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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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DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, 45, of Wagram, N.C., died Feb. 20 in Ad Dujayl, Iraq, when he was struck by a recovery vehicle while he was assisting a disabled vehicle. Bacon was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 4th Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
The incident is under investigation.
(Let us keep the family and fellow soldiers of SFC Bacon in our prayers).
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U.S. Task Force Troops Assist Iraqis Following Bomb Attack
By American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2004 — Task Force Ironhorse soldiers arrived on the scene today at a police station in Kirkuk, Iraq, to provide security and medical assistance following a car bomb attack there, according to a Combined Joint Task Force 7 release.
The attack took place at the Rahimawah police station shortly after 8 a.m. local time. Iraqi police engaged a white four- door sedan as it sped through an entrance gate at the police station.
The vehicle, carrying an improvised explosive device, detonated inside the courtyard of the police station. The explosion killed eight Iraqi national police officers and wounded at least 33 others along with two children.
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U.S. Detains Alleged Terrorist Financier
By MATT MOORE
Associated Press Writer
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP)--A former Baath Party security chief suspected of financing anti-U.S. activities and working with top fugitive Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri was detained by U.S. soldiers, the military reported Tuesday.
Khatan al-Anber was apprehended late Monday night during a raid by 4th Infantry Division forces in Baqouba, Maj. Josslyn Aberle said. Al-Anber, the former security chief of Diyala province, is suspected of financing a terrorist cell in the city. Aberle said al-Anber had been providing logistics for al-Douri, the highest ranking figure still at large from the U.S. list of wanted people in the former regime of Saddam Hussein. Al-Douri, the former vice chairman of the ruling Revolutionary Command Council and a member of Saddam's innermost circle, is No. 6 on the U.S. most-wanted list.
The Fedayeen militia that al-Anber was suspected of financing served as Saddam's private army and was one of the groups believed to be behind the ongoing insurgency against the U.S.-led occupation authority. The team also detained seven other Iraqis, including one believed responsible for a roadside bomb that killed Army Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, 19, of Lena, Wis., on Feb. 16 as she rode in a convoy.
Elsewhere, soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment south of Balad stopped a truck carrying 200 155mm artillery shells after it was tailed by a pair of Kiowa helicopters.
In Beiji, solders with the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, arrested two members of the Iraqi police force there after discovering 10 RPG rounds. The soldiers staged the hasty raid after seeing 12 Iraqis flee into the police station.
AP-NY-02-24-04 0808EST
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press.
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Troops from Fort Carson coming home from Iraq
By Rocky Mountain News
February 24, 2004
COLORADO SPRINGS - Nearly 1,200 troops from Fort Carson will come home this week after nearly a year in Iraq. In addition, a Colorado Army National Guard military police company sent to Iraq will arrive in Colorado Springs on Wednesday.
Planeloads of soldiers will start landing in Colorado Springs this afternoon and continue through early next week.
"The pace is really going to start picking up," Lt. Col. Thomas Budzyna said.
The first group of about 75 soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team is expected to land early this afternoon. The brigade, a part of the 4th Infantry Division, sent about 4,500 soldiers to the war.
Fort Carson's other big combat unit, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment - with about 5,300 soldiers - and a number of smaller support units are expected back by the end of May, Budzyna said.
About 1,200 Fort Carson soldiers who deployed to Iraq later last year will remain there.
About 185 soldiers arrived home Feb. 13 to prepare for the paperwork and processing of the arriving troops.
Fort Carson has lost 41 soldiers in Iraq since the units deployed in April. The Army hasn't disclosed the number of Fort Carson wounded.
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Army Shipping Less Gear Over to Iraq
By JIM KRANE
Associated Press Writer
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (AP)--The slimming down of the U.S.-led occupation in neighboring Iraq can be seen in this city's main port, where the four Army divisions being shifted out of Iraq are sending home far more heavy weapons and gear than the replacement troops are bringing in.
The Army's 4th Infantry Division, which currently occupies a swath of Iraq north of Baghdad, will require 19 of the Navy's massive ``roll-on, roll-off'' or Ro-Ro ships to carry away its vast collection of tanks, armored vehicles and heavy bridging equipment, Army Maj. Faris Williams, the Army's operations officer at the port of al-Shuaiba, said Monday.
