U.S. Army Reserve Cpl. Kwami Koto, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Civil Affairs team 4902 information manager, is a native of the Republic of Togo, Africa, and uses his experiences to engage with the people of Djibouti. Photo by Senior Airman Jarad Denton

It was during a recent civil affairs mission through Djibouti, Africa, that U.S. Army Reserve Corporal Kwami Koto was able to truly articulate his connection to this continent and its people.

“You see those kids playing soccer, barefoot,” the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Civil Affairs team 4902 information manager said to his team chief as their vehicle passed by children running around on a dirt field. “That used to be me.”

Koto, a resident of Denton, Texas, was born in the Republic of Togo, located in West Africa. In the wake of a military coup d’etat and cultural turmoil nearly 10 years ago, he and his wife fled their homeland as political refugees to seek asylum in the U.S.

“Human rights in Togo were being systematically violated,” he said. “As a journalist, I started writing about it – denouncing the military regime’s abuses.”

Koto and his family began to receive threats against their lives. He weighed his options carefully: stay in Togo and likely be killed while reporting on the unfolding situation, or flee to America. “I chose the latter.”

After coming to the United States, Koto went to work as a program manager for a marketing company. He attended graduate school in his free time, earning his master’s degree in journalism in the spring of 2005. Four years ago Koto decided to demonstrate his pride for his adoptive country; he became a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“It is a pride not only for myself, but for my family – my parents and my entire hometown back in Togo,” he said. “They are all proud to have a son who serves in the most prestigious, and by far the best, Army in the world.”

The U.S. Army Reserve decided Koto was best suited to build relationships with villages and government leaders throughout the Horn of Africa. To him, the journey has been an astonishing one.

“Thirty-five years ago I was playing here as a kid – kicking an orange because we couldn’t afford a soccer ball,” he said as a proud smile grew on his face. “Now I wear the uniform of a U.S. Army soldier. I never could have imagined it years ago. It’s indescribable, the feeling I get when I travel to African villages and help bring about change.”

As an Army civil affairs soldier, Koto said returning to Africa has been a life-changing event for him.

“I had seen Americans before, when I was in Togo,” he said. “I learned English from a Peace Corps teacher. I never forgot those lessons or the interactions I had with the Americans. I make sure to treat the people I meet now the way I want them to remember me.”

Army civil affairs is responsible for assessing and engaging local leaders at both the village and government level. They build relationships with the people through a spirit of cooperation facilitated by African leaders.

U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Justin Lev, CJTF-HOA CAT 4902 chief, said having Koto on the team in Africa has been invaluable. “From day one, he’s been working with us on understanding the African people,” said Lev. “The reason we are able to work so well with them is because of Koto.”

Lev said Koto brings a unique perspective to their mission, and expresses his perspective on Africa’s potential.

“The African people are very resilient to live the way they live. They are happy with what they have,” said Koto. “However, I constantly wrestle with the way some of the African people accept their situation without trying to improve it. Every living thing has to grow and evolve. Africa, after 50 years of independence, is ready to move to the next stage of its development.”

Koto said African development must first begin with its people. An infrastructure cannot be built if the citizens are living in squalor. He said the first step is to build long-term, positive relationships with the people of Africa. Whether meeting with a village elder, partnering with locals to construct buildings or playing soccer with the children of Djibouti, Koto explained he would love for people in the United States. to see Africa the way he sees it.

“This is a land of opportunity,” he said. “Africa presents people with both an opportunity to help and an opportunity to learn. Just like all the opportunities we have in the United States – the ones here should not be taken for granted.”

Lev said working in civil affairs with Koto and seeing those opportunities presented on a daily basis, has changed the way he views the world.

“When we travel to these villages, we see real examples of people living in extreme poverty,” he said. “All of the standards we have in the United States don’t apply here, but the people are happy. It really shows that happiness is achievable no matter what you have or where you are.”

With another smile, Koto acknowledged what his commander had said. As an American, who earned his citizenship in February 2009, he has strong and passionate feelings for both his home and adopted countries.

“I love Africa,” he said. “I love it in the same way I love the United States – with my whole heart.”

Story by Senior Airman Jarad Denton
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Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, shovel mud and obstacles out of a canal, July 30. Marines, Afghan soldiers, and locals all helped repair two canals in the area. Photo by Lance Cpl. Eric Laclair

As Marines with Company K continue to stabilize Sangin through regular patrols and frequent interaction with the public, a few Marines and Afghan soldiers lent a hand to help local villagers repair a few canals, July 30.

Marines of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, along with Afghan National Army soldiers and local Afghan villagers, coordinated a project to rebuild two canals in Sangin.

“There were approximately 30 local nationals, 30 Marines, and 20 ANA soldiers,” said Company K’s 1st Sgt. Michael Woods.

