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| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
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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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Iraq Roadside Blast Kills 3 U.S. Troops
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP)--A homemade bomb planted on a road exploded Saturday as a U.S. Army convoy passed by, killing three soldiers, the U.S. military said. A military spokesman said an improvised bomb blew up about 25 miles southwest of Kirkuk, near a convoy of the 4th Infantry Division. The spokesman said he had no other details. Kirkuk, a major oil producing area, is about 60 miles north of Tikrit where the 4th Infantry Division is based.
AP-NY-01-31-04 0529EST
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press.
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U.S. Soldier Is Killed in Central Iraq
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - An American soldier was killed and 12 wounded in a rocket attack Sunday on an Army base in central Iraq, the U.S. military said.
The rocket landed inside a logistics support base of the 4th Infantry Division in Balad, 50 miles south of the division's headquarters in Tikrit, an Army statement said.
It said two of the injured soldiers were in serious condition. After the attack, troops detained 16 people including four women for questioning, the statement said.
Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein, is part of the Sunni Triangle, where most of the anti-U.S. insurgency has taken place.
The death raised to 523 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in the conflict in Iraq.
02/01/04 13:29 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
(Editor's Note: DoD has not yet announced the name of our casualties, hopefully that will be done today. Let us keep the families and friends of our killed and wounded soldiers in our prayers).
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U.S. Troops in Iraq Watch Super Bowl
By CHRIS BRUMMITT
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - It was the middle of the night for exhausted members of the 4th Infantry Division as they watched the Super Bowl in the relative comfort of one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in the dictator's hometown.
The game kicked off at 2:25 a.m. Monday Iraqi time. The troops of the 4th had to walk a half-hour from their living quarters in a steady rain to watch the game. Other soldiers watched it in mess halls and recreation centers across the country.
``I'm used to sitting on my La-Z-Boy with a beer, but this will do,'' said Sgt. Abelardo Gallegos, looking around at the chandeliers, ornately carved ceiling and marble floors in the palace in Tikrit.
The game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers provided a welcome diversion and a slice of home for many of the more than 100,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq, where deadly bombings, shootings and mortar attacks are a daily occurrence.
``Come on, let's do it! Let's get something going!'' hollered Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Spruill, a native of Elizabeth City, N.C., as the Panthers tried to take the lead in the dying seconds.
The staff at the recreation center laid on platters of cold cuts, pizzas and onion rings. Military regulations prohibit beer on base, so troops had to make do with nonalcoholic beer and soft drinks.
Gallegos, from Vado, N.M., came straight to the game from guard duty at the base's perimeter fence. His M-16 rifle lay at his feet.
``I have never seen a Super Bowl like it,'' he said. While many in the crowd leaped to their feet each time there was a touchdown, the late hour got to some, who snoozed through the game on the back seats of the cinema.
``It makes me homesick to watch here, but my soldiers wanted to see the game,'' said Sgt. Lee Fleming, from Buffalo, N.Y. ``It builds up their morale.''
The game was broadcast live from Houston on the American Forces Radio and Television Service to battalion headquarters across Iraq.
In Tikrit, Saddam's hometown and headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division, the game was shown at battalion headquarters as well as at the cinema in the U.S. army recreation center - a three story lakeside palace built by Saddam.
The game was also available on the Internet. For those who didn't catch it live, many bases taped the game for replay later Monday.
Sgt. 1st Class Celeste Proctor, who was in charge of arrangements in Tikrit, said the night was not just about sport.
``It's about providing a bit of home environment for the troops,'' she said. ``It's good for them.''
02/02/04 05:23 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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>From Central Command news release on 2-1-04:
4TH INFANTRY DIVISION CONTINUES OPERATIONS
TIKRIT, Iraq - Soldiers on patrol from the 173rd Airborne Brigade discovered a cache 16 km west of Tuz during the evening of Jan 29. The cache consisted of 78 120 mm mortar rounds, 103 82 mm mortar rounds, 48 60 mm rounds, 15 rocket-propelled grenades, 22 grenades, and one complete 120 mm mortar system. This cache had been buried in a sealed, water proofed bunker. The soldiers destroyed the cache in place.
