CENTCOM NEWS RELEASES

August 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-08-48

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARINES HELP REBUILD WOMEN’S CENTER

AD DIWANIYAH, Iraq – The Marines carried shovels and sickles as they waded through the chest-high grass surrounding the dilapidated athletic building. When the building is finished it will become the city’s new women’s and youth center.

The center will be a place where women can come to relax or where mothers can drop off their children for a little while. There is a need for a women’s center in Ad Diwaniyah because women make up nearly 60 percent of city’s 260,000 inhabitants.

The Marines opted to leave their usual day’s routine and traveled to the center to conduct a massive cleanup around the building, which had fallen into disrepair over the years. Large loads of rocks, bricks, broken glass and other large debris were hauled by bucket into the bed of a 7-ton truck to be taken to a nearby dump. Weeds, grass, paper and smaller trash was loaded into another truck and carted to another location.

The work was sometimes backbreaking as Marines used shovels to scrape thick clots of dried mud caked on the edges of the floors near the building’s walls. The volunteers wore surgical masks to protect themselves from the clouds of dust that filled the rooms while they were being swept clean.

Once the building is clean a contractor will renovate the building’s interior, which should take another 30 to 45 days to complete. The renovation will cost about $99,000. Some of the upgrades include a new generator and a new air conditioning system.

A section of the building designated as the auditorium is also being renovated. Among other things, the large rectangular room will need new glass for the large windows that stretch the length of the room.

Future projects being considered include construction of a swimming pool and a sports complex on an adjoining piece of property.


August 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-08-49

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONFISCATED, DESTROYED WEAPONS EQUAL SAFER IRAQ

BAGHDAD, Iraq-Coalition forces continued to confiscate and destroy weapons and ammunition in Iraq on Aug. 22.

Acting on a tip from a local source, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) captured enemy equipment and detained suspected enemy personnel in East Mosul on Aug. 21. The confiscated weapons included three Russian machine guns, one 60mm mortar tube, two AK-47s, 50 AK-47 magazines, 3,500 rounds of small arms ammunition, one protective mask and various communications equipment.

In an unrelated incident, acting on a tip from a local source, the 101st AD detained one individual for making counterfeit Iraqi Dinar. The 101st confiscated rolls of magnetic security bands, three sheets of 10,000 Iraqi Dinar, an automatic number machine, a press machine and a computer with money software loaded on it.

Fourth Infantry Division soldiers on patrol discovered a weapons cache near some old fighting positions just south of Tikrit. The cache consisted of 200 pounds of propellant, 80 rounds of 14.5mm machine gun ammunition, one loaded AK-47 and one rocket-propelled grenade. An explosive ordnance detonation team will dispose of the weapons.

During an aerial patrol north of Khan Bani Said in Diyala province, an OH-58 D, Kiowa Warrior helicopter discovered a weapons cache consisting of four D-20 towed artillery pieces and 200 artillery rounds. Additional weapons and ammunition seized in other patrols include 50 artillery rounds, 104 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, four rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 22 mortar tubes, 48 high explosive anti-tank 100mm rounds, two claymore mines and six AK-47s.

In the last 24 hours, coalition forces conducted 21 raids, 922 day patrols and 645 night patrols. The units also conducted 233 day patrols and 159 night patrols jointly with Iraqi police.