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FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq (April 7, 2008) - When an Air
Force engineer first stepped foot in Hawr Rajab, it was an al-Qaida
in Iraq safe haven. The thought that came to mind was a scene from
an old western movie.
"Most of the businesses were shuttered, and the main road was
more comparable to the O.K. Corral," said Capt. Josh Aldred, a
native of Flagstaff, Ariz., recalling his December arrival.
Four months later, the al-Qaida operatives are gone, and Aldred
sees a community flourishing with business and hope.
Aldred was the primary instructor at the Village of Hope
vocational school on the grounds of Patrol Base Stone in Hawr
Rajab. He ended his tour in Iraq on April 3 and turned the project
over to another Air Force captain.
With his 30-man team of engineer airmen from the 557th
Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair
Squadron Engineers, or RED HORSE, Squadron, Aldred taught the
Village of Hope students the basics of construction, plumbing,
electricity, masonry and well drilling. The overall goal is to
teach residents of Hawr Rajab the skills they need to rebuild their
war-torn community.
"The experience has been great, and the students have been
really receptive to learning new ideas and methods of
construction," he said. "This mission has been a big experiment for
the Air Force and military engineers in general."
The airmen forged friendships with most of the 50 current
students, all of whom are from Hawr Rajab. When they found out
Aldred was returning to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., they wrote
him and his troops a letter of appreciation.
"In the past, we had different feelings and a kind of
misunderstanding towards the American people," read the letter
signed by the students. "After being close to you, we found out
that we are almost the same. We both love and care and sacrifice
for other people. This removed the fears we had before, and now we
have become very good friends."
The letter reinforced what Aldred was already thinking: the
Village of Hope experiment is working.
"In my mind, the Village of Hope concept should be used in other
locations throughout Iraq," he said. The program helps local people
improve their community, and it gives military-aged males another
option to provide for their families, "instead of turning to those
who would do us harm," the captain added.
Members of the Village of Hope class share Aldred's sentiments.
They said they now see Americans as people wanting to make Iraq
better for the Iraqi people, not as an occupying force.
"We will spread all of your nice words … to keep the good
memories in our mind which changed our life and how we felt about
coalition forces," the letter said.
When the current students graduate, they will join the Iraqi
work force as skilled tradesmen working to improve their
community.
"The effects of the Village of Hope include area beautification,
new construction -- which means more jobs -- and tons of litter and
rubble removed from the side of the road," Aldred said.
The captain added that he and his fellow airmen -- along with
their Troop A, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division counterparts, who provide
security and transportation to the Village of Hope -- can take
pride in their endeavor.
"It feels good to have made a difference, and none of this would
have been possible without a team effort from the Army and Air
Force," he said.
As the students prepared to continue their studies with new
instructors, they wished Aldred and his crew well and hoped the
airmen would remember their positive experience working in Hawr
Rajab.
"We hope that you have a good depiction of Iraq in your mind,"
said the letter. "Tell your people and families about us when you
arrive to the United States. Tell them about our good friendship
and experience we have had together."
Current Village of Hope students are scheduled to graduate in
late May or early June. Three more classes are scheduled. When all
four classes are complete, 200 Hawr Rajab residents will have
graduated from the vocational school.
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