In a search of locations near Balad, soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment captured four individuals, including one person specifically targeted in the morning of Jan. 30. The captured individual is suspected of involvement in improvised explosive device attacks. The soldiers confiscated two AK-47 assault rifles, one SKS automatic weapon and one rifle. Another individual targeted for suspected involvement in improvised explosive device attacks was brought to a forward operating base a short time later by Iraqi citizens and has been detained.
First Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment (1ID) soldiers captured fifteen individuals in Bajawan, including six individuals specifically targeted for suspected involvement in attacks against the Kirkuk Air Base, in the morning of Jan. 30. The U.S. Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations investigated the attacks and provided information that led soldiers to the raided location. The six captured enemy were wanted by the 1-63 Armor Regiment for arms dealing as well. The Air Force targeted the other nine for suspected involvement in attacks and for selling Strella missiles. The soldiers located and confiscated one AK-47 assault rifle, one SMG automatic weapon and pictures of Saddam.
One person was killed when he attempted to crash through a 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps checkpoint near the village of Abu Huraybish in the morning of Jan. 30. ICDC soldiers fired at the vehicle in response to the aggressive action. They searched the vehicle and discovered one AK-47 assault rifle and 25,000 Iraqi dinar. A second vehicle eluded the soldiers and is being sought by Coalition forces and ICDC.
Soldiers from 14th Engineer Battalion discovered an ammunition cache north of Tikrit Jan. 30. The cache consisted of approximately 500 tank rounds and 700 mortar rounds distributed among 12 holes. Soldiers secured the site and notified an explosive ordinance disposal team. The munitions are scheduled for destruction.
A Patrol from 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment came under attack by enemy using automatic weapons south of Balad in the late evening of Jan 30. The patrol returned fire, killing one of the attackers. Soldiers captured three individuals and seized three AK-47 assault rifles and three grenades.
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Iraqis Queue Up to Work for U.S. Forces
CHRIS BRUMMITT
Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq - Abdul Hadi sells souvenirs to U.S. troops at their base - a livelihood that could get him killed by insurgents who are warning Iraqis against dealing with Americans. Yet he goes on with his work.
"I am afraid I may become a target, but what can I do?," said Abdul Hadi, a 23-year-old college graduate, said, refusing to give his family name. "There is nothing for me outside. This is a good job."
In a recent shift in tactics, insurgents fighting U.S.-occupation forces and their Iraq security allies have also started attacking Iraqi civilians who deal with Americans.
On Sunday, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the offices of two Kurdish parties in the northern city of Irbil, killing at least 56. The ethnic minority Kurds are the strongest supporters of the Americans.
Last week, gunmen killed four women going to work in the laundry of a U.S. military base close to Baghdad, and on Jan. 18 a suicide bomber killed at least 31 people, mostly Iraqi civilians, outside the gate of the main U.S. compound in the capital.
Still, with unemployment running at around 80 percent, many people are willing to put up with the risks.
Abdul Hadi, who runs a small concession selling old coins and other trinkets to troops on their way home, is one of around 150 Iraqis working on the base here in Tikrit. They are mostly employed as interpreters, cleaners, general laborers and truck drivers.
"When we work here we are protected," said Hami Muhammad, an interpreter.
"When we go home, only God knows what may happen."
The attacks against civilians have yet to reach a level that would seriously disrupt or even inconvenience U.S. operations here, officers say. But they frighten many Iraqis away from any contact with coalition forces - something commanders say is vital in gathering intelligence to root out the insurgency.
Working for U.S. forces in Tikrit, the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein and a hotbed of anti-occupation activity, is especially perilous.
Muhammad said assailants have shot at his car three times since he started work here in May. Saddam loyalists also recently killed his cousin, who worked as a contractor on the base.
Shopkeepers in Ramadi, another pro-Saddam city west of Baghdad, reported receiving leaflets last week warning Iraqis to stop collaborating with Americans within 10 days or face execution.
