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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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>From Central Command news release dates 3-2-04:
4ID AND TF IRONHORSE OPERATIONS UPDATE
TIKRIT, Iraq - 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse has, over the past 24 hours, conducted 186 patrols and four raids and captured eight individuals.
Twenty-four of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Border Guard.
Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operation include one AK-47 assault rifle, two rocket-propelled-grenade rounds, 146 mortar rounds, 300 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 209 artillery rounds, two land mines, two RPG warheads and two improvised explosive devices.
Soldiers from Task Force Ironhorse aviation were conducting operations near the Jabal Hamrin Ridge near the Tikrit to Kirkuk highway when they discovered a cache of 100-200 artillery and mortar rounds Sunday. They informed 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division who sent a quick-reaction force to investigate and secure the cache.
Coalition forces along with Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers conducted a series of joint raids to capture individuals with links to insurgents and criminal activity near Samarra Sunday morning. The raids resulted in the capture of nine individuals and soldiers confiscated two computers and a financial ledger. The captured individuals are currently being detained for questioning.
Task Force Ironhorse soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery along with ICDC soldiers stopped two trucks carrying lumber Sunday west of Altun Kapri. Upon inspection, the soldiers discovered a cache of ammunition in the trucks. The cache contained 1,000 122 mm rounds. It was taken to the Altun Kapri police station, where soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division will destroy the munitions. Four individuals in the trucks were detained and are being held at the police station.
4th Infantry Division soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment conducted a raid targeting suspected weapons caches Sunday in Ash Sharqat. The soldiers searched three target locations and captured two individuals. They confiscated three AK-47 rifles, one 9 mm Makarov pistol, 75 pounds of artillery propellant, 22 AK-47 magazines, 30 12.7 mm rounds, 30 7.62 mm rounds, two radios, one radio base station and power supply, one flare gun, five flares and assorted ammunition.
The Coalition's Man Portable Air Defense Weapons , or MANPAD, buy-back program continues to have results throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operations. The 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team purchased seven SA missiles Sunday while conducting operations in Diyala Province.
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And from a CentCom news release dated 2-29-04:
4th ID and Task Force Ironhorse operations
TIKRIT, Iraq - 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse soldiers conducted 172 patrols and two raids and captured 28 individuals Friday and Saturday.
Twenty-nine of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Border Guard.
Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operation include six AK-47 assault rifles, three SKS automatic rifles, seven rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, 35 mortar rounds, 23 sticks of dynamite, 201 tank rounds, 1,201 artillery rounds, 90 rockets of various sizes, 15 rocket warheads and three mprovised explosive devices.
Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 3d Brigade Combat Team conducted a joint raid with ICDC forces in coordination with the Baghdad police to capture Nahdem Al Marsumi, the leader of a terrorist cell trying to operate out of Samarra. During the raid, coalition forces captured seven individuals including Marsumi and five men known to be a art of the terrorist cell. The ICDC also captured an individual suspected of being involved in an attack at the Samarra City Council building last month. Once the ICDC soldiers received a tip from a local source on the whereabouts of Marsumi, they organized and initiated the raid and were on site within two hours of receiving initial reports.
Task Force Ironhorse soldiers from the 555th Engineer Group located a cache of ammunition buried approximately five kilometers east of Forward Operating Base Speicher Feb. 27. The soldiers found more than a thousand rounds of high explosive artillery and mortar rounds and 50 BLU-97 submunitions. The site was secured and an explosive ordinance team will destroy the cache in place.
While on his way to work Feb. 27, an ICDC soldier observed some men digging near a house north of Baiji. He reported the suspicious activity to his supervisor who sent an ICDC patrol to investigate. The patrol discovered an ammunition cache. They established an over-watch position on the house and captured one individual suspected of burying the ammunition when he returned to the site later that afternoon. The ICDC seized the cache and turned in it to 4th ID soldiers. The cache included 20 68 mm helicopter rockets, seven rocket-propelled grenades, 17 82 mm
mortar rounds and six 60 mm mortar rounds.
Working together, 4th Infantry Division soldiers from 3d Battalion 67th Armor Regiment, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and Iraqi police captured five individuals suspected of anti-coalition activities in a joint raid in the town of As Sadah in Diyala Province 27 Feb. The individuals are suspects in the bombing of a local health clinic.
