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An Excerpt from Channel News Asia, Singapore on 1-2-04:
.....Meanwhile, the US 4th Infantry Division conducted a sweep Thursday for Wahhabists, a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam championed by the international al-Qaeda extremist group.
The division's 2nd Combat Brigade team arrested 10 wanted individuals in a raid "targeting Wahhabi terrorists in the area," a US military officer from Baquba told AFP on condition of anonymity.
A large cache of bomb-making materials, including 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of dynamite and 50 pounds of C-4 plastic explosives, were also seized.
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Digital Warfare System Adapted for Iraq
By JASON KEYSER
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - On mud-spattered computer screens in their Humvees, American soldiers scan digital street maps, monitor enemy positions, zoom in on individual buildings through satellite imagery and download instructions from commanders.
Back on base, senior officers watch raids unfold on large screens showing real-time footage from aerial drones and displaying maps with moving icons for ground and air forces. Their locations are tracked by global positioning satellites.
The two dozen components making up this high-tech digital warfare system are known as Army Battle Command Systems. The technologies, originally designed for battlefield combat involving tanks and helicopters, now are being adapted for hunting rebel leaders and trailing street fighters.
The technology has allowed commanders to plan complicated raids and organize battle gear and hundreds of soldiers within two hours. That speed, they say, played an important part in capturing Saddam Hussein and other fugitives.
The Army's 4th Infantry Division, headquartered in one of Saddam's palace complexes in his hometown beside the muddy Tigris River, is the only unit outfitted with the system, and it is being used in combat for the first time.
``No longer do you have guys on a map putting little stickers where things are at,'' said Capt. Lou Morales, a division training officer. ``It's digitally done. ... It allows commanders to move more rapidly, more decisively, more violently.''
In Iraq, where the battle is an intelligence-driven hunt for underground street fighters and their leadership, the system has proven effective in helping planners visualize forces' movements, Morales said.
Each military vehicle is tracked by satellite and appears as a moving blue icon on computer screens inside Humvees, tanks and other craft, and on monitors back at command headquarters.
Red icons represent known enemy positions - insurgents laying an ambush, fugitives' hideouts or the locations of known roadside bombs.
Each soldier using the touch-screen monitor can place an icon on the map and have it appear on screens throughout the system.
With that battlefield view, a commander can watch his forces surround the home of a suspect and know when they are all in place. The system also is credited with reducing the number of friendly fire incidents.
However, some ground forces complain that the vehicle consoles are too complicated to use and frequently break down under desert wear and tear. Links between pieces of the network sometimes crash and, because the system is unique, replacement parts are slow to arrive.
``They're waterproof and heat-resistant, but when you boil it down it's a computer. You're driving it in dust, sand and rain, 130-degree heat. It's going to break down,'' said Capt. Nathan Saul, communications officer for the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 22nd Regiment.
Some soldiers are not using the system because of the problems, he said.
``These guys are busy. They don't have time to troubleshoot a hard drive,'' Saul said.
Although the traditional method of gathering intelligence - using tips from Iraqi informants, seized documents and interrogations of detainees - still plays a central role, commanders say the computer system has been a crucial tool for orchestrating raids that often change course in mid-operation.
For example, if a reconnaissance team spots a suspect leaving for another location, commanders in a matter of seconds can redirect pursuing forces with an e-mail via the system's ``tactical Internet.''
``That's pretty much in the realm of incredible,'' said Lt. Col. Ted Martin, the division's chief of operations. ``This is a bunch of infantry men. Their main job is to kick a door down and throw a hand grenade in a room.
``But they're sitting there on a computer screen at night, moving through a town, getting a new order, making a turn and looking at satellite imagery.''
The system also includes eight ``Shadow'' unmanned aerial vehicles - pilotless drones that observe the homes of suspects or the locations of rebel mortar crews. The drones, the only ones being used in Iraq, carry thermal cameras that produce real-time video, even in darkness or rain.
Beside one of Saddam's ransacked palaces at the 4th Infantry Division's headquarters, leaders oversee military operations from a small fold-out mobile command center on the back of a flatbed truck.
