Published: August 18, 2008
Strike Iraqi Soldiers Ensure Security of Local Citizens During Pilgrimage
By Sgt. James Hunter
2nd BCT PAO, 101st Abn. Div., MND-B
BAGHDAD - When the 7th Imam, Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim, died in 799 A.D. he was buried in the town of Kadhimiyah at the Kadhimiyah Shrine in northwest Baghdad.
Kazim led a life marked by tremendous generosity toward others. Kazim said, which to this day is his most famous quote, "The best generosity is the help of the oppressed."
He is known for freeing thousands of slaves, helping others pay debts, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and helping those in distress.
Sgt. Michael Bearden, native of Cartersville, Ga., pulls security while Soldiers inspect a checkpoint during the Shiite ceremony commemorating the death of the 7th Imam in the Kadhimiyah district of southwest Baghdad July 29. Each year devout Shiites gather at a mosque believed to sit on top of the grave site of the 7th Imam Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim. Bearden serves with 4th Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division - Baghdad.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, Combat Camera)
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Though Kazim was a very intelligent, kind-hearted man, he was imprisoned by Caliph Haroon Rasheed for 19 years until his eventual murder in 799 A.D.
Since then, millions of Shiite pilgrims travel to the site of his burial to mourn and celebrate the life of the man who led his life helping others.
To ensure the safety of these men, women and children traveling many miles to the Kadhimiyah Shrine, Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers with Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) manned checkpoints and maintained presence throughout the area during the duration of the festivities toward the end of July.
2nd Lt. Cullen Lind, a native of Athens County, Ohio, and his interpreter speak with a Red Crescent worker at the aid station set-up for Iraqi citizens taking part in the Shiite ceremony commemorating the death of the 7th Imam in the Kadhimiyah district of southwest Baghdad July 29. Each year devout Shiites gather at a mosque believed to sit on top of the grave site of the 7th Imam Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim. Lind serves with 4th Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division - Baghdad. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, Combat Camera)
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Leading the way were the Iraqi Security Forces, with American troops reinforcing and augmenting Iraqi Army traffic control points throughout Kadhimiyah.
The three elements which makeup the Kadhimiyah Central Security District cordoned off the city approximately 48 hours prior to the celebration, said Capt. Brad Henry, a native of Andover Township, N.J. Iraqi Army soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division were responsible for manning the outer traffic control points to search pilgrims as they entered Kadhimiyah.
The Unity Battalion, an Iraqi National Police organization, was responsible for controlling TCPs within Kadhimiyah, while the 6th Ministry of Interior Battalion was responsible for security around the shrine.
Though Iraqi soldiers normally man the TCPs daily, they additionally augmented them throughout Kadhimiyah.
"The entry points into the city were reinforced, search tents were erected and female Soldiers [were] brought to search females," said Henry. "There was no vehicular traffic 48 hours prior to the celebration. The tremendous amount of people that made the pilgrimage made the city impassible to anything but pedestrian traffic."
(Left) Pfc. Skyler Roseenberry, a native of Chambersburg, Penn., listens as Sgt. Michael Bearden, native of Cartersville, Ga., speaks to him while on a street during the Shiite ceremony commemorating the death of the 7th Imam in the Kadhimiyah district of southwest Baghdad July 29. Each year devout Shiites gather at a mosque believed to sit on top of the grave site of the 7th Imam Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim. Bearden and Roseenberry serve with 4th Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division - Baghdad. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, Combat Camera)
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Sgt. Vicente Herrera, native of Chicago, Ill., pulls security while other Soldiers speak with Iraqi Army soldiers controlling the flow of Iraqi citizens walking to the Kadhimiyah Mosque during the Shiite ceremony commemorating the death of the 7th Imam, Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim in the Kadhimiyah district of southwest Baghdad July 29. Herrera serves with 4th Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division - Baghdad. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, Combat Camera)
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Coalition troops periodically visited the outer tactical checkpoints to inspect and augment the ISF.
Though the festivities are a time for Shiite Muslims to honor the 7th Imam, historically the threat of attack is great especially with a large amount of pilgrims gathered in a small area in Baghdad.
"The biggest threat faced was from suicide bombers and from indirect fire from outside of the city," said Henry, commander of Co. D, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., MND-B. "There were attacks across the river on Shia pilgrims and the threat of suicide bombers is always possible during large scale Shia religious holidays."
"Because we don't have the numbers to realistically try to control a crowd of this size ourselves, we had to make sure that we worked well with our ISF counterparts and stayed within the bubble of security provided by the trucks," said Sgt. Michael Bearden, a native of Cartersville, Ga., with 4th Platoon, Co. D, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., MND-B.
Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces took an active role in denying historic indirect fire site throughout the celebration to ensure indirect fire would not affect the celebrations, Henry said.
Female suicide bombers were also a threat for the pilgrims and the security forces within.
"Female suicide bombers were said to be the biggest threat. The crowds could have easily gotten out of control and caused big problems," said Bearden.
Thankfully though there were no attacks during the festivities, which is a true testament to the abilities and continued improvement of the ISF and the efforts of coalition troops on a daily basis throughout the muhallahs.
"The obvious success was that there were no attacks on Coalition or ISF in our sector during this event," said Bearden. "The local nationals were able to practice their religion safely and freely."
Since deploying to Iraq in November 2007 and taking over operations in Kadhimiyah, the Strike Soldiers have made tremendous progress, especially with their partnership with Iraqi Security Forces; and to have the largest Shia religious celebration in Kadhimiyah take place without incident is a testament to that progress, said Henry.
"The success of the celebration continued to cement the ISFs growing reputation as a credible and effective force for security in Kadhimiyah," Henry continued.
The celebration of the 7th Imam tested the ability of the local ISF to secure a large amount of civilians successfully, said Henry.
"Historically, we've seen attacks against Shia pilgrims during religious events such as Ashurra and the 7th Imam, but it is a testament to the professionalism and competence of the ISF in Kadhimiyah that they were able to secure four million pilgrims in Kadhimiyah without an attack," said Henry.
Together, the Iraqi Army and Strike Soldiers were able to successfully secure Kadhimiyah, ensuring a peaceful religious movement for the Iraqi people.
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