J8127
02-22-2006, 09:50 AM
Fort Carson troops thanked by mayor of Tal Afar [Iraq]
By Najim Abdullah Abid Al-Jibouri (mayor)
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, who have changed the city of Tal Afar from a ghost town, in
which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing
with life:
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists
who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many
months:
To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us
restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting and gave
new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days and stole our
confidence in our ability to reestablish our city:
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi.
The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our
schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our
streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were
barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every
corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their
savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with
explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents
attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young.
This was the situation of our city until God delivered unto us the
courageous soldiers of the 3rd ACR, who liberated this city, ridding it of
Zarqawi's followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists and forcing the
remaining butchers to flee the city, where the bravery of other 3rd ACR
soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment; they
are not only courageous men and women but avenging angels sent by God
himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
The leaders of this Regiment; Col Mc-Master, Col. Armstrong, LTC
Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and
wisdom. Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character
of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means
of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date
in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military
science.
This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite
the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons, they dealt
with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.
God bless this brave regiment; God bless the families who dedicated
these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the
families. They have given us something we will never forget.
To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land,
we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their
sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hover
around us every second. They will never be forgotten for giving their
precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see
them in the smile of every child and in every flower growing in this land. Let
America, their families and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity
and life.
No matter how much I write or speak about this brave regiment, I
haven't the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray
to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their
brave families.
By Najim Abdullah Abid Al-Jibouri (mayor)
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, who have changed the city of Tal Afar from a ghost town, in
which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing
with life:
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists
who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many
months:
To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us
restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting and gave
new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days and stole our
confidence in our ability to reestablish our city:
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi.
The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our
schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our
streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were
barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every
corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their
savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with
explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents
attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young.
This was the situation of our city until God delivered unto us the
courageous soldiers of the 3rd ACR, who liberated this city, ridding it of
Zarqawi's followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists and forcing the
remaining butchers to flee the city, where the bravery of other 3rd ACR
soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment; they
are not only courageous men and women but avenging angels sent by God
himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
The leaders of this Regiment; Col Mc-Master, Col. Armstrong, LTC
Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and
wisdom. Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character
of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means
of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date
in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military
science.
This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite
the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons, they dealt
with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.
God bless this brave regiment; God bless the families who dedicated
these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the
families. They have given us something we will never forget.
To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land,
we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their
sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hover
around us every second. They will never be forgotten for giving their
precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see
them in the smile of every child and in every flower growing in this land. Let
America, their families and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity
and life.
No matter how much I write or speak about this brave regiment, I
haven't the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray
to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their
brave families.