Active Unit News

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 Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers were killed when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) and overturned. Killed were:

Pfc. Cody J. Orr, 21, of Ruskin, Fla. was killed Jan. 17, north of Taji, Iraq. Orr was one of three soldiers killed while conducting a surveillance sweep for IEDs north of Baghdad when the attack occurred. Orr was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Larry E. Polley, Jr., of Center, Texas, was killed Jan. 17, north of Taji, Iraq. Polley was one of three soldiers killed while conducting a surveillance sweep for IEDs north of Baghdad when the attack occurred. Polley was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, 26, of Miami, Fla., was killed Jan. 17, north of Taji, Iraq. Randle was one of three soldiers killed while conducting a surveillance sweep for IEDs north of Baghdad when the attack occurred. Randle was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The incident is under investigation.

(Let us keep the families and fellow soldiers of PFC Orr, SPC Polley, and SGT Randle in our thoughts and prayers).

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Here is why I've been telling you to watch the President's State of the Union address. Hopefully you saw this great American and 4ID soldier and his wife representing all of us last night. Unfortunately, the TV camera didn't show the 4ID patch, at least I never did see it.

Fort Hood soldier picked as guest of first lady

SUZANNE GAMBOA

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A decorated Army soldier from Texas who helped in the capture of Saddam Hussein was picked as a guest of first lady Laura Bush for President Bush's State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Staff Sgt. Joey Marshal Wommack, 30, was to have headed back to Iraq Monday night after a two-week visit home, but his return was delayed a night so that he could make the appearance at the House chamber for the president's speech, his father, Ted, said.

A 10-year Army veteran, Wommack is a cavalry scout platoon sergeant with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood. He was deployed to Iraq in April and was among soldiers with the division and special forces in Iraq who found the former Iraqi leader hiding in a hole when they raided a farm outside Tikrit.

Wommack's unit conducted rear security during Saddam's capture, the White House said.

"He's very excited," Wommack's sister Stacy Entzminger said in a phone interview from her parents' Garland home. "I'm just real excited about it. I'm real proud of him."

Wommack, who is married, is the son of a 20-year Army veteran. He has received two Bronze Stars from his service during the Iraq war, seven Army commendation medals and seven Army achievement medals, the White House said.

Although he was born at Fort Campbell, Ky., Wommack "considers himself a true, blue Texan," his father said. Several family members planned to watch the president's speech together in Garland, Ted Wommack said.

Wommack's wife, Kelly, told the AP last month that her husband was on Cloud Nine after Saddam's capture.

"It was just like he had won the lottery or something," she said at the time. "I was just ecstatic for him. ... I don't know how you can top your career (after this).".....

Copyright 2004 AP Wire and wire service sources.

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President Praises the Military for Taking on the 'Hardest Duty' By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2004 – President Bush praised service members around the world for their sacrifices to defend America during his State of the Union address tonight. He said that the men and women of the American armed forces "have taken the hardest duty" in the war on terror.

He added that hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members are based around the world protecting America.

"We've seen their skill and their courage in armored charges, and midnight raids and lonely hours on faithful watch," Bush said at the U.S. Capitol. "We have seen the joy when they return, and felt the sorrow when one is lost."

The president said he had a special message for the many soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines listening to the speech. "I want you and your families to know America is proud of you," he pointed out. "And my administration and this Congress will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror."

Senators, House members, Cabinet secretaries – everyone in the House of Representatives chamber rose and gave a sustained standing ovation in response.

Bush said that America is a nation with a mission that comes from Americans' most basic beliefs. "We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire," he said. "Our aim is a democratic peace – a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this cause with friends and allies at our side, yet we understand our special calling: This great republic will lead the cause of freedom."

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers attended the speech as did the members of the Joints Chiefs members Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee.

Also attending as special guests of first lady Laura Bush were a number of service members recently returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marine Sgt. Dawn M. Campbell of Madison, Wis., now stationed at Henderson Hall, Va., served as a convoy commander in Iraq with the 2nd Transportation Support Battalion.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Douglas Combs Jr. of Fall River, Mass., is assigned to the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment headquartered at Fort Campbell, Ky. He helped in the raids that captured Saddam Hussein.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Clinton W. Smith Jr. of Forestville, Md., returned from Baghdad October 2003, where he served with the 447th Air Expeditionary Group.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen M. Kuczirka of Cincinnati returned from the Arabian Gulf Jan. 16.

Army Specialist Matthew Moss of Oxnard, Calif., a Florida National Guardsman, is a combat medic with the 3rd Battalion of the 124th Infantry. He returned from Baghdad in November 2003 due to injuries sustained in action.

