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| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
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President, Americans Remembered, Inc. - http://www.americansremembered.org
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Past President/Historian - Nat'l 4th Inf Div Assn - http://www.4thinfantry.org
babcock224@aol.com
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Troops In, Troops Out
U.S. Troop Rotation in Iraq Is Largest Since WWII
By Peter Jennings
ABCNEWS.com
T I K R I T, Iraq, March 16— Between last December and May, 130,000 U.S. troops are leaving Iraq and 120,000 are coming to replace them — the largest American troop rotation since World War II.
Today in Tikrit, which has the bastion of Saddam Hussein's power, the 4th Infantry Division, which captured the ousted dictator, handed this region over to the 1st Infantry Division.
Gen. John Batiste of the 1st ID takes over from Gen. Ray Odierno.
Capturing Saddam was the high point of the year, but it has been a very tough 12 months for the 4th ID. They've been fighting insurgents they often cannot see and trying to make life better for the civilian population, which only grudgingly has come to accept their presence.
This is a very important moment in the lives of the soldiers. Since they are about to go home, they want to stay out of trouble for the last few days. It is their advice on which the incoming soldiers will rely just to stay alive.
The brigade's commander (incorrect information - he is CO of 1-22 Infantry), Lt. Col. Steve Russell from Oklahoma, says the 1st ID will learn from experience.
"We can talk about it, we can show them, but until they experience it first hand, it doesn't become real," he said. "Probably after the first 30 or 60 days, they'll be fine."
The insurgents, whoever they may be, have already inflicted casualties on the 1st ID, with three dead and three wounded just last weekend.
Tikrit — ‘A Cage of Lions’
Russell compared Tikrit to a cage of lions. "If you are there with a bull whip," he said, "they're sitting peacefully in the chairs. If you step out of the cage, they'll come down. And we need to make sure that we stay until the government gets firmly rooted and until the security forces are able to secure the people themselves."
Everyone we talked to, from the general to the general's driver, said the most dangerous thing they face is the improvised explosive device that is detonated by remote control when they drive by. The latest trend is dead dogs, stuffed with explosives.
The 4th ID, and now the 1st, are responsible for about 300 square miles north of Baghdad, and its soldiers say the terrain is people. Odierno said he's proud that his troops have killed more than 1,000 enemy troops and detained about 10,000, who he believes were a threat to Americans or other Iraqis. The enemy, he said, is significantly weaker than it was six months ago.
The 4th ID has done much more than fight the insurgents. They have renovated hospitals and sewage systems and provided better irrigation to farmers. Odierno claims their efforts have provided jobs for close to 70,000 people. The soldiers are constantly training and equipping the new Iraqi police and the Iraqi civil defense corps.
In the last 90 days, Odierno says the locals have begun to take new ownership of the region's life. "Do I think we're going to need a significant force here 10 years from now? No. What I do know is that 12 months from now, we are going to need a lot less forces than we do now," Odierno said.
Later, on the main highway into Baghdad, the 1st ID was forced to close the road because an improvised explosive device had partially destroyed a mine sweeper. The 1st ID was on edge, dealing with the angry crowd of Iraqi drivers.
It serves as a reminder that the future of Iraq may be full of promise, but it's still very dangerous.
Copyright ABC News.
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The 4ID's hometown paper, the Killeen Daily Herald, did report this morning on the TOA:
4th ID turns over authority to 1st ID
By Zac Sorensen
Killeen Daily Herald
Tuesday marked the official end of the 4th Infantry Division's mission in Iraq. Division commander, Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, reflected on a successful mission while commenting on his hopes for the future of Iraq.
The ceremony marked the shifting of authority of North Central Iraq to the 1st Infantry Division, based out of Germany.
The ceremony took place in Tikrit at 10 a.m. Iraq time as the 1st Infantry Division unveiled its colors, signifying its responsibility in the multinational division in Iraq.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the commander of Combined Joint Task Force Seven, controls all areas of Iraq. "What a day to honor two great divisions and their leaders," Sanchez said. "This transfer of authority is a historic moment. Let me start out by thanking the steadfast and loyal Task Force Ironhorse, whose achievements are the result of a tremendous team effort," Sanchez said.
"The Army's most technologically advanced division adapted with remarkable ease," Sanchez said. "They conducted 11 major operations, 2,500 raids, 3,100 ambushes, 111,000 patrols, seized 94,000 tons of enemy ammunition and ultimately captured Saddam Hussein. There is no doubt that Iraq is a better place today because of their sacrifices."
