Active Unit News

Updates from Col. Don Campbell, 1st Brigade Commander
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

Updates from 1st "Raider" Brigade - continued from yesterday
As promised in yesterday's update, here are the updates from 4-42 Artillery and 4th Forward Support Battalion. I've also include G Troop 1-10 Cavalry.
Again, I will be happy to include other unit updates if I receive them, to date I haven't gotten anything except from 1st Brigade.
4-42 Field Artillery Mission Summary
The 4th Battalion 42nd Field Artillery moved into Iraq during the third week of April and stopped just north of Baghdad at Taji Airfield. While working as part of Task Force Gunner, the soldiers of 4-42 FA found and destroyed hundreds of enemy weapons and conducted numerous raids to stop the illegal sale of firearms. After three weeks of intense work, 4-42 FA departed Taji Airfield and moved operations to the greater Tikrit area, within the 1st Brigade Combat Team’s area of responsibility. The battalion left Bravo Battery behind to continue conducting operations in Taji as part of Task Force Gunner. Alpha Battery moved up about ten days before the remainder of the battalion in order to provide fire support for both 1st and 4th Brigades.
4-42 FA established Fire Base Arrow in Ad Dawr during the second week of May. Currently, the Battalion remains in this area to the South of Tikrit on the east side of the Tigris River conducting stability operations and limited combat operations. The first step to stabilizing the area was conducting raids and seizures of numerous weapons caches and old regime strongholds. As an invaluable part of Operation Planet X, 4-42 FA helped seize two members in the top 60 most wanted list. The battalion continues o provide safety by disarming the hostile citizens through sustained checkpoints and security patrols. As we work toward being able to hand over control of this country to its population, we continue to empower the local government, industry, and law enforcement. The Battalion has had the pleasure of promoting, organizing, and conducting free elections for the first time in these people’s lives. Thousands of citizens voted for officials ranging from mayor to community and company council epresentatives. The local residents have enjoyed the benefits of restored alaries for teachers and policeman as well as over 38,000 rations, supplied nd distributed by the battalion. In addition to conducting stability operations, 4th Battalion 42nd Field Artillery continues its doctrinal mission of fire support by shooting in support of 299 EN and 1-66 AR in northern Tikrit and Samarra. These rounds helped 299 EN chase suspected weapons smugglers down the Tigris River, and stopped the daily attacks against 1-66 AR in Samarra.
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Packhorse Update: 4th Forward Support Battalion
The following is a summary of the activities/events that occurred within the Packhorse Battalion’s Area of Operations (BSA) and/or members of the Battalion participated in during the week of 28 May – 4 June 2003.
The Packhorse Battalion’s mission and focus is to provide uninterrupted and sustained logistics support to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, and the past week has been no different than the previous weeks that we have operated from Tikrit, Iraq. The Packhorse Battalion has enabled the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) to sustain its combat effectiveness and equipment readiness; through the utilization of Logistics Release Points (LRPs) and an aggressive plan to expedite Class IX parts to the maneuver units coupled with a synchronized and prioritized maintenance plan.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 30 May 03 – BG (P) Speakes, ADC-S, 4ID (Task Force Ironhorse) visited the Packhorse Battalion. BG Speakes spent nearly seven hours within the Brigade Support Area. We provided him a short briefing on the Battalion’s operations from Tikrit, Iraq, covering Force Protection (BSA Layout), activities (enemy) within our area, Quality of Life and support to the 1st Brigade (Raider) Combat Team. Following the briefs, we provided the ADC-S a mounted tour of our Area of Operation highlighting several critical areas that are enablers in providing uninterrupted and sustained logistics support to the 1st BCT. The ADC-S had dinner with the soldiers of the Packhorse Battalion (our food service personnel were very creative on this day, and served fried chicken), significantly impacting the morale of the Packhorse Battalion. The ADC-S enjoyed the meal and his time with the Packhorse Battalion. The visit was declared a huge success!!!!
- 31 May 03 – The Commanding General, 4ID (Task Force Ironhorse) visited the Packhorse Battalion for nearly four hours. The CG’s visit was identical to the ADC-S visit, with the exceptions that the CG opted to walk the area, and his schedule did not allow him to have dinner with the Packhorse Battalion. The visit was declared a great success.
- 1 – 4 Jun 03 – Packhorse Six, presented the Battalion’s Deployment coins to the soldiers of the Battalion (including the attached elements). He also took the opportunity to thank the soldiers for their service to our country, and their support and loyalty to the organization during his command tenure. Selected individuals were presented with a belt buckle or Commander’s coin for Excellence for their outstanding work in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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Operation Iraqi Freedom
G Troop, 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment
28 MAY 03 – 03 JUN 03

GENERAL: During the week of 28 MAY 03 to 03 JUN 03, the soldiers of G/10 CAV conducted reconnaissance operations in the form of mounted and dismounted presence and security patrols to the east of Tikrit, Iraq to destroy hostile forces and enemy weapons in order to make the area more stable and secure for the Iraqi people. These missions were conducted during all hours of the day and night.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
28 MAY 03 – CPT Desmond Bailey, the incoming Commander, arrived at the Troop and began his Change of Command Inventories
29 MAY 03 – The Troop conducted a farewell ceremony for Mr. Timms, our embedded reporter from the Dallas Morning News
30 MAY 03 – Mr. Ed Timms departed the Troop to return home to the United States
02 JUN 03 – Promoted PFC Dunn to Specialist, PV2 Helmrich to Private First Class, PV1 Cruz to PV2, PV1 Hayes to PV2, and PV1 Watkins to PV2
(Tomorrow we will highlight 1-22 Infantry and 3-66 Armor to round out these weekly updates from 1st Brigade).

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