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ONE 4 ID SOLDIER KILLED, TWO WOUNDED IN ATTACK
BALAD, Iraq – One 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed and two were wounded when attackers using automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades fired upon their patrol at about 7:30 a.m. on November 17 in Albu Shukur.
The wounded soldiers received immediate medical attention and were evacuated to the 21st Combat Support Hospital.
The soldiers’ names are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
The incident is under investigation.
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ONE SOLDIER KILLED IN IED ATTACK
TIKRIT, Iraq – One 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed when a convoy struck an improvised explosive device south of Balad at about 7:50 a.m. on November 17.
The soldier’s name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
The incident is under investigation.
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(No word yet on identities of the two who were killed).
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American Troops Seek Ex-Saddam Deputy
By ROBERT H. REID
.c The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. forces killed six alleged insurgents in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit as they searched Monday for a former Saddam deputy believed to be orchestrating attacks on Americans.
Meanwhile, an Italian member of the U.S.-led coalition resigned, accusing the Bush administration of inefficiency and failing to understand Iraq.
Before quitting, Marco Calamai, a special counselor of the Coalition Provisional Authority in the southern province of Dhi Qar, criticized L. Paul Bremer's administration for its handling of Iraq. The charges come as Russia and France objected to the U.S. timetable for handing over power to the Iraqis by July 1.
Rising casualties added new urgency to the task. Three American soldiers died Monday in separate attacks, one in an ambush on a patrol, the other by a roadside bomb and a third was killed from non-hostile gunfire.
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said the U.S.-led coalition attacked dozens of suspected guerrilla hideouts as it intensified a search for Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, No. 6 on the most-wanted list of 55 Iraqis and former vice chairman of Saddam's Revolutionary Command Council.
In addition to the killing of the six suspected guerrillas, Kimmitt said coalition forces had captured 99 suspected insurgents, including a former general in Saddam's elite Republican Guard, during 1,729 patrols and 25 raids conducted over the past 24 hours.
For the second time in as many days, American troops fired a satellite-guided missile with a 500-pound warhead, this one at a suspected insurgent sanctuary 10 miles south of Tikrit, Saddam's hometown.
U.S. troops continued attacking suspected insurgent positions late Monday with mortar and tank fire, military officials said. Sporadic explosions could be heard reverberating across Tikrit overnight but there were no immediate reports of casualties in the U.S. attacks.
``Clearly, we're sending the message that we do have the ability to run operations across a wide area,'' said Lt. Col. William MacDonald of the 4th Infantry Division. ``We have overwhelming combat power that we will utilize in order to go after groups and individuals who have been conducting anti-coalition activities.''.............
Associated Press writers Hamza Hendawi in Baghdad and Jim Gomez in Tikrit contributed to this report.
11/17/03 21:42 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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washingtonpost.com
Patience and a Will to Be 'Lethal'
U.S. Commander in Sunni Triangle Is Undeterred by Setbacks
By Vernon Loeb
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 18, 2003; Page A16
BAQUBAH, Iraq -- Inside the 2nd Brigade's command post, Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno towered above a dozen other officers, in rank and in heft.
At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, with a shaved head, a direct style and two stars on his collar, the former Army tight end couldn't have appeared as anything but intimidating to the battalion commanders who gathered to brief him on the latest battlefield developments in this tough town northeast of Baghdad.
But with some easy repartee and a joke about his size, Odierno put them at ease, making it clear he had come around in his Black Hawk helicopter to speak candidly, not throw his weight around.
"What I wanted to do is take about five minutes and talk," Odierno told them after they finished their presentations. "I just want you to hear a few things from me. The perception out there right now is that we are sitting back and being defensive. I know that it is not true in your sector. But I want to make sure you understand my intent: that I want to be lethal. Make them understand, when they come up against us, they're going to be killed or captured."
Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, is in charge of all combat and reconstruction operations in the heart of the Sunni Triangle, the Sunni Muslim area north and west of Baghdad that includes former president Saddam Hussein's home region of Tikrit. As such, he is a key figure in the hunt for the ex-dictator.