Recently, three large screens illuminated the room with color images from a drone flying above local towns and farms. The aircraft banked west, showing a sunset over the Tigris River.
Martin said the system has given military planners so much confidence they even skip time-consuming rehearsals and contingency plans.
``It gives me the confidence I need to speed up the tempo and outmaneuver these guys,'' he said.
01/01/04 15:13 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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>From the 1-1-04 Killeen Daily Herald:
Grinding on
By Debbie Stevenson
Killeen Daily Herald
FORT HOOD — His division has become a household name since it captured America's most wanted Iraqi fugitive, but the man who holds the 4th Infantry's top noncommissioned slot is ready to move on.
"I think our soldiers are proud of what they've done, but hey, our mission continues," said Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Fuss during an interview Wednesday at his office in the division's headquarters on Fort Hood. "Our mission didn't end just because we captured Saddam Hussein.
"There are still noncompliant forces out there that don't like what we are trying to do for the people of Iraq because they have nothing to gain," Fuss said. "So we continue to hunt them down, and we continue to try to make improvements to the country."
Fuss arrived Monday in Killeen to spend a few days with his family before attending a command sergeants major conference next week at Fort Bliss.
While at Fort Hood, Fuss also will brief his counterparts in the 1st Cavalry Division, on what they can expect when they arrive in Iraq in the coming months.
"We're proud of the fact that we captured him, but we can't dwell on that," Fuss said. "It's time — we've got to continue on with what we're doing day to day."
Saddam's capture was seen as a just reward for the Fort Hood and Task Force Ironhorse troops who had a frustrating start to the mission. Sidelined from the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq because of political wrangling with Turkey, the division finally entered Iraq five days after the toppling of Saddam's statue in Baghdad to set up shop in the ousted dictator's hometown of Tikrit.
Deep in the heart of an anti-American area dubbed the Sunni Triangle, the task force saw its death toll rise to 69 in eight months, with 38 of those troops from Fort Hood.
For Fuss and Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, the 4th Infantry and task force commander, each death was a personal blow.
"I think that is one of the most painful things that the commanding general and I have to deal with," Fuss said. "This is something I have to live with the rest of my life.
"We don't always know the soldier that makes the sacrifice over there, but those soldiers are part of our team, they're our soldiers and it's a very sad thing and I think we both take it very personally," Fuss said. "We feel the pain of the families and we mourn for them."
However, the rising death toll and almost daily attacks did little to shake his troops' resolve, Fuss said.
Urged to stay focused on the mission, the troops also were given the green light to mourn.
"We tell them it's OK to cry. I've shed a few tears, I've shed quite a few tears. There's nothing wrong with that," Fuss said. "But, we've got to get back into the fight. ... We also need to make sure with the fatalities, that their death wasn't in vain."
Completing raids and rebuilding the area's shattered infrastructure, the soldiers worked hard to honor their fallen comrades, earning the respect of the Iraqis and Kurds who even showed up to a soldier's funeral to pay their respects.
"It was the most remarkable thing," Fuss said of the Fort Sill soldier's memorial service. "Half of the building was full of Kurds and Iraqi citizens."
For the most part, though, it appeared the troops would complete their post-war reconstruction mission with little fanfare.
That changed on the afternoon of Dec. 13 when a tip gleaned during an interrogation led the division's (1st) Brigade to a farmhouse south of Tikrit and the small hole in the ground that Saddam was hiding in.
Now, the trip north of Baghdad to the palace compound on the Tigris River is a favored destination for media and high-level visitors, Fuss said. The squalid farmhouse remains the No. 1 attraction.
"Everybody wants to go and see the hole." Fuss said. "Our senior civilian leadership and Army leadership they all want to go and see the hole, and we take them out there I think it's important they see where we captured him."
But with 2½ months left until they turn their area over to the 1st Infantry Division from Germany, Fuss said the division still has some unfinished business.
"We're still working on the schools there," Fuss said. "We're still getting people to clean up the cities, get the water, get it cleaned up. So we continue to work all those different issues."