An Iraqi led soldiers from Task Force Ironhorse's 14th Engineer Battalion to three weapon caches approximately 20 kilometers north of Tikrit Feb. 27. The caches included five 82 mm rockets and 15 rocket warheads. All three caches were destroyed in place.
While on patrols as part of Operation Trailblazer to clear the highways of IEDs, soldiers from the 14th Engineer Battalion discovered a cache consisting of 201 100 mm tank rounds located approximately 150 feet off the north side of Highway One west of Balad. The cache was destroyed in place without incident.
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>From Killeen Daily Herald 3-2-04:
Fort Hood troops coming home
By Zac Sorensen
Killeen Daily Herald
Fort Hood troops are continuing to fly home from Iraq.
A group of 13th Corps Support Command soldiers were scheduled to fly into Robert Gray Army Airfield this evening.
Also anticipated back were 210 members of the 4th Infantry Division aboard flights landing late Monday and early today, said Col. Dan Shanahan, the division's rear detachment commander.
Monday's flight was expected to bring home about 80 members of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment and 11 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment, said Lt. Col. Bill MacDonald, the 4th Infantry's public affairs officer. National Guardsmen assigned to the division's Task Force Ironhorse also were expected on the flight.
About 64 members of the 299th Engineer Battalion and 50 members from the division's 502nd Adjutant General were expected this morning with handful of members of the 16th Signal Battalion, MacDonald said.
The troops from both flights were to be greeted in the Starker Gym.
Families of soldiers from the 21st Combat Support Hospital were told to expect their troops in about 7:30 p.m., a Fort Hood news release stated Monday.
The welcome-home ceremony is scheduled to be included in a special documentary aired live by the Public Broadcasting Service.
Titled "Life and Death in the War Zone," the documentary has followed the hospital's medical personnel and staff as they deal with the reality of caring for combat injuries, the release stated.
The 21st Combat Support Hospital deployed to Iraq in March 2003 and set up medical facilities in Balad and Mosul to care for injured U.S. military personnel.
Live coverage of the homecoming at Fort Hood is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
In the Fort Hood area, the PBS special will be carried on KNCT-TV, Channel 46, the Public Broadcasting affiliate at Central Texas College in Killeen. KNCT is carried on channel 4 by most local cable providers.
Contact Zac Sorensen at zac@kdhnews.com
(About six flights have come in thus far and more will be coming in daily....)
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U.S. Military Drills Troops in Iraq
By PAUL GARWOOD
Associated Press Writer
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP)--With only weeks before thousands of war-weary American soldiers return home, the U.S. military is reminding them to stay focused on Iraq's lingering threats while preparing them for reintegration with their families and communities.
Recognizing the anxieties facing soldiers wanting to return to their loved ones, military commanders have been drilling their forces to keep concentrated on their daily missions in order to prevent any casualties occurring so late into their year-long deployments.
At the same time, many soldiers are facing difficulties of a different kind on the home front, from relationship dramas to financial woes, realities that the military is also trying to counter by sitting soldiers down to compulsory briefings on how to acclimatize to their home environments after spending the past year in a war zone.
Recognizing that the hardships of war, anxieties about their return home and an inability to readjust into American society can be a deadly mixture, the military has embarked on an awareness offensive to keep troops' minds focussed.
The chaplain of the Tikrit-based 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Capt. Xuan Tran, 42, said Sunday that in June-July 2002, five American soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C., returned from duties and either killed their wives, children or themselves.
"We want to have our soldiers avoid that,'' he told The Associated Press between one of several counseling sessions he delivered to soldiers in Tikrit.
After returning to the United States, soldiers will also undergo about a week of counseling to help them settle back into ordinary American life.
"When soldiers get home they are tired, stressed and exhausted,'' Tran said. "If they don't have the ability to resolve conflicts peacefully they will use force or weapons. Over here they can use force every day to handle situations and that is they only thing they know.
"If some don't know how to resolve conflicts peacefully, they will kill their wives, children and themselves and we want to avoid that.''
Tran said unfaithfulness from spouses, relationship separation and financial difficulties were the hardest things returning soldiers could be expected to face, and it was such potentialities that he said the military was trying to deal with before the troops leave Iraq.
