GoI Funds Al Durai’ya Power Lines Repair

A 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Humvee sits beside the survey site of damaged high-tension power line towers near al Durai'ya, Iraq, March 17. Leaders of the battalion, a representative of the Iraqi ministry of electricity, Iraqi army leaders and members of the al Durai'ya Sons of Iraq surveyed the damaged towers and set in motion a plan for the government of Iraq to fund repairs.

Sheik Majid (right), leader of the al Durai'ya Sons of Iraq, and a representative from the Iraqi ministry of electricity (left), discuss the plan to repair damaged high-tension power line towers near al Durai'ya, Iraq, March 17.

By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Officer

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, working with an Iraqi ministry of electricity representative, surveyed several damaged high-tension power line towers near al Durai’ya, March 17.

The day prior, Lt. Col. Jack Marr, from Minneapolis, commander of 1-15th Inf. Regt., met with Iraqi army leadership, the Iraqi minister of electricity and Sheik Majid, the local Sons of Iraq leader, to discuss repair of the towers.

After surveying the site, the MoE representative agreed the government of Iraq would fund labor for the repairs and security for the laborers would be provided by SoI in the area.

“Sheik Majid agreed to secure the roads with Sons of Iraq while the power lines are being repaired by the Ministry of Electricity,” said Maj. John Cushing, from Rochester, Mich., operations officer for the battalion.

Marr said assisting the al Durai’ya residents will improve relationships between local leaders, citizens and Iraqi security forces. “It is truly great to see Iraqis solving Iraqi problems.”

The 1-15th Inf. Regt., 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.