Veterinary mission morphs into life saver

18 April 2007
Story by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Carrie Bernard
CJTF-HOA Public

DIKHIL, Djibouti – With only seconds to react, U.S. military members made a daring rescue April 14, pulling a young African man out of a raging torrent.

After a day of heavy rain, the Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa team was assessing a river crossing site they planned to use the following day as part of a veterinary civic action program when they saw a man signaling frantically for help.

As we drew close, it became obvious that the individual trying to flag down our vehicle was desperate,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joseph Gamble, mission commander. “After stopping and engaging the individual, the team was told that two people had been swept away by a flash flood.”

The military members followed the swollen river in their vehicle until they came to a wide ditch that couldn’t be driven across. Further down the river, they could see a crowd of people gathering so they continued following the river bank on foot.

“At this point we discovered that one of the individuals who had been swept away had been pulled to safety on a small partial of high ground in the middle of the raging torrent,” said Gamble. “The individual had sustained numerous injuries.”

With a powerful current of water standing between them and the injured 19 year-old man, three military members, accompanied by a local Djiboutian, tethered themselves together with a rope and made their way into the river.

“At that moment, we weren’t thinking about anything but rescuing the guy,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Rovell Thomas, force protection for the VETCAP. “The scene was chaotic.”

When they reached the stranded teenager, the team provided immediate aid and then Senior Airman Travis Manning placed the young man on his shoulders and, along with the help of his fellow servicemembers, brought him back across the swift-moving water.

“It was second nature,” said Manning, a combat camera videographer. “We had to get him across the water to safety and my self aid training kicked in. At that moment, I was working off sheer adrenaline.”

Once on shore, Manning and Thomas carried the injured Djiboutian to a waiting vehicle that then brought him to a local hospital. “At the hospital, the father of the injured youth continuously thanked those involved in the rescue,” said Gamble.

The news wasn’t all good. Later that night, a search team found the body of the other individual.

“I’m glad we were there and able to help,” said U.S. Army Col. Vic Adamson, 350th Civil Affairs Command Functional Specialty. “We were able to save a life that evening that may have otherwise been lost.”

The mission of CJTF-HOA is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. The CJTF-HOA organization began operations at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti May 13, 2003. It works with partner nations on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, civic action programs to include medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.

Photo: Senior Airman Travis Manning, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Combat Camera, carries an injured youth on his shoulders with the assistance of U.S. Army Col. Vic Adamson, 350th Civil Affairs Command Functional Specialty (left) and U.S. Army Sgt. Rovell Thomas, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (right). (Photo by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Bryan Boyette).

Diwaniyah “returning to normal, step by step”

Sunday, 15 April 2007
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
4th BCT (Abn.), 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs

DIWANIYAH — The provincial governor of Qadasiyah Province, Iraqi and Coalition commanders and government representatives met with the media to discuss the progress of Operation Black Eagle at Camp Echo April 13.

"There is no fighting going on in the city at this time. The city is returning to normal, step by step,” governor Hazma said.

“The local government and Iraqi Army along with Coalition Forces have been able to begin providing aid, food rations, fuel and other services to those who are in need,” he added. “Health, water, sewage and other departments are working and providing services.

“It isn’t to the point we want, but it is a good start and it is getting better all the time,” the governor said. “Every school and government facility will be open Monday.”

Hazma praised the Diwaniyah populace for supporting the operation and said security in and around the city has improved as a result.

“The only way our city will get better is through a joint effort with our friends in the Iraqi Army and Coalition,” said Hamza.

Efforts are on-going to improve the security situation in Diwaniyah, according to the commanding general of the 8th Iraqi Army Division, Maj. Gen. Oothman Faroud.

“Yesterday we toured the city for about four hours,” he said. “We decided to establish two additional check points in key neighborhoods to ensure security for those areas.

“We talked to a lot of people and all of them assured us of their support and thanked us for our help,” the general continued. “We have also reestablished the flow of food and other humanitarian aid in to the city.”

