First Lieutenant Austin Commons, 1st Platoon leader, Co. C, 1-187th Inf. Regt. shakes hands with an SoI leader in Chalabi Village. Commons and his Soldiers, along with the SoI, helped displaced families move back to their homes after they were terrorized by extremists. (Courtesy Photo)

About four months ago, Coalition forces entered the area and set up Sons of Iraq security and Iraqi Army checkpoints. Soon after, Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), discovered residents had returned to the area.

“These families had heard from word of mouth that the area was now secure so now they are back,” said Capt. Joe Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-187th Inf. Regt.

Now, Coalition forces are bringing aid to about 150 men and boys that came to rebuild and continue securing the area. Soldiers provided shovels, wood, bricks, mortar, cement and basic living essentials such as food and water recently.

“This is just to get them a jump start and to keep the men building and productive until the Government of Iraq comes and takes over,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Sloan, 1-187th Inf. Regt. psychological operations noncommissioned officer. “The government is already working the (electrical) power issue in the area and we just wanted to jump start the building process and make it a smoother transition.”

Sheikh Jassim Mohammed Alawan al-Kalabi praised the supply delivery.

“The Iraqi government, the Americans and our families are all working together to make this place great again,” he said.

Soldiers from Company C, 1-187th Inf. Regt., promised to return soon and check what progress has been made in the area.

“We will re-evaluate the situation and make sure progress doesn’t get halted by al-Qaeda or any other terrorist unit,” said 1st Lt. Justin Commons from Macomb, Ill.