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| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
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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We start today on a sad note - we lost another soldier.
4TH INFANTRY DIVISION SOLDIER KILLED IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT
TIKRIT, Iraq - One 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed at approximately 10 a.m. Feb. 20 during convoy operations south of the town of Ad Dujayl on Highway 1.
The soldier's convoy had stopped to recover an unserviceable five-ton truck. During the stop, the soldier got out of his vehicle and walked toward the front of the convoy when he was struck and killed by another vehicle.
The accident scene was secured and an investigation has been initiated.
(Next of kin has been notified but DoD has not yet made the formal announcement).
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Army artillery specialists back home
Associated Press
HOUSTON - Army artillery specialists returning from Iraq are members of the first complete unit from the Texas-based 4th Infantry Division to come home from the conflict.
Thousands of additional 4th Infantry soldiers will return in coming weeks as other Fort Hood-based troops from the 1st Cavalry Division leave for Southwest Asia to replace them in the largest wartime troop rotation into a combat zone in U.S. history.
The artillery specialists, who had spent a full year of duty in the U.S.-led coalition, were greeted over the weekend by relatives and friends.
"It's the best feeling in the world. It's unbelievable to be back home," said Capt. Rob Hammack of Harker Heights, holding his 2-month-old daughter Mia.
"We're just so happy to see him home," said his wife, Jennifer, standing beside him. "He looks good."
Family members had counted down the time it took troops to arrive from the airport. The soldiers marched in formation into a gym. Upon dismissal, they were swarmed by their families in the noisy gym decorated with flags, unit banners, hand-painted posters and balloons.
Following a brief rest, some of those who redeployed Sunday will see duty at Gulf Coast ports where the division's equipment will soon arrive. The rest will begin reintegration into the base community and eventually start training for new assignments.
The soldiers went to Iraq in late March 2003 and arrived just as the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein was tumbling. They since have played a peacekeeping and rebuilding role in some of the most dangerous regions of Iraq. Many of the 44 casualties came as 4th Infantry troops operated checkpoints and safeguarded convoys that often fell prey to ambushes.
Other soldiers from the division remained on duty in Iraq. Those 4th Infantry troops will be returning by the hundreds through April, said division spokesman Lt. Col. William MacDonald.
"The big thing right now is doing a seamless transition for the soldiers that are inbound," MacDonald told the Houston Chronicle in Monday's editions. "Our mission still continues over there, but every day we transition a little more."
Information from: Houston Chronicle
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>From CentCom Press release dated 2-21-04:
4TH INFANTRY OPERATIONS FOR THE PAST 24 HOURS
TIKRIT, Iraq - Iraqi Police led soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division to a location northwest of Kirkuk that contained a large cache of mortar rounds, Feb. 19.
The cache was buried but there were signs that someone had been digging recently. Soldiers uncovered the cache and found 500 rounds of 120mm mortar. As the soldiers excavated the rounds they discovered a second cache that consisted of 2,000 rounds of 130 mm artillery. The site was secured and an explosive ordnance disposal team plans to destroy the munitions.
Four former regime extremists were captured Feb. 19 by soldiers from C Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment west of Balad. Three other men not specifically targeted were also captured.
Soldiers from B Company, 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division discovered an ammunition cache consisting of 300 rounds of 57 mm anti-aircraft ammunition. The engineer soldiers destroyed the ammunition in place.
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Memorial to Honor Fallen Task Force Ironhorse Troops
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2004 -- A bronze statue of a soldier mourning a fallen comrade traveled from Tikrit, Iraq, to Fort Hood, Texas, this week to become the focal point of a memorial to the soldiers of Task Force Ironhorse who have died during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The statue arrived at Fort Hood's Robert Gray Army Airfield Feb. 16, along with the first 60 soldiers in the task force to redeploy from Iraq, said Capt. Charles Armstrong, secretary of the general staff for the rear detachment.
Armstrong said the statue will be moved today to a 4th Infantry Division storage site as preparations for the memorial continue. Groundbreaking is expected to take place within the next two weeks, he said.
Task Force Ironhorse soldiers donated the $18,000 to cover the cost of the statue, created by an Iraqi sculptor from the melted-down remnants of statues he had been forced to sculpt for former dictator Saddam Hussein, said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, public affairs officer for the 4th Infantry Division at its Iraq headquarters in Tikrit.
