delivered over a period of several months, these FSBs will greatly improve the ability of the Iraqi Navy to transition to full operational capability.

The Defenders were sold to the Iraqi Navy by SAFE Boat International through a United States Coast Guard Foreign Military Sales contract. They are 27 feet in length and capable of carrying up to 8 boarding-team members in a fully-enclosed air conditioned cabin. The FSBs are powered by twin Yamaha 250 horsepower, 4-stroke engines, enabling the craft to reach speeds up to 45 knots. The boats will be a huge improvement over the Iraqi Navy’s existing Fast Assault Boats and present a much more capable and versatile platform with which to defend Iraq’s territorial waters and carry out Visit, Board, Search and Seizure operations.

After being manufactured in Port Orchard, Washington, the boats were trucked to Norfolk, Virginia. In early September, the six boats began their journey across the Atlantic Ocean and, after a series of stops for replenishment and a transfer of cargo in the UAE, were loaded onto the ITB Thunder/Lightning for the last leg of the journey into Umm Qasr. The boats were off-loaded late in the evening and taken to the American United Logistics compound. Once all formalities are complete, the boats will be transferred to the Naval Base jetty to await the arrival of the United States Coast Guard International Training Division team later this month. The team will work alongside Iraqi Navy and NaTT instructors to initiate the reactivation process.

Formal training enabling the Iraqi Navy to operate and maintain the boats will commence on completion of reactivation training. Training will include navigation, general seamanship, engine repair and maintenance, and ship’s husbandry. NaTT instructors will advise and mentor Iraqi Navy instructors so they will be able to take on this training when the next batch of boats arrives. Lt. Tony Crisco, United States Coast Guard, NaTT, stated, “The inception of the FSBs will provide a greater capability to the Iraqi Navy and Marines to move throughout the Iraqi Navy waterborne area of responsibility (AOR), increasing their mission capability and presence, and providing an avenue for greater stability for commercial traffic and oil platform protection.” NaTT commander Capt. Phil Warwick, Royal Navy, added, “This is a genuine, tangible step forward for the Iraqi Navy. They are very excited and can’t wait to get to grips with this new vessel”.

MNF-I

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Every Monday and Thursday, we post a new diptych. We don’t shoot together, because Krista lives in MN and Jenny lives in MA. We assign a shooting theme for each day, and don’t see each other’s results until it’s time to put them together.

MONDAY/THURSDAY

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Seven times, she watched him leave.

On the eighth opportunity, he had a traveling companion.

As a military spouse, Sonia Parker watched her husband, Sgt. First Class Matthew Parker, deploy around the world, leaving her to care for their two children, Ann-Marie and Heather — both now married with their own families. Often, she would wonder about what amazing things and exciting encounters her husband was experiencing, in all corners of the globe.

In November 2007, Col. David Clark, Multi-National Division – Center deputy commanding general (at the time, Fort Drum’s garrison commander) presented an interesting opportunity to civilian workers on the installation – join the division in Iraq.

Without hesitation, Sonia stepped forward and volunteered to spend a year away from the U.S., at her husband of nearly 23 years’ side.

“There were many reasons I chose to come. I thought I’d get a better understanding of what my husband goes through on a day-to-day basis during deployments,” said Parker, a native of Boston, Mass. “Plus, it gave me the chance to do something for my country.”

For Sgt. First Class Parker, his wife’s dedication to helping the MND-C is heroic.

“I am in awe of her decision,” he said. “She wanted to see what it’s like, and experience some of what I have experienced. She wanted to do something for the Soldiers of the [10th Mountain] Division.”

While admiring her decision, Matthew has had worries.

“I never wanted her to be in a situation where a mortar attack had to be a concern,” he added. “This is still a war zone, so I worry about ‘what if’s’. Her work is important, but I would rather she be back in New York.”

Parker, who works with School Age Services back at Fort Drum, has a different job in Iraq – one equally as important.

