Blackjack Soldiers get glimpse of Iraqi historystatic.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_5780.pdf · Blackjack Soldiers get glimpse of Iraqi history See History, Page 3 Photo by Spc. Justin

Volume 1, Issue 8 November 20, 2009

Blackjack Soldiers get glimpse of Iraqi history

See History, Page 3

Photo by Spc. Justin Naylor, 2BCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAOSoldiers stand around what is believed to be the tomb of the biblical figure Daniel in Kirkuk, Nov. 16. After visiting the tomb, Soldiers toured the Citadel of Kirkuk and saw various histori-cal sites.

By Spc. Justin Naylor2HBCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAO

Historical sites are an important ingredient in any nation’s culture and identity.

For a group of Soldiers in Kirkuk an opportunity arose Nov. 16 to get a glimpse into Iraq’s past and to see some of the sites that make Kirkuk unique.

The Soldiers first stop was at the Kirkuk Museum.

The museum was stripped of many of its artifacts in 1991, because it was not considered a safe place, but now, with the help of the Government of Iraq, artifacts will soon be returned.

Although all the artifacts have not been returned yet to the museum, the people there were very proud of what they did have, said Spc. Kristie Ford, a Clovis, N.M., native and a chaplain’s assistant with 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “I would love to see it again once filled with historical artifacts.”

Soldiers with 2BCT have been working with the GoI and the Government of Turkey to help establish a project that will renovate the museum and install a safety alarm system. The project will also provide for the renovation of an old Turkish barracks that is on the museum’s grounds.

“This is one of the most important archeological spots in the city,” said Ayad Tariq Hussein, the director of the museum. “The renovations are really important. Once we are renovated, the government will send us artifacts again.”

Kirkuk has a long history, and the

museum is a physical way to remind people of the heritage this city has and the people in this province have, said Lt. Col. Hugh McNeely, the deputy commander of 2BCT, who led the group of Soldiers on the trip.

During their visit, the Soldiers were treated to a tour by Ayad, who showed them the artifacts gave the Soldiers the history to accompany them.

After the tour came to a close, the Soldiers went to a far more recognizable spot in the city: the Citadel of Kirkuk.

The Citadel has a history extending back thousands of years, and was the seat of various empires and cultures. The Citadel is now largely empty except for some historical buildings, mosques, churches and what is believed by residents here to

be the burial spot of the biblical figure Daniel.

The Soldiers started their tour of the Citadel with Daniels Tomb.

This was the best part about today’s trip, said Spc. Ford.

“To show the Soldiers the heritage of this province, this is a very focal point to do that,” said Lt. Col. McNeely.

Specialist Ford agreed by saying, “It’s not every day you get to stand in front of Daniel’s final resting place”.

The Soldiers were able to take photos of the tomb and listen to stories from some of the Kirkuk residents.

After they left the Tomb, the Soldiers were then treated to a tour of the rest of the Citadel, where they

Page 2 • November 20, 2009The North Star

Intelligence class brings together partners in DiyalaBy Sgt. Jeremy Pitcher145th Mobile Public Affairs Det.DIYALA, Iraq – While the Iraqi Security Forces continue to grow into their abilities and capabilities throughout Iraq, there are still many fundamentals where a partnership with U.S. forces can be of great value.

One of these is in the intelligence field.

The 209th Military Intelligence Company, part of Task Force 296, began conducting an Intelligence Production and Analysis Course class on Forward Operating Base Warhorse.

The course was developed after the Iraqi leadership requested a

course that provided Iraqi officers, noncommissioned officers and Soldiers a more comprehensive study in intelligence processing and analysis.

“This is a course that we have constructed to teach the Iraqi Army how to better prepare their

commanders for the battlefield,” said 2nd Lt. Maness of the 209th Military Intelligence Company.

For students to attend the course

they must have first attended and passed the Basic Intelligence Course held at Camp Taji.

The advanced one-week course teams handpicked intelligence members of the 3rd Stryker Brigade

Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division with Iraqi Soldiers of the 5th Iraqi Division to teach the invaluable tools of intelligence analysis.