Army Staff Sergeant Joey M. Wommack of Garland, Texas., is a Cavalry Scout Platoon Sergeant with G Troop, 10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division. He arrived from Iraq Jan. 4 and is scheduled to return there later this month.

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Can You Believe It's Been a Year?

It was one year ago today, January 21, 2003, that my first 'update' went out to three key players in the 4th Infantry Division Association and the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society.

This is what started it all, an email from me to the guys who run our 4th Infantry Division Association and 22nd Infantry Regiment Society web pages:

Date: January 21, 2003

From: Babcock224@aol.com

To: Web masters of 4IDA and 22nd Infantry Regiment Society

Subject: Fwd: 4th Division to deploy

Guys - can we get some notice up on the 4IDA, 22nd, and 1-22 web sites about this article. It's probably the best way to let our guys know what's happening. I watched the NBC news tonight and they didn't mention it and ABC mentioned Fort Hood deployment but no mention of 4ID. Haven't seen what CBS or cable channels are reporting, probably nothing. After all, we aren't the sex appeal division.... if I sound bitter, I am. The press really irritates me - but it's the same as WWII and Vietnam so I shouldn't be surprised. --------------------------------------------------



U.S. Sending 4th Infantry to Gulf

January 21, 2003

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army's 4th Infantry Division, equipped with tanks, attack helicopters and artillery to defeat armored forces, is heading a group of 37,000 soldiers ordered to ``reposition'' in the Persian Gulf region.

The Army announced on Monday that Task Force Ironhorse (first time I'd ever heard the term, now I wear it on my cap every day) will join tens of thousands of other American forces that have been assembling in preparation for possible war against Iraq.

The 4th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Ivy Division, is considered the Army's most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division, with the most sophisticated information-gathering and command and control equipment.

In addition to about 12,500 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, nearly 4,000 soldiers from the division's 3rd Brigade at Fort Carson, Colo., and more than 20,000 troops for 10 other installations comprise the task force, according to Fort Hood spokesman Cecil Green.

Green said he could not provide more details such as the country in which the soldiers will be deployed or when they would ship out.

Officials in Washington said it was possible that parts or all of the task force would go to Turkey. The Pentagon has wanted to put ground forces into Turkey to establish the option of invading Iraq from the north. Thousands of U.S. forces already are in Kuwait, training for a possible attack on Iraq from the south.

The Turkish government, however, has so far refused to permit any sizable U.S. ground force to assemble there.

In a bid to clear the way for an agreement on U.S. troops, Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Turkish military leaders in Ankara, the capital. Afterward he refused to discuss details.

``Turkey has been a very cooperative partner,'' Myers told reporters. ``I would expect them to be in the future as well.'' ......

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld apparently gave the go-ahead to deploy Task Force Ironhorse last week. In remarks to the Reserve Officers Association on Monday, Rumsfeld made no reference to the Army deployment and said it remained possible that the Iraqi crisis could be resolved peacefully.

Rumsfeld insisted that, if war comes, the United States will not have to act alone.

``Let there be no doubt, there are large numbers of countries that are signed up to be helpful in the event that force is needed in dealing with Iraq,'' he said. ``This business about going it alone or unilateral is nonsense. There are a substantial number of countries that are ready to help. There are also a number of countries that are ready to help after it's over in terms of a coalition to assist with the humanitarian aspects of the country.''

In a series of deployment orders dating to Dec. 24 last year, Rumsfeld has given the go-ahead for at least 125,000 U.S. forces to head toward the Gulf. They will join the roughly 60,000 troops already training there, and Pentagon plans call for the total eventually to reach 250,000 for war and postwar stabilization......

Copyright Associated Press 2003.

(And rather than depending on the web pages exclusively, I started sending out updates to friends, family members, and fellow veterans - and now we're at about 3,000 who receive this update direct from me each day. No telling how many get it in total).

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Sent to me by a reader. From the Dallas Morning News.

Tom Giboney: A new generation rises to greatness 09:39 AM CST on Tuesday, January 20, 2004

By TOM GIBONEY

They are coming home soon. The ground troops who won the war and are building the new paradigm for peace are coming home. Just wait.

More than 75,000 young Americans are rotating back home. They left as kids. They return as adults, hardened by their facing and beating evil. They join those who recently returned from Afghanistan.

And they have a story that is worth telling.

I just hope we listen.

Politicians and journalists who want to strike and criticize from the sidelines with "questions" will have to scrap with these new, hardened citizens who bring answers. Ask, and these Americans will tell you the truth from having their boots in the sand.

They will talk around the family dining room table, in their old school rooms, at their churches and even in a pub or two. These young adults will tell, in their own words, the story of the liberation of Iraq.

They will speak of the valor of their friends (some of whom were wounded or died), the honor of their sergeants and the camaraderie of their peers that kept them going when they moved together into harm's way.

