Thursday, February 18, 2010 Italians Take Lead in Recovery in Port-au-Prince, Haiti Italy, with one- fifth of the population of the US Super Power, comes half way around the world, to just off the shores of the US, and Shows Americans how to get the job done. Cleared roads are the first step toward recovery, and then allows repair of Utilities. then permitting the mere basics of Existence. Soldiers from the Italian Task Force have teamed up withUS Paratroopers with 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, in addition to their continued work with the Center of National Equipment, to clear the streets of the city. The Italians have everything they need to do this job on their own, Rodriguez said. "These guys are outstanding," he said. "They have a good understanding of what's going on here and they'll get the job done." Italians Take the Lead in Rubble Removal
Mission on the Streets of Port-au-Prince
DVIDS ( Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System) A Digital "Stars and Stripes"on Steroids 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs; by Pfc. Kissta Feldner; Feb .17.2010 DVIDS is a state-of-the-art, 24/7
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When the road is cleared, it will become a safe route for international aid organizations to access areas of Port-au-Prince in need of assistance, as well as increase traffic flow, open the streets for vendors, and generally enhance functionality of the city. Soldiers from the Italian Task Force
have teamed up with Paratroopers with 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, in addition to their continued work with the Center
of National Equipment, to clear the streets of the city.
"[The Italians] have better assets," said Sgt. Robert Medders, an Ackerman, Miss., native and engineer with 2BSTB, while working with the Italian soldiers, Feb. 17. "Their equipment has come in handy," Medders said. Additional soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2BCT, have been securing the site, roping off streets and stopping curious locals from entering the hazardous area. In the few days they have partnered with the Italians, the troopers are impressed with their work. "They're good at what they do," said Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Rodriguez, a Camden, N.J., native and platoon leader of 2nd Plt., D Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2BCT. "They're pretty much doing it all on their own," he said. A 2nd BCT trooper stands with a group of Italian soldiers, taking a break from their work as the dust settles. They share a cigarette and swap unit patches ? a custom that has become common among soldiers while working with their foreign counterparts ? however, they exchange few words. This is not due to hard feelings or lack of interest in one another, but because neither speaks the others' language. 1st Cpl. Giuseppe Colletto, an Italian army engineer, said at times it is difficult communicating with the American soldiers due to the language barrier and lack of interpreters, but they have had no problems completing their mission. Colletto said he is used to overcoming this obstacle after working with U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but for some of the 2nd BCT Paratroopers this partnership is a completely new experience. "It's cool working with another country," said Medders. "Everyone works a bit different." The Paratroopers are showing the Italians
how to coordinate with CNE, the United Nations and local police so they
can pull their own security, without U.S. assistance. The Italians have
everything they need to do this job on their own, Rodriguez said. "These
guys are outstanding," he said. "They have a good understanding of what's
going on here and they'll get the job done."
The introduction of Italian soldiers and equipment has made the difference in the rubble removal and street clearing mission but there is still so much to be done. "We are filling the gap in support of CNE until the right elements arrive to complete this mission," Kehoe said. http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=45494
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