Lt. Col. Steve Russell, the 1st Battalion's commander, said for many soldiers, Iraq was their first combat deployment, and, therefore, its experiences have affected them in various ways.
"For most of these young men, this is the longest they have been away from home and the first time they have experienced wartime service,'' Russell said. "Now, the men are excited about going home but they also understand that they can't let anything prevent them from getting there.''
Doing so looks like it won't be too hard.
Many soldiers interviewed here say they will be doing whatever it takes to stay safe with so little time left in Iraq.
"After spending all this time here, it would be terrible to have something happen to stop me from making it over the finishing line,'' said Staff Sgt. Temu Gibson, 33, of Fort Hood, Texas, where the 4th Infantry Division is based.
Gibson, who like most of the thousands of soldiers based in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit has been in Iraq for about a year, said he was virtually counting down the minutes until he returned home in early- to mid-March.
"Going home is all I think about.''
But he said there was one doubt he had about his departure.
"That drive to Kuwait from Tikrit is the only concern for me,'' he said. The insurgents' "usual methods of attack are mere cowardice, where they use IEDs. (improvised explosive devices) and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). They don't confront us face-to-face.''
AP-NY-03-01-04 0144EST
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press.
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California police, U.S. troops help equip Iraqi counterparts
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, March 2, 2004
BAQOUBA, Iraq — American police officers and U.S. soldiers delivered hundreds of bulletproof vests and other equipment last week to Iraqi police in Diyala Province, north of Baghdad.
The police officers from Fresno and Madera, Calif., who brought the donated equipment to Diyala police headquarters were accompanied by soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 588th Engineers Task Force.
The Iraqi lawmen smiled as they unpacked dozens of boxes containing 300 bulletproof vests, 125 two-way radios with chargers and batteries, 250 helmets and various other items. Soon, they were trying on vests and helmets and getting on-the-spot lessons on using riot sticks from their American counterparts.
Detective Michael Harris of the Fresno Police Department, who helped collect the gear, said the 5-year-old bulletproof vests are past their use-by date but work perfectly. If they had not been donated to Iraq, the Californian police departments would have to pay for their destruction, he said.
“I’m going to collect bulletproof vests all over the U.S. and ship them to Iraq. I’m going to shoot for 100,000,” Harris said.
Given the number of attacks on police stations in Iraq, the Iraqi police officers are going to need the vests and helmets.
Shortly before the California police officers arrived, an improvised explosive device detonated under a police car only a few hundred meters from the Diyala Police Headquarters, killing an officer on his lunch break.
In October, a suicide car bomber hit the Baqouba police station in Diyala, killing four people and wounding 38. A short while later, another car bomber hit the Khan Bini Saad police station in Diyala, killing seven and wounding 26.
The tattered flag from the Khan Bini Saad station is on display at the Diyala police headquarters alongside portraits of some of the officers killed in the line of duty last year.
There are 4,000 police in Diyala Province.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Carlson of the 649th Military Police Company, a native of Fresno, has worked with the Diyala police since last May and helped organize the donated gear.
Gen. Waleed Khalid, commander of the Diyala police, said Carlson taught his men the ABCs of investigation.
Khalid said his officers had to learn to investigate terrorism from scratch. Under Saddam Hussein, intelligence and security agencies were responsible for anti-terrorist investigations with police concentrating on homicide inquiries, he said.
“I hope we will stay on track and you will hear good news about us when you go home to the USA,” he told the California police and the soldiers.
After meeting and talking to the Iraqi police, Harris said they appeared committed to success.
“From what I have seen they are up to the challenge of putting a democracy in place,” he said. “This will be a free country and probably a superpower of the Middle East.”
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A Few Words From Bob:
I got home from four days in Oklahoma early this morning. Our family had the opportunity to celebrate the life of Dorothy Babcock, my mother, who was laid to rest on Monday. Funerals are not fun. Losing a loved one is always hard to take. But considering that she lived to the ripe old age of 91 and had suffered from various problems the past few years, and being certain that she is in a much better place, it is easier to handle. And our extended family got back together for the first time since the death of my father in 1995.
I want to thank all of you who sent me condolence messages, wrote cards, or made a phone call. Much of today was spent reading those messages, and I'm still not through all of them. It would make my mother smile to read what you have written - and it definitely made me smile, and I shed a few tears as I read.
