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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>From a formerly embedded reporter with the 4ID who has had two tours in Iraq:
Dec. 15, 2003, 5:38AM
4TH INFANTRY
Capture uplifts troops after war struggles
Army unit basks in glory
By MICHAEL HEDGES
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- For the soldiers of the Fort Hood-based 4th Infantry Division, capturing Saddam Hussein was sweet reward after spending nearly eight tough and sometimes frustrating months in Iraq and validated their tactic of tightening the noose in the former dictator's home area, senior officers said Sunday.
It was also a moment of glory for a division that was denied the spotlight during the battle for Baghdad in the spring by international politics. "There is a lot of pride in the division and the task force today," said Col. Don Campbell, chief of staff of Task Force Ironhorse, which is composed of the 4th Infantry and attached units, some 34,000 troops.
"This is the culmination of a lot of hard work," Campbell said by phone from Tikrit, Iraq. "We'll be emotionally high for a little while, then we know we have to get back to work."
While the division's commanders were under no illusions that Saddam's capture would end the daily skirmishing in central Iraq, they believed it did mark a decisive moment in the war. "We've removed the guy who held this area in an aura of fear," Campbell said.
The information that led to Saddam's capture came from one of dozens of loyalists rounded up for questioning in recent weeks by soldiers conducting so-called noose-tightening raids.
"What we realized early on in the summer is that we believe the people that we had to get were the midlevel individuals -- the bodyguards and other people who were closely associated with him," the division's commander, Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, said from Baghdad.
"We tried to work through family and tribal ties that might have been close to Saddam," Odierno said. "As we continued to conduct raids and capture people, we got more and more information. And finally we got the ultimate information from one of these individuals."
The hunt for Saddam culminated Saturday night with Operation Red Dawn in the village of Adwar, nearly 8 miles from Tikrit, his ancestral hometown.
More than 600 soldiers from the 4th Infantry's 1st Brigade, known as Raider Brigade, established a wide net around a suspected hideout, then formed a tighter cordon around a rural house and a mud hut where Saddam was believed hiding.
As a nervous Iraqi escorted U.S. troops around the property, one soldier spotted something that did not look right near the hut. "There was a piece of rug over what was a hunk of Styrofoam painted to look like a rock, with a rope attached," Campbell said. "When they checked it out, there was a small hole, and Saddam was in there."
Capturing Saddam marked a historic highlight for the 4th Infantry, whose time in Iraq has been marked by dangerous missions and the deaths and injuries of many of its soldiers. At least 34 division troops have been killed in action in Iraq, and dozens more have been wounded, the Pentagon said.
Late last year, military planners picked the 4th, the Army's most technologically advanced division, for a crucial mission in the invasion of Iraq. The unit, whose Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles were packed with computers, night optical devices and other high-tech gear, was to form into spearheads on the Turkish border with Iraq, then race south into the heart of the country. The division was to secure critical oil fields, liberate the Kurdish sector of Iraq and push to the gates of Baghdad.
But politics killed the plan when Turkey's parliament denied the Americans permission to land the division.
Instead, the 4th Infantry changed directions and went to Kuwait. It arrived after the ground war started. The division was given what promised to be another decisive mission in the invasion. It was going to relieve other units at the gates of Baghdad and mount the major assault on the capital. But the collapse of Iraq's military happened before the 4th Infantry could fully deploy.
As a result, other units grabbed most of the glory for overthrowing Saddam's regime. The 4th raced into northern Iraq and took up position in an area stretching from Baghdad to Tikrit, Saddam's hometown.
When insurgents later began their hit-and-run attacks against the division's soldiers, their tanks and Bradleys proved of limited value. Instead the division evolved tactics on the ground designed to pacify the area that had been the heart of Saddam's loyalists and developed intelligence that would eventually lead to Saddam's capture.
With Saddam's capture, officers said they were bracing for retaliatory attacks and were continuing their own aggressive patrols. "Since we really took the offensive in October and November we've seen a dramatic dropoff in attacks against us," Campbell said. "Last week, there were 42 attacks, and none were successful, none inflicted injuries upon our soldiers or even damaged equipment."
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Military: Saddam's Capture Led to Others
By JIM KRANE
.c The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Saddam Hussein's capture is reaping dividends for the U.S. military, providing intelligence that led to the arrest of several top regime figures in Baghdad, a U.S. general said Monday. Suicide bombers attacked police stations in the capital, killing eight people as the insurgency showed no sign of letting up.
