Mesbah Pool Reopens
Children and young adults alike donned swimming trunks to take the plunge or dive off the diving board after the re-opening of the Mesbah Pool in the Karadah district of southeast Baghdad, Aug. 7, 2008.
Iraqi officials, contractors, and Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), worked together to bring this historic pool back to the people of Iraq.
The Mesbah Pool is an Olympic-sized pool that has been around for quite a long time, claimed Capt. Sean O’Brien, effects coordinator for 5th Bn., 25th FA.
In fact, the pool was built in 1927, said Nibras, the project manager for the Mesbah Pool, explaining that it was the first pool built in Iraq.
Unfortunately, the pool fell into disrepair over the years, according to Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Allen, a non-commissioned officer assigned to 5th Bn., 25th FA’s effects cell.
“A lot of the people in high-level government positions … remember swimming in this pool when they were children,” said O’Brien. “There is a lot of pride associated with it in the community.”
It took a great deal of hard work in a short amount of time to renovate Mesbah pool. Some people wanted to tear it down and start from scratch, but that wasn’t necessary.
“We did our best to finish it in one month and it is a great job,” said Nibras. Although it would have been easier to tear down this pool and build a new pool, the overwhelming sentiment for the project leaned toward restoring the pool to its original state, he expressed.
Contractors worked day and night to complete the pool upgrades in time to allow children to swim in the pool before school starts again.
It was a good engagement of Iraqi government officials, civilians, contractors and coalition forces, all working together to complete this project, re-emphasized Allen, a Daytona Beach, Fla. native.
The pool is a particular favorite of older Iraqis who have memories of swimming in this pool during their youth. It is like a dream for them, commented Nibras, explaining the restoration of the pool holds a lot of symbolism for the people. There were a lot of people in the beginning that had doubts about the restoration of this historic landmark, but they were proven wrong today, said Nibras.
Another positive aspect of working on this project was finding a contractor who had such great enthusiasm for the project, explained O’Brien. The contractor working on the pool has a particular bond for this project because the contractor’s father used to swim in this very pool, relayed O’Brien. “So the son wanted to do a very good job for his father, and make sure it was absolutely perfect,” he added.
In addition, one of the great things about this project is it provides a fun and safe environment for youth. “The pool is for the children of Iraq,” said O’Brien
In spite of all the difficulties kids in Iraq face, it is good to be able to provide the children a safe and fun environment, expressed O’Brien. It is a good place for youth to go to play away from threats and dangers of improvised explosive devices.
Usef, a 9-year-old Iraqi boy, was happy to be there for the opening of the pool, and he was sure he would enjoy swimming there, saying it is a very good day to go swimming and there aren’t many places to go to swim.
Sallama Albaldway, a nearby resident said she was very pleased to see the re-opening of the pool and to see the children given the opportunity to enjoy the pool, as it was once enjoyed by children when she was child.
“This is a great indication of security, the beginnings of liberty [and] all of those good things that are needed in order for a true society to begin again,” said O’Brien, adding that the pool reopening is another step toward a return to normalcy in Iraq.
DVIDS
By Sgt. Grant Okubo
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
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