Agriculture flourishes near Balad along with the good relations between American soldiers and local governmental leaders; known here as sheiks.
(BALAD, Iraq) - Iraq may invoke images of desert terrain and that is the case in certain areas, but around Balad, agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy.
Sgt Jonathan Fondow with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne, says it is very good land, "Compared to if you go north or south of here, this is probably the best farming area that I have seen."
On this day, members of the 101st Airborne visited a local sheik who oversees the area's produce stores that sell these ag products that in turn feed many of the local people here. The relations are good according to SSgt Peter Bjorklund, a resident of Washington state, an area also known for local agriculture.
SSgt Peter Bjorklund who heads this platoon, says the interaction between sheiks and soldiers is often a pleasant and successful experience.
"Definitely, we build rapport with them and get to know them, the whole entire family, that's a good feeling."
During this visit, Bjorklund inquired as to the whereabouts of a man from this village who frequently shares information with these soldiers.
Through the platoon's interpreter, the Sheik explained, "I saw him yesterday with you guys and I saw them today, he went to (deal with) some tribe problem, he's not here."
Iraqi farm equipment waits for the next job
Iraq may be at war, but the people who live here are friendly and cooperative with these soldiers. There may not be much in the way of choice when it comes to this, but they often go above and beyond the call to accommodate these Americans, according to Bjorklund.
"Every time we come out here we expect a quick meet and greet, they usually expect us to come in and have chai, they cook us lunch or dinner; the hospitality is pretty amazing."
The crops vary in nature, but are largely reminiscent of California's farmlands.
Fondow explained, "We have grapes, date palms, we also have a lot of wheat, but the primary sources are between the grapes, oranges, fruit and things like that."
Man-made canals move water throughout the local farmland and keep the products growing at a hearty rate. These canals are sometimes a hazard for military vehicles that from time to time, overturn and become submerged in these waterways. But then Iraq has plenty of hazards, as one local boy found out when he injured his leg during a fall.
The team's medic took the time to treat this lad, another example of the good relations that take place between Iraqi nationals and military forces near Balad.
The next step in this patrol was a check of the local stores that sell the agricultural products. It is all part of maintaining security in this area.
The Iraqi's that the soldiers worked with on this day, allowed access to their buildings and supplies. The sheik complied with the requests place before him and the patrol ended with a successful inventory of the local merchants, many of whom are funded by U.S. business startup money.
The soldiers say the security allows most of these Iraqi's to live in peace and keep food on the table.
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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.
Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.
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