Also, I thank the leadership of the 4ID and TF Ironhorse for the beautiful flowers they sent in your behalf with a card that read: "With Deepest Sympathy - With Love - The Soldiers and families of the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse". As I walked into the church and saw the red, white, and blue flower arrangement, I knew who it was from even before reading the card.
Losing my mother is difficult. At the funeral, I had the opportunity to express a few of the things I have learned from her. I summarized them in three words - Faith, Love, Loyalty.
It is the Faith that she taught me as I was growing up that makes me truly believe that she is in heaven, is happy, has a healthy mind and soul, is there with our loved ones who preceeded her, and will be there for me to see again at some time in the future.
She and my dad taught me, by example, the meaning of love, and she was loyal (steadfast and loyal) to her family, her friends, her church, and all that she believed in.
So, I will continue to march, I miss her, but am secure that all is well - and I will continue what is important for me to be doing as I move forward.
Now, I'll get back to daily updates as we eagerly anticipate the arrival of our 4ID and TF Ironhorse soldiers over the next few weeks. Again, thanks for the showering of care and love that you have sent my way.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
1 March 1945 - D+269
A directive was received from VIII Corps changing the Paris pass quota from 16 officers and 55 enlisted men to 15 officers and 70 enlisted men.
The enemy attempted to consolidate hasty positions along the best defensive ground. The enemy line ran generally along the east bank of the Prum river. In opposing the attack of CT 8, the enemy launched two counterattacks, one at 1110 and the other at 1130. Both attempts were weak and unsuccessful. Against CT 22, the enemy remained defensive with some increase in mortar and rocket fire. There was no aggressive action on the part of the enemy confronting CT 12. Enemy artillery fire continued to be heavy with especially heavy fire falling in the vicinity of front line positions around Olzheim, Hermespand and Prum.
Several enemy tanks were observed in the vicinity of Weinsheim. Enemy units in contact were elements of the 5th Para Division.
The 4th Infantry Division continued the attack with the objective of securing a bridgehead at Willwerath-Gondelsheim-Fleringen-Remmersheim and Nieder Prum.
CT 8 continued the attack at 0645. The 1st Battalion sent Company B to mop up the town of Willwerath while the remainder of the battalion continued clearing up the woods east of Willwerath. The 3rd Battalion continued mopping up the woods in their sector. The 2nd Battalion was occupied throughout the day mopping up the woods, east of Hermespand. A very stubborn enemy was encountered and infiltrations made it necessary to continuously move through the woods and apprehend the small groups.
CT 12 moved the 2nd Battalion from Brandsheid to Prum and across the river to a position in the woods northeast of Nieder Prum. Plans were made to attack on 2 March to clear Nieder Prum and the high ground surrounding the town. The 1st Battalion previously assembled in Prum, relieved by 1824 the 2nd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry after having cleared the woods east of the town of Prum. The 3rd Battalion continued to maintain defensive positions.
CT 22 continued the attack to the east at 0640. The 2nd Battalion was given the mission of clearing out the woods on the east bank of the river due east of Prum.
2 March 1945 - D+270
Colonel Charles T. Lanham CO 22nd Infantry was relieved from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division and assigned to the 104th Infantry Division as Assistant Division Commander. Lieutenant Colonel John F. Ruggles assumed command of the 22nd Infantry Regiment.
The enemy achieved some success in organizing a new line of resistance before CT 8. The town of Weinsheim, on the south flank of this new line, presented a well organized strong point supported by direct fire artillery. Willwerath was cleared by our troops during the period while Weinsheim continued to be stubbornly defended. The enemy's main weapon in oppposing the advance of CT 22 was a series of well dug-in machine guns. Elements of CT 12 advanced against a determined delaying action on the part of the enemy.
The 4th Division continued the attack. The resistance by enemy troops throughout the day was fanatical and progress by the Division was limited.
CT 8 attacked at 0830 to capture the town of Weinsheim with the 2nd Battalion in the assault. It was impossible to employ the supporting tanks in this attack because of road conditons (blocks and craters). In the interim, the 1st Battalion moved to capture Gondelsehim and encountered heavy artillery, mortar and rocket fire.
CT 12 initiated an attack at approximately 0500 with the 2nd Battalion to capture the town of Nieder Prum. The rifle companies did not directly assault the village but advanced and captured the high ground dominating it from the east and southeast.
