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| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
Active Unit News
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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Posted on Fri, Feb. 20, 2004
Soldiers bid farewell to Iraq, look toward Kuwait and home
MATT MOORE
Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq - As a pair of Blackhawk helicopters circled in low to land, Army Chaplain Capt. Lance Fadeley asked blessings from above to shield dozens of soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division preparing to make a three-day drive to Kuwait and ultimately back home to Texas.
"We ask that you look down and protect these men and women as they make this drive," Fadeley said as the soldiers, ending nearly a year in Iraq, bowed their heads, some clinching their eyes tightly, silently mouthing prayers of their own.
The vanguard of the 124th Signal Battalion, the soldiers started their caravan of more than 45 Humvees, trucks and trailers to drive to Kuwait where they will eventually head back to the United States.
For most, the departure was a mix of anticipation and wariness of the insurgency and daily roadside bomb attacks along the main highway to Baghdad and beyond to the border.
"We're concerned, but not fearful," said Spc. Ronald Coleman, of Fontana, Calif., as he tied a rucksack atop his Humvee, pulling the straps tight to keep it from blowing off along the roadway. "IEDs, small arms fire, we think about."
Others were ready for the long drive, too, thinking of the safe haven in Kuwait.
"It was getting to be like Groundhog Day here," said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Jones of Greenwood, Miss., referring to the 1993 movie where the main character relives the same day over and over again. "We were counting down the days, and it all seemed the same."
The Army is taking no chances in making sure the soldiers are able to readjust once they return.
Seeking to avoid a repeat of 2002, when some soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were accused of killing their wives and girlfriends, Capt. Xuan Tran, of the 1-22nd Task Force Iron Horse, said all troops are undergoing briefings about what to expect when they return home.
"There will be many changes," the Army chaplain said. "Things will not be normal because they have been away from their families for a year."
He said the briefings, which occur weekly, are designed to tell soldiers how to communicate with their loved ones and how to seek help once they arrive home.
"Communication is the number one tool for this," he said. "To give them hope and resolve their conflict."
Copyright Associated Press 2004.
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Surprises in the slums of Samarra
02/20/04
Samarra, Iraq
"Booorrrring." Pfc. Anthony Boike spun the scarred black plastic steering wheel to the right, twisting the gritty Humvee down another alley in the slums of this city about 20 miles from Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
"This is . . . boring," the 19-year-old from Taylor, Mich., repeated. "Remember, exciting is bad," said Lt. Wendy Cook, commander of the three-truck team of Hummers doing an impression of a desert rat in a maze as they made their way through an odd collection of nearly new brick homes and crumbling mud huts.
Oddly enough, the shacks and the Iraqi version of mansions were equally likely to be festooned with satellite television receivers. "Exciting's not necessarily bad till you get back to the house," Boike wisely intoned for the lieutenant.
This was during a quick break Thursday during a patrol of the city. The old saying is to be careful what you ask for; you might get it. At 3:15 p.m., the Humvee had just completed another in what seemed to be a thousand turns, all of which left it downwind of a pungent dump.
Suddenly, the sound of AK-47 rounds filled the air. "Shots fired! Shots fired!" shouted Spc. Danny Laakmann, standing in the turret in the middle of the Hummer, manning the .249 squad assault weapon and .50-caliber machine guns. Laakmann whipped the turret around, stepping on the paraphernalia that had accumulated inside the cramped vehicle during the daylong patrol. Boike snatched his M4 rifle.
"Go find it!" Cook commanded, and the Humvee sped off. "There! Over by those . . . children!" Laakmann said.
Between a couple of the nicer homes, a crowd was gathering. Crowds are natural things at weddings. And so, in Iraq, is the firing of AK-47s to celebrate. This day of the week is known as Wedding Thursday. It wasn't action, but at least it wasn't boring. Not that these folks need any more action.
Cook, Boike and Laakmann, all part of the 401st Company of the 720 Military Police Battalion, have seen their share of it since arriving in this dirty, dusty country in May. They start their trek home to Fort Hood, Texas, where the unit is based, in about a week.