“I am part of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program and the Iraqi-CERP efforts,” she added. The CERP program is funded with U.S. appropriated funds; I-CERP is funding provided to the U.S. to execute CERP projects in accordance with the Iraqi government. “I work within different aspects. I receive packets from the units, requesting funds. I then process CERP requirement packets so proper funding can be applied in a timely manner and the people of Iraq can ultimately take advantage of the goods and services. If the packet can be an I-CERP, I make sure it is filed as such [which ensures Iraqi projects are funded by their own government funding].”

In addition to these duties, Parker has created a recycling program in the MND-C Headquarters area, to help keep Camp Victory clean.

“Once I got here, I noticed a lot of plastic bottles accumulating everywhere,” explained Sonia, who will stay deployed with the 10th. Mtn. Div. until they return to Fort Drum. “I investigated and found a recycling plant on West Liberty. I found some contacts, made some phone calls and started the recycling program within the 10th Mtn. Div.”

Recycling bins can be found all over the MND-C Headquarters now, filled to the brim with bottles that previously would have filled garbage cans and bags. For all of Parker’s hard work, she was made an honorary member of the 10th Mountain Division by Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore, MND-C’s senior enlisted leader, during a ceremony on Sept. 29 at the Honor Chapel on Camp Victory.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” said Sonia. “It was a great surprise.”

For the Parkers, this experience has surprised them both.

“Having her here is a bit of an odd feeling,” said Matthew. “I see her in a different light than back home. She eats in the same chow hall, turns in laundry and does all the other little things [Soldiers] do.”

“I try to take every experience as it comes,” said Sonia. “I wasn’t expecting to see the amount of trees and flowers I see. I think it’s really amazing. I look for the positives out of a situation that can be very overwhelming to everyone involved.”

Parker’s next project involves sending the tabs off of soda cans back to the U.S., to a Shriner’s Organization in Erie, Pa., that uses them to offset the cost of surgical procedures. The project should begin very soon on Camp Victory.

DVIDS
By Spc. Josh LeCappelain
Multi-National Division-Center Public Affairs Office

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A terrorist killed by Coalition forces during an operation in Mosul on Oct. 5 has been positively identified as Abu Qaswarah.

Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, was the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of northern Iraq. A Moroccan native, Abu Qaswarah had historic ties to AQI founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and senior al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Abu Qaswarah took the role of the senior AQI emir of northern Iraq in June 2007. He was al-Qaeda in Iraq’s second in command and AQI Emir Abu Ayyub al-Masri’s senior operational leader.

Significant intelligence collected in the hunt for Abu Qaswarah led Coalition forces to a building in Mosul that served as a key command and control location for AQI. Upon entering the building, forces were immediately fired upon. Coalition forces returned fire in self defense, leading to the death of five terrorists. It was later determined that one of the five was positively identified as Abu Qaswarah.

Abu Qaswarah was a charismatic AQI leader who rallied AQI’s northern network in the wake of major setbacks to the terrorist organization across Iraq. He was responsible for organizing and leading AQI efforts in northern Iraq, including operations against Iraqi and Coalition targets in Mosul. Abu Qaswarah oversaw the failed attempt to destroy the Mosul Civic Center during the Holy month of Ramadan – an attack that could have killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis.

A foreign terrorist who trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Abu Qaswarah directed the movement of foreign terrorists into northern Iraq. Such foreign terrorists have been responsible for multiple suicide attacks against Iraqi civilians in the northern cities of Tal Afar and Mosul. Abu Qaswarah reportedly killed foreign terrorists who wanted to return to their home countries instead of carrying out attacks against Iraqi citizens.

Abu Qaswarah’s death will cause a major disruption to the AQI network, as he played a significant role in tying numerous al-Qaeda links together in order to conduct terrorist activities in Iraq. His death will significantly degrade AQI operations in Mosul and Northern Iraq, leaving the network without a leader to oversee and coordinate its operations in the region.

“Abu Qaswarah is another example of how al-Qaeda in Iraq has been forced to rely on foreign terrorists to carry out their vicious attacks on the Iraqi people as well as Coalition and Iraqi forces,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman. “The Iraqi people do not want them here, and Coalition and Iraqi forces will continue to work together to weed them out of the country. Terrorists who bring radical and fanatic Islam into Iraq commit murderous acts against the people of Iraq and have no place in the future of Iraq.”