A member of the Iraqi Governing Council said Saddam could be put on trial in the next few weeks and face execution if convicted, though another member said it could take four to six months to begin the trial before a war crimes tribunal set up last week.....
But U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling of the 1st Armored Division told The Associated Press in Baghdad that the first round of Saddam's questioning and documents in a briefcase found with him was "connecting the dots'' in intelligence on the insurgency.
Since Saddam's capture, U.S. Army teams from the 1st Armored Division have captured one high-ranking former regime figure - who has yet to be identified - and that prisoner has given up a few others, Hertling said. All the men are currently being interrogated and more raids are expected, Hertling said.
"We've already gleaned intelligence value from his capture,'' Hertling said. ``We've already been able to capture a couple of key individuals here in Baghdad. We've completely confirmed one of the cells. It's putting the pieces together and it's connecting the dots. It has already helped us significantly in Baghdad.''
Hertling said: "I'm sure he was giving some guidance to some key figures in this insurgency.''
With Saddam's capture, 13 figures remained at large from the U.S. military's list of 55 most-wanted regime officials. The highest ranking is Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a close Saddam aide who U.S. officials say may be directly organizing resistance.
Violence continued despite Saddam's capture. On Monday, car bombings at police stations in Baghdad left eight policemen dead and at least 17 wounded, police officials said. The deadliest attack was a suicide attack at a station house in northern Baghdad where the eight officers were killed. Two other car bombings at a west-side station caused seven injuries and additional explosions rocked the city hours later.
President Bush had warned attacks would not stop even with Saddam in custody.
Hertling said he hoped Saddam will eventually clear up allegations that he had chemical and biological weapons and a nuclear weapons program.
"I certainly think some of that will come out,'' Hertling said. "I think we'll get some significant intelligence over the next couple of days.''
Saddam's exact whereabouts Monday were unclear. U.S. officials said he had been moved to a secure location and remains in Iraq, Hertling said. CNN and the Dubai-based Arab TV station Al-Arabiya reported Saddam was taken to Qatar. A spokesman at U.S. Central Command would not give information on Saddam's location.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday that it hopes U.S. authorities will let it visit Saddam to check on the conditions in which he is being held.
Saddam could be tried "in the next few weeks'' and could be executed if convicted, said Mouwafak al-Rabii, a Shiite member of the Iraqi Governing Council told AP on Monday. Other council members said a trial would likely begin later......
12/15/03 08:45 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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N.J. Proud of General Who Captured Saddam
.c The Associated Press
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - The straight-talking commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, whose troops captured Saddam Hussein, grew up in this Morris County community, where he played high school football and where his parents and sister still live.
Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno's family beamed Sunday as they watched him discuss the capture on television.
``Ray's just like his Army division's motto, `Steadfast and Loyal,''' his sister, Nancy Patterson told The Record of Bergen County. ``They couldn't have picked anybody better to organize the capture of Saddam Hussein. He was always very, very committed to whatever he does, especially sports.''
Odierno and his troops had been dealing with extra pressure to find Hussein since Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told him a week ago that he was ``dumbfounded'' that a $25 million U.S. reward had not produced the Iraqi dictator. Troops under Odierno's command had been pursuing Hussein throughout northern Iraq since they arrived in April.
At 6 a.m. Sunday, Nancy Patterson and her husband, Bob, got a call from the general's wife, Linda.
``Turn on MSNBC,'' she said.
``You never know,'' Nancy said. ``That might have meant that something had happened to Ray.''
But there was Odierno at a news conference, declaring, ``I have said all along that I thought he was in this area.''
Thirty-three years ago, Odierno, a tight end, helped lead Morris Hills Regional High School to an undefeated championship season. He was recruited by West Point to play football, but an injury short-circuited his college football and he played baseball instead, his father, Raymond said.
==================== Posted on Mon, Dec. 15, 2003
Long time wanting to become a soldier; Long time looking for Saddam
BY BRETT MCNEIL
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO - (KRT) - His St. Patricia's grade school classmates dreamed of becoming famous football players or crime-fighting cops, but James Hickey knew early on that he would be a soldier. More than fighting, he wanted to lead.
The son of working-class Irish immigrants and raised in southwest suburban Hickory Hills, Hickey now serves as a colonel in the U.S. Army. As commander of the brigade responsible for patrolling Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, his name suddenly was in the spotlight with the former dictator's capture Saturday night.
Since last summer, Hickey, 43, has served as the commanding officer of the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade. Known as the "Raider Brigade," Hickey's soldiers have been hunting Hussein in and around Tikrit for more than eight months.
