Jul

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Did You Know?

Filed Under Today's War 

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On our last blog we wrote about the reunion of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. The banquet’s guest speaker was COL Rainey of Fort Carson. In his speech he mentioned how important it was that the American people know and realize the many accomplishments of the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the media often reports the “terrible” stuff, he shared some of the more positive accomplishments of the current 3rd Battalion, 4th Infantry at Fort Carson. The following list is pretty impressive.  More importantly, it balances the picture of this current war – a balance that shows the good along with the bad and ugly. Are you aware of some of the accomplishments of our soldiers?

  • Killed and captured over 3700 terrorists and criminals
  • Recovered over 2700 enemy weapons caches
  • Coached, taught, and mentored Iraqi security forces
  • Increased the police forces by over 12,000 policemen
  • Transitioned 50,000 Sons of Iraq to government control
  • Executed 2680 projects, improving the lives of Iraqis… sewer, water, electricity, agriculture, trash…
  • Issued $14 million in micro grants, creating 7,000 jobs
  • Executed 168 micro-generation projects, providing reliable electricity to tens of thousands
  • Opened 405 schools, 55 clinics/hospitals, 18 swimming pools, and 49 new parks
  • Did this with less combat power – 44 to 21 Battalions and the size or our battle space doubled

Did you know that because of these beneficial works, our American troops are striving hard to win the minds and hearts of a foreign people in a foreign land? A short verse in the Bible states, “By their works you will know them”. Maybe, when we leave the battle ground of Iraq, we will leave a legacy of good deeds and a future of greater hope. Maybe, war is more than killing and pain. Maybe, it is also a bit about small kindnesses and humane acts of decency. At the very least, when we read about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, we will remember the other part of the story.

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