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BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 30, 2008) - Leaders and Soldiers from the 2nd
Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division distributed
humanitarian aid to residents in Shula, a neighborhood in northwest
Baghdad, May 26.
Soldiers travelled door-to-door handing out staples such as
rice, lentils and tomato paste to 100 residents.
At the end, nearly 300 residents throughout Shula received aid
during a three-day period beginning, May 24.
Shula resident's movement to and from markets had been hampered
by criminal activity in the area, making Soldiers clad in desert
uniforms bearing boxes filled with food a welcome sight.
Capt. Joseph Sincere, a fire support officer with the 1st
Squadron, 75th Calvary Regiment part of the 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 101st Airborne Division said, the Soldiers efforts had
yielded an optimistic outlook for security going forward.
Some of the same streets used as drop points for humanitarian
aid had been the site of recent Iraqi army clearance missions,
where Soldiers travelled from house to house, searching and
gathering intelligence in an effort to root out criminals taking
refuge in the area.
"All families who have received assistance are excited about
moving from a tense situation, to relative calm in the
neighborhoods," Sincere said.
Sincere pointed out that operations in the area have been
spearheaded by the Iraqi army while coalition forces have provided
support in the way of targeted high-value criminal arrest.
Coalition forces also provided air weapons teams' support during
clearance missions, which gave Iraqi Army Soldiers access to
precision firepower at a moments notice.
Major Jim Rector chief of the 2nd BCT military transition team
assigned to 2nd Bn. 22nd Bde., 6th IA, said, "the Iraqi army has
seized this opportunity to capitalize on their security gains and
the populace is coming out of their homes as markets reopen."
Rector also added the residents have expressed gratitude towards
the Soldiers and appear to be more confident in the Iraqi army's
ability to protect the people.
Early in the morning on, May 25, the commander of Company D, 2nd
Bn., 22nd Bde., 6th IA received a call from a local citizen.
The voice on the other end of the phone announced that there was
a roadside bomb in Shulla. Unbeknownst to the residents receiving
aid that tip led these Soldiers to a powerful explosive formed
projectile roadside bomb just east of the drop point the day prior
which they turned over to an explosive ordnance team.
Apparently, there's reason for confidence.
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