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| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
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Bob Babcock - "Deeds not Words"
President, Americans Remembered, Inc. - http://www.americansremembered.org
President, 22nd Inf Regt Society - http://www.22ndinfantry.org
Past President/Historian - Nat'l 4th Inf Div Assn - http://www.4thinfantry.org
babcock224@aol.com
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U.S. Soldier Dies in Iraq Grenade Attack
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - Insurgents fired a rocket propelled grenade at a Bradley fighting vehicle that was on patrol in central Iraq, killing a U.S. soldier, a military spokeswoman said Sunday.
The grenade, which was fired on Saturday in Baiji town, pierced the driver's compartment and critically wounded the soldier, said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, a spokeswoman for the 4th Infantry Division.
The soldier was evacuated to a military hospital, where he died Sunday.
A second Bradley fighting vehicle returned fire toward the area from which the grenade was launched. Soldiers later captured six men who were in the possession of a grenade launcher, Aberle said.
The death raised to 513 the number of U.S. service members who have died since the United States and its allies launched the Iraq war on March 20. Most of the deaths have occurred since President Bush declared an end to active combat May 1.
Baiji, which is north of Tikrit, is part of the Sunni Triangle where most of the fighting is taking place between U.S. troops and insurgents loyal to ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.
01/25/04 03:59 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
(Notification of next of kin has been completed. I will announce the name and unit when DoD officially announces it).
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U.S. Arrests Nearly 50 People in Iraq
By PAUL GARWOOD
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - U.S. soldiers arrested nearly 50 people and confiscated weapons in several raids in Iraq's volatile Sunni Triangle after a series of bombings that killed six U.S. soldiers.
A U.S. soldier died Sunday of wounds suffered in a grenade attack on his Bradley vehicle that was patrolling a central Iraqi town of Beiji the day before, said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, a spokeswoman for the 4th Infantry Division......
On Sunday, U.S. soldiers raided several locations in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of the capital, and captured 46 people including three men suspected of involvement in anti-coalition activities, Aberle said. The remaining 43 were detained for possessing weapons without authorization, she said.
In Mukayshifa, a town south of Tikrit, soldiers raided a house Saturday and confiscated 220 hand grenades, Aberle said.....
In other developments Sunday:
The police chief of Tathrib town was arrested following allegations of corruption. Soldiers from the 1st Squadran, 10th Cavalry Regiment searched his house Saturday and confiscated five AK-47 rifles, two other rifles and ammunition. No details of the corruption allegations were, however, known, Aberle said.......
01/25/04 05:33 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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Troops want to fill in hole where Saddam was caught
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - The hole in which U.S. soldiers found former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein hiding could be filled in to prevent it from becoming a "shrine," a U.S. military spokesman said Friday.
The U.S. 4th Infantry Division, which captured Saddam at a farm in central Iraq last month, has asked for permission to destroy the hole and the nearby mud hut that were his last refuges.
"In order to avoid making it a tourist attraction and/or a shrine, we believe the best course of action is to eliminate it," 4th Infantry Division spokesman Master Sgt. Robert Cargie said.
Cargie cautioned no decision had been made by military commanders in Baghdad or the Iraqi Governing Council. Both will have a say in the final course of action, and destroying it was just one option, Cargie said.
The spokesman declined to discuss other possibilities and the U.S. military in Baghdad had no comment.
About 600 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and special forces captured the bearded and bedraggled Saddam inside the 8-foot hole. It was large enough only for one person and equipped with just a light and fan.
Nearby was a small mud hut Saddam had also used, in which soldiers found two beds, a refrigerator containing lemonade and hot dogs and an open box of Belgian chocolates.
Cargie said the unit that guarded the hole against looters and souvenir hunters after Saddam's Dec. 13 capture turned over security this week to the U.S.-trained Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division still patrol the area.
The hole is on a farm in the village of Al Dawr beside the Tigris River, about 9 miles south of Saddam's adopted hometown and one-time power base of Tikrit, where the 4th Infantry Division is based.
01/23/04 10:01 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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Lessons Learned by TF Ironhorse Families and Friends - Need Your Input
As our soldiers start preparing to come home from Iraq, another large group are finalizing their plans to head over there to take our place. The thought has occurred to me, and to a couple of you that sent me notes, that we should preserve the lessons our families have learned and pass them on to those who are just now deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a way we can show we are great team players and help others who are just beginning the great adventure that we are coming to the end of. Also, several families of deploying soldiers have already asked me for help in what they should do to support their soldiers.