The 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood is raising private contributions to cover the $60,000 cost of the larger memorial project, Aberle said.
The Ironhorse statue depicts a soldier kneeling before a memorial of boots, rifle and helmet. With him stands a young Iraqi girl with her hand reaching out to touch the shoulder of the mourning soldier. Army 1st Sgt. Glen Simpson, former first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, posed for the picture used to create the statue.
"The memorial will recognize those brave Ivy Division soldiers that have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our nation during Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Ted Kostich, president of the Ironhorse Chapter of the National 4th Infantry Division Association of Fort Hood.
Aberle said 84 Ironhorse soldiers have been killed in Iraq.
To donate funds for the memorial, write: Ironhorse Chapter of the National 4th Infantry Division Association, PO Box 5009, Fort Hood, TX 76544.
Editor's Noe: To see a picture of the statue go to the following web page:
http://www.defenselink.mil/cgi-bin/dlprint.cgi?http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2004/n02202004_200402206.html
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3-16 FA Banner Fundraiser
I was wondering if you could put a note in your update that we have our vinyl welcome home banners in and if anyone here at Ft. Hood would like to get one, they can call Rita at 699-4562. The banners are black and yellow with the Army star on one end and say "Welcome Home, We Missed You". I can also be reached at mahoneym@aol.com.
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502nd PSB FRG FUNDRAISER
You can still get 4ID hats, tshirts, bags, etc. at www.cafeshops.com/502psbfrg4id
Our "WELCOME HOME 4ID" tshirts are still available! Get one and greet our soldiers returning from Iraq.
The 502nd PSB FRG, Ft. Hood
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I thought you'd enjoy a smile today:
Instructions from the Military
"Aim towards the Enemy." -Instruction printed on U.S. Army Rocket
"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend." -U.S.M.C. Training Bulletin
"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground." -U.S.A.F. literature
"If the enemy is in range, so are you." -Infantryman's Journal
"A slipping trigger gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular with what's left of your unit." -Army's Magazine of Preventive Maintenance.
"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed." -U.S. Air Force Manual
"Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo." - Infantryman's Journal
"Tracers work both ways." -U.S. Army Ordnance Manual
"Five-second fuses only last three seconds." -Infantryman's Journal
"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid." -- David Hackworth
"If your attack is going too well, you're walking into an ambush." -Infantryman's Journal
"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection."
"Any ship can be a minesweeper... once.." -Anon. Naval brass
"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do." -Unknown Marine Recruit
"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you."
"If you see a bomb technician running, ---try to keep up with him" -Unknown.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
22 February 1945 - D+262
Light patrol activity and light harassing rocket, mortar and artillery fire constituted the enemy's main effort as it continued to defend east of the Prum river.
All regiments conducted patrolling within their sectors.
23 February 1945 - D+263
The defensive mission of the 4th Division remained the same and the engineers completed reconnaissance of the Prum river.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing from Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Tonight (Sunday) one half of our company (46th Chemical Co., 2 Chemical BN) arrived back at Ft. Hood. It was great to see all of the soldiers as they marched into the gym. Even though my husband was not among them it still made me feel proud that they were over their protecting our freedom. It was great to see the wonderful amount of support we had there from 46 soldiers (past and present), family and friends. There were several ladies from the FRG there as well whose husbands were not among the flight group but they were there for moral support and to show their solidarity for the unit. Thank you so much for showing your support for them. They have truly earned it. In the upcoming weeks the remainder of our companies troops will be returning back to Texas and I know for many of us it can't come quick enough. Bob, thank you for these updates. They have given many of us something to look forward too when the media seems low on information. Thank you to all the spouses, families, and friends who have contributed to the What the Families are hearing section of the updates. This section has been a wealth of information and ideas that have been truly helpful to all. Welcome Home Wolfpack Soldiers, You made us proud.
2) I heard from my Husband who is with 1/8 IN C Co. out of Ft. Carson. They are all counting down the days for their return home. We are not sure when but we know it will be soon (a month or so). Hey I can live with that at least it wont be a year or so. I am getting excited about the Homecoming. I just want to say GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND WE SUPPORT YOU ALWAYS.