Targeting civilians working for occupying forces or vassal regimes is a classic rebel tactic used with varied success in many parts of the world.
In South Vietnam in the late 1950s and early 60s, Vietcong communist rebels killed hundreds of people associated with the Saigon regime, such as tax collectors, police officers and government officials. It led to the South Vietnamese government losing control of much of the countryside, paving the way for the U.S. intervention.
More recently, Chechen rebels in Russia and separatist insurgents in Indonesia's Aceh province have killed scores of civilians seen as collaborating with Moscow and Jakarta.
U.S. commanders say that by killing civilians the insurgents show they are becoming increasingly desperate.
"It just shows what evil people they really are, what their mind-set is," said Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division.
Most of the civilians working at the base in Tikrit, a sprawling collection of places once owned by Saddam, live away from the town. Many are ethnic Kurds from the north of Iraq, who were oppressed by Hussein and welcomed the U.S. invasion.
Soldiers thoroughly vet the backgrounds of those Iraqis seeking jobs on the base. Once inside, the workers are escorted by troops at all times.
The jobs pay relatively well. A cleaner gets around $150 a month, 10 times as much as a teacher earned before the downfall of the Hussein regime. Interpreters who are attached to a battalion, live on base and are paid over $600 a month.
"I am jobless and the salary is very good here," said Schwan Nassih, 27, who had put on a tie and jacket for his interview as an interpreter. "I just want to help out my family."
Copyright Associated Press.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
1 February 1945 - D+241
Major General Troy Middleton, VIII Corps Commander, presented the DSC to Colonel T.Lanham, CO 22nd Infantry. Every third day throughout the month, a total of 16 officers and 55 enlisted men departed for Paris on 72 hour passes.
The enemy was unable to set up a defensive line as our troops continued to advance, meeting only light resistance.
The 4th Infantry Division continued to attack to the north and northeast, advancing approximately four miles during the day. The towns of Ihlren, Urb, Winterscheid, Mutzenich and Schmeiler were cleared of enemy. This advance was made in spite of a very poor road net which at times was almost non-existent. A cold intermittent rain fell during the entire period.
The 8th Infantry Regiment met considerably lighter resistance than during the previous period. Most of the enemy action consisted of small arms fire. The 3rd Battalion captured the town of Urb, continued the attack and captured Mutzenich at 2000. The 2nd Battalion moved motorized through the 87th Infantry Division's sector to their objective at 1640. Both 2nd and 3rd Battalion sent patrols out to the front in order to locate the enemy dispositions.
The 12th Infantry Regiment continued the attack. The 1st Battalion jumped off at 0800 to capture the town of Ihlren and then proceeded north. Company A proceeded on to the town of Schmeiler and then to their next objective. At the end of the period, the remainder of the 1st Battalion was closing on Company A. The 2nd Battalion also jumped off at 0800, following the 1st Battalion through Ihlren and then moved to capture Winterscheid. After Winterscheid was cleared of enemy, Company E moved to the northwest to secure a position along the road. The remainder of the 2nd Battalion closed on the position. Patrols from the 2nd Battalion were sent to Bleialf.
The 22nd Infantry remained in division reserve.
2 February 1945 - D+242
The enemy manned hasty defenses and installations in the Siegfried Line and in the town of Bleialf. Direct fire was received from installations (31 pillboxes) in the vicinity of Brandscheid. Enemy resistance showed a sharp increase as our troops attempted to take high ground south of Radscheid.
The Division was able to make good gains in spite of the weather and poor road conditions. It was very difficult to maintain supply and evacuation routes, and the infantry was obliged to move forward without supporting weapons.
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 8th Infantry Regiment moved forward to the high ground west of Radscheid and Oberascheid. The enemy appeared to be very disorganized. Patrols were sent forward to determine the location and strength of the enemy in the Siegfried Line defenses.
The 2nd Battalion of the 12th Infantry Regiment met resistance at 0900 as they moved forward to the line of departure. The objective of the 2nd Battalion was Bleialf. At the close of the period, Company F had advanced into the northern part of the town against small arms and tank fire. Company E advanced to the southern outskirts of the town but did not enter because of the risk of confusion in the darkness.
