(From left to right) Sergeant 1st Class Jarion Halbisengibbs, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, Capt. Matthew Chaney and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lindsay, recipients of the Silver Star, received their awards during a ceremony at the Special Events Center , Fort Carson, Colo., May 14. (Photo by Spec. Henrique L. de Holleben)

Sgt. 1st Class Jarion Halbisengibbs received the Distinguished Service Cross, while Capt. Matthew A. Chaney and Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Lindsay received the Silver Star during an award ceremony at the Special Events Center, May 14.

The Special Forces Soldiers from Operational Detachment Alpha 083, received the medals for their heroism in action on Sept. 10, 2007.

Advising a combined assault element of Iraqi National Police on an intelligence driven raid, their mission was to capture a high value Islamic State of Iraq terrorist who was running a kidnapping and extortion ring.

Adm. Eric T. Olson, United States Special Operations Command commander, and Lt. Gen. John T. Mulholland Jr., United States Army Special Operations Command commander, presented the awards to the Soldiers with more than 700 present to witness the historic ceremony.

“You have listened to and read the account of that night on 10 September 2007, a mission that asked the best of some of our nation’s finest,” said Olson speaking to the guests in attendance.

“This was ODA 083, a Green Beret A-Team in action, under pressure, at risk,” Olson added. “Sergeant Halbisengibbs exemplifies the spirit and ethos of these warriors. He is a gifted team member and individual soldier, one who raises the performance and morale of those around him. Today we will also recognize two more of them, Captain Chaney and Sergeant 1st Class Lindsay, for their extraordinary courage in that action.”

During that raid, three team members, Chaney, Lindsay, and Halbisengibbs, demonstrated exceptional bravery and valor in close combat while they succeeded in eliminating a heavily armed and entrenched enemy force from within a fortified stronghold.

Around 2 a.m., after infiltrating by air into an unplanned landing zone less than 30 meters from the enemy position, Chaney directed the assault force towards the targeted buildings.

Facing both “brown-out” conditions caused by the rotor wash of the helicopters and only 10 percent illumination, the assault force immediately came under enemy fire. Undaunted, these three Special Forces leaders directed their Iraqi counterparts and initiated the assault on the array of buildings.

After clearing the closest structure, the assault element immediately came under enemy machine gun fire from the furthest building, approximately 50 meters away, causing a dangerous pause in the momentum of the assault.

Working in concert, these three leaders immediately redirected their assault element towards the most urgent threat, the third building.

Lindsay and Halbisengibbs killed three insurgents who were firing from the building as the Force assaulted. Chaney and Lindsay then placed themselves in a critical position at the breach point, while Halbisengibbs prepared to employ a fragmentation grenade.

Before the assault force entered, his fragmentation grenade killed two of the enemy fighters waiting inside.

Within seconds of when the three entered the building, the three killed two more enemy fighters. While trying to acquire targets through the haze caused by the grenade blast, Chaney and Lindsay were strafed by intense AK-47 fire.

Chaney was shot through the pelvis, hip, and buttocks while Lindsay received gunshot wounds to the throat and abdomen.

Despite their serious wounds, they – along with Halbisengibbs – continued to engage the enemy inside until an enemy grenade exploded and wounded all three, propelling Chaney and Lindsay back through the door of the house and out into the courtyard. The grenade blast sent Halbisengibbs to the floor and, hit with shrapnel, he sustained wounds to his firing hand and damage to his radio and night vision device.

As Chaney and Lindsay lay wounded and exposed in the courtyard, the remainder of the assault force continued to fight insurgents in the other structures.

Chaney, although suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, continued to exercise command, and while directing actions on the objective, killed another insurgent who was firing at him from an open door.

As a result of the grenade blast, Lindsay had been thrown into the line of fire from another enemy position to the east of the main building but, ignoring his wounds, he continued to engage the enemy.

With Chaney and Lindsay blown from the building, Halbisengibbs realized he was wounded and alone inside the target building. As enemy fire had destroyed his radio and damaged his night vision device, his vision was impaired and he was unable to contact the remainder of the assault force to request support. Taking immediate and decisive action, Halbisengibbs leapt to his feet and quickly cleared the room.

Making his way out to the courtyard, SSG Halbisengibbs immediately passed a verbal status report to his ODA indicating his status but could continue to fight. During the course of relaying this message, he immediately came under small arms fire at close range from an enemy position not yet cleared by the national police assault force.

