Coalition Troops Celebrate With Iraqi Al Wardiya Officials
Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq.
A large group of local Iraqi leaders, Iraqi Security Forces and soldiers and troops from the First Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment came together and celebrated the opening of a new well in Al Wardiya last week.
Members of the 1/15th Infantry Regiment toiled long and hard with local citizens to build the well and it promises to have a reliable and long-term water source for the area. Having reliable water in a distribution network has long been a problem.
Captain Matt Givens is with the 1/15th Infantry Regiment, and is civil Military operations officer. “In building this water distribution well, the contractor did an exceptionally good job,” said Captain Givens.
“It is exciting and this well is now able to produce water for the area and citizens of Al-Wardiya,” said Givens. Local Leaders gathered last summer and spoke with leaders of the regiment, talking about the need for an improved water system and a well. The regiment sprang into action using funds available from the Emergency Response Program.
Captain Givens found and hired a contractor locally who started in late August, and the work was monitored and inspected twice a week by Givens and his men. In building the well there were two things able to be accomplished. “The thing we did first was we were able to help with employment for twenty eight individuals for nearly four months,” stated Givens.
“The most important item is that in the end, Al-Wardiya and its people have a new source of reliable, clean water that will last for years and years to come,” said Captain Givens.