“We focus all of our examples on Diyala province. We take the stories that they already have, and we explain the military intelligence process through those real-world experiences,” said Maness.

On Nov. 13, the IPAC graduated its first class of seven Iraqi Soldiers who focused on collecting and reporting intelligence. Its success has led to the planning of future courses for Iraqi Soldiers.

“The students every day, when we pick them up, are ready to go. The enthusiasm is there. I think we will have a great time continuing this on, said 1st Lt. Stefanovich, who served as the IPAC lead instructor.”

“We take the stories that they already have, and we explain the military intelligence pro-

cess through those real-world experiences,” -2nd Lt. Maness, 209th

Military Intelligence Company

Agriculture, agribusiness and related industries comprise the majority of the economic activity in the province of Kirkuk, according to the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team. In an effort to improve veterinary services and increase agricultural production, representatives from the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, distributed medical supplies to Iraqi veterinarians in Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 17. According to Capt. Kimi Damassia, from Huntington, N.Y., and a liaison officer with 2nd BCT, northern Iraq relies heavily on the success of its agriculture, specifically, cattle, sheep and poultry products. “In Iraq, there is a shortage of veterinary medicine,” Capt. Damassia explained. “In northern Iraq, farming is a way of life with 80 percent of the economy in Kirkuk province relying on agriculture.” Captain Damassia, who led the supply effort, said the delivery consisted of refrigerators for newly

established clinics and antibiotics to treat infections and vaccinations against viral diseases like foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious disease that can be fatal to cattle and sheep. The head of the provincial Veterinary Association and Capt. Damassia identified the need for additional medical supplies following a visit to one of Kirkuk’s animal processing facilities. The project distributed micro-grants to 17 veterinarians from around Kirkuk province and was funded through the Commander’s Emergency Relief Program, which invests money in the local community. “Each micro-grant was approximately $2,500, which was used to purchase the necessary supplies from local vendors and distributed to the veterinarians,” Capt. Damassia said. Doctor Ameera, an Iraqi veterinarian who owns a clinic in Hawijah, Iraq, said the supplies were a welcome addition to what she already had. “This medicine will help to prevent disease in cows and sheep, and even

though it is in addition to the supplies I have, it will help me to treat more animals and increase business,” Ameera said. According to Ameera, the supplies will also mean economic development. Increased business at the clinics will provide additional income for families, and the treatment and vaccination of livestock will lead to a higher quality of food which sells at a higher cost at the markets.

Project provides medical supplies to Iraqi vetsBy Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas2BCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAO

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas, 2BCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAOCaptain Kimi Damassia, liaison officer with 2BCT, 1st Cav. Div., delivers a grant to veteri-narian Dr. Ameera, an Iraqi veterinarian.

Page 3 • November 20, 2009The North Star

130th Eng. Bde. Soldier keeps Native American Heritage alive

As Soldiers go about their daily business, this year’s Native American Heritage Month theme, “Understanding Native American Indian Heritage. Then and Now,” might be far from their minds.

But with November marking the beginning of Native American Heritage Month, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lee Anna Davis hopes to change that. As a human resources technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Engineer Brigade, CW2 Davis is proud of her Native American ancestry and wants other Soldiers to be proud of theirs too.

According to CW2 Davis, so many people ignore their background and culture and many people don’t even know they have Native American ancestry.

“That’s the biggest misconception about the whole culture,” she said. “I have Family Members who ‘look’ Native American. What do Native Americans look like? I get that so much, ‘you don’t look Indian.’”

Born in Omaha, Neb., CW2 Davis is the great-granddaughter of an African-American slave and a Choctaw Native American. Davis’ great-grandmother and her husband settled on the Omaha Reservation after moving away from a

By Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger145th Mobile Public Affairs Det.

reservation in Texas to Nebraska.“I look at the things my [great]

grandma shared with us, and even though we were black and Indian, she taught us about her culture. She never treated us any different. She thought it was important for us to know and keep the culture and heritage alive,” CW2 Davis said.

Her best memories growing up were spending summers on the reservation with her great-grandmother.