He hasn't received the media attention of his fellow two-star general to the north in Mosul, Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division. And he isn't in Baghdad, where foreign journalists are based. But Odierno, like Petraeus, is considered one of the most promising major generals in the Army. At 49, he is its youngest division commander and one of the most rapidly promoted officers of West Point's Class of 1976.
If some of his peers view him as overly ambitious, the consensus among those above him and below him in rank is that he could rise to the Pentagon's upper reaches. "We see Ray as a potential four-star," said Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command who served with Odierno in the 1st Cavalry Division. "He's terrific with soldiers, he knows them and cares deeply for them."
Retired Col. John Antal, who served with him last year at Fort Hood, Tex., said, "He leads by example and takes no nonsense from anyone."
After seven months in Iraq, Odierno says his forces are winning the war in central Iraq, having "stabilized" their area through constant pressure on the enemy and hundreds of civic works projects.
Every day Americans are present, Odierno explained recently, is another day that Hussein's Baath Party is out of power, another day that infrastructure improves in Iraq, another day that local government and Iraqi security forces assume greater control over their country.
But with attacks on U.S. forces increasing -- two Black Hawk helicopters have been shot down near his headquarters in Tikrit in the past month -- Odierno acknowledged that the key to defeating the insurgency is patience.
"We've just got to stick with it," he said. "This is a tough fight, it's not easy. But it's worth it. You've got to look at the big picture -- not what it means tomorrow, but what it will mean to the United States in 10 years. It can change the Middle East. It can change the security of our country, if we do this properly."
Like other commanders, Odierno is still puzzling his way through the recent surge in attacks. He said he was encouraged by the success his forces were having against the threat posed by roadside bombs, defusing or otherwise defeating the devices 70 percent of the time.
The increasing number of attacks, which now average 35 a day across the country, does not necessarily mean that enemy forces are growing, he said. The clear trend toward "stand-off" attacks with roadside bombs and mines, rather than direct attacks with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, he said, may mean that the enemy's ranks have been reduced.
But there is no question, he said, that the enemy's high-profile attacks are becoming more effective. Casualties among the 27,000 troops he commands, including those from units attached to the 4th Infantry, have been relatively light, but not insignificant: more than 30 killed in action and well over 200 wounded. But morale among the troops, he said, remained high. "If you ask a soldier, would he rather be home? If you ask me, would I rather be home? Of course I'd rather be home with my family and drinking martinis and playing golf on the weekends," he said. "But you know what? This is what we're supposed to be doing."
By far the most difficult aspect of his mission, Odierno said, is its split nature. "Half the time you spend rebuilding the country," he said. "And the other half of the time you spend figuring out how you're going to destroy the insurgency -- and they're diametrically opposed."
One thing he doesn't do is spend much time talking about winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqis. "I'm not sure the objective is winning hearts and minds as much as it is showing the Iraqis we're going to give them a better way of life," he said. "They've been taught to hate us for 35 years, and you're not going to win their hearts and minds in seven months. It's showing them we're delivering them a better way to live, a better future, and then in time we'll win the hearts and minds."
Odierno grew up in Rockaway, N.J.. His father, Raymond J. Odierno, now 83, is a Columbia-educated engineer who was a sergeant in World War II.
A star athlete in high school, Odierno said he was attracted to West Point by its sense of camaraderie and by a desire to play football in the Army-Navy game. Injuries deprived him of that chance; he spent his final two years at West Point as a hard-throwing pitcher on the baseball team.
Though he never planned to stay in the Army beyond his initial five-year commitment, "I just kept liking what I was doing, so I stayed in," he said. "Before I knew it, I had 20 years in and a little bit of rank."
An artillery officer by training, Odierno has bounced back and forth between muddy-boots field commands and cerebral staff jobs. In the mid-1980s, the Army sent Odierno to North Carolina State University for a master's degree in nuclear effects engineering. Soon, he was working in Geneva as part of a team negotiating an arms treaty with the Soviet Union. In 1991, he served as a brigade executive officer in the Persian Gulf War.
After that, he served a peacekeeping tour in Bosnia; commanded division artillery for the 1st Cavalry Division; earned a second master's degree at the Naval War College; served as assistant commander of Task Force Hawk, the ill-fated Apache helicopter force sent to Albania during the war in Kosovo that never flew a combat mission; and found himself on the Army staff as a brigadier general when the Bush administration took office in 2001.