MNF-I

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Hurricane Katrina destroyed about 275,000 houses in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Now, more than three years later, the area is still trying to rebuild and revitalize. While those numbers are staggering, they also put into perspective the severity of housing units currently needed in Iraq: more than 2 million.

“[Multi-National Division - Center] is aware that there is a major housing issue, and we are doing our part to address that issue. We are working with different organizations and groups such as the [government of Iraq], private investors and [non-government organizations],” said Lt. Col. Barry Ross, 445th Civil Affairs Battalion economics officer. “We are in the process of assembling all of the right people to come up with a plan to alleviate this issue.”

Coalition forces invasion of Iraq in 2003, along with an escalation of violence from al-Qaida, led to the destruction or damage of large portions of housing sectors. The Baghdad area was particularly hard hit. This caused a dramatic increase to an already existent need for housing, exacerbating the strain on the country’s already fragile design and a construction industry that has been in disrepair for more than a decade due to restrictions of the previous regime.

According to June Reed, Office of Private Sector Development, Strategic Investment and Housing senior advisor, suggested programs should improve employment opportunities for construction worker trainees and create a larger pool of skilled workers.

“A huge problem right now, though, is funding. The provincial governments haven’t made any budget requests for housing because they were looking for the federal government to assist them,” Ross said. “What the [provincial reconstruction teams] need to work on is getting the provincial government to plan for their own solutions by coming up with their own budget.”

The shortage of housing, poor quality of existing structures and a remarkable decline in violence in the Baghdad area have also lead to real estate prices doubling. In addition, many properties are sold or leased as soon as they hit the market, thus making Iraq one of the biggest potential housing markets in the world.

“Last year, there was lots of real estate to sell and no buyers. Now, it’s the opposite,” said Abdullah Jasim of an al-Noor real estate agency in an article published by Reuters. “There is not enough for sale. If you put something up for sale, it’s immediately sold.”

According to Ross, the housing challenge in MND-C has many different variables, but steps are being taken to address it. The process is still in an exploratory stage, and many individuals are trying to pinpoint the issue and develop solutions.

DVIDS
By Staff Sgt. Amber Emery
Multi-National Division - Center

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At Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, a string of chances enabled a Soldier to become the Army’s first – and only – woman Stryker Armored Vehicle driver, an experience she says changed the course of her Army career.

“It all happened by chance,” said Spc. Tiffany Knotts, a signal support systems specialist. “I showed up at the unit at the right time, and I was sent to the training.”

The right time for the Army proved to be the wrong time for her family. Knott’s father passed away two weeks before she made it to Hawaii, but she said that even in death, her father watches over her, and his death made it possible for her to get to Hawaii at the perfect time. Her move was delayed two weeks to attend his funeral.

“I consider this opportunity as a gift from my father,” she said. “He was always so proud of me and raised me to push and challenge myself, and being in the position I am in allows me to take on challenges.”

She considers herself a jack of all trades. Assigned to the 556th Signal Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, Knotts is not only the commander’s Stryker driver, she also works in the administrative shop, handling a variety of personnel issues, from promotions to pay. It’s not the job she joined the Army for, and said she was upset at first when it happened but quickly gained a new perspective.

“It’s really great to be able to take care of the Soldiers in the company,” she said, as she performed her daily checks of the company’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation room. “I learned what it takes to ensure Soldiers get what they need to be successful. It is hard work.”

And her hard work does not go without notice.

“She works really hard and has learned a lot in a short period of time. She loves to goof off and laugh, but when it is time to work, she puts the game face on,” said Sgt. James Canedy, a native of Radcliff, Ky., and Stryker team chief, 556th Signal Company.

Like so many in the military, Knotts was shaped by a legacy of service. Her grandfather and father served in the Air Force and Army respectively. They fought for their country and lived to tell her their stories. She was intrigued by them and wanted to follow in their footsteps. The desire to serve hit her so badly, she gave up one love in the pursuit of another. This pursuit led her to switch high schools.