“We had our engineers on site, along with all their equipment,” Woods continued. “Coupled with the muscle of the Marines, ANA, and the local population, we were able to put shovels in the ground and make the water flow again.”

The canals were not the only things that were built during the day.

“They helped us build the bridges that get us into their neighborhoods,” said Woods, a 36-year-old native of Kansas City, Miss. “And they allowed us to build a road that cuts through their fields.”

The day-long community event impacted more than dirt and water.

“We wanted to show the locals that the coalition forces are here to do good,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Aaron Belcher, the senior line-corpsmen with Company K, 3rd Bn., 7th Marines. “We showed them that we will help them put in a hard day’s work.”

Marines dug wearing Kevlar helmets and flak jackets, but the locals, wearing no protective armor, had much more to risk.

“This was the locals’ way of showing the Taliban that they are willing to help us and that they are interested in change,” Woods said. “The fact that they had the courage to help Marines and ANA build a road that leads deep into enemy territory is historic.”

The ANA soldiers were able to help Marines communicate with the local villagers. They helped, not only by interpreting words between Marines and locals but by reinforcing their own messages that the Marines and ANA are here to improve Sangin and rid it of insurgency.

“The Afghan Army is able to speak the language of the people and tell them that there is a better future,” Woods said. “They are true patriots and are very optimistic about Marines and ANA making a lasting improvement in this area.”

The Afghan soldiers, however, are not the only ones who believe in this change.

“The Marines and sailors of Kilo Company do things for the right reasons,” Woods said. “They understand that their actions can affect the mission in Afghanistan.”

At the end of the day, the two canals were finished, bridges were built, and water flowed again. The locals seemed happy with the work and Marines knew they had accomplished something for the future.

“I was proud to be a part of something so inspiring,” Woods said.

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Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson

Lance Cpl. Derek Hopkins, a mortarman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, carries a mortar tube while walking through a flooded field during a patrol, Aug. 3. Marines with Company K carry their mortar systems on patrols for support during firefights. Photo by Cpl. Ned Johnson

When the Marines of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, set out on patrol, Aug. 3, a simple civil affairs mission turned into an on-going firefight.

The task was to provide security during transport of a civil affairs team to talk to the locals about how Marines could help them, said Staff Sgt. Jesus Suarez, a platoon sergeant with Company K, 3rd Bn., 7th Marines.

Just a few minutes after the locals said there village had not seen fighting in a year, insurgents attacked with small arms and machine gun fire.

“We had a main effort push into the village and start conducting key leader engagements,” Suarez said. “That was when we got attacked by enemy forces.”

The Marines immediately found protection for nearby villagers and returned fire.

“The [insurgent] element was probably a squad size element,” said Derek Hopkins, a mortarman with Company K, 3rd Bn., 7th Marines.

After fighting continued for several minutes, Marines used fire superiority and movement to gain advantage over the enemy. Once the firing stopped, the Marines continued on the mission.

Although the mission was complete, the conflict was not over.

“As we were headed back, we continued to take contact,” said Suarez, a 34-year-old native of Corpus Christi, Texas.

This time, the snipers attached to Company K took control of the battle and helped defeat the enemy. The effective fire of the snipers immediately neutralized two of the enemy combatants.

The mission was designed to establish relationships with the villagers. Even though the village swarmed with civilians, insurgents attacked anyway.

“I think they are becoming desperate,” Suarez said. “They see the success we are having and they don’t want it to spread into other areas.”

“They are causing whatever violence they can to keep the local population from working with us,” Suarez continued.

The violence, however, will not prevent the Marines from continuing to help the locals, and Hopkins said they will continue to do security patrols throughout the Northern Green Zone and search for more avenues to help the locals via civil affairs projects.

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Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson

Ramadi, the Jewel of the Anbar province, bears along it streets and on the walls of the pockmarked buildings the scars of war. The faces of its citizens show the memory of a historic city brought to near destruction by the vicious battles that have taken place in its streets for almost half a decade.

However, with recent security developments and cooperation between the Iraqi government, Iraqi security forces and coalition forces, the city is returning to its proud status as the capital of al Anbar.

The Iraqi people continue to progress forward and take the lead in fighting terrorists and rebuilding Ramadi. They are patching up the bullet holes, repaving war-torn streets, and the citizens are walking proudly with the look of hope in their eyes; the city is theirs again.

“The mayor is working to improve the city, build schools for the children and rebuild key facilities like the waste water facility, the electrical
power plants, and a train station as well,” said 1st Lt. Marc B. Quesenberry, a 25-year-old combat engineer, from Floyd, Va., with Company C., 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1.

These infrastructure advances are possible because of the ever growing relationship between Iraqi and coalition forces. With the enhanced security and the renovations, Ramadi is quickly becoming a success story.