As Halbisengibbs reacted to the threat, he was shot in the abdomen; the bullet traveling through his stomach and exiting at his hip. Ignoring this second debilitating gunshot wound, he engaged and killed the enemy within 12 feet of his position.

Halbisengibbs then took cover and rallied the remainder of the Iraqi National Police and assisted in securing the objective area. Only when the enemy was eliminated and the objective was secure, did he reveal the seriousness of his wounds and accept medical attention.

Sergeant 1st Class Jarion Halbisengibbs, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) receives the Distinguished Service Cross from Adm. Eric T. Olson, United States Special Operations Command commander, during a ceremony at the Special Events Center , Fort Carson, Colo., May 14. (Photo by Spec. Henrique L. de Holleben)

After the force was firmly in control of the objective, the three were evacuated to the Combat Support Hospital in Balad. These three Special Forces leaders had led their Iraqi National Police counterparts in a highly successful operation during which time they had demonstrated immeasurable fortitude and valor. Their personal example, which involved killing nine of the enemy in close combat, resulted in the death and capture of several enemy terrorists, including the intended target.

Chaney’s valorous leadership that night and unwavering dedication to mission accomplishment, despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, made a significant contribution to defeating Al Qaeda operations in the Samarra area.

Chaney’s bullet and shrapnel wounds kept him in Balad for 24 hours where he received his initial surgery before transport to Landstuhl, Germany. During the next eight days, he underwent two additional surgeries before final transport and care at Evans Army Hospital here at Fort Carson. Chaney has returned to duty, having recently returned from another deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and just completed the Special Forces Combat Divers Qualification Course.

Lindsay demonstrated unparalleled valor in the face of a determined enemy and directly contributed to mission success that night.

Lindsay’s bullet and shrapnel wounds were assessed in Balad, prompting immediate transport to Landstuhl where he had almost two feet of his intestines removed. His follow-on stay at Walter Reed lasted three weeks. Since Lindsay received these life-threatening wounds, he has undergone two more surgeries and still carries bullet fragments in his pelvis. He has returned to duty and, like Chaney, has served another tour in Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Halbisengibbs was responsible for single – handedly killing six of the enemy on the objective and personally eliminating a High Value Terrorist.

Surgeons in Balad worked to repair the wounds to Halbisengibbs’ hand and abdomen, during which time they removed 18 cm of his small intestines. He was quickly transported to Landstuhl, and on to Walter Reed with Lindsay, where he stayed for approximately three weeks. He has since received an additional surgery on his hand, has returned to duty, and is ready for the next deployment.

It is the valor of these three Soldiers with their unparalleled courage under fire, decisive leadership, and tenacity in close combat that led to the successful elimination of a critical terrorist cell. Their quiet professionalism and modesty continues to radiate throughout the unit.

Col. Darsie D. Rogers, Jr., 10th SFG(A) Commander, speaking during the introduction affirmed to all attending that, “the feats of these brave men will forever have a place in history alongside other green berets who have fought the wars before us. These men, and many others like them, answered the call of their nation. They have done so as quiet professionals, as is expected of our green berets and special operators and we pay tribute to the courage of these magnificent soldiers and their selfless service to our nation.”

By 10th SFG (A) Public Affairs Office

So the three Americans, led by Halbisengibbs, assaulted the house. They stacked up outside the doorway, Halbisengibbs threw in a fragmentation grenade, killing two fighters inside as the soldier rushed in. “You could see faceless shapes scurrying around the room grabbing weapons, and less than three seconds we received AK-47 fire,” said Lindsay, who was hit in the throat. Chaney was shot through the pelvis and hip. Moments later, the insurgents threw a grenade, blasting both of them out the door and into the courtyard.

“I was hyperventilating and throwing up,” on the verge of passing out, said Lindsay. Without the strength to lift his rifle, he said he rolled over then pulled out his pistol as enemy bullets flew over his head. “I fired a few rounds so no one would walk over and shoot me,” he said.

Chaney lay in the courtyard, unable to feel his legs, but kept firing his rifle, killing an insurgent shooting a him nearby. Chaney and Lindsay received Silver Stars today for their actions.

Meanwhile, Halbisengibbs “continued to clear the structure in complete darkness as his night vision goggles and personal radio were all destroyed by enemy gunfire at point blank range,” the official narrative said. “Stumbling over a dead enemy, he was shot in the thumb and propelled to the ground by the blast” of the grenade. “Alone, he relentlessly continued to engage the concealed enemy and in a moment of intense close quarters battle killed one additional terrorist inside the now chaotic structure.”