Already, 25 members of their unit have received Purple Hearts, some more than one. Thankfully, none of the three in the Humvee on Thursday has one. "It's not really a medal you want to earn," Cook said.
But that's not to say they haven't seen more than their share of blood. Boike was 18 when he came to Iraq, is 19 now, and has aged much more than a year. Part of the reason is the death of a high school friend, Holly McGeogh, a 19-year-old who was killed in action over here. He can't recall for sure how to spell her name, but he knows the date: Jan. 31, 2004. McGeogh was a soldier in the 4th Infantry Division.
Laakmann, 22, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has also seen plenty of fighting. So has Cook, 25, who first enlisted in the Army as a journalist and later went to college and ROTC to get her lieutenant's bar. They are all so young that it seems impossible that they have endured what they have endured. But they have. "It's our job," Boike said. Even on boring days.
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
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Officials Report on Troop Rotation, Problems Identifying Terrorists
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2004 – The rotation of troops into and out of Iraq is in full swing, DoD officials said today. More than 40,000 troops scheduled to deploy to Iraq have moved into theater, and 35,000 of those set to come home already have departed, said Army Brig. Gen. David Rodriguez, a Joint Staff spokesman.
The general and Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita fielded questions during a press conference. Pentagon officials said the rotation is the largest troop movement since World War II. A logistics official in Kuwait said it was like the Normandy invasion "in both directions."
More than 60 commercial ships are carrying more than 350,000 short tons of equipment to and from the theater, Rodriguez said. "More than 90 military aircraft and 20 commercial aircraft are involved daily in the transfer of personnel and equipment," he said.
At the same time, military operations in Iraq continue with no let-up.
In the past week, coalition forces conducted 10,700 patrols, 110 raids and 50 cordon- and-search operations, Rodriguez said. The operations resulted in the capture of 640 individuals.
DiRita addressed questions on the al Qaeda presence in Iraq. Some officials in Baghdad had said that seven men picked up in Baqubah were al Qaeda members. Coalition administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III said it was his understanding that they were not. DiRita noted that it is difficult to pin this down. Al Qaeda members do not carry membership cards, he explained.
Other Pentagon officials said the connections are hard to make, due to the shadowy nature of terrorist organizations. Members of one group could also be members of another. Or they could be affiliated with other groups, or they could just work with other terrorist organizations.
"Terrorists have many aliases, carry multiple sets of documents and strive to confuse the situation," said a Pentagon official. "Many organizations change their names – multiple times. It's not a cut-and-dried situation."
DiRita and Rodriguez said foreign fighters have been picked up or killed. Further, the infamous Abu Musab al-Zarqawi letter indicates al Qaeda's interest in operations in Iraq, they said. Pentagon officials said the Ansar al-Islam is a group affiliated with al Qaeda. There is definitely a terrorist presence in Iraq, officials said. "No matter what group they go by, they are still dangerous," said the official.
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Soldiers Capture Insurgents, Seize Weapons in Iraq
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2004 – News releases from Combined Joint Task Force 7 in Iraq have provided details of recent coalition successes in capturing insurgents and taking weapons out of circulation. Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, raided three locations in Samarra just after midnight Feb. 17 and captured specifically targeted individuals suspected of attacking coalition forces.
Residents near Balad asked soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, to remove weapons from their home Feb. 17. The soldiers removed and confiscated an improvised rocket tube, a rocket, three AK-47 assault rifles, one SKS automatic weapon and assorted electrical components similar to those used to make improvised explosive devices.
An off-duty Iraqi police officer stopped a patrol from 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, in the village of Wajihiyah and told the soldiers about an ammunition cache. The soldiers went to the location and found 30 rounds of 152 mm artillery shells.
In another incident, Iraqi police brought an explosive device made of four 155 mm artillery rounds to soldiers from the 4th Military Police Battalion. The police found the device partially buried at the side of the road near the village of Jabal Makhul.
