Soldiers leave Iraqi cities for sweltering tents for June withdrawal
-
-
- ClipsFC
- added this
The U.S. military is expanding some rural bases and building others to house thousands of troops displaced by a June deadline to withdraw from Iraq's major cities.
With continual power outages pushing temperatures well above 100 degrees, that can't come soon enough for some soldiers living in sweltering tents at Camp Carver in the small town of Madain, about 15 miles southeast of the capital.
"Can't wait," said Spc. Oscar Garza, 20, of Port Lavaca, Texas, as he carted his bed frame to newly constructed plywood houses with air conditioners elsewhere on the U.S. base.
The Americans have already closed or handed over 60 urban bases since the beginning of the year, with more than 50 others tentatively scheduled to be closed or returned to Iraqi control by the end of June, said Lt. Col. Brian Maka, a military spokesman.
Many of the troops have been transferred to temporary housing on bases just outside cities. They still go into urban areas to support Iraqi security forces, but don't sleep there.
A tent city has popped up at Camp Carver, where the population has more than doubled in recent weeks with the influx of troops from Baghdad, said Lt. Col. Greg Parker, chief of staff for the 225th brigade. The military would not release exact figures, citing security.
Parker, who has been overseeing the expansion at Carver, said engineers have been building housing and fortifying the base since early May.
"This should all be completed well before the June 30 deadline," said Parker, 42, of Gonzales, La.
Spc. Zachary Kyser, 25, of Atlanta, said better housing means more effective soldiers.
"I think we will operate better on our missions once we can get into the new buildings," he said.
With continual power outages pushing temperatures well above 100 degrees, that can't come soon enough for some soldiers living in sweltering tents at Camp Carver in the small town of Madain, about 15 miles southeast of the capital.
"Can't wait," said Spc. Oscar Garza, 20, of Port Lavaca, Texas, as he carted his bed frame to newly constructed plywood houses with air conditioners elsewhere on the U.S. base.
The Americans have already closed or handed over 60 urban bases since the beginning of the year, with more than 50 others tentatively scheduled to be closed or returned to Iraqi control by the end of June, said Lt. Col. Brian Maka, a military spokesman.
Many of the troops have been transferred to temporary housing on bases just outside cities. They still go into urban areas to support Iraqi security forces, but don't sleep there.
A tent city has popped up at Camp Carver, where the population has more than doubled in recent weeks with the influx of troops from Baghdad, said Lt. Col. Greg Parker, chief of staff for the 225th brigade. The military would not release exact figures, citing security.
Parker, who has been overseeing the expansion at Carver, said engineers have been building housing and fortifying the base since early May.
"This should all be completed well before the June 30 deadline," said Parker, 42, of Gonzales, La.
Spc. Zachary Kyser, 25, of Atlanta, said better housing means more effective soldiers.
"I think we will operate better on our missions once we can get into the new buildings," he said.
-
- groups:
- Community, News and Politics, US Politics, World News, 1 more
-
- tags:
- News, News and Politics, World News, US News, 4 more
-
- recommended by:
- ClipsFC
