Hawaii-based Marines demilitarize patrol base

Story and Photos by Cpl. Chadwick deBree

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ZAIDON, Iraq – Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, demilitarized a patrol base in the Ziadon area, May 1.

            For 13 months, Marines and local Iraqi Police used the patrol base, which was once a home to a local resident, as a location for operations.  With the Marines moving towards transitioning their operations to the Iraqi Security forces, the base, also know as Barakat House, is no longer needed.

“About a month ago, we were looking at our operations and what we could do to be more effective,” said Sgt. Brian R. Downing, squad leader, 1st squad, 2nd platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines. “It was decided that the way to be most effective was to reduce our footprint in the region, and this is just one of the many things we are doing to reduce our presence.”

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The Barakat House was the heaviest fortified position the Marines had in the area, but with the Marines moving into a transition phase, the position was no longer needed.

“We’re moving into a stage where we are just over watching what the Iraqis are doing,” Downing, a 25-year-old native of Danvers, Mass., said. “Now we can concentrate more on conducting joint patrols with the Iraqis through the marketplace to ensure that the business in the area is going strong. This is a very exciting time.”

Downing went on to explain that minutes after the Marines finished removing the barriers around the house, the owner began moving furniture into the house laying it out to his liking.

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“The owner and neighbors were very happy to have the house back,” Downing said. “Not because they didn’t want us there, but because they know that with us leaving, that means that the area is safe enough for them. This was physical, living proof that transition in the country is taking place. I’ve heard about things like this and read about this, but nothing could speak more loudly than being a part of actually giving a big piece of property back. It also shows that we trust the IP enough to run themselves without us having to always be there with them. Their ambition and their dedication make it all worth it and it’s really paying off. Seeing the results of them stepping up and taking control from what we taught them, there’s no experience like it.”