Locals and US Troops Improve Relations and Help A Village to Return to Normal

Refurbishing schools, fixing water mains and electrical lines and helping a Neighborhood Watch get off the ground have brought the beginnings of peace to the village of Falahat:

FALAHAT — The sounds of laughing girls and boys could be heard as soldiers from Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment brought the children here for a day of fun, through painting, as well as other activities, July 7.

The soldiers handed out paint brushes and paint and watched as the children painted pictures and their names on concrete barriers. They also played with the children, kicking soccer balls to them. When the painting was done, the troops gave the children toys and candy.

In addition to the children, the soldiers from the troop continued building relationships with parents and other adults in the village — a place once plagued by daily violence.

Things in the village have changed, thanks to area sheiks gathering together with their people and the local government to end sectarian violence and promote reconciliation in this town which just a month ago was shaken by constant improvised explosive device attacks and gunfire, according to Capt. Martin
Wohlgemuth, the troop commander and a native of Anchorage, Ala.

Now, mainly quiet, thanks in part to a neighborhood watch made up of concerned residents who inform on insurgents, report terrorist acts and notify coalition and Iraqi security forces if caches are found, the village is beginning to come back to life, said Wohlgemuth. The fun day was a good sign that soon the focus on security could move more toward reconstruction efforts and projects.

“This has been something we’ve been hoping to do since we got here, turning from more of a security operations role to helping the people which is great news,” said Wohlgemuth. “Today, we are giving the children and their parents a day that they can enjoy together, that allows for them a time to have fun and some normalcy in their lives.”

“It also allows us the chance to get out on the street to get to know the locals better and talk to each other,” Wohlgemuth added.

Interacting with children in a setting that was once wrought with violence has been an interesting experience for the soldiers, who have been performing cordon and searches and other major operations in the area for the past seven months.

As units now move into and hold areas the terrorists are being forced out, neighborhoods change adult males are not afraid to come out of their houses and you see kids playing outside. Slowly Iraq is starting to look like any typical neighborhood again.

As the locals take ownership for their villages and alliances are forged with neighboring sheiks the streets are falling back under the control of the locals and not the terrorists. In recent weeks, locals working in Falahat’s neighborhood watch program have led the troop to several weapons caches and improvised explosive device materials. They have also reported on insurgents lurking in their neighborhoods.

As security improves so will the opportunity for US Forces to complete other tasks at the villiage level, water lines will be repaired and function more often, electrical lines will transmit power for more hours of the day and the locals will no longer have to fear for their very existance.