"He did outstanding work . . . laying out arguments for Army force structure" when aides to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld wanted to cut two divisions, said former Army secretary Thomas E. White. "He is a rare combination -- equally at home as a field commander or in the Pentagon," White said.
During the 2nd Brigade's briefing in Baqubah, Odierno sat front and center in a large field tent, listening intently, his helmet off but his massive chest still encased in body armor. Then he stood and spoke for just a few minutes, pausing deliberately between thoughts.
He urged his subordinate commanders to constantly review what was going on in their sectors. He told them to change their patterns and rigorously examine how the enemy was adjusting tactics. "It's what I call hard Army work. It's what we've got to do every day. It will save lives," he said. "I'm very proud of what you're doing. I just wanted to make sure you hear it from me how important I think it is. Take the fight to them; take the fight to them."
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
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Today Show Coverage - B/1-67 Armor Wives
I am a tanker Mom for B Co 1-67 AR. We have a very active support group for the men of this company, and several members (wives and girlfriends) took it upon themselves to prepare cookies, Christmas stockings, raised money to buy games and other items for ALL the men of Bravo for Christmas. 4th ID was asked by the Today Show if they could come to Ft. Hood and do a segment about the coming holidays and what is being done to support the troops. It was taped today, Monday Nov 17 and should air on the Today Show either Wed., Thurs or Friday morning this week and the ladies of B Co 1-67 were asked to be in the segment. If there is a lot of breaking news, it will air next week. Several wives were interviewed and all the activity of packing (actually repacking as everything was already done and ready to go) the boxes, stuffing stockings etc. Banners were made to send to the troops, to thank Killeen and for the Today Show staff and the ladies made special T shirts to wear, I especially like the "I Love My Tanker" shirt made by my son's girlfriend.
Since we do not have a specific date, it was suggested to check the NBC Today Show website or if you want just set the VCR up and tape for 3 hours (7-10am). It is likely the Dallas NBC affiliate and maybe the NBC station closer to Ft. Hood will also air a segment during their local news, as the taping was done by the Dallas affiliate. I'll be taping NBC nightly news too just in case. I wanted to give everyone a heads up, even if we do not know a specific day, it will be great to see something positive in the news.
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101st web page:
We have some 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) families among our readers. One wrote the following to me: Would you consider putting the address for the 101st newsletter in your update once? It took me forever to find out about it. It isn’t really a newsletter like yours, it is put out by 101st in Iraq. Here is the site…It is pdf so takes a while to load… if you decide to put it in, be sure to add that fact… one might think it is not linking because no hour glass shows but then bingo, it is there
http://www.campbell.army.mil/IDN/
I checked it out and it's a good newsletter, comes out weekly it appears and there are 47 issues stored on the site.
And for you who have not checked out our 4ID web page, we have similar issues of Ironhorse Desert News on our site at: http://pao.hood.army.mil/4id/ There are now 26 issues of Ironhorse Desert News on our site, most recent one is dated November 10 - plus lots of other 4ID information and pictures of interest.
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Remember Our Wounded in Your Prayers
The following note from one of our wives brought this topic home to me. When we have a KIA, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the soldier who was killed. However, I know that I don't spend enough time focused on those who have been wounded, either from hostile action or from accidents.
Let us not forget that we have many 4ID and TF Ironhorse soldiers who have been wounded, some with life altering wounds that will be with them always, and others who will return to normal with the benefit of time.
In the interest of privacy, DoD does not name the soldiers who have been wounded, and I won't either. But the following is one of many that we want to remember in our daily prayers....
I just wanted to let you know I received a heartbreaking phone call from my husband, who's with 299 Engineers in Tikrit. The other day, a close friend of his was in a horrific accident where he was very badly burned all over his body. From what I could understand, there was an explosion in an ammunition bunker he was driving past, and some how due to the explosion he drove his vehicle into the bunker, then jumped out of it. I don't know if you can do this, using his name or whatever, but I was wondering if you can include him on your update so that everyone can pray for this poor soldier and his family and friends. My husband is hearing he's in really bad shape, he's in Germany now and he heard they may try to get him to a good burn center in San Antonio soon.