“My grandma would make this fried bread that was wonderful. Everything was always homemade. She made so much food and would share it with everyone. The closeness of the community and how the people took care of each other is what I remember most,” she said.

Those are the memories CW2 Davis misses the most, and she wishes her own children could have experienced life on the reservation as she did. She still tries to teach her children the lessons and values she learned while visiting the reservation as a child. Sharing, the importance of giving back to the community and the value of giving your time to others are the most important things she learned from the Native-American community. She keeps her great-grandmother’s memory and Native American heritage alive by telling her story and showing pictures of those times.

Continued from History, Page 1

Photo by Spc. Justin Naylor, 2BCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAOSoldiers look around in an ancient house in the Citadel of Kirkuk in Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 16. These Soldiers also had the opportunity to visit the Kirkuk Museum and various other heritage sites.

Keeping that culture alive is what CW2 Davis hopes to impart in this month’s celebration here. She encourages Soldiers to look into their backgrounds and to recognize that part of who they are.

‘“It’s a beautiful culture,” she said. Assisting with the Native American Heritage Month means a lot to me and I’m honored to be able to share what I know about my heritage with others.”

Photo by 2nd Lt. Evelyn Lee, 130th Eng. Bde. PAOThe 130th Engineer Brigade Equal Opportunity Observances Board for Native American Heritage Month stands for Soldiers to see.

saw a nearly 1,000 year-old church-turned-mosque, an ancient market place, historic homes, and numerous other historical spots.

Lieutenant Colonel McNeely, who has visited the site previously, said there is so much there he has learned. He also said the Soldiers visiting this site can benefit from it because it helps them to have more respect for Iraq and its long history.

“We may never know if our ancestors may have stood in that spot where the marble columns were, or if they built those columns,” said Spc. Ford about the historical spots she visited. “History is just an awesome sight to behold, and there is so much to learn from it.”

Page 4 • November 20, 2009The North Star

Task Force Marne Heroes of the NorthSergeant Walter Hansen, of Dickson, Tenn., is an intelligence and operations noncommissioned officer for the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion. In addition to his regular duties, Sgt. Hansen teaches English as a Second Language classes to Iraqis. Recently he traveled to JSS Sharqat for 30 students. In attendance were the mayor of Sharqat, the Salah ad Din Council chairman, several sheikhs, local business owners, engineers, doctors and members of the Iraqi Security Forces. He structured the course so the students would gain proficiency by focusing on vocabulary development and conversational strategies and skills. Sergeant Hansen has applied his Masters of Arts in Teaching to make tremendous progress in a short period of time.

So you think you know Thanksgiving?Test your knowledge

1) What year was the first Thanksgiving celebration held?2) The first Thanksgiving celebration was held in which Massachusetts town?3) Thanksgiving was officially proclaimed a national U.S. holiday by Congress in what year?4) Which menu items are believed by historians to have actually been on the menu during the first Thanksgiving celebration?5) A male turkey is also called a:6) How many turkeys are consumed in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day,

according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture?7) What were the two parties who celebrated the first Thanksgiving feast together?8) The Pilgrims sailed from England to North America in what famous ship?9) The Pilgrim’s original clothing mainly included what material?10) True or false: Women and men both helped equally to prepare the first Thanksgiving feast.11) The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in what decade?12) How long did the original Thanksgiving celebration last?13) What is the average amount of calories consumed by one person on

Thanksgiving Day? 14) Cranberry sauce is a staple of a good Thanksgiving dinner. When making homemade cranberry sauce, how do you know a cranberry is of high quality and fresh?15) What day is officially Thanksgiving Day every year?16) A turkey under the age of 16 weeks is called a fryer. What is the name for a five to seven month old turkey?17) What living museum recreates Pilgrim life in the 1620’s?18) Who was the Wampanoag Indians’ translator for communicating with the Pilgrims?19) Why were the Wampanoag Indians invited to the first Thanksgiving celebration by the Pilgrims?