I am willing to be the collector of those lessons you have learned that will make this deployment easier on the families of the 1st Cav, III Corps, 1ID, 2ID, 10th Mountain Division, 25ID, and others.
"Lessons Learned" fall into the following categories (and others that you will think of that haven't occurred to me):
* Think about what you did that your soldier really liked.
* What mistakes did you make that maybe you could help others from repeating?
* What home front lessons did you learn that made life easier for you, your kids, other deployed soldiers' family members?
* What items were most appreciated by your soldier in the care packages you sent?
(include food items, clothing items, comfort items, electronics, other things)
* What else should we pass on to those families and friends who are just now starting this experience?
If you'll forward the lessons learned to me at babcock224@aol.com (this email address), I'll compile them into a single document and we'll insure that all the key FRG leaders and rear detachment leaders of the deploying units get it to pass out to their families. In the subject line - please put "Lessons Learned" so I can keep those separate from all the other mail I get.
Also, include your unit in the note. I will insure that we list the units that contributed to these lessons learned - and will make sure the TF Ironhorse/4ID patch is prominently displayed on the final document so that whoever reads it will know that you fine people are the team players who are sharing your experiences to make their lives easier.
I will also include the document in the CD that will come out covering the updates for the last half of the tour. That way you will have it for your own use when/if you go through another deployment.
Please get your input to me no later than February 10, 2004.
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Welcome Home Troops!
The 21st Combat Support Hospital from Ft. Hood, Texas, is looking for soldiers that were treated at our hospital during Operation Iraqi Freedom (in either Balad or Mosul, Iraq) who are willing to participate in the unit’s homecoming ceremonies. There will be three ceremonies at Ft. Hood, Texas for returning personnel between January 31st and March 15th, 2004.
If you are interested, please contact: 1LT Rebecca Windau at 254-287-0381 or CPT Janell Pulido at 254-616-6465, email janell.fernandez@us.army.mil
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Remember Our Wounded
We need to all keep in mind that when soldiers are wounded, many of them have a long recovery period, and often life altering injuries. The following came from the mother of our 588th Engineer soldier who was wounded last Wednesday night in Baqubah:
Bob, I just wanted to pass along a quick word. You may share this information if you would like to, it will be okay with me.
First, let me tell you I am praying for the two soldiers in the 588th that lost their lives the other day. They happen to be my son's buddies. The other one seriously injured happened to be my son.
As of right now, he has been flown to Germany and will be transferred to the States sometime on Monday.
Bob, He has lost his right leg! Yes, I know this is something to be thankful for as the other two lost their lives? He also has some shrapnel in his left leg and the doctors will remove the shrapnel and his left leg should be okay. He had a strong voice and was upbeat.
He said he loves his buddy Reed, as he saved his life. He said he had enough gumption(my word) to put his hand up in his bloody nasty leg to hold the artery shut until the medics got to him. He is very thankful to the colonel of his unit as the colonel has sent his buddy (Sgt) to escort him back to the States. This has impressed me as now I know my son is not alone while being transferred until we can get to him. I will try to keep you up to date. When I know more I will let you know.
For now just pass along my gratitude to the soldiers and let the other families know our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of sorrow. Proud Army Mom.
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>From Killeen Daily Herald 1-25-04:
Training for the big event
By Melanie Thomas
Killeen Daily Herald
FORT HOOD — Family members of deployed 4th Infantry Division soldiers were busy preparing for the return of their loved ones Saturday.
The 4th ID Family Redeployment Day, which took place on the campuses of Meadows Elementary School, Bennett Health Clinic and the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters, consisted of classes and activities provided by various Fort Hood agencies to help prepare and support families for the big event.
The 50-minute classes were on such topics as nutrition and stress management, recognizing combat stress and what to expect when the soldiers come home.
In one hallway of Meadows Elementary School, several children and spouses were busy creating "Welcome Home" banners for the returning soldiers.
Reginald Cox II, 7, of Fort Hood, drew and then colored the words "Welcome Home Dad" while his brother, 5-year-old Jarred Cox, and his sister, Haley Cox, 3, colored their contributions to the banner.
The banner is for their father, Cpl. Reginald Cox, who is with the 204th Forward Support Battalion in Iraq.
Mother, Tamara Cox, 29, of Fort Hood, said that creating the banner gave them something to do as they look forward to their dad coming home.
"I guess it makes it a reality to them," Tamara said.
Friend Makala Milner, 7, of Killeen, was also helping with the banner. Milner's father is Staff Sgt. Mark Thomas, also with the 204th FSB.
