Iraqi, Coalition Troops Help Village Beat the Heat

Villagers beat the heat
Originally uploaded by Sydney Weasel.

By Army Maj. Anna Friederich, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FOB KALSU, Iraq – Citizens of the Bedrani village in the northern Babil province beat the heat June 7 after receiving hundreds of gallons of water from Iraqi army and Coalition forces.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division and 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, initially visited the Bedrani village two days prior to the operation and found the village had a serious water problem.

“The village had not seen a CF (Coalition force) or Iraqi security force presence in the area for over a year,” said Staff Sgt. Morris Terry, 4th Infantry Division Bradley section leader. “We went to the village to meet the citizens, establish a relationship and discuss issues they may be having.”

Upon meeting with the tribal sheik the Soldiers found the village was facing a very dry and dangerous summer. There is no formal water system to bring water to the village. Water used for consumption, crops and animals must be hand carried from the canals. The few pumping systems that have been built must be run by generators requiring gas and maintenance, which is sometimes a challenge for an area so far away from a major town or city. {Click on image for details}