Let us all remember our wounded soldiers in our daily prayers.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany's Hurtgen Forest:
18 November 1944 - D+166
The same well prepared positions, protected by mines and wire entanglements, were utilized by the enemy in its slow withdrawal in front of our forces. In each case, the withdrawal was protected by heavy mortars and artillery preparations which enabled the enemy to abandon one position and then fall back to another previously prepared. A total of 35 shellings were reported, mostly with 105 mm.
The 4th Infantry Division continued its attack to the east and northeast.
The 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry crossed its line of departure at 0915 with company C supported by one platoon of medium tanks. The tanks led the way, ran down the concertina wire, destroying anti-personnel mines and the attacking troops followed in the tanks' tracks without casualties to the main road. Being unable to continue across the road due to steep banks, the tanks were brought under enemy fire. The attacking infantry, however, continued its attack under cover of tank fire until they were ordered to consolidate positions for the night. During this time, the 2nd Battalion continued its reorganization without advancing and the 3rd Battalion staged companies I and F forward to high ground.
The 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, moved out at 0830 and passed through the line held by elements of the 1st Battalion at 1051. The advance was continued slowly by company G for another hour and, without contact with the enemy, difficulties were experienced in negotiating the many mine fields encountered. These mine fields consisted mostly of teller and box mines in the roadways, S and Schu mines in the wooded areas. Companies E and F encountered small arms and machine gun fire shortly after 1600 and were unable to bring up tank support because of the nature of the terrain. At 1607, they were stopped by the hostile fires. Positions were consolidated at this time, the biggest advance having been made by Company G.
The 22nd Infantry attacked at 0830 with the 1st and 2nd Battalion abreast, across the main north-south road toward the high ground. The 2nd Battalion immediately encountered heavy machine gun and small arms fire and was held up. The 1st Battalion advanced slowly against heavy mortar and artillery fire but at 1013, companies A and C were astride the road where the artillery and small arms fire was becoming intense. As the situation developed, the 3rd Battalion moved to protect the flank and to maintain contact between the attacking battalions. By 1345, the 1st Battalion had progressed 500 yards beyond the roadway and had secured its objective. The 2nd Battalion resumed its attack at 1430 and within an hour and a half, had pressed forward some 500 yards. By 1650, it was upon its objective.
Serious difficulties of supply and evacuation greatly handicapped the advance. The few roads were in poor shape (weather conditions) and were heavily mined as well as almost constantly interdicted, with as a result, the loss of important armored support.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers In Iraq:
1) Great News, My son has made a safe trip home for R&R until Dec. 2nd (A-Co 2/8). He called us when he was in Atlanta and then when he finally arrived in Dallas where his wife and children were waiting patiently for him for at least for 8 hours due to the delay of the fight. I could hear all the joy and relief in her voice. Thank God he has made it. We will be driving to Texas to spend the holiday with our new grandson and other family members. We are going to celebrate his birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas within this two week period. ... Happy Holiday to all the families out there.
2) We had Email from our son this AM.( HDC 204th FSB,Camp Warhorse, Baquba). He let us know that it is very cold, but that they had moved them out of their tents and into Container housing (He said- think trailer park), just before the temp dropped and sooner than planned as the wind was so bad a few days ago, it had ripped up their tents and torn off some of the hangar roofs. He said they also finally have flush toilets and showers near the C-huts and he got to shave out of a sink with hot water and a mirror for the first time in 7 months this morning! He was very upbeat- small comforts go such a long way! So living conditions are looking up for some of our soldiers...God bless them all!
3) I just got the best Christmas present a mother could ever wish for. My son, HHC, 1/22 IN, is on his way home. He just called and told me the good news. He has known for some time now, but wanted it to be a surprise. He planned on showing up at the door, but said once he got into the cold weather, he said, "forget this, I need a ride"! I thought something was up when I didn't hear from him over the weekend. He has been able to call each weekend, but when I didn't hear from him this past weekend, I began to worry as usual. He knew I would and that's why he called me this morning. I guess everyone else knew in the family but no one let it out! Of course his first words were, "what's for dinner". How nice to hear those words again! There are NO words that can explain how I am feeling right now!
