 June 29, 2005
Ryan Seals Tennessee National Guard
EDITORS’ NOTE: Ryan Seals is with the 278th Regimental Combat Team's
190th Engineer Company of Morristown and Monteagle, Tenn., which is
deployed to Iraq. QURI CHAY, Iraq — When Ahmed Faraj Muhammed looks at soldiers with
the 278th Regiment Combat Team's 2nd Squadron, he doesn't see the
faces of occupiers. Instead he is reminded of the five sons he lost at
the hands of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
"The U.S. Army saved us and the village," Mr. Muhammed, 73, said
through an interpreter. "The spirit of my five sons lives in these
soldiers."
President Bush in a primetime speech Tuesday urged Americans to
support the war, and Mr. Muhammed said the United States' help is
vital to Iraq's future.
"If the U.S. government supports the new government, they will rule
a new liberated Iraq," he said. "The terrorists want the U.S. Army to
go back to the states so they can move in and take over Iraq again."
Sgt. Kevin McMackins, of Readyville, Tenn., said residents of Quri
Chay appreciate the Americans.
"It is one of the few places we like to visit over here, and they
make us feel as if we are making a difference," he said.
Mr. Muhammed's sons died fighting to defend Quri Chay against Mr.
Hussein's army, which bombed and raided hundreds of Kurdish towns for
supporting Iran during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
Nearly 20 years later, some of those villages still stand, and
Iraqis such as Mr. Muhammed are trying to pick up the pieces with the
support of the new Iraqi government and the U.S. Army. Mr. Muhammed
and his sons, all Kurdish Peshmarga Militia members, were among
villagers who defended the town from the old Iraqi Army in 1985. The
village fought off the Iraqi Army until 1988, when Mr. Muhammed's five
sons died in the conflict. One of his two wives and four of his
children were thrown in jail for feeding Peshmarga fighters, he said.
Mr. Muhammed and others fled the village, moving to the nearby
Kurdish village of Kifri. He lived there with his two wives and 10
children until about 18 months ago, when he moved part of his family
back to Quri Chay.
The rebuilding process has been slow, Mr. Muhammed said. The
village has about 30 people and several houses now, compared to the
100 residents and 40 homes before Iraqi Army raids. The village lacks
electricity and a well for fresh water, and residents are asking
American forces for assistance in building a community center.
Soldiers from the 2nd Platoon of H Company, with the 278th's 2nd
Squadron, visited Quri Chay in late May.
After meeting with villagers, Sgt. First Class Dave Myers, of
Tullahoma, Tenn., said he would report residents' need for a well and
electricity to 278th leadership at Forward Operating Base Bernstein.
He said he also would report nearby land mines that recently resulted
in two villagers losing their legs.
The soldiers spent the remainder of the evening drinking tea and
grilling steaks with the villagers.
"We thought it would be a nice gesture to come and eat dinner with
them because they offered to slaughter a lamb and make dinner for us
the first time we visited in March," Cpl. Shannon Murray, of
Morristown, Tenn., said.
Sgt. 1 st Class Myers said he still is amazed at the Muhammeds' generosity.
"It amazes me that after all that has been taken from them, five
boys, their home, their dreams, that they are still so open and
giving," he said.
E-mail Ryan Seals at news@timesfreepress.com
This story was published Wednesday, June 29, 2005
From: Chattanooga Times Free Press Link
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