GWOT News

Cleaning Up the Up Streets of Mahmudiyah
By 1st Lt. Brett Matzenbacher, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Known as the “Gateway to Baghdad,” the city of Mahmudiyah is centrally located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, roughly 30 km south of the Iraqi capital. Because of its location, the small city of 80,000 people is also at the center of the Coalition’s counter-terrorism campaign.

The battle to win the support of the people of this region has been continuous for the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, since arriving in October – it has not been without results.

“When we first got here, there were quite a few roads that were extremely dangerous to travel on but have now become much more secure,” said 1st Lt. James Williams, former platoon leader, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment.

“Units used to be shuffled in and out of here fairly often, so they never got a chance to become familiar with the local citizens. Now that we’ve been here a while, I think the relationships we’ve been able to build have gone a long way in improving the security.”

In fact, the Soldiers’ efforts have been so successful that the governor of Baghdad stated that the city of Mahmudiyah is the safest he has seen it since the war began in 2003.
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New School Opens in Paktika Province
By Army Sgt. Tim Sander, 345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan – Soldiers, Afghan officials and Afghan school children celebrated the opening of a new school at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Paktika Province on April 23.

The eight-room school, designed to support 150 to 250 students of all ages, is staffed by teachers selected by the government of Afghanistan, said Army Lt. Col. Chris Toner, Task Force Catamount commander.

TF Catamount, comprised of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment from Fort Drum, N.Y., as well as Airmen and Sailors, participated in the event.

“As a teacher, I am honored to be here today to open a school,” said Army Lt. Col. Janet Loefstedt, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team commander, to the local leaders. “I saw your children lining the road as I came into Charbaran and thought this school would get much use.”

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