Published: July 29, 2010
USD-S Transfers Three Bases in Babil, Wasit
By Sgt. Benjamin Kibbey and Spc. Samuel Soza
367th MPAD, USD-S PAO
COB DELTA, Iraq - During several ceremonies in Babil and Wasit Provinces, U.S. forces handed over three bases to the Iraqi government - Contingency Operating Post Zulu, Patrol Base Mahawil, and Camp Shaheen.
These additions raise the number of U.S. bases closed or transferred in United States Division-South to 13 since February, with nine more scheduled to close before Sept. 1.
All of the transfers were completed with the signing of documents by Samir al-Haddad, the receivership secretariat for the Government of Iraq, and the respective former base commanders.
Lt. Col. Robert Ashe (center), commander of 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, looks on as Sameer Alhaddad, the representative for receivership of the chief of staff of the Iraqi prime minister, and Capt. Michael Washburn, commander of Company A, 2nd Bn., 69th Armor Regt., sign documents officially transferring full ownership of Patrol Base Mahawil to the Iraqi Army in Babil Province. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin R. Kibbey)
|
Capt. Ryan Pless, commander of Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, signed for COP Zulu.
"We've been conducting retrograde operations for the last two to three months," the Plant City, Fla., native said. "A lot of troopers have put in a lot of long hours and cleaned the place up; made it represent our high standards, so we could turn it over to the Government of Iraq in the best quality of shape we can."
Brig. Gen. Ab'd, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division commander, speaks at the ceremony commemorating the transfer of Contingency Operating Post Zulu from U.S. forces to the Government of Iraq. COP Zulu is adjacent to Camp Shaheen, a U.S. Special Forces post that was transferred on the same day. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Soza)
|
COP Zulu has been in operation since just before the surge of U.S. forces in 2007. The 3rd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Regt. has been working with three battalions of 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division for the past 10 months, Pless said.
Moments after signing for COP Zulu, Mr. Haddad and his staff walked to Camp Shaheen, a small post adjacent to COP Zulu and home to a unit of U.S. Special Forces, and signed the official documents there as well.
Capt. Ryan Pless, commander of Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, a native of Plant City, Fla., and Lt. Col. Chris Kennedy, commander of 3rd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Regt., 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div., of Fort Benning, Ga., pass on a symbolic wooden key to Contingency Operating Post Zulu to Mr. Samir al-Haddad, receivership secretariat for the Government of Iraq, and Brig. Gen. Ab'd, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division commander. The 1st Battalion, 32nd IA Bde. will be stationed at COP Zulu, which is adjacent to Camp Shaheen, a U.S. Special Forces post that was transferred on the same day. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Soza)
|
Capt. Michael Washburn, commander of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, signed over PB Mahawil.
The fair-market value of the property at Mahawil transferred by 2nd Bn., 69th Armor Regt. came to more than $500,000 according to the documents.
Co. A has been at PB Mahawil since October 2009, working with the Iraqi Army's 2nd Battalion, 31st Brigade, 8th IA Div., commanded by Col. Muhammad Khudair Saloom. They will continue to work with the 2nd Bn, 31st Bde. from Contingency Operating Site Kalsu, including special training and advising with nightly patrols, until they return to the U.S. with the rest of their battalion later this year.
Mr. Samir al-Haddad, receivership secretariat for the Government of Iraq, and Capt. Ryan Pless, commander of Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, a native of Plant City, Fla., sign the official documentation that puts control of Contingency Operating Post Zulu in the hands of the Iraqi government. COP Zulu is adjacent to Camp Shaheen, a U.S. Special Forces post transferred the same day.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Soza)
|
The 3rd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Regt. and 2nd Bn., 69th Armor Regt. are elements of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
"Our partnership has been very good," said Washburn, a Yorktown, Va., native. "Myself and Col. Saloom have a great understanding of what needs to be accomplished and we agree on the final outcomes and how to get there."
"We look forward to keeping working with them until our stay is done here [in Babil Province]," Washburn said.
As the cameras of over a dozen local journalists roll, Sameer Alhaddad, the representative for receivership of the chief of staff of the Iraqi prime minister, and Capt. Michael Washburn, commander of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, shake hands after signing documents officially transferring full ownership of Patrol Base Mahawil in Babil Province to the Iraqi Army. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin R. Kibbey)
|
Lt. Col. Chris Kennedy, commander of 3rd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Regt., felt similarly about his Soldiers and their mission in Wasit Province.
"Today's a great day for the Iraqi Army," said Kennedy, a native of Fort Benning, Ga. "It's the natural progression as we move to an advise and assist mission [and] assist them in the fight. It doesn't mean our mission is ended here. We will continue to train with them throughout the province."
Search News
Daily News