After several suspected near-misses - at one point last summer, Hussein was believed to move every two or three hours - Hickey's troops were among the 600-plus soldiers and special forces who finally landed the war's biggest catch this weekend.
When Hickey's name came up during a military news conference explaining Saturday's raid, the calls started to cascade into the homes of his brothers and sisters and parents - most of whom now live in Naperville.
"It was very nice to hear (military officials) actually mention his name. It was a very rewarding moment there," said Hickey's borther Ken. "We are just very proud of what he did. But it's a day where my parents are just overwhelmed because of all of the phone calls coming in."
"As a boy growing up - in the `70s, in the south suburbs - you had dreams to play for Notre Dame football. But Jim always wanted to be a general in the U.S. military," he said. "This was his calling and he knew that."
The second of six children, James Hickey played varsity soccer for St. Laurence High School in Burbank before graduating in 1978. He went to college at the Virginia Military Institute, and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1982, family members said.
In Texas, where Hickey's wife Maureen lives at Ft. Hood, the first congratulatory phone call came before 5 a.m."It's been an exciting day," she said, explaining that she had not yet talked with her husband about the now-famous raid.
"He left a message a couple days ago saying he'd call Saturday - and he didn't," she said. "Now I know why."
© 2003, Chicago Tribune.
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Another Request from PEOPLE Magazine - Deadline is Tuesday (today)
"Eye-witness to History" or detailed personal and emotional accounts from soldiers who were there when they caught Saddam. First-person stories from someone who was there, involved, and witnessed the whole thing and who have written back to family members to share the historic news. CNN has showed some of the guys returning from their mission taking snapshots of one another -- we'd also like to publish some of those pictures if they made it home via email. If you could forward any stuff my way via email, that would be great...also could you mention this request in tomorrow's letter out?? Families can send stuff to me at my email: melli57@aol.com. Final magazine deadline is 10:00PM on Tuesday, December 16 so stories should be in as early today as possible.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Great work reporting over the weekend. Everyone is so thrilled. I got 2 emails yesterday from my son in Tikrit (he had left his wallet back in Bayji so he couldn't call). He is with 1st Platoon G-Troop 10th Cav. Here are the excerpts. Early in the day--"We are getting 3 days off for good behavior. Talk to you soon."
This one was sent to his wife later in the day and forwarded to us -- "I'm here in Tikrit for 2 days and I left my wallet at Bayji. So I cant use the phone. ...oh well. I'll just send you some e-mail instead. We're getting 3 days off starting tomorrow. That will be nice since we've basically been going non-stop since I got back. (He returned to Tikrit from R&R on November 10)..... I will call you tomorrow my time, since by then I will be back at Lancer (Bayji). Ok, I know you want to know. Yes, I was there when we got Saddam. There was 1 platoon as well as spec ops on each objective ....... Just so happens that my platoon's objective had Saddam. Pretty cool to be able to be party to the capture of the most wanted man in the world. Unfortunately, I can't say that we did too much, the real credit goes to the spec ops guys, but we were still right there on top of the action. Sorry, you know the deal, no specifics, but it was pretty exciting. We stayed out till noon today (we started at about 1900 yesterday) so I am pretty tired (I haven't slept yet today, of course).
Bob, we are so proud of him and all our soldiers. I also hope the families of those who have given their lives and those wounded will find some joy in this accomplishment. Credit also goes to those who went before them. Thank you, US troops, and congratulations 4th ID for another job well done.
2) I'm searching for words on how this capture has made me feel. The amount of pride I feel for our soldiers in 4ID right now is overpowering. My husband is 4ID 1BCT 299 Engr. I hope so badly that he was one of the 600 who got to take part so that he can have that story to tell our children when he returns and our grandchildren years down the road. I don't care if he was just there helping to secure an area, to be part of history like that is so awesome. But even if he wasn't, they're ALL part of history and ALL deserving of this overwhelming pride. Also, I am very appreciative for what his capture has done for me because although I've always been a vocal supporter of this war and believer in this country, the last few months and the violence I've seen towards the soldiers I admire so much had taken a serious toll on keeping my postive outlook on all this. This enormous accomplishment has restored that for me, has filled me with the stregnth to keep positive until our soldiers come home. This was the best Christmas present God could have ever sent us. God bless 4ID!