Soldiers from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, were in Bayji Feb. 17 when they saw a pick-up truck drive away at a high speed. The soldiers were not able to stop the fleeing truck, but went to the house from which they saw the truck leave. They located and confiscated two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, two AK-47s, eight Beretta submachine guns, a recoilless rifle sight and numerous containers for missiles. The house was littered with military paraphernalia. One person was detained for questioning.
In Muqdadiyah, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, conducted two raids Feb. 17 looking for individuals suspected of being involved in attacks against coalition forces. One person specifically targeted was among six people they captured. Soldiers confiscated two AK-47s, three bolt-action rifles, one SKS automatic weapon, a shotgun, an antiquated machine gun and six AK-47 ammunition magazines.
Three people were seized Feb. 17 after a coalition helicopter crew saw them attack an Iraqi Civil Defense Corps headquarters near Balad with automatic weapons and flee to a nearby building. Soldiers also confiscated an AK-47, an SKS automatic weapon and a .45-caliber pistol. ......
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Here's your Kleenex warning, you're going to need it for this great tribute. It was written by an Army wife, now deployed to Germany, who is a friend of one of our C/1-10 Cav wives:
A Military Spouse... I am...
You probably didn't realize who was sitting next to you.
You rattled on about how silly this antiterrorist war is, and that it's just a political ploy.
You complained about America being the world's police.
You said you'd never let your son run off to fight, and you'd throw a fit if they just sent your husband off.
At that point, I almost turned around and told you who I am.
I am a military spouse.
Life in the military has never been easy.
It means low pay with no overtime, watching your husband go to work with a fever because the doctor didn't deem him sick enough for the day off.
It means years of rules and protocol that wear on you like a dripping faucet late at night.
Don't even get me going on the weekly inspection of our yards.
We live with Terms like "Exercise" which means 2 week shifts.
And "TDY," which means your spouse is gone for up to 180 days.
And "Remotes," which means your spouse is gone for longer than 180 days.
And finally, "PCS," which means your whole family is going on this ride.
Don't get me wrong, whining is not my intent here.
While the road we've been down in the military hasn't always been paved; it's been a good life.
My kids know you don't wait to make friends because you never know how long they'll be here.
We know how precious good friends are even when miles separate us.
We go to live in other countries where the locals despise us.
We know that value of a good, old fashioned love letter.
It wasn't always in vogue to be patriotic. Sept. 11 helped turn that tide, but flags are fading around here again.
My husband is TDY (temporary duty) right now. I'm not allowed to tell you where.
I'm 26 days into a 109-day TDY.
There have been too many times I have needed him here.
It's being a single parent although you are still married to your children's father.
It's keeping a marriage alive through letters, care packages, and 10 minute phone calls that you wait for weeks to receive
It's having to answer the question, "how many days till daddy comes home?" two hundred times.
It's waving good-bye to a figure on a ship or a plane or a bus and trying not to blink for fear you'll loose sight of them, those extra seconds so precious.
It's living a thousand miles away from any loved ones.
Forget the running of the home fort - there are kisses and hugs that should be taking place.
I lie in bed and try to recall what his breathing sounds like next to me - or hear the door open and try to envision him walking in from work.
What I would give to hear his clear voice without telephone static and worrying about how much the phone call will cost us.
It's missing birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas's. Not to mention the birth of a child, first steps, first words, lost teeth, nightmares, baseball games, school plays and a million other "daily events" that civilians take for granted.
It's living with the knowledge that any day they could be sent on a mission that will change your and your children's lives forever.
The deep fear - what if this separation becomes permanent?
Distance is a horrible thief of what is precious, because it only reminds us of how precious it is.
You kept on talking for a while.
I then realized I was picking up your tab.
You could sit there freely and give your opinion because of the military families like ours. We do not have the luxury of political opinion. We only know orders, patriotism and duty. We are paying the price for your freedom.
I've heard it said that soldiers of the past, present and future pay for the flag.
Nah, we're the THREADS it's woven with.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
(Editor's Note: Hooah!!)
