Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009

Paratroopers, ISF distribute new school suppliesBy Staff Sgt. Alex Licea3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div.

BAGHDAD — Paratroopers and their Iraqi Security Force partners distributed a variety of new school supplies to students in two Oubaidy schools Feb. 19 in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad.

Children formed a cheerful scene as they welcomed Multi-National Division—Baghdad Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and their Iraqi partners from the 8th Na-tional Police Brigade, 2nd NP Div., to receive the much-needed supplies.

Children at the Al Assal Kindergarten greeted the combined forces and eagerly watched as NP officers and Paratroopers opened up the cardboard boxes and organized the school materials on a nearby table.

Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, the commander of the 2nd Bn., 505th Parachute Inf. Regt., along with Command Sgt. Maj. Herbert Kirkover, the battalion’s senior enlisted leader, told the school’s headmaster that the crayons, notebooks, markers, pencils, coloring books, finger paint and toys were donated to the school

Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., commander of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infan-try Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, gives an Iraqi boy a toy during a school supply distribution event Feb. 19 in the city of Oubaidy.

By Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div.

Iraqi school girls sing a song in Arabic to thank the Iraqi and American forces for their generosity at the Al Kays & Al Yasameen Elementary School, one of two schools to receive goods during a distribution drive Feb. 19 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad. The children wanted to show family members of deployed Paratroopers back at the unit’s home station of Fort Bragg, N.C., that the gifts were appreciated.

By Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div.

See SCHOOL Pg. 2

PAGE 2 February 24, 2009

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Lt. Col. Thomas Boccardi (left), commander, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, accepts a framed Frank-lin Flag from Lt. Col. Mark O’Hanlon (right), of Walling-ford, Pa., commander of the 1st Bn., 111th Inf. Regt., 56th SBCT, Pennsylvania National Guard. Soldiers of the “Independence” battalion assume Coalition Forces mission responsibility and security operations in Tarmi-yah area north of Baghdad.

from the Paratroopers’ family members back at Fort Bragg, N.C., the unit’s home station.

“I appreciate these items for the children,” said the school’s headmaster. “We are very thankful.”

Paratroopers have team up the ISF in several humanitarian events across the district over the past several weeks to improve the lives of the area’s residents. NP officials have focused attention in 9 Nissan due to the poverty in the region.

Capt. Agustin Dominguez, the battalion’s fire support officer, said these events enhance the children’s ability to participate in school. Outreach programs like this can result in a change of at-titude toward the ISF and their Coalition partners.

“Events like this will allow the local residents’ mood to change because they are seeing that we are here to provide security for

them, and we are here to help their children get a better education,” said the native of Miami.

Capt. Adisa King, commander of Company A, 2nd Bn., 505th Parachute Inf. Regt., and his men delivered several more boxes of donated school items to the nearby Al Kays & Al Yasameen Elementary School.

The students sang a song in Arabic as a gesture of apprecia-tion as the combined forces were leaving the school’s court-yard.

Dominguez and his Iraqi partners plan to visit several more schools across the city in the weeks to come; providing schools with practical items such as fans and chalkboards, as well as re-stock the school with supplies in the near future.

“They are looking for our help to improve the overall quality of the area schools, and we are going to do what we can to see that their wishes are met.”

Outreach programs can help change attitudes toward the ISF and their Coalition partners

SCHOOL, From Pg 1

By Master Sgt. Sean Whelan, 56th SBCT

Independence Battalion Takes ChargeJOINT SECURITY STATION BELADIYAT, Iraq – Spc. Christopher Parker (left), a native of Portland, Tenn., 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Divi-sion, shows an National Police mechanic the location of components under the hood of an up-armored humvee during a maintenance training event Feb. 21 at Joint Se-curity Station Beladiyat in eastern Baghdad. The training provides NP mechanics the fundamentals of humvee di-agnosis and troubleshooting techniques.

By Staff Sgt. James Selesnick, 982nd Combat Camera Co.

Paratroopers train NP mechanics

PAGE 3 February 24, 2009

Night at the Apollo, Soldier-styleBy Spc. Dustin Roberts2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div.

BAGHDAD — As Multi-National Division—Baghdad Soldiers celebrate Black His-tory Month, “Dagger” brigade troops planned and participated in a “Night at the Apollo,” on Camp Liberty Feb. 20.

Based on the Apollo Theater in the Harlem, N.Y., the event showcased Soldiers from many cultures; displaying their tal-ents in poetry, song and various music genres.

“I decided on Apollo be-cause the (theater) started as a firm part of black history,” said Sgt. Christopher Rob-inson, of Fort Riley, Kan., Brigade Special Troops Bat-talion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “The Apollo grew to accommodate many cultures; I wanted it to be a multi-cul-tural type event for people to have fun and come out and en-joy themselves.”

The show began with food and up-beat music and Soldiers quickly got into the relaxed at-mosphere.

“I think it’s important to coordinate events like these because they lift morale,” said Robinson. “They take Soldier’s minds off of combat a little bit and let them know that they still can have fun.”