After a year of conducting a wide spectrum of missions, the ceremony enables the 4th Infantry Division to officially begin dismantling its operations in Iraq.
Odierno said during the ceremony that Iraq would be in good hands.
"The mission will continue here without lapse, thanks to the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division. They are ready, they are fresh and they have an exceptional leader in Major General John R.S. Batiste," Odierno said. "I have no reservations about turning this mission over to him and his troops; they will perform brilliantly."
"Our soldiers have accomplished more in Iraq than we had the right to expect," Odierno said.
Offering his thanks for all that the 4th Infantry Division has accomplished, Batiste said his division was ready to take control of the region.
"This transfer of authority is a symbol of America's unwavering commitment to Iraq. My soldiers and I are honored to serve in this great and historic country," Batiste said. "We will conduct joint operations with the Iraqi Security to achieve a safe and secure environment."
Contact Zac Sorensen at Zac@kdhnews.com
(With this good story, maybe I'm not as frustrated as I was - but I'm still disappointed with the lack of AP and Reuters and Fox News and CNN coverage..... so I'll still be Irish today and drink some green beer)...
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>From CentCom news release dated 3-16-04:
(This is the last official Central Command update from TF Ironhorse and 4ID before they return home - responsibility has now transferred to 1st Infantry Division and TF Danger)
4ID, TASK FORCE IRONHORSE OPERATIONS UPDATE
TIKRIT, Iraq - 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse conducted 126 patrols and four raids, and captured 14 individuals Sunday and Monday.
Twenty-eight patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Department of Border Enforcement.
Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operations include three AK-47 rifles, one SKS rifle, four 57 mm and five 160 mm rockets, six rocket launchers, 154 60 mm and 40 120 mm mortar rounds and two improvised explosive devises.
1st Infantry Division soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor captured six individuals suspected of conducting rocket attacks against coalition forces during a raid east of Balad Sunday. Three of the six individuals captured were the suspected attackers. The soldiers also confiscated one AK-47 rifle. The individuals are being detained at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda.
An Iraqi citizen turned in a large cache of ammunition to soldiers from 1st Infantry Division at FOB Thunder Sunday. The cache included 150 60 mm high-explosive mortar rounds, four 60 mm smoke mortar rounds, 40 120 mm mortar rounds and four 57 mm rockets. The cache was collected and secured until it could be destroyed.
1st Infantry Division soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment discovered six fabricated rocket launchers after an Iraqi citizen reported the location northwest of the village of Munsha'a (Ad Dawr) Sunday. The soldiers found five 160 mm rockets in the fabricated launchers near an improvised fighting position. The rockets were pointed toward FOB Wilson. An explosive ordinance detachment went to the site to remove and destroy the rockets.
1st Infantry Division soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment conducted a raid Monday near Kirkuk to capture individuals suspected in attacks on the Kirkuk airfield. The Soldiers captured two individuals, including the individual suspected of the attacks, and confiscated identification documents.
1st Infantry Division soldiers from 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment conducted air-assault raids Monday to capture members of an anticoalition-forces cell near the villages of Obj Kaena and Obj Waimea (south of Tuz). The Soldiers captured four individuals during the raid. The individuals are being detained for questioning.
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(And the first Central Command update from 1st Infantry Division and TF Danger)
>From CentCom news release dated 3-16-04:
1ID AND TASK FORCE DANGER OPERATIONS
TIKRIT, Iraq -1st Infantry Division and Task Force Danger conducted 15 patrols Monday and Tuesday as the transfer of authority with Task Force Ironhorse began.
Six of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Department of Border Enforcement.
Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operations include 100 antipersonnel mines, seven rocket-launching tubes, 300 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive, 25 tubes of artillery propellant, 25 155 mm artillery rounds, 100 sabot tank rounds, two antiaircraft guns, 468 rounds of 12.7 mm antiaircraft ammunition, 84 boxes of other AA ammunition and three improvised explosive devices.
1st Infantry Division soldiers from 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment discovered a cache of ammunition while on patrol northwest of Samarra Monday. The soldiers located the cache from information provided by an Iraqi citizen. The cache contained 100 sabot tank rounds, 25 tubes of 155 mm artillery propellant, various small-arms ammunition and 84 boxes of 12.7 mm antiaircraft ammunition. An explosive-ordnance team destroyed the cache that afternoon.
A patrol of Task Force Danger Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment found a cache of antiaircraft weapons near Kirkuk Tuesday. The cache was transported to the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division for destruction.
