THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
Changes In Iraq Seen As Positive
By DENISE FLEISCHER
Lifestyle Editor
Through a satellite connection, 37-year-old Major David Chipchase, a Mt. Prospect native, talked to the Journal about the success of current operations in Iraq, the soldiers of his brigade, and progress made by the Iraqi Army and police forces in his area.
Major Chipchase is currently on his first deployment to Iraq, serving with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, located at FOB Warhorse, Iraq, north of Baghdad.
"I'm part of the 4th brigade that provides logistical support for 4SBCT-2ID, for 5,000 soldiers," said the John Hersey High School graduate. "We provide food, ice and water, fuel for the vehicles, which includes helicopters; ammunition for all the soldiers, including artillery, repair parts and equipment. We also employ the mechanics that repair the vehicles. We provide all the construction materials, set up checkpoints and forced protection walls. That's the mission."
Major Chipchase's battalion has logged in 14 months of a 15-month tour. He hopes to get back home after his tour and will see where the Army takes him after that. He is an active duty officer with 16 years in the military.
Right after college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Chipchase was commissioned through the ROTC, served in Berlin and Fort Carson, Colorado, taught ROTC at Illinois State University, trained reservists in Orlando, Fla., and now is serving as the battalion's executive officer.
He runs the staff and plans routes for his battalion and when supplies are delivered. Most of the time he plans and pushes paperwork. A good day for him is when he can escort supplies to all the soldiers within his battalion.
Asked about the changes he has seen in the last 14 months, Major Chipchase replied that he's seen great improvements in all of Iraq.
"When we first arrived, about 90% of the area was inaccessible by the Army because of insurgents. We now have the ability to travel in well over 90% of the area. Since I've been here, children are now going to school, the marketplace is opening up, taxi cabs are bringing people to and from work, but make no mistake, this is still a war zone and it's still dangerous."
In terms of local government, the brigade has set up a Provincial reconstruction team comprised of civilians, state department personnel and soldiers that work with the Iraqi government helping them to run and manage the city. They learned how to set up a budget, a school system, heat and water, sewage and electricity.
"It was all broken down and has to be rebuilt," said Chipchase, who also served in Bosnia in 1996. "There had to be power to the houses and sewage out of town. It's a great challenge and takes a lot of money."
He added that Iraqi residents are somewhat self-supporting with their farms, goats, chickens and cows, but food aid does come from the United States and other allies.
Chipchase thanks the American people for supporting the soldiers in Iraq. He also wishes to thank all his friends who he graduated with at Hersey and who have been sending care packages.
"Thank you Jeff Wilcox, Rich Pratt, Kyle Clausen, Dan Bartels, Tom Meyer and Jennifer Edgcomb."
The major's wife lives in Dupont, Washington, with their two dogs Henry and Fletcher. He met his wife while serving in Germany. Chipchase is a competitive cyclist and tri-athlete. He is a Chicago Bears and Cubs fan and most of all he's "just a normal guy that is proud to serve the U.S."