(Soldiers from the Alabama Army National Guard's 877th Engineer Battalion
(Combat Heavy), attached to the 101st Airborne Division, remove scrap metal and other trash from
the primary entrance to Logistics Support Area Diamondback in Mosul, Iraq, in preparation for a
paving project to improve efficiency at the gate. Army photo by Capt. Danny Curtis
(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-
resolution image available. |
Before the project started, traffic congestion outside the gate put soldiers in danger of attack.
Traffic jams also formed inside the gate, forcing soldiers to wait for long periods before their
convoys were able to exit. Dust was a major problem as well, causing visibility problems during
heavy traffic.
Members of the 877th were given the mission of improving the south entrance at LSA Diamondback to
provide a more efficient and safe area for U.S. troops.
"The project was designed to increase the security of everyone entering and exiting the gate, as
well as helping to restore the day-to-day lives of the local people of Iraq," said Capt. Wendell
Miles of Adamsville, Ala., commander of Headquarters and Support Company, 877th Engineer
Battalion.
The first phase of the project was to ensure proper planning was done before the start of the
mission. During this step, all parts of the mission were analyzed to determine the order in
which the project would continue.
The second phase was cleanup, because large amounts of rubble and debris were a major part of the
congestion problem. The 877th removed unused buildings, abandoned equipment -- including a large
civilian heavy equipment transport trailer -- and several hundred cubic meters of rubble and
debris outside the entrance that apparently had accumulated over numerous years.
The battalion's new hydraulic excavators, or HYEXs, proved extremely valuable for the cleanup
phase.
"This mission would have taken a lot longer, and we would not have done as good a job without the
HYEXs," said Sgt. Brent Gunter.
Phase 3 consisted of preparing the sub-base for the upcoming asphalt. This phase included
soldiers and equipment from all parts of the 877th Engineer Battalion, with overall guidance by
the headquarters and support company. A layer of soil was removed so crushed rock could be put
back in its place. This task was accomplished using graders and loaders, as well as 20- and 5-ton
dump trucks. Once the top layer of soil was replaced with gravel, it was tilled, graded, and
compacted to form a stable layer on which asphalt could be placed.
The final phase was the paving of the newly upgraded entrance and the street immediately outside.
For this part of the operation, 877th personnel shifted to a quality assurance and quality
control role while working with a local Iraqi asphalt contractor. For many of the soldiers
involved, working with the Iraqis was the most rewarding part of the mission.
"I really enjoyed working with the local Iraqi people, and was very interested in the different
techniques they used to complete certain tasks," said Staff Sgt. Danny Atkinson of Guin, Ala.,
the project noncommissioned officer in charge. This phase of the mission went well, but slower
than initially expected due to erratic availability of asphalt supplies.
"We have had much trouble at times getting the tar needed to make the asphalt for paving," said
Zied Al-Othman, the local Iraqi asphalt contractor. However, after a delay of only a few days, he
was able to get the needed materials and continue with the paving project.
The effect of the mission on the South Gate entrance at LSA Diamondback was substantial.
1st Lt. Eric Harbin from Parrish, Ala., executive officer for the battalion's headquarters and
support company, said the completed project allows military vehicles to enter the gate more
quickly and makes nonmilitary vehicle inspections easier. Harbin also said he thinks the project
"minimized the military impact on the local commuting traffic of the people of Mosul."
(Army National Guard Capt. Danny Curtis, assigned to Headquarters and Support Company, 877th
Engineer Battalion, served as project officer for the South Gate project.)
 | Soldiers from the Alabama Army National Guard's 877th Engineer Battalion (Combat
Heavy), attached to the 101st Airborne Division, worked long hours to improve the security and
access to Logistics Support Area Diamondback, which houses the 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault) Division Rear in Mosul, Iraq. Army photo by Capt. Danny Curtis
|
 | High resolution photo.
|
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