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Some War Thoughts from a 4ID Father...
I'm the proud father of a 4th ID 1/68 AR soldier. I talked to my son via the internet this a.m and then recorded some thoughts in my blog that I'd like to share with you. Here is an excerpt:
How's the Weather?
"How's the weather in Iraq?" I asked my son on a messenger chat today. "The usual", he answered, "Cloudy, with a chance of gunfire!"
His humor reflects the underlying anxiety that the soldiers in Iraq experience daily. The violence of weapons resides just below the surface of conscious thought in the minds of these troops. This feeling becomes more poignant as the duty of the 4th Infantry in Iraq come to a close. Returning safely to family and country is their main focus.
In war, the threat of violence and loss of life are never far off. The pressure on individual emotions is tremendous. When my son was home on a short leave from the war, he was often startled by loud noises. He said that when a semi- truck rumbled by, he would flinch and duck. If a car back-fired, he'd look around for his helmet and flack-jacket. In traffic he was very nervous because the space between vehicles was much closer than the 100 ft. distance required in a convoy.
A war zone had become the norm, the peace- zone of home was an aberration. This reversal is a normal adaptation of soldiers to war. I'm not an expert, but I think it has to do with the psyche's survival mode. Without the increased intensity and alertness, troops in a war zone would simply be too vulnerable to the violence and destruction that daily threaten their very existence. In a war zone, this awareness, both consciously and sub-consciously enhances chances of survival.
One can only hope that after the war experience, the young men and women warriors can return to a normal state of being and mental health. Thankfully, most will, but some won't. War alters human beings."
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1-67 Armor BRAVO Co Fundraiser - 'Welcome Home' T-shirts
We are conducting a fundraiser for our redeploying Soldier's 'Welcome Home' celebration. A 1-67 BRAVO Company family member has designed a five (5) color T-shirt (back) with a M1A2 Abrams Tank, and 'Welcome Home 1-67 ARMOR.' In addition, the shirt has a two color front pocket design, "Operation Iraqi Freedom, (4ID Symbol), BRAVO Co., 1-67 Armor. We are selling the shirts for $12, with $4 per shirt for S&H (total of $16). There is an additional charge for sizes over XL. If you live in the Ft. Hood area and are able to pick up the shirts, there will not be a S&H charge. The shirts will be ordered the beginning of March and should be ready for pickup/shipment by mid-March. To order, email ppinklady@aol.com. for mailing instructions. A copy of the of the front/back graphics and an order form can be emailed. Checks should be made payable to: 1-67 Armor BRAVO FRG. Thank you for your support of our Heroes!
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
20 February 1945 - D+260
A small arms demonstration on the part of the enemy in the vicinity of Hermespand occured during the early morning. Another fire demonstration was laid down by the enemy at 0600 opposite CT 22. The enemy in CT 12's area, although badly disorganized, put up a stubborn fight and were finally cleared from the woods soutwest of Pittenbach.
The 8th Infantry improved its defensive positions along the Prum river on the left flank (north) of the Division. A very heavy concentration of artillery was received in Olzheim during the morning.
The 12th Infantry improved its defensive positions on the right (south) flank of the Division. The 2nd Battalion continued to mop up the area in the vicinity of Pronsfeld.
The 22nd Infantry establisehd ambush patrols during the hours of darkness. It maintained and improved its defenses in the central sector of the Division.
21 February 1945 - D+261
The enemy employed light patrol activity and light harassing artillery and mortar fire along the front lines.