The Army's 1st Armored Division, which has just begun pulling out of Baghdad, will need as many as 20 ships, Williams said.
By contrast, the Army's 1st Infantry Division, which will replace the Tikrit-based 4th Infantry in the coming weeks, is arriving in Kuwait on just five Ro-Ro ships, Williams said. All three divisions' home bases are in Germany (mistake, 4ID is based in Fort Hood and Fort Carson).
Before the war, the 4th Infantry's mountains of gear required 39 smaller vessels to transport--first to the Turkish coast, then, after being refused permission to land--to al-Shuaiba, Williams said.
"They brought absolutely everything with them,'' Williams said. The enormous multi-role bridging units needed for the war were a particular space-grabber. "With all the bridging stuff they brought we could have bridged our way back to the States,'' Williams joked.
Military officials have said the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq will take on a less-intrusive hue when the massive rotation of U.S. troops now underway sends 110,000 fresh troops into neighboring Iraq to replace the 130,000 being sent home. Instead of patrolling Iraq in Bradley armored vehicles and 70-ton Abrams tanks -- brought in for the land invasion in March -- incoming soldiers and Marines will rely more on armored Humvees and other lighter, more maneuverable vehicles.
Hence the need for fewer trips by Navy ships like the hulking gray U.S.N.S. Pomeroy, which was being loaded Monday with Humvees from the Army's V Corps, which is in the process of returning to Germany.
The troop rotation also signals the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2, when most U.S. troops will be shifted from the current tight-knit occupation that uses dozens of bases inside Baghdad and other cities, to large camps lying on the outskirts of Iraqi cities. Several bases have already closed.
The Kuwaiti port of al-Shuaiba has been the U.S. military's chief landing area for war supplies used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The port is now proving essential in the troop rotation, since 90 percent of the tonnage for the occupation is being shipped by sea. Kuwaiti authorities have given most of the port over to the U.S. military, which has unloaded and loaded war supplies from 428 ships since the war preparations began, Williams said.
"Without them we couldn't do this operation. It's that simple,'' said Army Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Speakes, the commander in charge of the troop rotation.
Four U.S. ships were docked in the choppy waters on Monday, including the Pomeroy, which can carry 55,000 tons or 250,000 square feet of cargo. Behind the Pomeroy's berth, a parking lot that stretched for a quarter-mile was packed with every type of American military vehicle, from helicopters to small trailers with portable electric generators.
The Pomeroy and other Ro-Ro ships have five stories of cargo holds and a large deck for shipping containers.
Later this month, the last ship bearing the equipment of the Army's 101st Airborne Division--which has pulled entirely out of Iraq--will steam out of al-Shuaiba. After the Pomeroy departs, the Colorado-based Army's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment will begin shipping its gear back to the Texas port of Beaumont, Williams said.
AP-NY-02-24-04 0145EST
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press.
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Excerpts from a Central Command Press Briefing on 2-23-04:
Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations, Combined Joint Task Force 7 was talking to the press in a Q&A session:
BG Kimmitt: With regards to the ongoing transition we're probably about halfway there for the coalition overall and about 40 percent there in U.S. troops. We've already rotated the commands of Multinational Division Southeast, Multinational Division Central South, and as you know the 101st. So three of the six divisions have gone through the full transfer of authority (TOA).
We're now working in the 4th Infantry Division sector. The 173rd from Italy has departed. A second brigade, 25th Infantry Division, has conducted TOA with them. We're now continuing the transfer of authority within the 4th ID region and we're going to start seeing it over in the 82nd region, then finishing up with the 1st Armored Division here in Baghdad.
It's going well. The logisticians have done a brilliant job in terms of the planning. It's been a little disruptive, as you might imagine, to the civilians on the roads as hundreds and thousands of vehicles and personnel are coming in and out, but we've been talking to the civilians and we've been talking to the Iraqi press to try to manage this as well as possible.
We have not seen any directed threat aimed at any of the incoming or outgoing units. It's always something that we take as a given that the most vulnerable time for a unit is around TOA. So as you can imagine, we add extra force protection measures. We're a little more vigilant. And up to this point, we have not seen in any of the transfer of authorities, either in the activities or the actual ceremonies themselves, that there has been any increased activity. But we stay vigilant.
Q: Convoys?