They will speak of the horrors of the dictators who almost destroyed Iraq. They will speak of giving food to the hungry, rebuilding schools, providing clean water, replenishing hospitals and, for the first time in a long while, seeing hope in the eyes of a noble people.

They won't speak of their own duty, their own honor or their own courage. That is what they say they found in their friends. But they will shun those traits for themselves.

Still, let there be no doubt that those garlands should fall on their own young shoulders, too. They won't speak of being role models for those who were deprived of freedom for decades. They can't see in themselves the honor, the personal responsibility and the drive to do what is right that they learned at home. They won't see their greatest gift to a yearning world – themselves.

This new generation of Americans joins those returning veterans of Vietnam and Korea whose voices were silenced. They refresh the dwindling ranks of World War II Americans honored upon their triumphant return.

The tree of freedom is renewed by the sweat and blood of each generation.

Just wait. They are coming.

And they will become impatient. They will see hungry American children, broken American schools, aged water and power systems and inefficient medical care. They fixed all of that in Iraq, and they know it can be done. They will accept no less in America.

The homecoming of the next Great Generation. Welcome them, listen to them and watch them. Their greatness still is to come.

Tom Giboney of Dallas is a 20-year military veteran who now is a civilian working in Baghdad to help rebuild Iraq. His Web log is http://deeds.blogspot.com.

Copyright Dallas Morning News.

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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Luxembourg:

21 January 1945 - D+230

The enemy continued to occupy emplacements and strong points located on favorable terrain. Mines, booby traps and concentrations of artillery and mortar assisted the enemy in its defense. From the vicinity of Bettel, enemy tanks or assault guns fired on our troops.

The 8th Infantry resumed its attack. The 1st Battalion encountered stiffening resistance. The 3rd Battalion extended its sector and relieved the 2nd Battalion which moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of Bettendorf.

The 12th Infantry continued the attack to the north with the 1st and 2nd Battalions. Throughout the day, the 2nd Battalion encountered heavy artillery, small arms and tank fire. Many casualties were sustained by Companies F and G. Company E captured and cleared enemy from the town of Longsdorf.

The 22nd Infantry continued to defend. Enemy activity in the sector was negligible.

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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:

1) To add to your comments on taking plenty of photographs. When I learned that my son was going to be deployed (B 3-66 AR) I began gathering news articles and pictures of what was going on. I started a scrap book that began with his basic training graduation, and has gone forward since then. I have kept news from all over Iraq, but of course those dealing with Bayji get extra little touches. I began this project to show him just how proud I was of him, but also to give him something to someday show his children. I found that the time and energy I have spent to make this very informative, and sometimes lighted hearted, has helped me get through this deployment. Every hour I spend working on this, I am doing for him. It has actually helped me to get through this.

2) The phone rang at 3:30am this morning, and it was our son who is with A Btry (2nd Plt) 1-44ADA. It was so great to hear his voice. We hadn't heard from him in several weeks because the phones were down. He said there was nothing that he needed because he could get things from the PX. He said the mail has been slow. I asked him about the weather, and he said it was pretty cold. I could hear by the tone of his voice that his spirits were down. A Btry (2nd Plt) is located with B Btry, so the Saturday incident was also weighing heavy on his mind. He said he had just come in from patrol in his Bradley when the incident happened. My heart aches for those who lost loved ones. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

3) My son, who is with 1-22 HHC, just flew home for his R&R. He was met at Baltimore Airport by the VFW who gave all the soldiers a hero's welcome and helped them all get through customs and ticket counters quickly. It's so nice that they were there for all the soldiers. My son really appreciated it and so did his family, since we weren't able to be there. I hadn't read about this before and wanted everyone to know what a great job the VFW is doing.

4) My husband who's in 2/20th FA based in Taji, called me this past Saturday, 1-17-04. He was upset because the three soldiers in the Bradley incident who were killed this past week, were in his unit. He said he had not been able to call or e-mail me because they had shut down everything when it happened. I've learned that apparently this is procedure after an incident like this. It's done to prevent news leaking out before the families are notified. Anyway, he said that the soldiers at the base were pretty down about it and that things were kind of mellow and quiet. My heart went out to him and the others. I felt like nothing I could say could make things better. It hurts to know we've lost more precious lives. My prayers go out to the families. Every time I read about another casualty, I cry my heart out. My husband and I were just talking on IM and he said they had the ceremony for the fallen soldiers today. He said it was very emotional. He seemed in better spirits today, but our prayers continue on for our soldiers and those families who have lost loved ones. I just can't wait until all our solders can come home.