In a class on conflict and anger management, the spouses were made aware of different situations they could face when their loved ones come home and how to effectively express their anger.
Martin J. Bonner, with Army Community Services and the Family Advocacy Program, informed the attendees of numbers to call and workshops to attend to help couples cope with these situations.
"I learned a lot," said Jody Beckford, 47, of Fort Hood, whose husband is with Headquarters Service Battery/2-20 Field Artillery.
"This is a pretty good thing as far as the guys coming back," Beckford said of the anger management class.
"There are a lot of things to learn, and anger is going to have a role in this. This class pretty much explained what to expect," she said.
Beckford said she also attended the combat stress class, which she said explained things that most people wouldn't think of.
Killeen resident Dana Best, 23, attended the class on physical therapy, which explained tips on weight management and exercise, as well as class called "Ready Reunion," which informed spouses to have realistic expectations when the soldiers return.
"Basically, it's just preparation for when they return, some tips on time-tested realistic problems," said Best, whose husband, Lt. Robert Best is with the 704 Division Support Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division.
"It was very good information on a Saturday, very family-oriented," she said, adding that there were good tips for children at the event.
With all the preparation she received Saturday, Dana said she just wants her husband to come home.
"All of them need to come home soon," she said.
Contact Melanie Thomas at mthomas@kdhnews.com
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Luxembourg:
25 January 1945 - D+234
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 8th Infantry Regiment remained on regimental outpost line while the 1st Battalion remained in reserve in the vicinity of Bettendorf.
The 12th Infantry continued to readjust positions facing the Our river. Enemy activity consisted of skirmishes with our patrols during the hours of darkness.
The 22nd Infantry Regiment maintained the defense of its sector while its 2nd Battalion remained in reserve in the vicinity of Haller. During the hours of darkness, the enemy harassed our front line positions with long range machine gun fire and light artillery fire.
26 January 1945 - D+235
Small enemy patrols attempting to probe our lines were dispersed by artillery and small arms fire. There was no energetic attempt on the part of the enemy to regain lost ground.
Preparations were begun for movement of the entire division to assembly areas in the vicinity of Trois Vierges.
The relief of the 8th Infantry Regiment by the 319th Infantry of the 80th Infantry Division was initiated at 1800. The relief of the 3rd Battalion was completed at 2200 and of the 2nd Battalion at 2240. Upon completion, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions moved to assembly areas in the vicinity of Bettendorf and Moestroff respectively while the 1st Battalion closed within its assembly area in the vicinity of Medernach.
At 1845, the relief of the 12th Infantry Regiment by elements of the 2nd Infantry Regiment (5th Infantry Division) and elements of the 319th Infantry Regiment (80th Infantry Division) was initiated. Upon completion, the 1st and 2nd Battalions moved to assembly areas in the vicinity of Ernsdorf and Stegen respectively. Meanwhile the 3rd Battalion closed within its assembly area in the vicinity of Gilsdorf.
The 22nd Infantry maintained the defense and preparations were begun for relief.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Time is getting short for our loved ones but I want to remind everyone to continue to pray for the safe return of all the troops. We so often let our guard down when time gets closer. Your updates are a true reflection of this, just a few months ago you had so many messages you could not include them all and now you do not hear from us as much. I know part of this is because we are not hearing from our soldiers the way we were. We must not become discouraged and we have to accept the fact they are very busy. I do not know what the soldiers are doing right now but I feel sure they are not only on missions but must be training on re-deployment. A reminder to everyone, continue to write to your soldier, he is not home yet and mail is still very important. So many times we have said people that are not directly involved and do not have a loved one in Iraq do not realize we are still in war, let us not be guilty of the same thing. We must continue to support and pray for the troops until the very last one is home. Each day we wait to hear when the re-deployment date of our soldiers will be but we must also remember the dates can vary by circumstances, once again pray for a safe return. (Editor's Note: I totally agree with this. Even though sending packages probably needs to slow down, sending letters should continue up until the very end of the deployment. The time and 37 cent stamp it takes to send a letter is well worth it if your soldier continues to hear from you through the final mail call in Iraq. I know I enjoyed mail as much, or more, at the end of my Vietnam tour as I did at the beginning of the tour. It's no big loss if your soldier gets home and the last letters are returned to you or get lost in the mail system).
