Home   :   Deployment Archive   :   Engineer Project: Ur

Engineer Project: Ur

When a National Guard unit from West Tennessee was mobilized to help support Operation Iraqi Freedom III, they realized that they would be part of history. The soldiers knew that they would have the opportunity to help shape the future of a country located in one of the most historically significant regions on earth. They also realized that they would be able to tell their children and grandchildren about how they helped rebuild Iraq and the difference they and their colleagues made. However, none of them could foresee that they would be able to help preserve history as well as re-shape it.

Alpha Company, 230TH Engineer Battalion of Milan and McKenzie, Tennessee is attached to the 891ST Engineer Combat Battalion (ECB) from Kansas for the deployment in an unrelenting demonstration of how National Guard troops work together to complete a mission or as the 891st motto states "Git R' Done". The 891ST ECB is assigned many types of missions throughout Southern Iraq, however none of the missions will be as unique as the one assigned to the Support Platoon of A/230 in late February of 2005.

The mission directive was strait forward. The goal was to construct a set of stairs at the Ziggurat of Nanna located near Tallil AFB, Iraq. When the A/230 leadership went to conduct reconnaissance at the project site they realized that they were in for a challenge. They also realized that they were about to complete one of the most memorable mission of their careers.

Soldiers and guests visiting Ur on earlier visits had to slide down a wall one at a time to descend into the tombs. To exit the depression soldiers had to hand over their weapon and be hoisted and pushed out one by one. The battalion's chaplain, Chaplain (CPT) John Callihan, has been the organizer and group leader for visits to Ur during the deployment. He recognized that the method of climbing down and up was not only dangerous for visitors but may also cause undue wear to the walls of the site over time. The mission directive to improve and protect the historical landmark was the result of Chaplain Callihan working with Diehf, the caretaker of Ur. Chaplain Callihan took the proposal to the battalion S-3, MAJ Shawn Manley, and the wheels were quickly put in motion to assign the project to A/230 and improve the landmark.

Following an initial reconnaissance of the project site, A/230 platoon leader, 1LT Randy Spellings and platoon sergeant SFC Marty Ables assigned the mission to SSG Greg Mitchell. SSG Mitchell is the obstacle section sergeant for A/230. SSG Mitchell supervised the completion of the construction with the assistance of SGT Paul Pace.

The exact location for the placement of the staircase is the entrance to the royal tomb that is located between the ziggurat and Abraham's home. The stairs consist of two sets of wooden steps that provided access into the depression without taking away from the natural atmosphere of the tomb. To reduce the risk to soldiers, measurements were taken of the site and the stairs were pre-constructed at the base camp to limit the time the soldiers were at the worksite. The completed stairs were then transported to Ur where final assembly took place. The project only took about a week to complete, but it left the soldiers of A/230 with a lifetime of great memories.

SPC William Burney, SPC James Causey standby as SPC Mancel Fincher start pre-fabrication of the stairs at the base camp.

Soldiers (At top:SPC Zachary Coker, SGT Paul Pace, SGT James Hubble and SPC Brian Stafford (sunglasses))(Bottom:SPC Mancel Fincher)from A/230 EN CO begin to emplace the stairs at the entrance to the tomb.

Soldiers from A/230 EN CO assemble the staircase in sections.

SGT Jarett Kitts stands on the completed stairs leading into the tomb.

Stairs ascending up from the tomb.

SPC Steven Pond helps a soldier out of the tomb prior to the stairs being installed.

Chaplain (CPT) John Callihan (left) watches soldiers ascend from the tomb.

Prior to the construction of the steps visitors had to climb out of the tomb. Here 1LT Henning hands his weapon to another soldier before climbing out.

Diehf, the caretaker, stands at the first level of the tomb facing the stair construction site. One can see the second descent into the tomb behind him.

SGT Steven Pond helps MAJ Shawn Manley out of the tomb during an earlier visit to Ur.

Story and photos by 2LT Sean T. Linn, S-5/PAO,
891st Engineer Battalion (C)(W)
Kansas Army National Guard
Tallil, AB, Iraq