There also is an emphasis on Iraq's future.
"We're working with the children," Fuss said. "I think it's important that the children understand that America is there to help them. I really think they're going to be our friends ... that will really, down the road, turn the corner and hopefully get the Iraqi people to understand that we're here for them. Their quality of life will be a lot better in a free Iraq."
Despite a laundry list of civil affairs successes to the division's credit, its command sergeant major also would like to realize one more military goal as his soldiers start their final stretch.
"There's still a couple of senior members of the former regime that we would like to capture," said Fuss, declining to identify them. "It would be nice to be able to finish our mission by capturing those two."
Fuss also took time to thank the Fort Hood area for its support.
"It's important that the people of Central Texas know how grateful we are to them," Fuss said. "I think that the community, all the communities in Central Texas, have bent over backward to support our families, to support our division and the task force. Those people have made a job a lot easier because we know someone is back here helping them.
Contact Debbie Stevenson at deborah@kdhnews.com
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As always, the Gunner Gazette, weekly newsletter of 4ID Artillery, is a great source of stories. The following came from Volume XXXI dated 31 December 2003:
Combat Operations Continue Throughout Iraq
By 1LT Keith D. Pope, HHB DIVARTY
With the capture of Black List number one, Saddam Hussein, many people in the States and throughout the world think that the end of American involvement in Iraq is near. Although huge strides have been made throughout the Iraqi theater, threats to Coalition Forces and the Iraqi people still remain, and American Forces know that their mission is not over until the government of Iraq can protect the freedom that so many Iraqis and Coalition Forces gave their lives for.
The 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery, part of Task Force Thunder in Baquabah, continues to do their part in the war on terrorism. As expected, the capture of Saddam has increased the level of intelligence from locals throughout the region. Acting on a credible tip from contacts developed throughout their deployment, Task Force Thunder conducted a raid of a suspected weapons cache in the home of a former member of the Iraqi Army. Although the target suspect was not home, the raid team was able to capture thousands of dollars in Iraqi Dinar and multiple weapons that could be used against Coalition Forces. The unit executed the raid with complete success, receiving no injuries and no damage to equipment.
As many soldiers near their ninth month of deployment in support if Operation Iraqi Freedom, the tenacity and professionalism of true warriors still engulfs them. Not only the soldiers of Task Force Thunder, but throughout the Division Artillery continue to believe in their mission here in Iraq. The daily triumphs of the Coalition Forces continue to increase, and soldiers resolve is at an ultimate high. The soldier’s of Task Force Ironhorse will complete their mission here in Iraq, and will return home to their families true heroes.
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Round II, Taji Boxing Smoker
By 1LT Keith D. Pope, HHB DIVARTY
After the extreme success of the first ever Taji Fights, Task Force Gunner will host another boxing Smoker on New Year’s Eve in the Gunner Gym. The event will mirror the first boxing smoker with AAFES continuing it’s tremendous support of the Gunner Team by donating multiple prizes throughout the contest and Kellogg, Brown and Root providing hamburgers, hotdogs, wings, and sodas for all the soldiers attending the matches.
With the word spreading throughout Task Force Ironhorse about the legendary boxing matches here on Forward Operating Base Gunner, the crowd is expected to swell to over 500 for the event and there are already thirty-six boxers that have entered their name into the hat for a chance to square off in the second Taji Fights of the deployment. Fighters are scheduled to arrive from all over the Ironhorse AOR including 16th CSG, 3-29 FA, 3-16 FA, 2-20 FA and 4-42 FA. The local Iraqi cigar connoisseur will also return to add that smokey environment to the fights with cigars ranging from the reliable Swisher Sweets to the more expensive Cubans.
As the support for these events continues to grow, Task Force Gunner consistently leads the pack on troop morale and motivation. These athletic competitions give the soldiers a chance to get away from continuous combat operations and enjoy a night of good food, good cigars, and good fights.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Heard from our soldier son last night and today. The connection was so bad that we had to get on the e-mail to say what he wanted. He sounded real good and in high spirits. Just real glad to hear from him and know he is all right. He did say he might get to come home for his birthday in Jan. for his 2 weeks... Every thing else is all good. 890th En Bn Co B out of Pascagoula, Ms........
