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FOB KALSU, Iraq (April 24, 2008) - One hundred and fifty
residents of Warij volunteered to become Sons of Iraq last
week.U.S. Soldiers took a break from their daily routine recently
to help an Iraqi child recover from tuberculosis.
On April 20, the new SoI began guarding a stretch of the
southern Baghdad community, which falls in the 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 3rd Infantry Division's area of operation.
The Warij program is unique in its make-up.
"It is the only area within the brigade that has both sects
operating jointly at SoI checkpoints," said Capt. Gregory Curry,
commander of Troop A, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT,
3rd Inf. Div. "It is the so-called 'check and balance' that we need
to move forward with the people of Iraq seeing each other as equal
and not as Sunni and Shia."
First Lt. Dan Henry, executive officer of Troop A, said
criminals have threatened business owners in the area and used
Warij as an area to coordinate and execute attacks against the
government of Iraq, coalition forces and Iraqi security forces.
Curry, a native of Walnut Creek, Ohio, said the Sunni and Shia
SoI working together would help quell the violence that had plagued
the community.
Two sheiks, one Sunni and one Shia, will collectively manage the
Warij SoI command post and monitor checkpoints throughout the
area.
Curry said the sheiks realize they need to set aside their
differences for Warij to be a safe community.
Coalition force leaders hope the example in Warij of Sunni and
Shia working together will encourage citizens who fled during the
violence to move back to their homes.
"The importance of this program is that it will enhance the
perception of security to where families will return to their homes
and establish another multi-ethnic, multi-tribal and peaceful
population center in the Spartan (2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.) operating
environment," said Maj. Rob Kaderavek, from Green Bay, Wis., 6-8th
Cav. Regt. executive officer.
Along with 6-8th Cav. Regt., the 5th Battalion, 25th Brigade,
6th Iraqi Army Division, will monitor the SoI group.
Kaderavek said the IA division has been an integral part of the
SoI program and helps monitor and supervise the SoI
checkpoints.
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