The 4th Division remained on the defense. The three regiments continued to rehabilitate the personnel of the reserve battalions.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) My wife is serving in the 704th DSB, 4th ID in Iraq. I wanted to share a wonderful website I have found. This site is form Dr. James Dobson who runs Focus on the Family, a Christian organization that focuses on family values and issues. The particular site is focused on the trials and issues that are unique to having a loved one who serves our country. The articles are well written and very informative. I have read several of the books mentioned as resources and they have helped me to learn what it means to be a spouse and they have helped me over the past year of deployment. I strongly recommend this to anyone who has a loved on that is serving our country. http://www.family.org/topics/a0024977.cfm
2) Reading your update today brought tears of EXTREME joy to my eyes. Reading the post from the wife who is excited about going grocery shopping for her husband made me feel like THANK GOODNESS I am not the only one getting excited over things like this!! LOL I can't wait to buy all his favorite foods again. Further more just to know that I can start cooking again REAL meals, not just fast food and frozen dinners, fill my heart with JOY too!! I feel sorry for all the fast food restaurants round here in Killeen, but I guess they will have new customers coming in soon with all the 1st Cav families now starting to endure what we have been through the past 11 months. Also, is anyone else out there so excited not to have to step foot in the post office with the terribly long lines until Christmas again if we don't want to?? LOL I know I am!!!! WAHOOOOO Also I can't wait to share my tears of joy with so many strangers in the gym when our guys come home and on April 22nd when we uncase that wonderful 4th ID flag!! May God bless our troops and keep them safe for the remainder of their tour and their long journey home!
3) Bob, I never thought the day would arrive but it truly has. Our daughter-in-law called at 12:30am Thursday morning to tell us the 1/508 of the 173rd ABN BDE stationed in Vicenza, Italy was in the air and on their way to Aviano, Italy. Our son was on his way home finally. We talked with him this morning and he sounded wonderful. Took a long hot shower to wash away Iraq and was looking at big ole steaks to grill. What a miracle. God has been so faithful to His promises to bring our boy home safe and sound. He reenlisted for four more while in Iraq and three of those are at Ft. Benning, GA. USA. What a miracle. Finally to have our son, daughter-in-law and two precious grandchildren home where we can get to them FAST. Jesus is the way maker and He made a way. Thanks to you, Bob. Your updates have been a life saver.
4) Just a note along with many others I'm sure you have received since yesterday morning. The latest advon flight made it safely back to Ft. Hood. I happened to be driving to Abrams Gym and saw the cammo plane cruise in and circle once before touching down. Brought tears to my eyes and had a wonderful time taking pictures and welcoming our Golden Eagles home. With just a few guys coming back it was a very intimate setting despite being in this huge gym. Can't wait for the rest of them to make it back. 230th Finance BN "Golden Eagles"
5) We heard from our son this morning by phone. He is Washington, D.C. for medical treatment (nothing serious) and will be home in two weeks for 7 days of convalescent leave before returning to Fort Hood (1-10 CAV). He wants to use that time to get his thoughts together so we are not going to see him there. We knew he was coming, just not when. It feels so good today to know that he is out of danger! I wish all our loved ones were home and won't really breath easier until that happens. We truly are a nation blessed.
6) What a wonderful surprise to get e mails from my son In Iraq. After almost a year they have this capability finally. He's with the Fort Carson 1-8 IN. We talk in MSN Chat almost every other day...Today, what a surprise, I got pictures...He sounds excited cause he and his wife who is with the 571st Medical company are coming home soon. What sweet sweet music to my ears.....To all The family who have lost Loved ones In Iraq, my heart and prayers go out to you. May God give you comfort and understanding, they are our true and brave heroes, and they will never be forgotten. The happiness of one Family coming home is the sadness of another family being deployed and headed to War.. Aloha Ke Akua and Mahalo
7) What a wonderful afternoon...we got a call from our son (B/2-20 FA) saying he is now in Kuwait! What a relief just to know that he is out of Iraq. He will be in Kuwait for a bit longer as he will be putting 4ID equipment onto the ships but that is OK we can wait. His Dad and I will be in Texas when his plane touches down...Such a weight has been lifted. Even though our son is coming home we will continue to keep all soldiers in our thoughts and continue to do what we can to support them.