Her first school, in her hometown of Riverside, Calif., didn’t have a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Knotts was determined to find a school with JROTC program because that is what she wanted to do. With that goal in mind and with support from her family, she moved to a new school – a better school for her to achieve her goals.

“I loved the Air Force JROTC program. Every minute of it was awesome,” she said.

The program took up so much of her time, she was forced to give up playing the clarinet.

“I loved it, but the band’s stance was ‘band or nothing else,’” she said. “I wanted JROTC and sports more so that is what I concentrated on.”

Knotts enjoyed a good amount of success during her tenure. She was awarded Cadet of the Year and spent her time as a member of the many different color guards.

Four and half years after she joined the Army, she has an even more prestigious position, one she proudly holds alone.

“It was pretty intimidating at first, but this is the coolest thing I have ever accomplished. It is such an honor and flattering to hold this position,” she said, without an air of arrogance or a nonchalant attitude sometimes found in someone who has accomplished so much in such a short period of time.

The vehicle more than dwarfs her short frame, but she makes climbing to the top look easy.

“It’s like I am at Discovery Zone,” she said, while checking the maintenance systems on her vehicle and spouting off parts of her Stryker as fluidly as a folk singer croons a melody. She attributes her proficiency with vehicles to her father, a former mechanic. She laughed as she recounted stories of Soldiers who struggle with something as simple as checking the oil on their vehicles but added that she is always willing to give them a helping hand and teach the right way to do things.

“Young Soldiers are so reliant on technology. They’re not used to getting their hands dirty; but on the flipside, it helps when driving one of these,” she said.

Being only 24 years of age herself, it may seem baffling to hear her talk about “young Soldiers,” but she considers herself an “old soul” and much more mature than most of her peers.

“It was weird sometimes when I was growing up,” she said. “All my friends were talking about clothes and what boys they wanted to date, and I was concentrated on my future and worried about school.”

Even now, Knotts has her mind firmly planted in her future. She is undecided whether she wants to stay in the Army and continue what she is currently doing or come back with a commission. However, she said she does know the military will continue to be a part of her life.

“She could be a sergeant major,” Canedy said. “She constantly amazes me with her knowledge, drive and determination. She knows more than I do.”

That drive and determination will make her a sergeant soon, and she said she is looking forward to being a leader. But judging from her actions, she is already there.

“I take all of this very seriously,” she said. “I take the lives of everyone in my Stryker seriously, and I take the responsibility of having a Stryker that is mine seriously. I take taking care of Soldiers seriously. This is an awesome responsibility and one that I hope I can learn from and pass on that knowledge to others.”

DVIDS
By Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

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Chairman of the Khidr Town Council participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the newly-refurbished Khidr irrigation bridge and a new marketplace in Khidr, Aug. 15, 2008.

The chairman, Sheik Jaffer Hussein, Col. Thomas James, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Lt. Col. Timothy Newsome, commander of 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment attended the ceremonies.

More than 100 local citizens turned out to celebrate the opening of the bridge, which will allow access for residents of Khidr and Abu Shemshi to travel on key roadways to markets in Iskandariyah.

“I’ve been working this project through my [civil affairs] channels really hard and could not be more pleased with the final result,” said Maj. Sean Hood, Civil Affairs Team chief at Forward Operating Base Iskan. “The bridge is of such a high quality.”

The bridge is state-of-the-art and will immensely improve living conditions and artistic appearance of the area, Hood said.

Following the ceremony, local children took advantage of the new bridge by hosting a diving competition, and Sheikh Jaffer hosted a luncheon at his home in celebration of the event.

DVIDS
By 1st Lt. Travis Hayes
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

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Corpsman Up! It’s a simple phrase used by Marines in combat to let corpsmen fighting alongside them know they need help, and FAST.

Since the Marines have been conducting counterinsurgency operations here, this call for help has pierced the air on more than one occasion.

