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January 10, 2007
In Country With Out Troops ~ God Bless You & Keep You Safe
2-8 Cav Troops Uncover Cache, Detain Seven
By 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers uncovered a cache of weapons and detained seven suspects near here Jan. 8.
Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division found the weapons during a cordon and search operation at a site known for insurgent activity.
Weapons found at the site included three AK-47 assault rifles, a sniper rifle, an Russian-made machine gun and a buried 55-gallon drum containing a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, four RPG rounds and three RPG accelerators.
The seven suspects were detained for further questioning.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three and wounded one terrorist as they transported and attempted to emplace improvised explosive devices in the vicinity of Ramadi Sunday.The individuals have been linked to a weapons cache Coalition forces located and destroyed numerous warheads, rockets, missiles and missile launchers in the area just south of Lake Thar Thar previously the same day.
The terrorists were killed by a Coalition air strike about six miles northeast of Ramadi before they could complete their activity.
The weapons cache was located less than 15 miles from the site where the terrorists were digging a hole to place an IED
Former Bosnian joins Army, supports adopted home
AD DAWR, Iraq – Americans join the military for many different reasons, but for one man it became a chance to show his loyalty to his new home. After Sept. 11, Spc. Mladen Sudarevic, now from Aurora, Colo., stepped forward with mixed emotions of loyalty, honor and outrage as he enlisted to the 324th Psychological Tactical Company, U.S. Army Reserves.
“I joined the U.S. Army Reserves so I could give a little back to the country that gave so much to me,” Sudarevic said. “I felt compelled to defend my adopted country after the 9/11 attack.”
Sudarevic endured the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and moved to the United States when he was 17. After the attacks, he felt like his country was under siege once again.
“I wasn’t old enough to serve in the military in Bosnia during their civil war,” Sudarevic said. “I am old enough now, and I feel American these days.”
“I think all Iraqis will look back on this experience and understand it was for the betterment of their country,” Sudarevic said. “They will eventually understand, although painful, it was a better part of their history.”
Sudarevic thinks the military is a great experience. He feels that he is serving his new country to the best of his ability.
“I was lucky that the United States let me come in as a refugee of the war,” Sudarevic said. “I came to Colorado and the people were great. I had awesome sponsors that helped me transition into society.”
Sudarevic came over with his mother, his only living relative and very few possessions.
“We lost everything in the war,” he said. “I didn’t speak English very well but I was able to bring over a translation dictionary. I tried to learn ten new words everyday.”
As Sudarevic was learning English, he was working hard to become independent of the assistance the system was giving him.
“I heard that you could go from one business to another turning in applications so I did this -- by the third day I had a job at a popular fast food restaurant,” he said. I worked there for a year, long enough to learn English and to take another step up the ladder, he said.
His personal records were also lost so he had to test out of high school. Soon after, he received a scholarship to Colorado Mountain College and received an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. Now, when Sudarevic isn’t working with the Army Reserves, he’s making a six- figure-income working in the computer fraud and security industry.
Even though his friends were able to get assistance in different countries, he does not feel they have had the same opportunities he’s been given in the U.S.
“I didn’t need any hand outs,” said Sudarevic. “I just needed an opportunity to help myself, and that’s what the United States gave me. I did it with my own hard work.”
“I believe the United States is the land of opportunities,” said Sudarevic. “Those who are willing to take advantage of them have a good chance at succeeding in life.”
Posted by Wild Thing at January 10, 2007 12:47 AM
Comments
God bless that young man. Came here with nothing and now look at him. Happy to hear that he wanted off the assistance. Now he's make a good salary and paying into the system like the rest of us. Shame our native born (or the ones sneaking across the border) don't share that sentiment and drive.
Thanks for brightening up my morning Chrissie.
Posted by: raz0r at January 10, 2007 08:30 AM
Mladen is really "doing the work a lot of Americans won't do". Sadly, too many of our leaders want to give to illegals what this young success earned on his own legally.
May Mladen Sudarevic enjoy the rewards of his hard work. He has seen the best of America and is now part of it. Great item Wild Thing.
Posted by: TomR at January 10, 2007 01:05 PM
Corporal Jason Dunham to be awarded MOH (posthumously) Thursday
Posted By Blackfive
Looks like Marine Corporal Jason Dunham will be awarded the MOH (posthumously) on Thursday by President Bush. He'll be the first Marine to receive the MOH in over 30 years for throwing himself on a grenade to protect his fellow Marines. More at the Marine Corps Times.
There's so much more to Dunham than the awarding of the medal. He's been a subject of the milblogosphere for awhile (links) and is one of the men that The Blog of War is dedicated to...suffice it to say that he lived and died honoring the Marine Corps code.
Euphoric Reality has more on the survivors that Jason saved. They have a tough road ahead...
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at January 10, 2007 02:29 PM
razOr that is what I was thinking too. What a difference he is in the illegals coming in and the Muslims that complain all the time too. This man wanted to be as American as possible and he loves America so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 11, 2007 12:14 AM
Tom, thank you, I love positive upbeat stories like this. Stories of people that truly love America and adding in his service to our country to top it off.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 11, 2007 12:16 AM
Tincan Sailor, thank you so much for letting me know about Marine Corporal Jason Dunham.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 11, 2007 12:17 AM