8) If anyone would like to keep up with what is happening with the 25th ID there is a special website set up by the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper. They have a couple of reporters who are traveling with the 25th ID in Iraq and report almost daily on what they are doing. Many of the articles contain numerous pictures. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dispatches
9) My friend next door's husband is in Kuwaitt.. She said there is a 3 hour wait for the phone and internet. Those coming back home and the ones heading to IRAQ are keeping them busy. My friend next door isn't in 1-10 Cav.. But is part of the 4ID.. I really dont know what part of 4ID she is in.
10) Bob, please ask your readers to say an extra special prayer for two sergeants and a 1LT of the 46th Chemical Co. /2nd Chem BN of the 13th COSCOM attached to 4th ID DivArty who were critically injured in yesterday's mortar attack at Al Taji, Iraq. They have all been medevaced to Germany and are safely away from Iraq! Everyone has been notified and prayer requests are going out galore but I think they need an extra special one since they were due home 2 days later.
11) From the wife of a WWII 4ID vet of the 22nd Infantry Regiment: I wish I could be in Fort Hood greeting our troops coming back but my prayers and love will be with them. Through your EMails I have become so attached to our 4th division. I am so grateful to you. We are so proud of our troops and just wish we could do more. Hopefully we will hear from 1-22 IN if all the seven boxes of Valentines from the
children had arrived. Their letters were really beautiful.
12) Bob, I've written you several times with updates on my friends in E/704. This note is about a wonderful tear jerking Welcome Home celebration I got to attend at 0115 on Wednesday the 18th. A group of 150 soldiers from the 11th Signal Bde here at Ft Huachuca, AZ came home from SWA. They had the 36th Army band playing at the gym and tons of refresments. There was a contingent of us from VFW Post 9972 here in Sierra Vista who went. It was a super experience. The soldiers had an MP escort with lights and sirens and were only held in formation for about 10 minutes before the CG told the COL, "Welcome Home, dismiss your troops!" At that point the bleachers emptied and the screaming and running started. It was a wonderful time and a very moving experience to see the flag uncasing ceremony. Got very little sleep that night but it was well worth the lost sleep. Thanks for the updates and I'm going to try like hell to be there when my soldiers get back to Hood.
13) Yee-haw!!!! Just made our reservations at a motel in Killeen so that we can all be there when our son (46th Chem Co out of Ft. Hood) arrives soooooooon!!! Gosh, it has been so long, but our hearts ache for those that will not be making it back to the caring arms of friends and family. I just can't imagine how that would feel. We just found out that our son is out of Iraq and in Kuwait. Lord, it can't get here soon enough. Godspeed to them all, our precious freedom fighters everywhere! One thankful family.
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Redeployment Tips:
As discussed in yesterday's update, there will be updates on redeployment added to the 4th Infantry Division web page at: http://pao.hood.army.mil/4id/
The following was added on Thursday, keep checking for new updates, including instruction about Fort Carson.
Requirements for access to Fort Hood for the Reunion
Please inform the pass clerks that you are here for the reunion, so that you will receive a pass for the duration of the reunion instead of a one-day visiting pass.
Requirements to receive a pass for access to Fort Hood:
(This is what most of our visitors will need)
1. Current insurance for the vehicle
2. State issued driver license
3. Military ID card, if applicable
4. Driver license for anyone wishing to be listed as an additional driver. Additional drivers must be present at the pass office when pass is issued.
Requirements to register a vehicle on Fort Hood and receive a DoD decal:
(This is applicable only if you are moving to Fort Hood, not just visiting)
1. Current state registration
2. Current insurance
3. State issued driver license
4. Military ID card or proof of post affiliation
Passes are issued at Clear Creek and Clarke Road (West Fort Hood) gates.
Clear Creek is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and Clarke Road is open from 0001 hours Monday to midnight on Friday.
DoD decals (only available to military personnel, not to family members just visiting) are issued at the Information Center located outside the main gate, BLDG 23023 located behind the MP Station off 761st Tank Battalion, and the Soldier Service Center located on the corner of Hood Road and Old Ironsides or Battalion. The hours of operation are from 0800 to 1800 Monday through Friday.
If you have any questions please call or email Kathryn Weakley at (254) - 285-6475.
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