As they take the fight to the insurgents on a near constant basis, the Marines of Company F, Task Force 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan rely heavily on their Navy brethren.

Thankfully, they are equipped with some of the best corpsmen available.

The corpsmen attached to Fox Company are members of the task force’s Shock Trauma Platoon (STP). The STP is comprised of two medical doctors, two nurses, a physician assistant and 14 corpsmen chosen from various military units around the world. The STP specializes in providing trauma care on the scene, and Afghanistan’s austere environment has made it increasingly more challenging for the corpsmen to perform their duties. Nonetheless, the corpsmen serving here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom are committed to a common goal – saving lives and keeping Marines “in the fight.”

To fulfill its life-saving mission, the STP has implemented a new concept that has greatly enhanced its ability to provide more expedient medical care to the Marines serving on the frontlines. Because travelling a short distance to transport wounded Marines through the rocky and hilly terrain can literally take hours, the STP saw fit to create the Mobile Trauma Bay (MTB) to administer care faster.

Through the use of military equipment and medical materials made readily available, the “docs” are now better equipped to help Marines return to the fight.

“We took a flatbed 7-ton truck an ISO container and an AC unit, and turned it into a Mobile Trauma Bay that would rival any emergency room back in the states,” said Cmdr. James L. Hancock, STP senior medical officer and Illiopolis, Ill., native. “It’s hard to believe I wrote the idea down on a napkin and after a few phone calls with some contractors, had it built.”

Affectionately referred to as a “Doc-in-a-box,” the MTB is basically an E.R. (emergency room) on wheels. It is equipped with the medical equipment necessary for the STP to treat wounds that would normally be untreatable on the battlefield. It comes with equipment such as an ultrasound machine that helps the medical personnel locate shrapnel in the body. Among a long list of other medical equipment, the MTB also has an electrocardiogram that shows how the heart is functioning – critical for diagnostic procedures and evalutions; and a pulse-oximeter that shows oxygen saturation of arterial blood necessary to check for normal lung function in a patient.

“We bring advanced medical care to the fight,” said Navy Hospitalman 2nd Class Rudy R. Estrada, STP surgical technician and San Diego, Calif., native. “With the types of injuries we’re seeing, having the MTB with us is a huge asset. Having the advanced equipment so close to the fight has saved a lot of lives.”

A wounded Marine’s chance of survival is increased exponentially if they reach medical care within the first 60 minutes of the injury or what the docs refer to as the “golden hour.” The golden hour represents the time from the point of injury to the time the patient receives treatment.

“With the capabilities we have, we can extend the golden hour to several hours instead of just one,” Estrada explained. “One of the biggest things we bring to the fight is the psychological aspect. The Marines know that if they get injured, the doc is right over their shoulder like a guardian angel.”

Having the additional support of the MTB makes fighting with the enemy less stressful for Fox Company Marines because they know help is close by.

“When I first told my Marines where we were going, one of the first questions they asked was, ‘How far away will we be from medical facilities?’” said Capt. Ross Schellhaas, company commander and Meridian, Idaho native. “You saw a collective sigh of relief from all of the Marines as they realized we would have an E.R. doctor and his team of corpsmen so far forward with us.”

Pleased with the STP’s performance, the company commander said he felt proud to have the sailors serving with Fox Company Marines.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of folks that represent Navy medicine the way our STP has,” Capt. Schellhaas said. “We have several corpsmen out here that have earned multiple Purple Hearts for their efforts in trying to save Marines. The STP will do everything it can to help a Marine who’s down, even if that means putting themselves in harm’s way.”

Fox Company Marines understand the importance of having the STP with them because of the difficult situations the Marines have faced since deploying here in early April.

“The situations we get in here are more complex than a single corpsman can handle,” said Lance Cpl. Brandon W. Besendorfer, infantryman and Golden City, Mo., native. “You know if you get hurt, the STP will be there for you. That makes it a little easier going into combat knowing that they will do whatever they can to make sure you make it home.”

