V CORPS ENGINEERS HELP CLEAN UP BAGHDAD NEIGHBORHOODS
V Corps Public Affairs
Release Date: 09 May 2003
By Spc. Julie M. Nicolov 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD, IRAQ -- Ignoring the flies that cloud around them in the hot, dusty air, children play happily among torn flip-flops, soiled rags and empty grenade casings in an abandoned lot here, the only playground they've ever known.
Thanks to V Corps' 94th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, that's about to change for some of this city's kids. By clearing garbage out of four residential sites in the downtown area, soldiers of the battalion's 535th Engineer Company, based in Grafenwoehr, Germany, are making Baghdad a safer, more beautiful place for Iraqis to live.
"We're doing this for the families that live nearby," said 2nd Lt. Jessica Newman, platoon leader, 2nd platoon, 535th Engineer Company.
One of the sites was a soccer field that the Iraqi army used as a training site. Once the Iraqis finished with the field, the locals used it as a trash dump, because the city's trash collection service stopped. When the soldiers of the 94th arrived, they found mounds of garbage covering the 400-square-meter field, including unexploded ordnance and broken equipment dumped by Iraqi troops.
"The trash was piled waist-deep," Newman said. "Just think of what that would smell like."
The engineers used Armored Combat Earthmovers to start the cleaning process, to ensure no one would get hurt if unexploded ordnance left behind detonated. The ACE allows its driver to remain completely safe while clearing a dangerous area, Newman said.
After the area was clear of explosives, engineers used backhoes to stabilize the trash by mixing it with soil.
"Stabilizing it cuts down on the flies," Newman explained.
Finally, soldiers loaded the trash into dump trucks to be taken to a centralized trash area. More than 2,000 tons of trash has been collected from the four sites.
Although the work was smelly and dangerous, it was also satisfying to the troops here.
"There are lots of families around," said Sgt. Jean Sena, a truck driver with the 94th. "All of these kids have to live with this trash -- sleeping near it, breathing it in. It's not right."
As the work progressed, neighborhood residents flocked around the soldiers, excited about their presence and effort.
"They all say 'thank you' and give their sign of thanks," Sena said, patting his right hand to the left side of his chest.
After the cleanup is finished, the 94th will turn the it back over to the locals, who will decide what the field will become.
"It's up to the Iraqi people," Newman said.
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