2) Very good update. It is so important that the troops keep all of those memories some how. Wish I had done a better job in "Nam" of keeping names,pictures, and etc. It is hard to find some one after awhile. Hope they will take time and get names and addresses. I 'll tell my 2 NCO's the same thing..... PS. Short timer quote: I'm so short I will not accept a green banana (takes 2 days to ripen)
3) I heard from my boyfriend at 2:15am this morning (A Co. 2-8 In (M) 4ID). He's doing good but said it was hard adjusting to being back after his 2 week leave. Been doing a lot of night raids where he is.. picking up the bad guys....Hooah! We just keep holding on to the countdown. He laughs because since I read your updates every morning, I always can tell him exactly how many days until April 1st. When I tell him, his answer back to me is always " Hey.. but who's counting.. right?" He's finally got more access to phones and computers which is making him being back there a tad bit easier to handle (not really but it sounded good) God Bless them all and bring them home safe!
4) I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I had a very sad night, and thought I was gonna have a bad day. When I logged onto the computer and got the wonderful "You've Got mail" welcome today was special. I got my first and very meaningful email from my husband. To my surprise he just simply wanted me to know that he missed me and at mid-night he was holding my picture and thinking about me. What a wonderfull day!!!!......Yeah 46 Chemical Company.
5) Our holidays were wonderful but bittersweet. Our son who returned from Iraq to ETS (get out of the Army) last fall is doing much better (we have put the 20 pounds he lost back on), he was visibly upset. I know he feels like he shouldn't be so happy when his friends and battle buddies are still in harm's way. Of course he wanted to be there when we finally got the rat in his hole but I reminded him how he was instrumental in the capture of #4 and without his time there and his dedication to duty, things may not have worked out as they had. I know that you have a lot of parents writing to you concerned about their soldiers. I ask you to please tell them that the soldiers who have come home have NOT forgotten their battle buddies and neither have their families. I keep all the members of the military both ours and the rest of the coalition in my thoughts and prayers daily. But as always the 4th ID is closest to my heart. We will never ever forget what they have done and continue to do for us and the new FREE people of Iraq. (Editor's Note: For those who have soldiers who return before the rest of the 4ID and TF Ironhorse returns, this is not an uncommon feeling. Be aware that your recently returned soldier has real feelings of remorse and guilt about leaving his buddies in harm's way while he is safely home. I had them myself when I returned from Vietnam - it takes time to get over those feelings so just be aware and sensitive to them).
6) Bob, It's the proud 'Gramma' again... Don't know if you remember but, I'm the mother of one of our brave 4ID 1-22 boys whose wife gave birth to my 1st grandbaby seven weeks early on Christmas Day. I was visiting my daughter in law and grandbaby (who had only been out of the hospital about a day) when my son called to give us the news that he would not be getting to come home on emergency leave and to wish everyone a happy new year. Well, we put the phone up to my grandson's ear so my son could talk to him and it was so cute - his little eyes got real big and were darting around as if to say 'Okay, where is he. I can hear my daddy talking but, I can't see him.' He then got this cute smile and closed his eyes and promptly went to sleep. The funny thing was that my grandbaby had been a little restless before but after his daddy talked to him I sat and held him while he slept for 2 hrs . My daughter in law and I could not believe it! Our new year will only get better when my son and all of his buddies are home again.
7) I received a Happy New Year call from my Son HHC 1-22 in Tikrit. It was great to hear his voice I hadn't heard from him since before Thanksgiving. He's been escorting Iraqi Civilian workers around the base and working with the new Iraqi Army Troops, along with all his other duties. He said there's a language barrier but he uses hand signals and plays charades. (His words.) He's picked up a little Arabic, he knows how to say "load your weapon and put the safety on!" He sounded a little homesick which is understandable after 9 months. He may get R&R in Qatar for 4 days, I hope he gets it so he can let his guard down a little and relax for a while. We're 3/4 of the way thru! Hang in there everyone!!