4) We heard from our son last night HHC 1/67 Camp Scunion. Boy it's good to hear his voice! He said it was really cold, about 30 degrees. I asked him if he got steak & Lobster for Veterans Day (someone wrote in saying they had it on Warhorse) he said "That would be a BIG NEGATIVE" So I guess everyone didn't get that lucky. His only request was a couple of specific books, and more creamer.... it's on its way, the books will go tomorrow. He said they had been real busy, and had not had but a couple of hours sleep in 2 days, but had been able to get 9 hours on Sunday. I don't know how they do it! We'll keep them all in our prayers and thoughts.
5) The Under Armor shirts (long and short-sleeved) can be found at either your local military clothing and sales. If you are not "in" the military they can be purchased from: rangerjoe.com I sent my husband (1/66 AR, Iron Knights) two of them. Be prepared to spend about $24 dollars for each shirt (short-sleeved version). I can not remember how much the long-sleeved version is off the top of my head. I hope this helps.
6) Just a quick note to let you know my husband 1/17FA from Ft Sill, OK has recently gone back to Iraq. He was home for 15 wonderful days!! It was difficult to say good bye again, but worth it. I look forward to the day that he is back at home for good, it won't be long now though. He said that living conditions continue to improve and says he has enough personal hygiene items for the whole battery!! (ha ha) We look forward to the end of this deployment and getting back to normal. God bless our troops and thanks for the updates!!
7) Received call from my son (223rd Eng Bn, Camp Warhorse,Baqubah) on Saturday. I was at Walmart checking out when my cell phone rang. I know the checker thought I was crazy! He had called home, but no one answered. He had guard duty Friday night and said it was very cold. Said I didn't need to send any cold weather gear, they were issued items. As we left out, my Mother bought some peanut brittle from some ladies to send to her grandson. When they heard that she was sending it to Iraq they donated 2-3 more packs. I told my son what they did and he asked, "Are you using me in Iraq to get free stuff?" :) We laughed, but I told him that a lot of people wanted to do things when they found out you had a soldier in Iraq. My heart breaks for those that have lost loved ones. May God bless every soldier here and abroad.
8) My husband (4th MP Co. 2nd Plt.) called me yesterday morning to tell me that he had done a holiday greeting for us that was supposed to be on the television...and like another one of your readers, I do not know where to look to find his greeting. He is supposed to be coming home in the next month for his 2 weeks of R&R and he is really looking forward to it. We have not seen him since Valentine's Day, and we miss him terribly (this being our first deployment). If anyone knows about where we can view our Holiday Greetings from Iraq...please pass along the info..... GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS AND THE USA....HOOAH!
9) My son is also at Camp Scunion. I would also like to know the network doing the holiday messages. My Christmas presents have been mailed and I too shopped and cried and wrapped and sobbed. The day after I mailed them we received a letter that he was bumped up on the leave list and will be home in a couple of weeks! Go figure!
(Editor's Note - that's a problem we'd all like to have).
10) Just a few words from a soldier that was in 3/16FA at Baquba. I have just returned home and wanted to let everyone know that everything there was pretty good. Good food, good living accomodations and really good friends. But the best part is when mail comes and a soldier receives a package or letter from friends or family. When your soldier returns home please be patient due to they will be getting up at all hours of the night for some time. Would tell you for how long, but do not know because I am still going through some changes myself. I know everyone over there would like to call more, but the phone situation makes it to where when you do get through after waiting in line and repeated dialing forever, the connection is often filled with static. Soldiers have learned to deal with it just to hear the voice of the ones they love. Every soldier there really appreciates the love and support that has been given during this deployment. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, JUST HOME
11) Just wanted to share that 2-8 Charlie Co has finally got Internet access! I think that they must be the last to get it! Anyhow, was checking my mail and I caught him logging on! We got to talk on messenger for about 30 minutes. He was the first to use it :) He's supposed to get home for some of that R&R the first week of December.. I'm counting the days! We... I...just bought a smoker, so he's looking forward to lots of steaks and brats!
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