Marine Corps
By Cpl. James M. Mercure
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines

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When you step into the chow hall here, the first thing you notice is the smell of gourmet coffee. Next, you notice an orderly array of shelf-stable meals displayed in cubbies along the plywood walls, available to the post’s Marines 24-hours a day.

If you come during morning or evening chow hours, you will find home-cooked meals, made mostly from scratch.

These amenities were made possible, in large part, by the knowledge, skills and experience of one of the post’s most junior Marines, Lance Cpl. Jennifer Shell, who is currently serving as the chow hall manager.

Shell, a 31-year-old military police officer and reserve Marine from Uniontown, Pa., joined the Corps at the age of 27 after graduating from culinary school in New York in 2003 and from Pennsylvania State University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management.

According to Shell, she enlisted in the Marine Corps “because of the pride associated with it, and more importantly because of my dad, who served on MSG [Marine Security Guard] detail in Singapore during the Vietnam War.”

Although she was well qualified, Shell was not interested in Marine Corps Officer’s Candidate School.

“I love the camaraderie of being an enlisted Marine,” said Shell. “You can’t find this anywhere else. Sitting on post, staring out into the desert for hours on end, you learn a lot about each others’ lives.”

The first five months of Shell’s tour here were spent serving in the role of military police officer, responsible for the outpost’s security and supporting the various U.S. military advisor training teams and convoy escort personnel that the base houses when they aren’t out on missions in this remote and barren region on the Iraqi-Jordanian border.

The military police officers describe their seven-month tour here as “one long Groundhog Day.” The standard routine is six hours on guard post, followed by six hours on patrol. After returning from foot or vehicle patrols, the MPs have six hours on stand-by as a quick reactionary force. They then have six hours to sleep, awake and begin the schedule all over again.

A member of Military Police Company B, 4th Marine Logistics Group, based in North Versailles, Pa., Shell and four other reserve Marines from her unit deployed as individual augments to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment’s Task Force MP.

Five months into her unit’s tour, Shell’s squad leader, Cpl. Kristyn Stewart, from Pittsburgh, recommended that Shell be appointed to take over management of the chow hall from a more senior Marine.

“She’s a restaurant manager and graduate of culinary school,” said Stewart, 26, who is on her third mobilization and tour in Iraq. “I identified a need, and (Shell) was a perfect fit for the job.”

Cpl. Nathan Dahlheimer, 28, is a military policeman and squad leader from Monticello, Minn, attached to 3rd Bn., 10th Marines. “The menu became really monotonous after five months and everything was boiled, usually in a bag,” said Dahlheimer. “Lance Corporal Shell prepared real meals from scratch. She helped improve morale, as her meals gave us something to look forward to every night.”

Not only did Shell’s experience create better meals, her work has enhanced the overall service of the chow hall in a number of ways.

“The difference in the organization of the chow hall was amazing,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jason Stephens of San Diego. Stephens, 35, arrived here in mid-August and is serving as team chief for the Port of Entry Transition Team.

“She’s kept the shelves restocked every day,” said Stephens. “The overall cleanliness of the chow hall is excellent. People actually want to sit down and eat there now, as it is a nice place to hang out. I think she brought here everything she learned in the civilian community and applied it to the chow hall. Her experience in managing restaurants in the civilian world was key to this success.”

Stephens explained that because of the aesthetic transformation in the atmosphere of the chow hall, it became the outpost’s social hub, where Marines congregate in the evening to play cards and watch satellite TV.

“I thought it was outstanding,” added Stephens. “I was very impressed with Shell, as a junior Marine, taking over the job and running with it.”

Shell is scheduled to return to her home town in late October. After demobilization, she will go back to her career as a restaurant manager in western Pennsylvania.

Although she will arrive in time for her favorite time of the year, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ hockey season, she will miss the camaraderie she feels with her fellow Marines here in Iraq.

“Cooking for people here is much more fulfilling than cooking in the civilian world,” said Shell with an ear-to-ear smile. “The Marines simply appreciate it more.”

US Marines
By Capt. Paul Greenberg
Regimental Combat Team 5