The 8th Iraqi Army Division commander also discussed the reasons why the Coalition force is still supporting his division in Operation Black Eagle.

“We still depend on the Coalition to provide technical support and expertise to help us find and remove [improvised explosive devices],” he told the assembled media members. “They have removed dozens since Black Eagle began. We also depend on their helicopters to give us air support, at times.”

Coalition support to Operation Black Eagle was headed up by the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, commanded by Col. Michael Garrett.

Garrett praised the partnership created during the operation and the success of the mission.

“We have arrested many of the men responsible for attacks against Diwaniyah and Camp Echo thanks to the help of the citizens of Diwaniyah,” Garrett said. “If Maj. Gen. Oothman ever needs me, I will be here for him. If the people of Diwaniyah ever need me, I will be here for them and I will be here fast.”

Iraqi Police officers are also taking part in the security operation. Brig. Gen. Sadiq Jafar Ali, the provincial police chief, discussed his plan to improve the quality of the Iraqi Police in the province.

“We are preparing to hire an additional 3,000 policemen,” he said. “We are receiving new equipment all the time and thanks to the Coalition we are receiving excellent training.”

Sadiq said as he looks to the future he is optimistic.

“All of these things will help the Provincial Iraqi Control process along,” he said.

Hazma said a demonstration had taken place in town prior to the start of the press conference protesting the presence of the Coalition force in the province, but said few people participated.

“Less than 100 people took part in the demonstration,” he told the press. “It is people like this that support terrorists and want to bring chaos to Diwaniyah. This is unacceptable. We need the Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces here. They are here to help.”

Afghan gov't, Coalition partners aid flood victims in Laghman

3 April 2007
Combined Joint Task Force-82 Press Release.

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Laghman provincial government, Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition partners provided vital humanitarian assistance to flood victims in northeastern Afghanistan March 31-April 1.

The relief efforts came in the wake of severe flooding to the south of the provincial capital of Mehtar Lam. The flooding, which filled some areas with waist-high water, stranded around 200 Afghan civilians and left many without food, dry clothing or shelter.

Gov. Gulab Mangal of Laghman and ANSF spearheaded efforts to house villagers displaced by the flooding. Afghanistan International Transportation helicopters rescued around 150 stranded citizens.

Connecticut National Guardsmen from Task Force Iron Gray and members of the Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team, meanwhile, assisted Mangal and ANSF in the relief efforts.

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan government and Coalition forces delivered food items including prepared meals, rice, beans and water. They distributed such clothing articles as jackets, gloves, sweaters, socks and gloves as well as tarps and blankets to the Qhargahe District Center for distribution through the Red Crescent.

Rain and melting snow in eastern Afghanistan has caused rivers and creeks to rise above normal levels prompting the flooding.

The allied effort brought life saving relief to dozens of Afghan families imperilled by the flooding. Coalition leaders praised the decisive efforts of Afghan government leaders during the crisis.

“Governor Mangal did an excellent job of coordinating all of the rescue and relief operations,” said Army Lt. Col. Steven Gilbert, the commander of Task Force Iron Gray. “He demonstrated how effective the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is with taking care of its people.”

“As Coalition forces are here to help the people of Afghanistan we did everything in our power to render assistance when Governor Mangal called,” Gilbert added. “I am very pleased with evacuating the flood victims and to arrange for the helicopters to assist in the rescue of so many citizens of Laghman. My Soldiers felt very good about the opportunity to deliver food, blankets and clothing in such a time of need.”

Photo: Villagers from Qhargahe District, Laghman Province observe as an Afghanistan International Air helicopter prepares to land and rescue villagers stranded by flood waters April 1. AIT transported the villagers to the Zangaray Refugee Camp nearby. Coalition forces from Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam assisted with humanitarian assistance goods and helped coordinate rescue efforts by AIT and U.N. helicopters. (Photo by Air Force Capt. Gerardo Gonzalez).