Kimmitt: I suspect that after the first couple of convoys started, and there were a couple of IED and small arms fires attacks, when the enemy saw how quick we were to respond both on the ground and from the air, and how quick they recognized that these troops were not declaring victory, holstering their weapons, and just driving out drinking soda pops, but in fact those troops as they were going down out of the country were treating that as a combat convoy, they realized that it was not in their best interest to try to attack those convoys. That's what we've seen since then......
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Miracle Stories from A Chaplain in Iraq:
Here are a couple of miracle stories, though generally speaking, the BIG miracle is the relatively small number of casualties we've had in 1-8 Infantry vs. the number of
contacts we've had. The first was from Operation Peninsula Strike. We staged from
Samarra East Airfield and headed down the peninsula South toward the Tigris. It was a large combined arms action with air, water and ground forces involved. The
gritty job of clearing houses fell to the infantry, of course. At one target house, a Specialist from C Co got the job of kicking in the door. The fear that an armed person could be waiting was reality this time, and he took a point blank shotgun blast to the chest. We found out that the IBAS vest works! He was rocked back, but returned fire, and came out unscathed. The SAPI plate from his vest will now be going to the 1-8 artifact collection.
Another story happened on Jan 5. On Jan 2, CPT Eric Paliwoda of B 4 EN was killed by mortar fire. Of course this has devastated all of us here at the FOB. A single piece of shrapnel from that mortar shot between 2 Texas barriers and ended CPT P's life. The same round didn't touch a sergeant and a 1LT as they entered the door of the shelter where the round landed. The miracle happened on the 5th. My assistant and I were at the Beast CP when another attack hit. We hit the ground and then got in a bunker with a bunch of B Co soldiers. When we jogged the 100
meters back to our chapel, there 12 feet outside of our front door was a mortar round in the dirt. The round had come in, banked off a wall about 8 feet in the air, and embedded itself directly behind our HMMWV. Six feet from that, our NBC NCO, was in a prone position. I now call him "the miracle man."
To paraphrase John, there are many other miraculous things not written here, but that should provide a taste. The soldiers in this unit do amazing actions every day. The potential for loss of life, limb, or eyesight is ever present. We know the Lord is ever present also, and we daily offer thanks for protection.
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Here's another one with a Kleenex warning, but well worth reading.
Thoughts from a TF Ironhorse Mom:
Sunday night, 15 second news item - Bombing in Kirkuk, several dead and injured. My God, that is where my son is! I turned to CNN and same 15 second news item, do they really need to report this? My son is scheduled to return home next month, needless to say my heart aches all night and once again sleep does not come.
Monday - I heard the sweet sound of my son's voice this morning! He is with the 720th MP Bn, 64th Co. Like many mom's, I can tell how my child is by the sound of his voice. For the first time in many many months, I could tell that he had a smile on his face and there was laughter in his voice. They will be heading to Kuwait within two weeks and then HOME! He is one of many, I am sure, that will not be coming home to what he left behind, however, he still has the love of his family and the experience of age and wisdom.
I want to share with you all that the redeployment tip of "Make sure they know what awaits them so they can deal with it over there" was the best advise given. If you really think that they are removed from here because they are half way around the country fighting a war, think again. Letters and phone calls from wives, children, and family fill them in to all the happenings. If they ask you a direct question, you'd best be honest, chances are they already know the answer and are seeing if you can be trusted to be truthful with them. They have faced hardship beyond our imagination, they are owed nothing less then the truth! He told me several phone calls ago about the wreckage of his life that awaited him and the loneliness he faced. Today, knowing all that, he is coming home and ready to face it and deal with it. The best thing about all of this, I can enjoy his homecoming and not suffer in silence knowing that his world had fallen apart and not bearing to tell him.
He knows that his family is here waiting to help him and support him, something he didn't really understand when he left last year. I asked him if he wanted me to be at Ft. Hood when he arrived, something I had asked before with very little response. Today I knew he wanted and needed me there, something this ole mom needed so much to know. He is my first, he made me a mom and he is coming HOME!
Monday Night - My heart breaks this evening because in my joy that my son is coming HOME, someone's son may not have survived in Kirkuk yesterday. My son asked me something that he has never asked, "Pray for me mom as we drive to Kuwait, I am in the lead vehicle and I am scared, so close to coming home but yet so far." And even with this request, there was a smile in his voice knowing that he is coming HOME!
