Brightly colored Iraqi workers clean the streets of Jamilla Market, the economic hub of Sadr City on Jan. 28

Under the direction of Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, commander, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division–Baghdad, the last ten months brought significant engineering progress to Baghdad, specifically in Sadr City.

The creation of Task Force Gold and Gold Spike provided reconstruction projects aimed at employing the people of Baghdad and improving essential services.

“We bring employment back into the community,” said Master Sgt. Tracy Jackson, TF Gold Spike’s operations non-commissioned officer in charge. “And keep the projects equal on both sides; Sunni and Shia.”

The 926th Eng. Bde. is in the process of handing this reconstruction mission over to the incoming 225th Engineer Brigade, under the command of Col. Owen Monconduit, of Pineville, La.

Since arriving in Baghdad just over a week ago, the Col. Monconduit has toured construction projects throughout Baghdad with Col. Jared Olsen, TF Gold’s commander.

“The projects are impressive,” said Monconduit. “They were of good quality and very professional. The 225th Eng. Bde. will maintain work on a continuum of the same level of quality that has a direct impact on the local economy.”

Formed in September, 2008, TF Gold acted as a catalyst towards the successful reduction of violence in Sadr City, after achieving similar results in the Rusafa district of Baghdad. Jackson said the 926th engineers assembled a team to work closely with the local government and Iraqi contractors to enhance the quality.

Monconduit explained his Louisiana-based engineers will continue to build relationships in the community and with Iraqi leaders.

“We will work in partnership with the government of Iraq and provide a ‘can-do’, positive environment, a safe environment, that the community can self-sustain and really build themselves. It’s in the capacity of the community to provide that work.”

The al Fadhel district of Rusafa, once filled with standing pools of raw sewage and piles of trash to walk, now have cleared alley ways and streets, all signs of progress in the area. Freshly painted columns lining the main streets and areas slotted for solar lights are additional projects the commanders surveyed.

“Some of the main projects include trash, sewage, sidewalk repair, solar light installation and column repair,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Rogers, pay agent for TF Gold Spike.

In Jamilla Market, the economic hub of Sadr City, delivery trucks lined the busy streets while the interior was packed with shoppers and goods for sale on the newly paved streets and sidewalks, a sign of the revitalization of the area that has improved dramatically over the last year.

“The combination of U.S. and Iraqi funds, coupled with the hard work of local Iraqis and coalition forces, have positively impacted the essential services and public infrastructure in both the Sadr City and Rusafa sectors of Baghdad,” Olsen. “These positive impacts contribute to sustained security and create a sense of hope for the citizens in these areas of Baghdad.”

DVIDS
By Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jennifer Keefer
926th Engineer Brigade Public Affairs Office

The meandering concrete monoliths of the Sadr City District of Baghdad got a welcomed facelift, Aug. 2, 2008, thanks to local talent and beautification projects initiated by the Government of Iraq and Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

During the height of combat operations in Sadr City, barrier emplacement was an effective tactic to isolate Special Groups and criminals from their revenue extorted from the people and businesses of the Thawra 1 and Thawra 2 neighborhoods, home to some of the largest markets in Baghdad.

“We were emplacing barriers day and night, 24/7,” said Lt. Col. John Digiambattista, of Colorado Springs, Colo., operations officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B.

On this early August day, calm has been restored to the district. Markets are flourishing and essential services are returning where less than three months ago rubble and sewage filled the streets. Purposely constructed gaps in the wall now allow access in and out of the city for residents, where Iraqi army stand guard at checkpoints to ensure the ill-minded can no longer hold the city hostage.

Though in parts of Sadr City the wall remains a gray scar, a testimony to recent battles, it’s a perception that is changing thanks to the bravery and talent of Iraqis like Abbas Ahmed Jaffer.

Jaffer recently completed vocational training that allowed him to build on his hobby of painting. He’s now part of a $100,000 contract to beautify the barriers that protect Sadr City with murals that represent Iraq’s culture and heritage.

“I’m doing something beautiful for my city,” Jaffer said painting a camel in a developing desert scene. “Instead of bad writings on the wall, when people drive by they will see pictures about Iraq.”

Progress on the wall and the effect it is having on the people even comes as a surprise to the MND-B Soldiers funding the project. Maj. Byron Sarchet, of Colorado Springs, Colo., information operations officer for 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., said it doesn’t even look like Sadr City anymore. He said the activity, the shops and the traffic have created a sense of normalcy not seen there before and the wall, both as a physical barrier and now an object of pride, has had much to do with the success.

“Part of our campaign was to change the visible skyline,” Sarchet said. “Here is one good message to the next. You can stand at one [mural] and see the other.”

A portion of wall from the famed Mudafer Square, where Mohamed Sadiq al-Sadr’s image stares out over his name sake, to the intersection of the Jamilla al Quds road at Circle 55 is nearly complete with more than 50 murals.

Sarchet said work will continue to paint and beautify the rest of wall throughout the city but he’s not worried to see that some Iraqi entrepreneurs have got in ahead of the contractors.

“Let’s get some ice cream,” Sarchet calls to the driver spotting through the rear window of his vehicle a tempting add painted on the wall near the Jamilla Market. “That’s progress,” he said.

DVIDS
By Maj. Mike Humphreys
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Here’s a collection of photos taken by American troops as they patrol the Jamilla Market area of Sadr City in Baghdad. It looks pretty friendly.

An Iraqi boy enjoys a popsicle on a hot day in the Jameela Market of the Sadr City district of Baghdad on June 16. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Cohen Young

Horse carts and motor vehicles both share the road in the bustling markets of Jamilla, Iraq, June 16. Photographer: Spc. Daniel Herrera

An Iraqi farmer weighs bundles of onions at the Jamilla Wholesale Market in Jamilla, Iraq, June 16.

U.S. Army Military policeman, Sgt. Matt Radcliffe of Colorado Springs, Colo., and a member of the 3rd Battalion Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo., gives a high five to a young Iraqi girl while Army Spc. Martin watches during a patrol through the Thawra 1 neighborhood of the Sadr City District of Baghdad, June 16.

Iraqi farmers quickly toss watermelons as they set the produce up for customers at Jamilla Market near Sadr City, Iraq, June 16.