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Zaytun Battalion Winning Hearts, Minds

Posted March. 13, 2006 08:06,   

한국어

A C-130 transport plane carrying troops from Korea’s Zaytun Battalion and journalists bound for Irbil, Iraq began experiencing flight trouble about one hour and 40 minutes after takeoff from Kuwait on Friday. After a 10-minute sustained nose drive, a zoom climb, and hard turns, the faces of those aboard turned deadly pale.

Bulky, slow transport aircraft are prime targets for enemy ground-to-air missiles. In early January, a number of British and American transport airplanes were shot down or forced down by rockets launched by Iraqi insurgents.

The pilot flying the transport Friday was executing a tactical evasive maneuver.

Armored fighting vehicles and troops were on duty at the entrances to the Zaytun Battalion’s base of operations in Irbil after we landed. The scene was a reminder that we were in a war zone. But by nightfall, the base looked serene.

On Saturday morning, a Zaytun Battalion detail was dispatched to a small village on the outskirts of Irbil to finish construction of a sanitation facility and repair work on a school. To commemorate the completion of the projects, the troops had a party with local Iraqi residents. About 300 residents applauded as the detail executed a skillful honor guard performance in the school playground. In a classroom, children were learning Korean children’s songs and dances while holding hands with Korean troops as other residents smiled and ate Chinese pancakes and cotton candy.

“Unlike some other multinational troops, South Korean troops respect Iraqi residents. They are warmly received wherever they go,” said 26-year-old translator Sanan Aziz.

The popularity of Zaytun Battalion troops is evident in downtown Irbil. Whenever vehicles carrying Korean troops pass, Iraqis smile and wave their hands, and children follow the vehicles.

The Zaytun battalion has spent 19 months in the area carrying out various reconstruction community improvement projects, and they have been recognized by the local residents and the leadership of the local Kurdish Regional Government for their efforts.

Maj. Gen. Jeong Seung-jo, Zaytun Battalion commander, said, “Irbil has suffered no terror incidents since last June. That shows how successful our civil operation here has been.” An American officer said, “U.S. high-ranking officials are reviewing plans to implement non-combatant operations similar to the Zaytun Battalion’s across Iraq.”

The success of the battalion’s efforts has come from hard work by 3,200 Korean troops. Park Cheol-hong, a private who joined the unit as part of its fourth shift of soldiers a week ago, said, “I heard that this place is infamous for intense heat of more than 50 degrees in midsummer and severe sandstorms. Nonetheless, I will do my best as I chose this path on my own.”

Since last May, there have been no attacks on the post. But the Zaytun is ready for action regardless. A mobile response team equipped with armored fighting vehicles is on alert status every day to respond to enemy action.

Meanwhile, the C-130 transport airplane that arrived on March 12 reached a milestone 1,000 sorties. The Dayman air transport, made up of 175 soldiers and four C-130 transport airplanes, that is deployed in support of the Zaytun Battalion, has transported about 22,000 soldiers without incident in the 17 months since they were dispatched.



Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com