I have a bag packed and am waiting for the call so I can buy my plane ticket - MY SON IS COMING HOME.
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HHC 2nd Brigade FRG Fund Raiser
HHC 2BDE FRG is currently selling 4th ID Balloon Bouquets to welcome the troops home from Iraq... The bouquet's consist of 5 balloons - 2 green 4th ID balloons and 3 plain white balloons. More balloons can be added for extra cost. Balloons will be on sale from now until the end of April. Balloon Bouquet's are $ 5.00 and Single balloons are $1.00. The money raised will go towards a welcome home celebration for our troops. For more information email Denice at noladyntex@aol.com or phone at 254-518-6845 or Ana at anabanana1964@cs.com or phone at 254-539-0383.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
24 February 1945 - D+264
No aggressive activity on the part of the enemy was reported, except light artillery and rocket fire.
The 4th Division Artillery with the 610th Tank Destroyer Bn and the 377th AA Artillery Bn fired interdiction and harassing fire on enemy front line positions and crossroads in the rear areas.
25 February 1945 - D+265
Artillery, rocket and mortar fire was light and no enemy patrols were reported. At 1020 a direct fire weapon was reported east of Prum firing into CT 22's sector.
Active patrolling was conducted by the 4th Division throughout the period.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Just read an email from my son with MP Co. 4th ID. He leaves Iraq in mid March. As he put it, the new joes will clean the trucks and the vets get to leave on the bird sooner. I don't know exactly what day he will arrive at Ft. Hood, but he is single and said he would love for me to be there. I am happy he wants his family around him. God bless our troops. Also, safe travel for those who are and will be on the roads, airways, trains, and buses to welcome home our troops.
2) My son is with the 1st Battalion,12th Inf. I've been able to talk to him almost daily as things are in a lull and they prepare for the trek from their FOB to their point of embarkation. He said they have been able to get hot meals regularly. Nights have been cold, around 30. They've been sleeping in tents without any heat, so it's been tough to get much rest. Everyone is making plans for when they arrive back home, covering the smallest details,so you know it's getting short. May God protect them on their journey home.
3) We had a call on Sunday. Our daughter with the 181 Chem Co. has a March date to come home and her fiance in the 4th ID will beat her home by 10 days. The wedding is back on!!
4) When the phone rang before 7am this morning I knew it had to be my son calling ....(who else would call that early). He is in C-3/16 FA and was calling to say this would be his last phone call home from Iraq because he finally got a coming home date. Of course he wasn't able to tell me what that was and could only say he would be back in the states by mid-March. He let me know to expect 4 packages of his belongings to arrive here soon (one pkg is mostly letters from me...lol). Bob, I remember May a year ago when I first emailed you to join this list. At that time I wondered how I would deal with the whole thing of him being over there, etc. It was comforting to have your newsletter as a lifeline. The imput of you and those who continue to contribute have helped me on a daily basis. Thank you for the effort you put forth. It's greatly appreciated.
5) Our daughter is with C Co 704th, and should be in Kuwait soon (will not give date "loose lips sink ships") and leaving soon (hooah!) for Ft. Hood. She is busy getting all things together to return so not hearing much from her. I and her dad, cousin, and niece will be going to Ft. Hood April 22nd to welcome everyone home. We have a business and in our store we have a "WALL OF TROOPS" that we have dedicated to the 4th ID, it consists of pictures from the net and all the names of the fallen soilders from the Iraq war. I have a sadness in my heart for everyone of the soldiers that gave their lives for this mission and my prayers go out the families that will not be greeting their soldiers home. Thanks again for all the updates and to everyone who sent in their updates for all of us concerned of our beloved soldiers. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS & FAMILIES!!
6) Our son came home last night to loving arms and lots of tears. These last few days have been the hardest, knowing that he was on his way and was possibly in a convoy heading north or south. (We didnt know). He called us from each leg of his journey, once from Germany, and once from Bangor, Maine (where he said it sure was good to see blowing snow instead of blowing sand). He is safe and looks great, still has his great sense of humor. Thank you all for being there, it was great to meet some of the spouses of the commanders, etc. yesterday at the gym in FT. Hood amidst all of the banners, music and fun. Thanks to everyone that made it possible to bring these soldiers home. Godspeed to the rest of them. A very happy 46th Chemical Co. Mom!!!