The Iraqi police reported that one individual was killed and four others were wounded when someone was attempting to make a bomb inside a house near Baqubah Monday. The wounded were transported to a Baqubah hospital for treatment and will be questioned later by the police. There were no coalition forces involved in the incident.
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Greenville Army Reserve Unit Comes Home From Iraq
Five Soldiers Served 10 Months In Iraq
March 16, 2004
GREENVILLE -- After 13 months of active duty, 10 of them in Iraq, the 416th Chemical Detachment is back home in Greenville, SC.
The five members of the detachment arrived at the Army Reserve Center on Perimeter Road shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday. Family, friends and Internet pen pals were on hand to greet them.
They also ate half a cake -- leftovers from their going-away ceremony when they were called to active duty in February 2003.The 416th was deployed with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq to provide staff support to the division's chemical battle staff.
The detachment's soldiers are trained to provide administrative support for nuclear, biological and chemical operations on the battlefield, such as determining where troops should go to avoid exposure.
"In some ways, it's not real to me yet. You're used to waking up, dreaming about home, and finding yourself back in Iraq. I guess that's not gonna happen this time!" Capt. Scott Bullions said.
"You're just dedicated to your country, but you miss your family and your loved ones. You just pray and ask God to take care of everybody," Sgt. Kenneth Swinger said.
Bullions nominated his employer, Ethox Chemicals, for the Army Reserve Patriotic Employer Support Award last year. The company won the award in October 2003.
The detachment spent the last few days going through administrative processing at Fort Benning before demobilizing and returning to the Upstate.
Copyright 2004 by TheCarolinaChannel.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in France:
17 March 1945 - D+285 - Report from G-1 (personnel branch):
The Commanding General approved a division quota of twenty-five officers and 200 enlisted men to visit rest centers at Grenoble (officers) and Lyon (EM) for 5 days.
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 a quick note to let you know that my son is home from Iraq today and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to hear him on the telephone. His wife was making him a roast for dinner and said that the flight was exhausting. They came back on a transport plane....he sounded really good...my heart is so much lighter. I didn't keep him long on the phone as we are all scattered from Toronto to South Carolina and I wanted him to make the rounds so that he could get some well deserved rest. I shall continue to pray for the many men and women who have taken over and that they too will return safely. It is going to take years for stability in the region and I am not sure if we will see it in my lifetime. Having travelled extensively I understand the diverse cultural differences.
2) I just thought I would let you know we got an email from our daughter in law and it stated that she has received an update from my son's unit commander (244th EN BN HVY) and within "a few short days" our soldiers will be heading to Kuwait! I was so excited to see that news. I know that we still have some tough times ahead of them in the next few days and believe me I will be praying even harder for them to make it safely home. My son's birthday is the end of April and I just hope and pray he can be "home" in time to celebrate. What a party it will be!
3) I heard from my husband (4ID 588th En Bn) on Monday and he is in Kuwait now. YEAH!! He sounded a lot different than he did when he was calling from Iraq, but still very tired. I am so glad these guys are on their way home. God Bless All the Troops and Their Families!
4) Bob, just a note to let you know how much I have appreciated your newsletters. To date my daughter-in-law has forwared them to me with a little note - look at #4 or #5, it's his unit etc. This morning as I was sitting in the living room trying to get the vacum to work (the belt broke), the middle grandchild suddenly started waving & staring out the window wide eyed. I looked and there was by baby (some baby, he turned 30 over there). At first, all I could do was stare in shock. Then, while the oldest boy held Daddy & the littlest (daddys little girl) smiled and hugged his legs, I was able to finally move. I don't know who hugged the hardest him or me, but it sure felt great to have him in my arms. He looked so good, a little tired from the trip 39 hours inculding layovers, but smiling like only he can. Lots of phone calls to family and friends over the next couple of hours. The phone bill is going to be a big one but who cares. About two hours later, as I was doing the dishes with help from the almost 3 year old, we heard him laughing in the other room and she said, "Daddy laughing bootifull". Boy has she got that one right!! It's going to take a while for me to come back down to earth, that's for sure. 4TH ID 1-4 AV D CO
5) Hi Bob, My husband (1/67 AR HHC Mortars 4th ID) made it home safe and sound today. We are now home and he is getting to take a REAL shower. I'm so happy to have him home. I can't tell you how if felt when he ran into the gym with the other guys. I won the award of best wife in the world today. As we walked out of the gym I threw him a set of keys and told him to find which one was his. He said, "You bought me a car?" I said, "No babe, I bought you a truck." He pressed the panic button to find it. He is now the proud ower of a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 and yes, it's got a HEMI!! This was a long year and now we are finally at the end of this long road. I continue to pray for our soldiers that have not yet made it home and the ones that are just beginning their deployment. The reunion is awesome!!!! God Speed and God Bless Our Troops
6) Our son, 1-22 IN, arrived at Ft. Hood last Thursday, 3/11. It is so great to hear his voice; he is simply giddy with excitement. He called at 9am Thursday from Bangor, Maine. He was eating a hamburger and arguing with his fellow soldiers over the last piece of cheesecake. Thankfully, some things never change. He says it feels strange to not have to carry his gun with him wherever he goes. As for our other soldier, the latest word we got was that he escorted some of the equipment south to Kuwait. We’re told it will be at least a couple more weeks before he can return to the States but we are grateful he is out of harm’s way. My thoughts and prayers will continue for all of our brave men and women in uniform going into Iraq to replace those coming home and for those families that will not be getting their soldiers back. God bless them all.
