The neighborhood's name held some negative connotation on July 9, as Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, began operations in the neighborhood amidst an increase in sectarian violence in the capital. This is from the official website of the Multi-National Force, so we can leave off the usual "swelling, surging, expanding, balooning, blossoming, continuing" adjectives in front of "sectarian violence".
Earlier that day, residents witnessed the killing of at least 40 Sunni Iraqis in a series of violent attacks. A group of terrorists had set up makeshift checkpoints, stopping cars and buses to check each person's identification. They gunned down many of them in the streets.
According to the Soldiers, many locals seemed to welcome the added security the troops provided. “Most of the people generally seem happy when they see us – especially the kids, that’s the biggest thing for me,” said Pvt. Loudon Garvey, a cavalry scout from Nashville, Tenn.
Army 1st Lt. Frank Toomey, a 23 year-old platoon leader from Waldwick, N.J., and his team of Soldiers, assumed
responsibility of Jihad as the 10th Mountain DivisionÂ’s 1st Brigade Combat Team began redeploying to Fort Drum,
N.Y., after completing their yearlong combat tour here.
Toomey said his Soldiers have made a smooth transition from conducting infrastructure assessments with local Iraqi
citizens into a role supporting Iraqi security forces operating in Baghdad.
He said his unitÂ’s primary mission is to support the ISF while they take control of the area, but that the bulk of
security work falls on Iraqi shoulders. “We’re giving them the ball and blocking for them; they just have to run with it,” he said.
The police are gradually stepping up their security operations in Jihad by putting up more checkpoints while the
calvary Soldiers provide security for them, Toomey said, noting that insurgent attacks have shifted away from his
troops toward Iraqi security personnel.
“We’ve seen a lot of attacks focusing specifically on ISF patrols and checkpoints,” he said. Despite all the smiles and waves the Soldiers receive, Garvey said they are well aware of the dangers lurking near the streets of Jihad.
“It gets hard out here sometimes,” said Spc. Charles Johnson, a cavalry scout from Grayson, Ky., during a joint
patrol with the Iraqi Police, “but it feels good to know I’m contributing to the mission and helping these guys
out.”
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 August 2006 )