“The Iraqi police, the Iraqi highway patrol, and the provincial security forces have all played a very vital role in keeping the security inside and outside the city,” said Quesenberry.

With Iraqi forces manning the posts, actively patrolling the streets and engaging the locals, Marines are serving as advisors and can utilize the their time to aid in other projects in efforts to improve the city.

Marines with Company C., 2nd CEB, attached to 1st Bn., 9th Marines, are doing their part to help clean up the streets and return a sense of pride to the people of Ramadi by removing any unnecessary materials resembling signs of war throughout the city.

“We are taking down concrete barriers as well as concertina wire, a collapsible reusable form of barbed wire, and moving any unnecessary military objects to return Iraq back to normalcy,” said Quesenberry.

Clearing away the barriers and concertina wire, much like the fall of the Berlin Wall is not just the removal of signs of war, but the symbolism of demilitarizing a city that hosted some of the most brutal house to house fighting Marines have seen since Hue City in Vietnam.

“With the change of the enemy environment and the change of us pulling back and moving towards an over watch position we are taking away some of those military looking objects so people don’t feel like they are in a war zone anymore,” said Quesenberry.

The mission for Marines in Ramadi has changed drastically over the last few years and now they are able to accomplish tasks they never thought would be possible.

“Last time I was here, I would have never thought about jumping out of a truck to get rid of a barrier, I would have been too worried it was booby trapped,” said Cpl. Michael Robinson, a 22-year-old motor transport operator from Glenmore, Pa., with 2nd CEB, attached to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

For an outsider looking in, the time spent cleaning up Ramadi by many may seem tedious and not part of the mission for Marines in Iraq. However, many Marines look at it from a different standpoint and are proud of their accomplishments.

“It’s not about the hard feelings, it’s not about everything that happened in the past, it shows Marines didn’t give their lives for nothing, the city is improving and there is something to show for their hard work and sacrifice,” said Sgt. Robert L. Sullivan, a combat engineer with C Co., 2nd CEB, attached to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

The hard work by both the Iraqis and the Marines is paying off. Ramadi, as well as the entire Anbar province is getting closer and closer to restoring the full beauty to its cities.

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By Cpl. Stephen McGinnis
Regimental Combat Team 1 Public Affairs Office

Time had little effect on the strands of razor-sharp concertina wire that spanned hundreds of meters and split Ali’s farmland except to dull its original purpose – security. Located on the outer wall of Camp Slayer on the Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, the fence was originally constructed sometime during the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom more than five years ago. But until early June, it served no purpose but to divide.

In the small community of Radwaniyah, west of Baghdad International airport, an Iraqi farmer simply wanted to be able to access his fields without the seemingly unnecessary long walk-a-rounds resulting from the wire. He had wanted to take the fence down himself; however, he was afraid the coalition forces overlooking his farm from the towers might shoot him.

“I happy to do work taking poles out of ground, but don’t want someone to shoot me because I was stealing,” said Ali, who speaks relatively good English. “I talked to captain (Cesaro) when he drove by and I asked him if I could move it. I thank him very much. Good man.”

Although a handshake was enough to seal the deal for the young Army captain, he provided Ali with a business card explaining he had permission to take the fence down and Coalition forces would assist in the effort. Ali now proudly keeps the card in his wallet and proudly boasts about the friend he has made in Capt. Vincent Cesaro, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.

Previously, the wire was designed to keep the Iraqi army out. Yet, in an ironic twist, the division provided by the fence would now serve as an opportunity to bring three forces together again—Iraqi army, coalition forces and Iraqi citizens—which is the focus for the Coalition. Ultimately, the coalition forces strive to turn Iraq to Iraqi control.

“I think it says a lot about the Iraqi Army that they were willing to come out and join us for this mission,” said Cesaro. “Every week we’re looking for opportunity for IA and Coalition forces to work together, and in this case, these guys had just gotten in from patrols at three in the morning, yet, they still came out here.”

With temperatures in Baghdad reaching more than 100 degrees, the Soldiers joined forces with these local farmers and began dismantling the fence. Constructed of 300 plus rolls of concertina wire and six-foot tall metal posts dug deep into the hardened earth, the two-day mission was very challenging at times. Weeds had grown around the wire which oftentimes required the strength of a vehicle to pull it free.

In between work periods, these Soldiers were able to learn more about one another – with the benefit of two interpreters – and, yet again, continuing to build on their relationship.

“Soldiers are Soldiers, and the IA guys are really interested in talking with our guys; building camaraderie, and most important, we’re getting the job done and building a better Iraq,” said Cesaro. “For me, it’s just real neat to see the progress.”

By Maj. Craig Heathscott
39th Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Division – Baghdad