7) I just wanted to tell you that we received a wonderful call from our son this morning, he was in Bangor, Maine on a layover. He was not scheduled to come home until the weekend. We have tickets to fly to Ft Hood and were planning to be there and surprise him when he stepped off the plane. Instead, he surprised us. We are still going out there this weekend and I am sure that they will have lots going on all over. I cannot wait to see him and hug him. I think it will be time for church this Sunday, we have a lot to thank God for. My son is in C. CO 66 AR. I also want to thank a lovely person who has helped with information about our son's return. Her husband just returned last week, but she still took the time to keep us informed. I plan on meeting her this weekend, and thank her personally. She is the contact person for my son's unit (FRG Leader). I continue to pray for the safe return of the rest of the soldiers who are still there. We pray for there safety. God Bless them and keep them safe in his arms.
8) I am still all smiles, I can join the ranks of people who got a call from Kuwait.
YEAHHHH ! Our soldier (with the 475th Qm Co) called this morning and our daughter was the one who picked up the phone and got to hear the good news first. He told us he had his first Pizza Hut pizza and despite the mushrooms, it was the best pizza he ever had and that a large was almost not enough. He is working on his tan and sounded really good. Even though it will still be a while till he will be home with us just knowing he is out of Iraq is such a stress relief after over a year of being worried, I was still shaking when I got to work.
9) On Wednesday and Thursday I got the best four phone calls I have ever received. The first was telling me that my son's plane was in the air, the second was that they had gone to green light, the third was from Germany and the fourth was made from my son's cell phone as he touched down. I think I made record time from Atlanta to Fort Bragg. When I got the call that he was in the air, I called his cell phone company and had them reactivate his service so that when he landed he would have a phone to use. I let him know when he called from Germany to try his phone. There were many grateful parents that got calls when they landed as he was the only one with a working phone. Just a tip for others if your soldier took their phone with them.
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Memories of a Year Ago - Waiting for Deployment to Turkey through the Early Days in Iraq
The next two emails, both from the same Mom, are the first I've received covering the actions of our soldiers who went to Turkey on the ships and ended up floating around forever before being diverted to Kuwait. Both are interesting, and not tear jerkers ...
Here's an email that I sent to friends & family last February when my son left on one of the transport ships. I know it's too long, but it's just so darned entertaining! :>)
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003
So, our son has loosed his mooring lines, shoved off, set sail, etc., for his great adventure.
We went to a Gulf Coast port yesterday, where security was VERY high, to see him off.
We took him to breakfast (Waffle House - his choice, although he then tried to
order pancakes???), then we took a trip to the big ship which was loaded with 4th ID vehicles and equipment. He warned me to: A. Not embarrass him, and B. Not do anything that might get me shot.
There was a floating boom around the ship, and just beyond the boom were two
Zodiac-type boats with guards in them. The Army and the police patrols were both evident. We then made the obligatory trip to WalMart for last minute supplies (music CDs…) where we met up with most of the other guys from his ship detail, who were also getting supplies (Chapstick, dramamine…). Made me wonder if WalMart knows how important they are to the Army??
We took our son back to the Holiday Inn so he could load his duffles and personal
gear. We chatted breifly with his sergeant, who said that they had gone out the previous night to visit a local, um, entertainment spot. He pointed out that this was their last night in the US for up to a year, and they needed to drink some beer and see some, um, entertainment. My son came back about that time and said that he figured he needed to see some of those, um, entertainers as they were going to Muslim countries where that sort of entertainment was not available, even in magazines.