3) As I read these updates I have noticed one very important item that seems to not be said enough. On behalf of those of us that do not have any family active in the military right now, I would like to thank every military family for the sacrifices they make so that their loved one can help to protect our country. I read these updates and it makes me feel good to in some ways stay connected so that I know what the families are going through. I can not imagine not being able to communicate with my husband, sisters, parents etc. on a daily basis. I truly have a much greater appreciation of our soldiers and their families now. The support they give the soldiers is unreal and should be recognized. Every military wife, husband, mother, father, sibling, significant other should pat themselves on the back because you are all special and very significant in making the world a safer place as well. Thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart. Merry Christmas and God Bless all of you!
4) My husband is currently in Kuwait. He was able to see Robin Williams do his Stand-up Routine! He called me to tell me how wonderful this trip has been for him! Tomorrow the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are coming. At least that is what he has heard! It is the first time since he left in April, that I heard him smile! I am so ever grateful for the USO and all the wonderful entertainers that have graced our soldiers over the years!
5) I am the mother of a 4th Inf soldier, my praise goes out to all of the soldiers in Iraq, whether they were in the group that caught Saddam or not. They all played an important role. Go 4th ID. God bless you all. (Editor's Note: As you would expect, this mother is absolutely correct. Every coalition soldier, sailor, marine, airman serving in Iraq, now or in the past, played a key role in making this capture of Saddam happen. All should have deep pride in what they as a team accomplished. HOOAH!)
6) Our son is with the 4th ID, 1-12 IN, and this is the e-mail we received from him this morning; "About an hour after the broadcast was made national about Saddaam, about a half a dozen Iraqis came to our location. Came up to the gate with weapons in hand above their heads to surrender their weapons. Cool huh? So maybe it'll just end like that. I'm sure there will still be a few bad apples, but that's six less guys we have to watch out for."
7) I am the FRG leader for our Troop ( Bravo 1/10 Cav). I am trying to locate as many as possible of our single soldier (and married) family members, especially parents and fiances. We have a composite listing of our spouses already. I would like to keep them up to date on the comings and goings of our activities and fund raisers. At this time we have a fund raiser in progress to benefit the welcome home celebrations and plans. We have available to all t-shirts...the front left has the buffalo insignia and on the back we have the Troop guidon with all of our soldiers names listed in alpha order. The t-shirts cost $9.50 up to size XL Adult. The youth sizes (xs thru xl) are the same price. The children are really proud to wear them to school. Anyone interested in ordering or family members who are not currently being contacted by the FRG and would like to be can contact me at clankenefick91@hotmail.com .
8) After not having any communications from son with HHC, 3/66 AR in Bayji for 2 weeks, he called on Saturday morning. The phone connection was not good - we could hear everything he said, but our conversation was cutting out. We had had no email communication in over 2 weeks and I was worried, but he said their "internet cafe" was down and a new company was to come in with a new contract - that's why no emails of late. He had finally received Christmas packages and blankets I had sent. He had put up his tree and they had eaten all the Christmas cookies. His only request was for more salsa! Of course, when I ask what he had been doing, he always gives me "same old, same old, Mom." His call was before Saddam's capture and I have since learned that he was on another mission at the time, but that they had celebrated over the news on their return to camp.
9) Just had to share: My husband (3-66 in Bayji) called us all on the day they got youknowwho. He just HAD to be the first to tell us, and got mom and dad out of bed at 6am, me a little later ;) He only caught my answering machine, but boy what a great keeper that message will make, hearing him whooping and shouting with glee. He was so happy and exited, laughing and cheering over the phone, it was a real morale booster for everyone involved. Incidentally (which I thought was funny as heck) he used the same words as the big guys: We got'im, we GOT HIIIIIIIIM
10) My son (1/68 AR C co) happens to be home on leave, but was elated to wake up to the good news on Sunday morning! We are enjoying our time, although he is feeling a little bad about being away from his fellow soldiers. Also wanted to mention that I received the CD of your updates and for anyone who doesn't have it, it is well worth the donation. It was so interesting reading the updates from January when things weren't going quite as planned. Thanks for all your work on that.
11) From a WWII vet of the 4ID, landed on D-Day, wounded, came back, and fought through the war: I am still flying high on the news, I had just turned the radio on when the news came on. I received calls from three WWII 4ID buddies, we all acted like kids. We all agreed that we were so fortunate that we wore the 4th Division patch. The 4th is getting much deserved press, especially here as Col. Hickey's parents live close to me, and he grew up not too far from here. Maybe our prayers are finally being answered, let's hope that the end is near, so everyone can come back home. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family.
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