Moving into the courtyard to protect his two comrades who lay exposed there, Halbisengibbs was suddenly shot through the abdomen. “It felt like white hot lightning shooting through my stomach, and I felt my hip pop out,” he said. But even as he fell to the ground he raised his rifle and killed the fighter only 12 feet away.

Washington Post

Today’s Bloggers’ Roundtable was with Col. Larry Saunders, Director, Baghdad Police College Transition Team and Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Interior Vice Deputy. He was very patient and gave us a detailed review of the structure and training of the Iraqi police as it is currently constituted.

There are three main components of the security forces under the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior

• the Iraqi Police Service, IPS – 240,000 – These are the local police, recruited and stationed near their homes.
• Border Police – 80,000
• Iraqi National Police – 130,000. These are a paramilitary force similar to a combination of a state police force and a National Guard Military Police.

The basic IPS recruit, or shirta, will be trained in either a four or eight week course. The longer course ends at 1 pm daily. The shirta is not a police officer as we know it. He is similar to the auxiliaries that many police departments in the United States have. Only officers in the IPS can make arrests. Enlisted IPS have 6 ranks, to the equivalent of staff sergeant. Many shirta have no high school.

The IPS is recruited and assigned locally. That means that the IPS reflects the sectarian and ethnic makeup of its locality.

For Iraqis with high school, there are more options in the police force. There are two levels of high school degree and the lower level can join as a commissioner. There are eight ranks for commissioner and there is additional training at level 5.

About 1,000 Sons of Iraq just completed the basic shirta course in al Anbar Province.

Officers must have the higher high school degree. They are sent to a three year university program and receive a university degree.

For those officer positions that are support and not line, there are other options. There is a nine month officer course with no degree. A long tenured commissioner at level 4 can take a one year course, with no degree. These men would be serving in administrative and support roles.

One prior service course has been run. It took 1,700 men with prior service in the police or military.

Officers in the National Police cannot be assigned to their home province. Great effort is being made to ensure that the NP is non sectarian.

The Iraqis have implemented an NP officer selection process that interviews the candidates three times, once each by boards chaired by a Christian, a Shia and a Sunni. The combined scores are used to select the successful candidates, and the desire is to eliminate any sectarian bias in the NP officer corps.

Col. Saunders talked about the future of the Iraqi Police, as well. The MoI is now moving to concentrate on the professionalism of the police force. They are satisfied with the present size of the force. A three year plan is being developed by the Iraqis that will guide future training as well as allied mentoring programs. It will focus on core police competencies, leadership, and administration and planning.

Saunders see the Iraqi situation as improving but delicate. He believes the police will need 5-10 more years of mentoring. Several different agencies are currently doing so and coordination is important. NATO has a police training mission. The British have two different groups involved. The Danes are joining Col. Saunders’s Americans shortly.

Col. Saunders stressed that the Iraqis are leading the development of their police force. Westerners are there to mentor and advise but the Iraqis are making the process their own.

An Iraqi family stands in the doorjamb of the empty house, where once they lived before the specter of sectarian violence overwhelmed their lives. The residence once used by insurgents as part of a network of anti-Iraqi forces’ safe houses now stands empty in a suburban muhallah of closely-knit houses characteristic of the Rashid District’s Hadar community — but not for long.

Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division are working with Iraqi security forces commanders, local community leaders and Sons of Iraq in southern Baghdad to return Iraq’s displaced families home.

The fact that nearly 6,000 Iraqi families have returned to their communities and neighborhoods in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad since April when the “Raider” Brigade assumed responsibility for the mixed Shia, Sunni and Christian area is a good indicator that security is improving for the area that is home to approximately 1.6 million Iraqi citizens, said Capt. Dave Lombardo, commander of Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

When the Soldiers of “Bulldog” Troop began patrolling the streets of the predominately Sunni community in southeastern Baghdad, Hadar was like a “ghost town,” said Lombardo, with only approximately 15 percent of its houses and buildings occupied.

That is changing now that Rashid’s displaced Iraqi citizens are returning by the hundreds, explained Lombardo, who estimated nearly 50 percent of Hadar’s structures to be occupied.

The troop’s current mission to support Iraqi security forces with offensive operations and secure the Iraqi people keeps the enemy out of the Hadar community, said Lombardo, who hails from Kennesaw, Ga.

“We are security plain and simple,” said Lombardo. “We keep the people safe, set the conditions to be able to perform civil affairs projects, and at the same time transition the ISF to the lead.”

