Artillerymen, Iraqis spin wrenches to keep U.S. rolling
by Spc. Blake Kent, 22nd MPAD
centcom.mil
MOSUL, Iraq – Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, and local Iraqis are working together, making lighter work with many hands.
According to Staff Sgt. James Justice of Greenup, Ky., 1-377th, with the workload that was piling up on the 377th, including tasks like changing engines and changing out hundreds of tires, something had to be done to lighten the load.
“Since we’ve been here, we’ve put in 12 engines,” Justice said, adding that the task usually falls on a different maintenance shop.
The soldiers were also tasked to prepare spare tires for all the vehicles they maintain.
To help the soldiers, who were spread thin over their many missions, local Iraqis that had been working with the unit to do repair jobs around their area were brought in to work in the motor-pool as well.
“Instead of me getting behind with all of our missions, we have these guys helping us out; helping us stay afloat really,” Justice said.
“This is really their third week working at the motor-pool, they started with building a bunker and a sandbag wall,” said Spc. William Fox of Lapalma, Cal., 1-377th, who works with the men. “About a week and a half ago we brought them over to the tire shop.”
The men were given a class on how to build the spare tires, and then went to work.
“The first two tires they did were wrong, but the next day they did 19,” Justice said. “They do such a good job that we are working on finding them more things to do.”
According to Yassir Khalel, one of the Iraqi workers, none of them had ever rebuilt tires before, so the work is also teaching them new skills.
“In one day we break down about 22 tires,” said Ahmed Fawzy, one of the Iraqi workers who said he normally works as a painter.
“Right now there isn’t a lot of work in Mosul, so they really like this,” Fox said. “We have so much going on right now, they should be working here for quite a while longer. They’ve built so many tires now, I’ve lost count.”
The men were hired from the local unemployment office on a weekly basis. They are paid $4 a day, plus an extra dollar for being able to come to the motor-pool every morning for work instead of being picked up.
According to Fox the language barrier hasn’t been a problem.
“It’s funny; the language barrier really isn’t a barrier for us,” Fox said. “We have an Arabic/English translation book that we hardly ever use, except for exact instructions.”
According to Fox, he has become good friends with the men.
“I have lunch with them all the time,” Fox said. “They will bring their lunches and share it with me. Yesterday, I found out I had eaten some goat lung. Every so often we get in a conversation about Saddam. They are so happy that guy is gone. They were laughing so hard when we showed them the South Park episode with him in it.”
The men are all from the same village near Mosul.
“They tell me I’m a friend of their village, and they don’t call me Spc. Fox or by my name,” Fox said. “They call me ‘Abu Sarah,’ which is, ‘father of Sarah,’ because my daughter’s name is Sarah. It’s their way of showing respect for someone, and that is all they know me as, ‘Abu Sarah.’”
Khalel and Fawzy both say they like the work and knowing that they are able to help out the soldiers.
“We are happy we are here,” Fawzy said. “The job is easy and we are working with good people.”
According to Justice, having the men help with the motor-pool work has also allowed the soldiers to get more time for their own job training.
“These soldiers have been learning in three months what it took a lot of us older guys years to learn,” Justice said.
The men hope to be able to work with the motor-pool for at least another month or so, till work becomes more available in the Mosul area.
The motor-pool is working to keep the men employed for as long as possible. Next, they will be painting the motor-pool facilities.
"They will do just as much as you will let them do,” Justice said. “They are eager to work.” |
