BAGHDAD - While their families were suffering unseasonably chilly weather in Wisconsin this week, deployed 32nd Brigade soldiers endured a cool spell of their own in Iraq. Temperatures in Baghdad dipped below triple digits, with a high of only 96 degrees Saturday and 98 on Sunday before inching back up to 100 by midweek.
The cooler spell was a welcome relief after more than four months of temperatures that often climbed to 120 degrees or more in Baghdad - and much higher in the far south of Iraq. The harsh conditions haven't kept the 32nd Brigade units from being busy since arriving in Iraq in mid-May.
The 32nd Brigade headquarters is responsible for administering and securing the International Zone in Baghdad. Part of this mission is to return most of the remaining U.S.-controlled properties in the IZ to the Iraqi government. These property transfers change the face of the IZ - the center of gravity of the nation - and further prepare Iraq to control its own destiny after U.S. forces withdraw by August 2011.
The latest properties transferred by 32nd Brigade soldiers were a 17.1-acre property known as Forward Operating Base Blackhawk on Sept. 30 and Baghdad's Ibn Sina Hospital on Oct. 1.
Blackhawk includes a six-story, steel and concrete, German-engineered structure, known as Believers Palace. The $66 million structure was built to conceal Saddam Hussein's bunkers which extend to three stories below. It was heavily damaged during the opening night of the U.S.-led offensive in March 2003. Since then, the property housed up to 700 U.S. military personnel and contractors.
"This has been one of our most complicated turnovers to date," said Col. Martin Seifer, Seymour.
U.S. medical personnel at Ibn Sina Hospital treated hundreds of thousands of U.S. and coalition military personnel, Iraqi citizens, and even enemy combatants, since 2003.
The hospital was made famous in the award-winning HBO documentary "Baghdad E.R."
Ibn Sina's turnover marked the 33rd property the U.S. military has returned to the government of Iraq since the U.S.-Iraq security agreement took effect Jan. 1. Nine more properties are scheduled to be turned over before the year ends.
1158th Transportation Company (Beloit, Black River Falls)
One of the 1158th Transportation Company's missions is running vocational and other classes for detainees at a part of Camp Cropper, near Baghdad, known as Remembrance II. The 1158th provides a guard force and manages the program that allows detainees to attend classes while in custody. Classes in English, art, sewing, computers, basic education and carpentry are intended to build or improve job skills detainees will need after they are released.
As Iraq is rebuilt, it will need a skilled workforce, and the 1158th's soldiers are part of the effort.
Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry (Madison)
Headquarters Troop of 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry, is responsible for life support and other functions at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Cropper, near the Baghdad International Airport. This has included work to develop and supervise all antiterrorism and force protection projects across base.
These projects range from entry control points, sniper screening, traffic flow and security lighting. The 105th's force protection team recently reorganized the entire FOB barrier plan, adding and moving several hundred concrete barriers to increase overall security on the base.
The cooler spell was a welcome relief after more than four months of temperatures that often climbed to 120 degrees or more in Baghdad - and much higher in the far south of Iraq. The harsh conditions haven't kept the 32nd Brigade units from being busy since arriving in Iraq in mid-May.
The 32nd Brigade headquarters is responsible for administering and securing the International Zone in Baghdad. Part of this mission is to return most of the remaining U.S.-controlled properties in the IZ to the Iraqi government. These property transfers change the face of the IZ - the center of gravity of the nation - and further prepare Iraq to control its own destiny after U.S. forces withdraw by August 2011.
The latest properties transferred by 32nd Brigade soldiers were a 17.1-acre property known as Forward Operating Base Blackhawk on Sept. 30 and Baghdad's Ibn Sina Hospital on Oct. 1.
Blackhawk includes a six-story, steel and concrete, German-engineered structure, known as Believers Palace. The $66 million structure was built to conceal Saddam Hussein's bunkers which extend to three stories below. It was heavily damaged during the opening night of the U.S.-led offensive in March 2003. Since then, the property housed up to 700 U.S. military personnel and contractors.
"This has been one of our most complicated turnovers to date," said Col. Martin Seifer, Seymour.
U.S. medical personnel at Ibn Sina Hospital treated hundreds of thousands of U.S. and coalition military personnel, Iraqi citizens, and even enemy combatants, since 2003.
The hospital was made famous in the award-winning HBO documentary "Baghdad E.R."
Ibn Sina's turnover marked the 33rd property the U.S. military has returned to the government of Iraq since the U.S.-Iraq security agreement took effect Jan. 1. Nine more properties are scheduled to be turned over before the year ends.
1158th Transportation Company (Beloit, Black River Falls)
One of the 1158th Transportation Company's missions is running vocational and other classes for detainees at a part of Camp Cropper, near Baghdad, known as Remembrance II. The 1158th provides a guard force and manages the program that allows detainees to attend classes while in custody. Classes in English, art, sewing, computers, basic education and carpentry are intended to build or improve job skills detainees will need after they are released.
As Iraq is rebuilt, it will need a skilled workforce, and the 1158th's soldiers are part of the effort.
Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry (Madison)
Headquarters Troop of 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry, is responsible for life support and other functions at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Cropper, near the Baghdad International Airport. This has included work to develop and supervise all antiterrorism and force protection projects across base.
These projects range from entry control points, sniper screening, traffic flow and security lighting. The 105th's force protection team recently reorganized the entire FOB barrier plan, adding and moving several hundred concrete barriers to increase overall security on the base.