7) We just had a call from Kuwait from our son in HHT, 1-10 CAV. He said they had a tiring five-day trip across Iraq. But all of 1-10 is out of Iraq and in Kuwait getting their stuff ready to head home. He sounded very tired and was upset about the loss of another soldier from HHT. They are no words to describe how thankful we are that he and the rest of 1-10 are out.
8) Our soldier ist with the 475th QM Co 544th Maint Bn. We got to talk for about 20 minutes and the lines were crystal clear for the first time. None of the usual "what-did-you-say"....He said they are moving back into tents to make room for the new arrivals, he has a date on a convoy south and he sounded pretty upbeat. All the preparations for redeployment keep them busy and that he will mail home his flat screen tv this week. ( ???? I guess today's military has changed a bit, here I sat for months sending beef jerkey, razors, lip balm, and socks and he is out buying TV's and DVD players).
9) Note from a B/1-22 soldier to his parents: Word on the streets is that I'm #1 on the platoon list to fly out of this fine place......I think that I'll be on a flight REALLY soon..... I hope that date doesn't get pushed back, as dates around here seem to do from time to time... In the meantime I plan to keep as low of a profile as possible. I've been seeing 1st ID guys around K2 lately, I feel like a southern Iraqi who has just been liberated and want to thank each and every one of them......Their uniforms still have pressed creases on them. That will soon change. We must look like a bunch of bums. My helmet cover is torn and grimy, all of the crotches of my pants are split, and I'm not sure, but I think that I smell funny also... IT SNOWED TODAY! The mountains to the north all have white peaks...it's surreal. Haji still runs around wearing sandals and man-dresses... he's really not too happy. ANYWAYS, I'll call again ASAP and let you know information as I get it!
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Redeployment Tips:
1) Take advantage of the counseling services available on post. Seeking support doesn't inherently suggest there's "something wrong." Counseling could simply serve as a deterrent to possible issues that arise post-deployment.
2) Be flexible and be patient as we go through the remaining days of deployment. Airplanes break down and require maintenance, loading of ships takes longer than expected, weather can be a factor, and the list of potential problems and delays goes on and on.
Remember Murphy's Law - If anything can go wrong, it will. I'm not saying to expect problems but I am saying to be patient, don't get yourself upset when you don't get exact return dates as far in advance as you would like, and be flexible and positive.
Getting upset with your soldier, your FRG, your rear detachment CO, or the Army makes no sense. Keep in mind, we have the largest troop movement going on since WWII - and that is an undertaking that only an outstanding organization like the United States military is qualified to pull off, and they'll do it right and deal with any challenge or problem that comes up. Be patient - and continue to pray.
3) As an FRG leader for HHC 1-4 AVN Regt. I can tell you that your email updates have been a HUGE help through this deployment. There has been so many postings that have brought relief and encouragement over the months. As I have enjoyed reading your updates, I realized how much my husband has enjoyed reading updates from his family and friends through letters. Yesterday, I received a big box of letters that my husband sent home for safe keeping. I know I had written him as often as I could but what I didn't realize is how lucky we were to have such a great network of family and friends who had written him very often. I looked in the box and realized that I was looking at history. I am planning on getting a very nice box to put all the letters that people wrote to him as well as all the letters that he wrote to me and keep them safe. It is such a cool thought to think that one day our grandkids will read the letters and maybe understand what we went through. I have been fortunate enough to be close to my grandparents and have heard of their stories of war but next time I talk to them I am going to ask if they have any letters they kept. What a wonderful way to remember this year! (Editor's Note: Great idea - I have all the letters I wrote and received from my wife and parents while I was in Vietnam, great family treasures).
4) Your best, and probably only, sources of dates for your unit's redeployment is your Family Readiness Group (FRG) or the rear detachment commander of your unit. By now at least one member of each soldier's family should be in touch with the FRG. If you aren't, please get yourself on their distribution list. Don't overwhelm them with requests, if your family is one that communicates with each other, just have one person get the information from the FRG and let them pass it on to the remainder of your family.
I do not intend to ever give out redeployment dates, even if I knew them. That is sensitive military movement information and it needs to come through official channels, not through my unofficial channel. Security of our soldiers is our top priority and the FRG and rear detachments have the mission of insuring that security is maintained and information is only passed out to those with a need to know.
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