Soldiers from across Camp Liberty and the Victory Base Complex took part in the event.

“I saw the flyer for the talent show in the dining facility and I knew I wanted to participate,” said Spc. Katrina Goss, a na-tive of Killeen, Texas, with the Division Special Troops Bat-talion, 1st Cav. Div. who placed 2nd in the show. “It feels great because I had people from my unit in attendance; they’ve been supporting me from day one.”

Support also came from the BSTB, 2nd HBCT, 1st Inf. Div. senior leadership who partici-pated in the event and awarded the top three performers with plaques.

“The highlight of the night was when Col. (David) Im-hof and Command Sgt. Maj. (Anna) Gregory went up on stage to present the awards; that was the peak of the moment,” said Robinson. “It took about four weeks of planning to get everything right and I’m glad they were able to enjoy the tal-ent show.”

Robinson said he hopes to host another talent show in the future so Soldiers can show-off their performance abilities to their fellow warriors.

“It went really well; the whole event was spectacular,” he said. “I’m real thankful to everyone, including those Sol-diers in the 1st Cav., who came out to support the event.”

Pfc. Daniel Gonzales (front), a native of Miami, Fla., and Spc. Jeremy Kattner (back), a native of Brew City, Wis., both with Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, perform a song by the band, ‘Blink 182’ in the battalion’s first talent show at Camp Liberty Feb. 20. The duo placed 3rd in the audience-judged show.

By Spc. Dustin Roberts, 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div.

Sgt. Aliesha Turner, a native of Midway, Ala., Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, sings the event winning song she wrote; Me and You, at the “Night at the Apollo” talent show hosted by the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Camp Liberty Feb. 20.

By Spc. Dustin Roberts, 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div.

Celebrate today. Right now. You can’t change the past. You can’t control the future. So live in today. Organize your goals for today with a focus on those things you need to accomplish in the near term, and preparation for the things you expect to come along down the line. Then let go of those useless things that weigh you down, like guilt, or worry. This will save you energy for more important things...like sharing a laugh with your buddy, appreciating a beautiful sunrise, or prayer. Now THAT is energy well spent!“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

PAGE 4 February 24, 2009

Iraq 3-Day

Weather Report Today

73° F | 50° FTomorrow 73° F | 53° F

Thursday75° F | 55° F

David Letterman’s Top Ten Signs Your Cat Is Too Fat

Arabic Phrase of the Day: Is it a demonstration?

Defined:

10. Gets winded purring.9. Instead of trying to run from dogs, sits on them.8. The Maury people call every hour.7. Ears perk up whenever you mention Wendy’s Free Fixin’s Bar.6. He used 8 lives on heart attacks.5. Cat carrier is a Ford Escort.4. Richard Simmons’ cat staged intervention.3. Can only wear cute sweaters from the Big and Tall Kitty Shop.2. Litter box so huge, it has a nude bathing section.1. Instead of “meow,” he says “mayo.”

haadhi muzaahara?

On This Day In Black History On this day in 1811, Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne was born in Charleston, S.C. Payne became the premier bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He worked as a teacher, a minister, wrote the first history of the AME Church, and founded Wilberfource University, the first black-owned and operated institution of higher learning in the country. As a boy, Payne studied by candlelight. He taught himself mathematics, physical science, and classical languages. In 1829, he opened his first school, but six years later, South Carolina forbade the education of blacks, so it closed. Payne fled to the North to pursue an education with the Methodist Episcopalians. He joined the AME church in 1841. One of Payne’s goals was to improve education, especially among African-American members of the clergy. In 1863, he persuaded the AME church to purchase Wilberforce, a school established in 1856 by the church. Payne died in 1893 at the age of 82.

Payne

Multi-National Division - BaghdadPublic Affairs Office

Commanding General:Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger

Public Affairs Officer:Lt. Col. Philip Smith

Public Affairs Chief:Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner

Editor:Spc. Jon Soles

Staff Writers:Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke

Sgt. 1st Class Joel QuebecStaff Sgt. Mark BurrellStaff Sgt. Jon CuppStaff Sgt. Peter Ford Sgt. Joshua Risner

Spc. Howard AlperinSpc. Laura Johnson

Spc. Phillip Adam TurnerContributions by MND-B Chaplains

The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Daily Charge are not official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army, or the 1st Cavalry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry, or The Daily Charge of the products and services advertised.

All editorial content of The Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs Office.

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Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker

PAGE 5 February 24, 2009

PEGASUS OASIS DFAC HOURSBREAKFAST 0530 TO 0830

LUNCH 1130 TO 1330DINNER 1700 TO 2000

MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 TO 0100SUNDAY ONLYBRUNCH 0730 to 1330DINNER 1700 to 2000

MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 to 0100

Trigger’s TeasersThe objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in.

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life, you will have been all these.” — George Washington Carver, 1864-1943 African-American scientist, inventor, educator

Yesterday’s Answers

Quote For Today