Published: January 06, 2009

IA Officials Pay Respect to Fallen Comrade

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By Staff Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div

2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div

CAMP ECHO, Iraq - Iraqi Army officials gathered at Camp Diwaniya to pay their respects to the family of a fallen comrade Jan. 5. Nesir Al Abadi, deputy commander, IA chief of staff, and Gen. Anwar, IA air defense commander, stopped by the 8th IA Division compound on their way to see the family of Brig. Gen. Sata, the former Al-Taji air defense base commander, said Maj. Thomas Long, 8th IA military transition team chief.

Col. Butch Kievenaar, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. commander, is introduced to Nesir Al Abadi, deputy commander, IA chief of staff, during his visit. Nesir thanked the commander on his continued security efforts in the province. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II)

Sata's family resides in the city of Diwaniya. Sata, 54, died Jan. 2, of heart failure. Once a member of the IA during Saddam's era, Sata joined the new IA in 2004 and became a key figure in establishing the Iraqi Army's air defense forces, which consist of mostly Russian-style helicopters, Long said. The IA chief of staff was greeted at Camp Echo by Brig. Gen. Jamil Kamil Abda Allh, 8th IA Div. deputy commander, and Col. Butch Kievenaar, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division commander.

Brig. Gen. Jemile Kamil Abda Allh, 8th IA Div. deputy commander, greets Nesir Al Abadi, deputy commander, IA chief of staff, during his visit to Camp Diwaniya Jan. 5. Nesir visited to pay his respects to the family of a fallen IA general. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II)

"(Sata) was an active participant in fighting terrorism in Iraq, and one of the personnel responsible for starting the Iraqi Army air defense units," Jamil said.

Nesir thanked the two commanders on their continued security efforts in the province.