5) Bob, just got an email from my friend (E/704th) who had been at Walter Reed for Leish treatment and 5 days of convalescent leave with his folks. He says, "I made it back to this rat hole in 38 hours. Pretty good considering that the people at the movement tent said that 704 wouldn't be down to Balad until two days later. I said BS and went looking for bumper numbers. Found out that A/244 ENG just down the street had a convoy going north in a couple of hours. I was on it. I even got to ride in the back of an armored Hummer. That was a pretty nice ride. The flight out of BWI was on a DC-10 with only 35 people on it. That was good. We refueled in Frankfort and went on to Kuwait with only 20 people on the plane. A flight attendant for each two people. It was great, much room, movies, much sleep. Let Mom know that I finally got here. She will be working on her worry beads if you don't..... Latest word is that we will start to pack up our stuff at the end of FEB. The division should be back before the end of APR, how much before I don't know."

6) My son is with 2/20 FA at Taji, and he was pretty upset about the incident Saturday as well. He called home last night on the morale phone at 3:00 AM his time (6:00 PM our time). All he could say was that he needed to talk to someone from home. He said he had his buddy wake him up at that hour, he dressed in 4 layers of clothes, to stand in the cold and talk to us. WOW. He was so emotional from the loss of those guys, that he could barely talk, but he wanted to just hear the sound of our voices. It was hard, as a mom, to talk to him without crying, but talk we did, amongst the falling tears. How I hurt for the families now of those boys.

7) I received an email from my husband on the 17th. He's with B co 2-8 attached with 1-67 Armor. He said he made the list and was promoted to an E-6 Staff Sergeant. Anyway, he said him getting this promotion was as much a part of me than him because I kept pushing him telling him he can do it. Plus his old SGT was good at pushing him, too. He said he hopes they don't pin him there, he would like our kids to get the chance to do it. I said, if they pin you there, we'll do our own little thing and he can let the kids pin him again like it was the first time. He wished me a Happy 1st Anniversary & told me he'd make it his mission to call me on the 18th which is our actual date. I received a call and got to talk to him about 30 mins. with the calling card I got him. On the Redeployment tips, I had a question for the guy that wrote in #2 - what websites did you find the massage technique? I know my husband would love it if I gave him the foot massages with Loofah and foot cream and just bought him a Whirlpool Foot bath. Please show us the websites for massage, that would be great! My prayers and thoughts are with the Families that have lost love ones in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. God Bless all our young men and young women, bring them all home safe!!

8) Our son is part of the 4ID TF Ironhorse unit, 3BCT out of Fort Carson. We finally heard from him this week. It has been a long year. They continue to work hard until their day of departure. The morale continues to be HIGH and more now, that the time to come home is approaching. I have sent our son some of your clips from the website and they've been informative and motivational. Thanks for all of your advice and help.

9) I heard from my grandson today. He is with HHC 2 BDE 4 ID in Baquaba. He told me he is not sure when they are leaving to come back to the States so he didn't know when to tell me to stop mailing packages. He gave me a list of things he needs. He also told me that they are getting things ready for coming home. He told me "to tell you the truth I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I get home". I'm sure it will be quite an adjustment being back in the States. It was after he was back from Korea after being there 2 years. He is really looking forward to coming back. He will still have a couple of years left of the 6 years he signed up for, so I suppose the Army will keep him busy when he gets back and then he plans to return to College.

10) We good southerner's in Louisiana will have a long weekend in February for Mardi Gras! Now I know it isn't a "National Holiday" but a State Holiday and since my soldier (son-4ID) is now home he is really looking forward to his 1st family Mardi Gras in N'Awlins since he joined the Army 8 years ago! Thanks again for all you do. We are looking forward to the rest of A Co-1-4 AVN REGT coming home along with all the other units!

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Families Share R&R Moments:

1) Well he is on the plane heading back. I had worried that saying good-bye would be hard for him but I should have thought more of the man my son has become. Just before he left to board the plane he said "Mom, don't worry. I am just going back to my other family to get the job done. It won't be long before I am back." He worried about his "other family" (1/68 Fort Carson) the entire time he was here. We spent a great deal of time talking about the loss of his friend, CPL Gary Coleman and how that loss still weighs on him. There was so much to be thankful for and so much to catch up on. He went around the house touching everything. There are no words to express how proud we are of our son and his "other family." May God bless and protect them.

2) This month has been nuts. At first my husband (3-29FA out of Fort Carson) was to come home this month as he was to ETS in April; but due to the stop/loss he won't be home until his unit comes home. I was bummed but I understood. But just this past Monday morning he called and said he is elgilible to come home for 14 days of RR. I am so excited! He could be home by Feb 1st. I am nervous yet excited to see his face. And to have an actual normal conversation is going to be the best. I will have to email you about what we did. We have somewhat talked about going skiing. I know the 14 days is going to fly by but it is going to be wort