The 22nd Infantry Regiment remained in division reserve.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) My husband in E/204th has been looking forward to the Outback Steakhouse dinner for a few days. I guess some employees made it to Camp Warhorse and cooked for them. Unfortunately, they were hit during dinner, but no one was injured. It is great to have a restaurant do this for our soldiers. This is what he had to say: "Outback was awesome last night. They had steaks and shrimp, bloom'n onions and cheesecake. Of course, I'm heading up to get another steak and BOOM, mortars come in (..I really wanted another steak....but I grabbed three pieces of cheesecake and headed back to the TOC....) I knew it was going to be too good to be true to have a big event and not get hit....no one was hurt."
2) An email from a HHC, 2nd Bde soldier to his wife: "Had Outback Steakhouse folks here last night and they cooked a meal for us - steak, shrimp, bloomin onion, bread, cheesecake, and near-beer. Very good! Had 2 steaks. Had some contact while they were here - rockets - they missed. We fired back and conducted a raid on some houses where we saw them run to (UAV - has a camera in it, and we fly it around our camp so we can see what's going on). Blew up their boat with helicopter gunships. They were using the river to try to get away when we spotted them. They came ashore and then we shot artillery at them again and watched them run like crazy. Ran into some houses, we went in and got 6 people, not sure if they are the right ones yet or not. Outback people will be telling stories about Baqubah for years.
3) Your emails are such a relief for those of us who are uncontrollable worriers. My little brother 3/29 FA Fort Carson boarded a flight to return from leave to Iraq yesterday. He couldn't wait to get back to his crew. He said as much as he wanted to be home he needed to be with his guys. I smiled and didn't cry when he left because I knew how strong he was trying to be. Just want to say thank you again to everyone who is sharing what they are hearing from there families and all of the updates. God Bless Our Soldiers!
4) Early on in the deployment of the 1-4 AVN B CO (Fort Hood) I sent my brother a lap top with a web cam. SInce then it has enabled him to watch his two children open their Christmas gifts, but best of all......last night my brother was on with his twin brother in Arkansas, his dad in Michigan, his wife back at Fort Hood, myself also here in Michigan, and his niece. It was truly amazing to see everyone all at one
time. We were online for almost one hour. Thank God for the web cam. A few days back, here in Michigan we got some heavy snow. So..... I got online with my brother and took the lap top with the web cam outside and he was able to see the snow. It's been along time since he'd seen that much snow! Again, Thank God for the web cam. In our conversation last night he mentioned that the Outback
restaurant provided them with a steak dinner. He said it was great, they even came out and cooked it for them. Let's here it for Outback! Thanks Outback! I think I'll be visiting them more often.
5) Hi Bob, I thought maybe you could add this in your updates. There is a fabulous support group here on post Fort Hood called Women Supporting Women it's a faith-based support group for wives of deployed, deploying and redeploying soldiers. The group meets every Tuesday from 1130-1300 at Comanche Chapel for sharing, encouraging, laughter and prayer. Lunch and Childcare are provided for all the ladies and their children in attendance. It's just a really fantastic group of women and this group has helped me through this deployment could be just as useful to other wives that are out there. Thank you and God Bless you!
6) To the mom of the 23 year old soldier: I know how you feel, I too find myself a little more concerned with the going home process. My son, at Camp Scunion in Baqubah with HHC 1/67 will be driving a Humvee from there to Kuwait.( About a 3 day drive he says). He is a driver to a Cpt. He assures me they will have at least 1 gunner, but that is just not enough for me. I am counting the days until I can look in his eyes, touch his face,and hold him in my arms again like when he was a little boy 25 years ago. We may not be able to protect them any more, but that doesn't mean we have to give up trying. I know I will rest a lot easier when he is on OUR soil, Home of the FREE because of the BRAVE!