2) The following is an e-mail I received from my soldier who is at FOB Warhorse in Baqubah (E/204 FSB), the one that was hit with mortars the other night. Throughout the past 9 months, E/204th FSB has received almost all of the casualties that occur in the area. The news always reports that injuries/casualties were sent to the nearest CSH, but my soldier and the rest of the company are always the ones that treat/stabalize/see the injured soldiers first at their aid station before evacuating them to the CSH (if at all). My soldier can go down the list of KIA from the Baqubah area and say, "We saw him," to almost every one of them. His email message: "All,
Internet has been down for the last few days due to bad weather and a multitude of other reasons. Don't have much time, so I just wanted to let you all know that I am okay and so are my men and women. It was a terrible night, but we all did what we were trained to do. I did see one report on CNN and I have no idea where they got the pictures from because they were not even related to this base or what happened and they only told half the truth when they reported the story..... I was one of the first guys on the scene and helped in treating/evacing one of the guys to my aid station. I ended up with blood all over me, something that I am unfortunately getting used to. I thought we were over the hump, but I guess not..... I thought the beginning of Saving Private Ryan was pretty close to showing real combat, but now I think it is only moderately close. I guess it is as close as you can get it on film without really experiencing it, but they need to add all of the senses, the smells and the sounds are totally different. That and you don't get the adrenilin rush watching film....I swear I could have lifted that kid all by myself, but I knew if I did I would have caused him more pain than he was already in...... Bottom line though is that physically I'm okay, but emotionally....I am just plumb wore out. Definitely ready to get the (@$& out of this hole. Love and miss you all, PS - I'll write more when the internet lines thin out. Want to give everyone the chance to write home first."
3) Just wanted say how touched I was reading the note from the "Big sister" Thursday as well as the one from the Mom sending her "last box" to her son. I too sent my last box to my son (B-co. 2-8) yesterday. He actually started his basic on 9/11 and my mind shot immediately to the future. I knew he would eventually end up somewhere fighting to protect our freedom. There are not words to express how very proud I am of my son and all of our military for the sacrifices they have made and will continue to make to preserve our freedom. He has two big sisters also that are beside themselves with joy and anticipation; the people I work with continually ask about my son and were just as excited as I was when he told me that he would be heading out sometime in mid-March. I am so grateful to you for the tireless work you have done to keep me and the 4th ID. family informed of the important news. Having been a Vietnam veterans wife and now a Iraqi Freedom fighter Mom, I cry every time I hear the National anthem or any patriotic song, an American flag or a yellow ribbon, or soldier in an airport and I do not feel embarrassed any more. When I told my postal worker that the box would be the last one to my son, he cried!!
4) We heard from our soldier this morning. 101st ready to leave!!! He spent his 21st birthday in Iraq. A whole year no R&R, a kid - now adult, that rarely left home to go far. We have missed him dearly and look forward to getting to see him and bringing his now 2 yr old son to meet daddy again. Thank you so much for your updates, they often were a blessing when word was far and few between. I found a good friend through all of this in our small town and she gave me your email address for updates. I guess we can drop off your list soon but we will still listen in and hope and hurt with your readers and wait for their sons to come home in April. ... May God bless each of you who share this circle of friends. 101st Airborne mom - waiting on the plane!
(Hooah! Let us know when he gets safely home. He's even shorter than our troops are - he's on the plane flying across the ocean...).
5) This next week (Feb 2) is the beginning of a milestone for some TF Ironhorse families.....365 days of deployment. We are the the supercargo families, whose soldiers were tasked to accompany the equipment on it's 55 day odyssey at sea while awaiting the Turkish government's approval to open the northern front. These soldiers will be spending 13-14 months away from home. While the rest of the division was able to spend the additional wait time with their families, we were already dealing with the separation anxiety and stress of not knowing what each new day held. My family will mark the 365 day milestone on February 6 with a trip to our favorite restaurant and a prayer of thanksgiving that we not only survived, but thrived during Operation Iraqi Freedom and that regardless of when, our soldier will be returning home. As a FRG leader, one of the most difficult things I will have to do is be on hand to welcome home the soldier's of my husband's unit, even before he himself will be able to return. A special thank you to the families of my husband's "shipmates" on the MV Cape Texas (both military and civilian) for your continued support throughout this Iraqi Adventure.
6) Frontier Airlines is a really inexpensive airlines. I fly them all the time roundtrip from Austin to Seatac, WA, and usually pay around $280/ticket. Comparitively, that's really cheap. Their change fee is $100, plus the difference in airfare (which I've never paid because as long as you change your ticket at least two or three days in advance, there usually isn't any fare difference). But, if you call their corporate office and talk to one of the people there and explain your situation (the lady I dealt with on a similar basis was named Kim, I believe), I'm sure they will work with you. I missed my plane at Christmas because of a flat tire, and they got me on another flight two days later, no charge, plus put me in the Hawthorne at a discounted rate ($40/night). Plus they fly directly into Austin, which is closer to Fort Hood than Dallas by about 2 hours.
