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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 12, 2008 - 2:11:01 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Local Iraqi ladies become the first customers of the newly reopened Rashid Community Bank April 20 in the Doura community of southern Baghdad. The bank is located a block from the renowned Doura Market, a center of commerce for many Iraqi residents. The banks reopening proves there is stability in the region and that the government can provide for its people, said 1st Lt. Justin Chabalko, platoon leader, mortar platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Eight months ago, opening a bank in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad sounded like a good way to stir up trouble.
Times have changed in the area however, and local residents now have tangible proof of the economic resurgence in the area as they gathered for the grand reopening of the Rashid Commercial Bank April 20 in Doura.
A crowd of excited faces, joined by members of the Iraqi Security Forces and Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, assembled around a doorway that was secured only by a strand of ribbon.
With a snip of the scissors, the crowd of Iraqi citizens, which had amassed hours earlier, began filing inside to use the bank's services.
"Today is a historic day for us," explained Zuhair al-Jumaily, bank manager. "We are pleased to reopen this branch and provide services to the residents of Doura."
With tellers already in position to begin work, the residents of this center of commerce, known by many as the Doura Market, trickled inside through the taut security.
"In the past, Doura's situation was very bad," Jumaily explained. "Today, the area is safe and secure. The bank will serve a large number of residents, and we are very pleased with the efforts of the Coalition Forces."
Capt. Daryl Carter, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt., 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, works with the residents of Doura and patrols the streets daily.
"The place was basically desolate until about eight months ago," Carter explained. "Now, if you walk down Market Road, it's a gold mine. We can barely drive through this area without being surrounded by people."
When the community was at its worst, many of the residents abandoned their homes and businesses to seek refuge some place else, explained Carter.
The lead contract manager for the opening of the Rashid Community Bank, Ahmed al Hadad, said he knew the residents would be surprised when the rumor of the bank reopening spread around.
"All the people are very happy," Hadad said. "We invited everyone that lives in the community to the opening."
The bank opening is a significant achievement and is indirectly the result of the hard work and efforts put forth by the ISF and MND-B Soldiers in enhancing security in the area.
"It was a pretty monumental event," said 1st Lt. Justin Chabalko, platoon leader, mortar platoon, HHC, 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt. "Since security has been good, there has been a lot of progress in the area."
It is "monumental" because it shows there is stability in the region and also that the government can provide for its people, stated Chabalko, who hails from Hazleton, Penn.
In the afternoon, when the bank's business hours were near completion, a nearby vehicle's loudspeaker announced the bank would stay open until all the customers outside had been served.
Related Link : Bank Opens Radio Beeper
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| A crowd of Iraqi citizens awaits the opportunity to use the newest edition in the Doura community, the long-awaited reopening of the Rashid Community Bank in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad April 20. Many of the people in Doura were very surprised and happy with the news, said Ahmed al Hadad, the lead contract manager for the banks reopening. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
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| The bank will stay open past its normal business hours to ensure all customers are provided for, stated an Iraqi Security Forces Soldier. Dozens of citizens flocked to the reopening of the Rashid Community Bank in the Doura community of southern Baghdad April 20. The opening of the bank was a welcomed sight by many Iraqis because it shows that the Iraqi citizens the government can provide for its people, said 1st Lt. Justin Chabalko, platoon leader, mortar platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
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