7) Fortunately, my husband (HHC 1/68) has been able to be online with us every day. Our 2 year old son knows that when it's his naptime, Daddy will be online & finds any excuse to come out and see him on the webcam. His latest, "Mommy, I NEED to see mine Daddy!" How can I say no to that? Just now (9pm - don’t tell Daddy he's still up, lol) he heard me typing & came out to say, "Mommy, we need to find mine Daddy!" Thank God and the Army for supplying the technology so we can see and be seen by our soldiers while they're gone. It's certainly made things easier for our family.
8) I heard from my boyfriend this Sunday morning A Co. 2-8 In (M). He sounded great. THE PHONE WORKED. For once I could hear every word he said and we only got disconnected for a minute, once! Talked about all the hard work they are still doing there. Won't tell me much, but at least I have some idea of what's going on where he is. He's excited about his deployment coming to an end, but talked about all the stuff he had to do when he gets back. As long as they are all back safe, that's all that matters...the rest of it is just the details. Take care!
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Families Share R&R Moments
1) Our son, B/4 Engr, returned to Iraq after 15 days of R&R. It was great to have him home and eating at our kitchen table once again with his brothers, sister, nephew and sister / brother in-law. He looked good and his spirits were very good. He had many stories to tell. All were of humor and of the other good men and women he is serving with. He had a few hundred pictures as well. One set of pics included large holes dug out in several different locations that was their home for about five months. His mother aksed what these holes were with camo'd canvas over top and cots inside. He said, "Home." Her reply was typical of a mother, "Oh my God my son has been livng in a hole." He responded with, "Yea but ours was a whole lot better than Saddam's." This got a good laugh and he then harrassed his younger brother who is attending Ohio University about his soft college life. He speaks with a great deal of pride about his CO and especially his sargeants. Obviously good people. Parting at the airport was difficult but he was ever a man of reassurance to us all. They don't know for sure when they will come home and in a recent email he reassured us all is well. My advice to all loved ones back home....just listen and appreciate. Continue to tell your soldier about even the most routine things of your days. It means a lot to them. God Bless our soldiers and their loved ones.
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Redeployment Tips
1) I appreciate your tips on the 60 day mark and what to do to get ready...... I agree about telling them now about bad news. I IM'd you about 7 months ago when my uncle died very suddenly. I asked your advice on whether we should tell my brother then over the phone, or wait. You said tell him then. My dad does not have a computer so he doesn't get your updates unless I print and mail them to him. Well, I called him and told him all about you and this daily update. Unfortunately, he could not bring himself to tell my brother over the phone (it was dad's brother that died). But out of respect for my dad, I did not tell our soldier. He came home at Thanksgiving for his 2 week mid tour leave. We told him as soon as he got in the car at the airport. It was so much harder for our dad than my brother. Our uncle died last June and we waited till November - five months of keeping it from him because Dad did not want to worry about him having this death on his mind while in Iraq. Well, you were right. He was so sad the first couple of days. My advice, if there's a death in the family, tell them ASAP. It puts more pressure on us than we ever thought and we could not have closure to his death until we told our soldier. He asked us to never withhold info like that again, and now we know.
2) I have been reading the Redeployment Tips daily -- Great Stuff! Just read the ones from today's update (Jan 30th) and it made me think about my uncle. He fought in World War II and never discussed one detail of the action he saw with anyone until the late 1980's. What patience my aunt must have had to not push him for details!! However, after I joined the Army he began asking me questions about what types of equipment, units, etc. were in the Army's "inventory." About one year after he began asking me questions he located some of the guys that were in his unit -- way back then -- and not only did he start talking about his experiences during the war, but started attending the annual reunion with his "buddies." It not only had a tremendous healing effect on him, but also on my aunt as she was now able to share in that part of his life. Those reunions turned into some of their most memorable and fun loving/sharing times. So whether it takes three months or 40 years for our soon to be returning husbands to open up -- keep your patience and support them in every way possible (easier said than done some days), the payoff will be worth the wait. Thanks. (Editor's Note: And this is one of the reasons why I encourage everyone to get the complete names, social security numbers, and home addresses of all their buddies in Iraq, not just the ones in the own unit. Whenever they want to find them in the future, at least they will have a good starting point).
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