7) Email from an A/1-8 IN soldier to his parents: Hello, well all is not good here in Balad. All sucks here in Balad. We aren't quite as busy here anymore so time goes by ssllllooooooooowwwwwwww. Also, in Samarra they had an outstanding gym, here not so great. In Samarra, we were getting breakfast and dinner meals at a "chow hall". Here we get delivered one below par meal if we're lucky. The internet was a lot closer there, too. But I don't really care, I just wanna get outta here. It's not bad here, this is where we lived for like 6 months, we were just getting spoiled there in Samarra. Anyways, I think I'll probably try to keep in touch with a couple of these guys. Hope everything is going good at home. Can't wait to see you all.
8) I am taking orders for the Hero Shirts one last time. The three sayings are "My Son, My Hero", "My Soldier, My Hero", and "My Dad, My Hero". The t-shirts and sweatshirts are black with the design on the front. If you are interested and would like an order form, prices, and to see pictures, please email me at Heroshirts@hotmail.com. I think since now that our Hero's are almost in our arms the family members are wanting to make sure they show their Soldier their pride! :) It's also another opportunity to raise some money for our FRG, A/1-4 Avn. With the money that I donated from the last round, our FRG will be putting the money towards preparing the barracks for about 100 single soldiers!
9) I am not a military wife, but I'd like to say that I'm finally beginning to understand the ropes. I met my boyfriend who is with 4th I.D. out of Ft. Carson when we were still young and in highschool. Together we've been through his basic training, a deployment to Kuwait and now his year long deployment in Iraq to "preserve our country's way of life" (his perfect choice of words). I've yet to move around from base to base with him, but not only does his closet contain a lot of camouflage so does mine. I know many abbreviations and I've been through the same heartache that everyone of his family members go through. I'm 18 now and I'm waiting for him to return so we can begin our life together. To end this I wanted to share a few words of his own in a card that I received. I'm sure many wives and girlfriends will feel the same way. "I believe that fate had it all planned out from the start. It just had to throw a few bumps and turns in the road to make us realize that what we have is meant to be and is a force stronger than anything imaginable." Those words were written by him in relation to being part of the military, which makes boys into men.
10) Thank you many times over for adding some wonderful items lately that can be of use when our single solider returns from deployment. He is with the 3rd BCT out of Ft. Carson Co. We have had some really positive e-mails from him and I was lucky to have been home the other day to receive a long phone call. The piece of advice you gave from your personal experience was priceless. I have heard him lately talk of many things and stuff he wants to do with his $$ - car and etc. when he returns. Now some is, of course, needed. But most of it, as he even admits, comes from lots of time to think. I know there will be many adjustments when he returns. And we live very far from his base. There is no wife to help "hint" on how he might want to rethink a hasty decision...at least say "honey" we really can't afford that right now. So thanks again for sharing. I will pass the advice on to him.
11) I am a medic that has recently returned from Iraq. I was stationed at the operation base in Baqubah, and I knew PFC Parker. As I read that he had been killed, it broke my heart. While I was there, I saw many terrible things and death came with my job. Every time someone died, I felt numb. I prayed for them, but mainly I prayed for their family and friends left behind. PFC Parker would come in from time to time just to say hi, and sometimes he needed to be seen for some small something. No matter what the reason though, he always brightened my day. I can't explain it, but it's as if he had this special light about him. He was always smiling and somehow managed to make me feel better. I just want to let his family know how terribly sorry I am for their loss.
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Families Sharing R&R Stories
1) My son from A TRP 1-10 CAV started his R & R. on January 1, 2004. What a blessing to start the New Year. He surprised us all with his R & R. My daughter-in-law was already in New Orleans to visit family for the Holidays. We were grateful our son was able to spend five days with family. We were able to watch the LSU Tigers win the National Championship in the Sugar Bowl on television. My son missed all levels of football including high school, college and the pro games. He was also able to enjoy our Louisiana seafood, which he missed so much. My son and his wife did have to fly home to Ft. Hood. He was able to enjoy his new home on base and spend some time in Ft. Hood. My prayers were answered that my son got to enjoy all the things of everyday life that so many of us take for granted in the U.S.A. He did have to leave on 1/16/04 to return to Iraq, I'm sure the good byes were hard, but we all know the time apart will be for a much shorter time. GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS AND THE U.S.A. !!
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