The SysAdmin officer dives deep as a matter of respect ...
Sent by reader Frank Gordon, an old Navy R&D hand in San Diego, and a fascinating guy:
Updated: 06:20 PM EDTU.S. Soldier Named Sheik by Iraqi Citizens
Horn Helped Arrange for Aid for Certain Villages
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, AP
QAYYARAH, Iraq (July 31) - Sheik Horn floats around the room in white robe and headdress, exchanging pleasantries with dozens of village leaders. But he's the only sheik with blonde streaks in his mustache - and the only one who attended country music star Toby Keith's recent concert in Baghdad with fellow U.S. soldiers.
Officially, he's Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn, but to residents of the 37 villages and towns that he patrols he's known as the American sheik. . .
Horn, 25, a native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., acknowledges he had little interest in the region before coming here. But a local sheik friendly to U.S. forces, Dr. Mohammed Ismail Ahmed, explained the inner workings of rural Iraqi society on one of Horn's first Humvee patrols.
Horn says he was intrigued, and started making a point of stopping by all the villages, all but one dominated by Sunni Arabs, to talk to people about their life and security problems.
Moreover, he pressed for development projects in the area: he now boasts that he helped funnel $136,000 worth of aid into the area. Part of that paid for delivery of clean water to 30 villages during the broiling summer months . . .
To Horn's commanders, his success justifies his unorthodox approach: no rockets have hit their base in the last half year.
"He has developed a great relationship with local leaders," said Lt. Col. Bradley Becker, who commands the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment. "They love him. They're not going to let anyone shoot at Sheik Horn."
He has even won occasional exemption from the military dress code - villagers provide a changing room where he can change from desert camouflage to robes upon arrival . . .
"Lawrence" doesn't have to be a Leviathan warrior. In fact he's better as a SysAdmin peacemaker.
This guy is 25 and has received no real training for what he's doing. But he's from Florida and that's probably enough in terms of cultural awareness.
This guy is why we field the best military in the world, and why it's an amazing force for good around the planet.
Full story at: http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050731132509990004&ncid=NWS00010000000001