the camps were essentially open fields with few buildings, no electricity, no running water or adequate drainage. At Kandahar, unexploded ordnance and nightly rocket attacks on the base from enemy forces were common. The runways were cratered from aerial attacks and littered with destroyed aircraft, significantly degrading air operations and presenting a significant threat from unexploded ordnance. There was no waste incineration or sanitary waste-water treatment. All of these issues were corrected. Additionally, the battalion organized and conducted quarry operations near the airport providing material for rapid runway repair and road building. Occasionally, A and B companies were effectively reorganized as infantry providing perimeter security at the camps while the infantry units were on mission, one of which was Operation Anaconda 1–18 March 2002. Mines were also troublesome to the engineers’ day-to-day operations, many of which remained from the Soviet Union's previous occupation of the country. Between Bagram and Kandahar, the mine-clearing D7 bulldozers detonated 125 mines without casualty. Maj. Gen. Buford C. Blount III, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, presented 38 Soldiers with Bronze Star Medals. More than 230 Soldiers in the Battalion were awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Iraq War In April 2003, the 92nd deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. The Battalion worked from Tallil Airbase just outside An Nasiriyah to develop living and logistics sustainment facilities along the main supply route. In January 2005, the Battalion deployed to Baghdad in support of OIF 04-06 to provide general construction engineering and chemical force protection support. 92nd completed 276 construction missions, including the construction of an Iraqi tank gunnery range, a headquarters and airfield complex for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, numerous battalion and brigade headquarters SEA Huts and the repair of over 100 IED craters. From October 2006 to October 2007, the Battalion was deployed to Balad Air Base, Cp Striker, Cp Delta, and Talil Air Base, Iraq in support of OIF 06-08. During the deployment, the Black Diamonds completed over 700 combat and construction missions worth over $50 million, earning its eighth Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Battalion consisted of over 1200 Soldiers, sailors and Airmen who executed the full spectrum of engineering operations in support of Multinational Corps–Iraq. During the surge the battalion constructed the base camp facilities for the 3/3 BCT at FOB Hammer, 4/2 BCT at Camp Taji, 4 Joint Security Stations in support of the 25th Infantry Division, 3 Combat Outposts