Camp Taji, Iraq- One of the most famous and iconic photos in the world is the picture
of the raising of the U.S. Flag over Iwo Jima in World War II. It has been the subject of at least four books, and featured in the movie “Flags of Our Fathers.”
Recently there was a renewed sense of history when the members of the U.S. 536th Maintenance Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and 10th Sustainment Brigade raced to finish 70 different flagpoles.
Due to bad weather back home in the United States, a shipment of 70 flag poles was delayed, and they would not be available for members of the Iraqi Government to use in a number of different ceremonies that were slated for early in this New Year. So, the 536th got to work.
Brigade Headquarters sent down word to make it happen, so the Servicemembers dug in. Working round the clock, for more than a day and a half they created the necessary 70 poles, pulleys and various support equipment to make sure the Iraqi Government had their poles and materials for their New Year Patriotic celebrations located around the nation of Iraq.
While the poles were not used to fly the American Flag, still the members of the 536th Maintenance Company have every reason to stand tall, for their small but vital part in helping support Iraqi Independence and patriotic celebrations around Iraq.