8) Well, what a great New Years. I got a phone call from my son around 11:55PM EST. And let me tell you how special it was to stay on the phone and wish him a Happy New Years. While I was toasting with my husband and my younger son, his girlfriend, and my daughter I was able to be wishing him a Happy New Year. It was very emotional and it took all that I had not to cry. But he made it special to make sure he called on our New Years. He did the same with Christmas. He said "Mom I wanted to call on your Christmas not mine". He sent this very special E-mail to a lot of family and friends. It is such a reminder how my child has grown into a man. He is 20 and with the 299th EN BN. "Well the new year is about to be upon us and I look back and see that this was definitely a year to remember. It was full of both smiles and cries. I have been through so many life changing experiences, as I'm sure some of you have, too. Whether it be a good one by bringing the gift of happiness to a little Iraqi child or by watching life get taken away right in front of you. I look at this year as a good one by giving the greatest gift of all to the Iraqi people, the gift of freedom. As we all know, freedom has its costs, or, as the old cadence goes, 'freedom isn't free.'"
9) I received a New Year's call from my husband at 1 a.m. this morning. He is with F-TRP 10 CAV in Tikrit. It was a nice surprise even if he did wake me up. He just wanted to say happy new year and remind me that we only have 90 days until April 1. We both were extremely happy to reach the double digits last week. We were blessed and fortunate to have my husband home during Thanksgiving for two weeks R&R. I guess you could say we had an early Christmas present. Now, we are both looking forward to spring and celebrating all the missed holidays, birthdays, and anniversary.
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Families Sharing R&R Moments:
1) My husband is in D Troop, 1-10 Cav, and has been home with us since Dec. 14 on midtour leave. That morning as I made last minute preparations for his arrival I convinced the kids to give up Cartoon Network long enough for Mommy to catch some news and learned that the 4th ID had captured Saddam! I wept tears of joy knowing that my soldier would have an even greater reason to celebrate during his trip home. Friends accompanied our three children and me to the airport, complete with flags, patriotic balloons, and a 20 ft. long banner. Our 8 year-old son insisted on wearing his BDU's, as his DCU's were missing a jacket & he wanted to be fully decked. We were very conspicuous (ha), and the press hovered around us like vultures asking who we were waiting for and if they could ask us a few questions. Once Daddy entered the terminal the reporters were considerate enough to let us kiss and embrace...they even held off long enough for him to hold our 11 month-old son for the first time since he was 8 weeks old. They eventually nabbed us, but the pay-off was we are now part of the CBS archives and were able to e-mail the link of the story to all our loved ones who couldn't share in the reunion with us.
We enjoyed a wonderful 2 weeks together, but I do have some advice for other wives. Don't plan too much or try to accomodate many people outside of your immediate family. We spent the first week attending various dinner parties given in his honor, but by the beginning of the second week I had to put my foot down and politely decline several invitations. Instead we told people there would be one huge celebration when he returns for good, and everyone was understanding. Plus the more activities you plan, the faster the time passes. We noticed that when we allowed ourselves time to veg out, lounge around, and do a whole lot of "nothing," the days seemed to last longer.
Today (30 Dec) is my soldier's 39th birthday, and he was to report to the airport at 0300 hours. After 5 hours of waiting he got bumped to tomorrow's flight instead and will check in at 0500 hours. In addition to having him home for Christmas, we now get to celebrate his birthday with this unexpected 24 hour extension of his leave. God has truly blessed our sweet family, and we are extremely grateful.
2) My husband left this morning to go back to Iraq.....We had the most amazing 2 weeks..The best part was seeing him playing with our 2 children........He was great and was in a wonderful mood the entire time.....He slept like a baby every night ....I was a little worried about saying bye again but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it was actually easier this time .....I guess because I already know what to expect ......I am so glad we got this time togather ...and I would do it again even if it was just for one day ...Happy New Year everybody. (No Unit Given)
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