His sergeant laughed and said that our son
had been so entranced with the, um, entertainers, that the rest of the guys all chipped in a bought a lapdance for my sweet baby. My son, bless him, said, "YES, they DID!!" with a really big smile. Ewwwwww, I said. So, I took some pictures and kissed him and told him that I wasn't worried, and we left him and most of my heart in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn.
I insisted on going back to the ship to take a couple pictures for his
scrapbook. My husband told me to just snap a picture from the car. I told him that I wasn't going anywhere near the resticted areas. I got out and walked toward the fence with the camera, took two pictures and looked over to the police car pulling in to block my car.
He UNSNAPPED HIS PISTOL, and asked me what the nature of my interest in the
Army transport was. I explained what I was doing and he looked at the family truckster, at which point my husband got out to try and save me. He said, "I TOLD her to stay away! I would NOT blame you if you felt like you need to take her to the pokey. Cause I TOLD her not to get out of the car. And I was right." Luckily enough, the poor cop had a sense of humor, and didn't detain or arrest me, but he did encourage us to go ahead and leave. Which we did.
Our son called home around 6:00 last night to say they were underway, and that
the Coast Guard was giving them priority escort, making other boat and ship traffic pull over and not get too close. He further said that the chow was GREAT and the lights along the channel were "so COOL looking!" I heard his buddy saying, "This is F-ing AWESOME!!!" They were standing on the bow. My son said they had to ask one of the crew members how to get to the front of the boat. The crew member said, "You mean the 'bow'?" He said, "No, man, I'm Army!! How do you get to the 'front of the boat'?!" He said that it was likely the last call for awhile as they were going to be out of cell range soon, but that he would write (yeah, sure) as soon as he could get a letter sent.
And, this email I sent just over a year ago, regarding making circles in the Med, waiting for Turkey to be an ally. ... Something interesting, Bob… my son called me from his cell phone as their transport ship passed the tip of Florida around Feb 18th last year, excited to have cell coverage. It was the last call from his cell phone, so when I got the final bill I was shocked to see calls made that same time to Michigan and Wisconsin and Washington State and Pennsylvania and Louisiana and Ohio… all over the US. I was prepared to contact the phone company to complain until it dawned on me what had happened. I confirmed with him later that he had made his call, and then handed the phone to the guys on the ship with him, so that they could make calls home too. I still cry about that.
The email she sent on March 11, 2003 to her family:
My son called around noon today. (!!!!) He and his buddies are in Greece. They decided to forego the war and just island-hop through the Mediterranean.
Or else, they had to stop for fuel and then get back to making circles. I can’t remember which… He said they were at a US Naval Base in Crete, and when he called they had already had a couple beers and been struck dumb by some girls.
He said that the girls weren’t all that pretty, but after 23 days at sea with only guys, they (the girls) were VERY attractive. He was in very good spirits, and was still having the grand adventure.
I asked if he and his buddies were still getting along okay. He laughed and said, “The boat’s not THAT small!” He assured me that he was fine; they were fine, the trip was fine… laughing at me…I told him that there are LOTS of prayers for him. He laughed and said, "Hey! The prayers are working! The weather is beautiful!"
Putting in at Crete, he said the weather was still nice, but it was colder than it had been. When they first left the ship, they went straight to the phones, but the lines were too long. So they went to have a beer.
He said that the trip over had been pretty calm. They had a couple days of 25 ft waves, but they were riding in a high pressure system most of the way, so it was real smooth. The 25 ft waves made for an interesting ride. The boat ahead of them had been in 40+ ft waves for many days. So all of our prayers did some good, thanks!
None of them has received any mail, and he doesn’t know when they will. (He says he’s going to kick SOMEBODY’s @$$ if he finds out they have eaten his cookies.) He said the food has been excellent aboard the ship, thank goodness.
The first few days out of the Gulf of Mexico they spent catching up on sleep and eating. The Staff Sergeant (or whatever?) told them, “Hey! They may expect us to fight a war when we finally get off this boat, so we might want to have some muscle tone…” They’ve been doing PT every day since.
He was interested in what I might have heard about forward air bases and so forth that the US might have secured around the Iraq/Turkey border. I was like, “wha??” He said, “If we go ahead through Turkey, we’re gonna need decent supply lines.” Oh, yeah, son! You are in logistics, aren’tcha?!
My cell phone started to tucker out, so he said he would try to put a letter (yeah right) in the mail, and that he would call again as soon as he could.
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