So you think you know Thanksgiving?- Answers

1) 16212) Plymouth3) 19414) Lobster, venizon, vegetables5) Toms6) 45 million7) Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians8) Mayflower9) Animal Skins10) True11) 1920s12) Three Days13) 4,50014) If it bounces off the ground or table15) Fourth Thursday of November16) Young roaster17) Plymouth Rock Museum18) Massasoit19) Because the Wampanoag Indians had helped the Pilgrims survive the first winter and the celebration was a thanks.

Answers will be printed in Monday’s The North Star

The North Star

TASK FORCE MARNECommanding General - Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo

Command Sergeant Major - Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse L. Andrews Jr.

Task Force Marne Public Affairs StaffTF Marne PAO – Maj. Jeff Allen

TF Marne PA NCOIC – Master Sgt. Marcia TriggsTF Marne Writer- Sgt. Johnathon Jobson

Editorial StaffManaging Editor – Master Sgt. Marcia Triggs

Editor/Design – Spc. Daniel HaleAssistant Editor- Spc. Michael Adams

THE North StarThe North Star is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The North Marne Bulletin are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 3rd Infantry Division. All editorial content of The North Marne Bulletin is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Marne Public Affairs Office.

Regional Headlines

3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,1st Cavalry Division

2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,1st Cavalry Division

3rd Stryker Brigade,2nd Infantry Division

130th Engineer Brigade

25th Combat Aviation Brigade,25th Infantry Division

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,1st Infantry Division

Page 5 • November 20, 2009

Passport Information for COB Speicher

If you are planning on taking R&R overseas and your passport has expired or you have never been issued one, you can apply at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. Passport applications are accepted at the Client Services Office in Bldg. 1701, Tuesday and Thursday 2p.m. to 4p.m. and D-Main Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

If an alternate time is needed, please contact the POC listed below for an appointment. Information about passport applications can be found at www.us.state.gov. Application processing usually takes 30 days or less. Get your applications in early. Please contact Sergeant Major Ann Miller via DSN 849-0098, SVOIP 670-2150 or via email at [email protected].

Fatherless dragons hatched in KansasUnited Press InternationalWICHITA, Kan. -- The virgin birth of two Komodo dragons at a Kansas zoo is being considered as neither miraculous nor that unusual.

The two baby lizards hatched at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita are the first to be produced in North America through a biological process

known as parthenogesis that has been recorded twice before.

“We never had a male dragon at the zoo,” reptile curator Nate Nelson told the Wichita Eagle Thursday. “And there were no tramps that came wandering through, either.”

Parthenogesis doesn’t require a male. The process occurs in plants and some lower animals, although scientists say it can happen now and then in some vertebrate species.

Nevertheless, keepers are delighted with the unexpected arrivals and are eager to see how they fare in a single-parent household.

Unusual influx of jellyfish in the Ala Wai CanalKHNLWAIKIKI - Paddlers and some Waikiki residents who live along the Ala Wai canal are reporting unusual jellyfish infestations in the canal. Neighbors who live along the Ala Wai say they were alarmed last week when they noticed a sea of jelly fish covering this waterway.

The Ala Wai Canal looks calm but paddlers say the water is packed with large jellyfish. A surprising influx of the creatures has many watermen and women wondering what is going on.

We didn’t see the huge influx that lots of people are describing but we got video of them.

Last month when a truck went into

the canal and good samaritans dove in, they suffered horrible stings by these creatures.

Canoe Club members say they wade through these waters with their paddles, pushing away huge jellyfish.

Paddler Gene Kaneapua explains, “You just hang around the Ala Wai, it’s very unusual but there’s more than ever.”

Jim Silva an Ala Wai Harbor vendor adds, “You turn around and there’s a whole gang of them again.”

Following a posting of an Ala Wai Jellyfish on YouTube, many around the world are wondering about this jelllyfish video. The odd thing about this creature is it’s blue spotted colors.

A University of Hawaii scientist who studies jellyfish says this creature is not rare, but it does live in deep water and must have gotten disturbed and that’s why it’s floating up on the surface.

All Soldiers are cordially invited to attend

Nov 21, 2 p.m.Contingency Operating Base

SpeicherMain Gym

Task Force MarnePatch Ceremony

and3rd Infantry Division Birth-

day