The Soldiers of ‘Bulldog’ Troop ensure that the displaced Iraqi citizens can move back to their homes safely, and works to ensure there is a good representation of security forces in the communities, which will allow returning Iraqis to rebuild their lives and return to a sense of normalcy, said 2nd Lt. Jon Byrd, a platoon leader from Gulf Port, Miss., assigned to Troop B, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

“The ISF and the coalition forces are doing a good job securing the area, and it’s a good time to move back, that plus the microgrants are making the economy a lot stronger, so jobs are getting better,” Byrd said.

The Soldiers of ‘Bulldog’ Troop patrol the streets of Hadar daily conducting combined patrols with Iraqi national police of the 1st Bn., 7th Bde., 2nd NP Div., and Sons of Iraq, a citizens-led security program that assists ISF in securing the District, said Staff Sgt. Jesus Villareal, a cavalry scout from Chico, Calif., and section sergeant assigned to Troop B, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt.

“The area is a lot safer now,” Villareal said. “The ISF are doing their part, so that these families can return home.”

Villareal said that the collective efforts between ISF and CF, circulating throughout the community, handing out flyers and talking with the Iraqi residents, recruits the support of the local citizens, who continue to report weapons caches, special groups criminals and intimidation attacks in Hadar.

“We have been saturating the area,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joaquim Garcia, a platoon sergeant from Converse, Texas, assigned to Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cav. Regt. “We constantly visit the families that are moving in, so we have constant eyes on the people in the area. There are small intimidation cells that are trying to stop these movements and they will get caught.”

Their mission is still the same but the situation has changed, said Garcia, who is serving his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and seventh deployment, since entering active service more than 16 years ago.

Most of the Soldiers, leaders and non-commissioned officers in the platoon have two and three tours to Iraq, explained Garcia.

“The NPs and all the Sons of Iraq have cleaned up the city,” Garcia said. “We all know what it was like, and we all see the major change and how security is now.

“Doing small operations like this right here to help resettlement and help bring the people back to their home — that makes us happy, because we know that our mission is almost complete.”

The key to reinforcing security during the resettlement phase is working with the ISF and maintaining contact with the people in the communities, said Garcia.

The Iraqi national police of the 1st Bn., 7th Bde., 2nd NP Div. conduct educational classes with the Iraqi citizens of the community that is part of the Doura area in Rashid, said 2nd Lt. Hassan, an Iraqi NP, who works to secure Hadar with his forces.

“The National Reconciliation in our country under the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has played an effective role in returning safety and security to all Iraq and especially in the Doura area,” Hassan explained.

The curfew has been canceled, and ISF commanders are using community leaders, Iraqi media and word of mouth to ask Iraq’s displaced families to return to their homes in Hadar, he explained.

“Today, in a secure Doura, we see cars moving freely, displaced families start to return, as well as shops are staying open for late hours, all confirming the security improvement in Doura,” he said.

The security and stability in Hadar and surrounding areas has prompted more than 1,000 families to return to southeastern Baghdad, said Lt. Col. Troy Smith, commander of the 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

“It’s a huge difference,” said Smith, who hails from Culpepper, Va. “People are moving in where people are, and the resettlement just keeps spreading. As more families move in, the place gets more populated; therefore, it’s even more secure, and as resettlement comes back, more resettlement picks up because the security gets better.”

DVIDS
By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Iraqi National Police seized a munitions cache in the Al Samari mosque in the Karadah district in eastern Baghdad Aug. 18.

Police assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, and Soldiers from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, conducted the combined operation. The NPs entered and searched the mosque as the Coalition forces provided an outer cordon of security.

The cache consisted of four Iranian 107 mm rockets, five 107 mm rockets of unknown origin, three 107 mm warheads, two empty rocket motors and two fuses.

“The militants responsible for hiding this cache violated the sanctity of the mosque and disgraced their religion,” said Maj. Joey Sullinger, a spokesperson for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “We commend the National Police for intercepting these tools of terror that extremists use to attack innocent Iraqi civilians, and we are proud to offer our support in helping them protect the people.”

MNF-I

Iraqi National Police seized a cache inside a mosque in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad July 1.

NPs assigned to the 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division, found a cache while conducting a search operation in the al-Sadrayn Mosque.

No Coalition forces were present inside the mosque. The cache contained two Australian-made artillery rounds, two bags of TNT, a license plate and two steel barriers.

MNF-I