3) This past week has been both an exciting and horrible week. My husband's unit, 2/20th FA, was heading to Kuwait for redeployment in a few weeks. The convoy would take approximately two days to get there. Our family was both excited and nervous. We had many praying for their safe arrival. I didn't expect to hear from my husband too soon, because I knew that they would be extremely busy in Kuwait, but on Thursday I received an email from my husband stating that gloriously the Lord had got them to Kuwait safely. I was so happy and excited. My children were elated. I think that this was the first time in a long year that I had truly felt total happiness. I just felt relief that he was in a safer environment and that everyone arrived safely. He said he wouldn't be able to contact me often, because he would be real busy but would try to check in as often as he could.
Well, my joy didn't last but a day. On Friday at noon, I received a phone call from my brother who is in the 1st. Cav. (due to leave at the end of the month to Iraq), and he informed me that my sister-in-law's father (unit withheld until officially announced by DoD) was just killed in Iraq. I cannot tell you how devastated I was. He had had two close calls prior to this and we thought that he was almost home free. He had already met retirement status (would retire with 21 years) and had less than two weeks to come home. He never took R&R and had been gone for a whole year. His family was so looking forward to retirement. My brother had a very close relationship with him. He was a father to him. Their family is devastated. They were so close to making it. He was killed on a convoy, possibly on it's way back to Kuwait. Yesterday was very hard to say the least. My house was grand central station with the phone ringing constantly. Our family is very close and many wanted to express their condolences or try to help. Their loss is our loss. I cannot tell you how my heart bleeds for them. I cannot wait until this is all over and our soldiers are all out of harms way. Until then, we just have to hang in there and continue praying.
4) Just like every other wife awaiting their beloved soldiers, friends and family that have been gone for a year, I am preparing for the exciting return. I try to express how I feel and the only way I can say it is: I am excited, nervous, stressed, relieved, anxious, and many other emotions all at once! There was one night after the first few months that my husband had been gone, that I recieved a long awaited phone call. I had great news for my husband....I found his long lost father that he had never met. Since then they have writen letters and talked on the phone but sometimes that just didn't seem like enough. I have gotten used to late night calls from his dad where we talk about our worries and there's always that lingering thought that no one ever says out loud (did we find him too late,was that phone call our last?) But this story actually seems to have a good ending, he is coming Home soon and will see his father for the first time. I am proud to say I will be there to see it and I will not be jealous of their time together, because they have 21 years to catch up on and I only have one. Our soldiers are true heros and the familys are as well!
5) Last week I received an email from my son who is a medic with 1-67, A Co, 4th ID. Below is a portion of that email. Very scary what these soldiers are faced with on a daily basis. I'm encouraged that he still has his sense of humor. "Hi mom, how is everything going? Well today was ok, yesterday was much worse, but it's over now. Let me tell you what. You need to start praising God today. It was nuts. I was on a convoy to take some guys to Balad for leave. Well we had to stop off at Ba'Qubah on our way there and on the way we were hit with an IED. Now basically what an IED is, is a bomb. Usually put on the side of the road. Well, it went off about 15 meters in front of the truck that I was driving, and to make it worse it was on the drivers side (did I mention that I was driving). Luckily whoever detonated it aimed
it for the up armored hum-v that was in front of us. If they had waited just a second longer, I would have been done for. Talk about freakin scary. Luckily though nobody was hurt and the up armored can sustain blasts like that so none of those guys were hurt either." I say a prayer every day that these soldiers stay focused and vigilant in
their job so they can come home to us safely and in one piece. April can't get here soon enough.
6) Had email from son in HHC, 3/66 AR, and he says they are packing and moving south before too much longer. He had an opportunity to come home early, but they are very short handed and he didn't want to leave his unit that way. He has re-enlisted too for Ft. Knox, KY (not sure how this Mom feels about that - but he is his own man). He says they are still very busy and always on the go. Also received a box from him this week. He sent home a poster of Saddam Hussein with signatures of the guys in his platoon (really neat) and also some interesting photos of Saddam in his younger days. Other items of top priority to send home is his collection of Star Trek DVD's!! :) Can't wait to see his unit on the FRG list of meetings!
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