CT 22 continued the attack at 0545 under heavy enemy artillery fire. Antintank fire within its zone of action was intense and accurate; five of the supporting tanks had been put out of action. The 1st Battalion's attack on the town of Bruhlborn met fanatical resistance and the enemy put up a house to house fight before the resistance broke. The 3rd Battalion remained in position awaiting the fall of Weinsheim.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Quick note, my son is serving with HHC 3BCT 4ID from Fort Carson in Balad. On Jan. 5th he left a message for me saying he got his R&R and would call back with further details. Was I excited!!!! Made list of items to purchase, things to do for him before he arrived. At 6pm, door bell rang...and, THERE HE WAS, ON MY DOORSTEP!!!!! My son, my only son, my youngest child, home from Iraq for two weeks. Oh, the yelling, the joy, the tears, the "Thank You Lord" that went out from me. He looked wonderful!!! Two weeks flew by, good times with family and friends. I so look forward to having him and all his mates back in the USA. God bless all our service men and women, and, all the families that keep watch, wait and pray. May they all come home safely to our arms.
2) This morning we heard from our son! It's been a long 4 weeks since his last call, so we were quite happy. He is a 1LT with 1-68 Armor, Charlie Company. He told us that they are being kept busy every day doing their jobs. He is getting one hot meal a day and breakfast a few times a week, but thank goodness there are those wonderful MREs! He said it is getting hot again, so he wasn't a happy camper about that. Mail has slowed down for him and snacks have been completed, so not much to look forward to on a day-to-day basis. He's just eager to come home of course like every other soldier. We went with your suggestion about asking him how he felt about us (husband, daughter and I) being at Fort Carson when he returns. He said yes, he wanted people there. We will not be staying with him when we do arrive, but will be near by. He has offered his home to another soldier who may not have a place or family to go to when he returns to Carson, which we think is admirable. No one knows what the return date will be, other than possibly 3 weeks or so, but we know it will be soon. He recommended that we stay in touch with Rear Detachment and they will keep us posted.
3) My husband is with the 223rd Eng Bn out of Bruce, MS. They were attached to the 4th ID in FOB Speicher since April of last year. It is with great pride and relief that I tell you that my husband and half of their battalion arrived safely in Fort Campbell on Feb. 25th. It was such a wonderful day. I thank you for your updates, they helped us wives in MS feel that we knew a little about what our spouses were involved in. Anytime the 4th ID's name was mentioned either on TV or in the papers I always stopped and said a prayer for every one of our troops in Iraq. Our group only lost one soldier to an IED attack and although our hearts are glad that the guys are coming home, there will always be the thought of this one soldier and his family. The 4th ID as a whole has lost many good men and women and their families will always be in our minds and hearts. I have heard several WWII vets talk about "Band of Brothers" or "The Brotherhood" and now I truly understand what they mean. Not only do the soldiers themselves feel this, but the wives have formed friendships and "Sisterhoods" that will never be broken.
4) Hi Bob, we finally got the call we've been waiting for. Our son phoned us from Germany on Saturday morning. He was with 30 other guys from his group (C-Troop 1-10 Cav) They will be there for a few days, then head back to the States to get treated for their lesions. His voice was light-hearted and we could tell that he had a smile on his face. We are now looking forward to our trip from Michigan to Texas to be a part of the festivities on April 22nd. We wouldn't miss it for the world!
5) My husband came home for 2 wks R&R (no date given, assume this was several weeks ago). He is in A Btry 4-42 FA 4ID. He called to come pick him up at the shoppette (Ft.Hood) He was in his DCU's. I drove right past him. He called me on my cell and asked "where are you going?". I said I'm looking for you? "I can see you, you just passed me!" He blended in with the building so I didn't see him right away! (Ha..Ha.!) He didn't have time to take a shower, but that was OK with me. I was just so very glad to have him in my arms again! We went fishing, played pool and went to visit his mom in Missouri. They had a surprise party at the local bowling alley for him! It was packed with lots of friends and relatives! He had a great time! They promoted him! He is now a Specialist. I'm so very PROUD of him and what he and all of the military is doing for us! They are all in my prayers! Come Home safe and soon! HOOAH! A very proud Wife 4/42 FA 4ID! And a very special thanks to the FRG leaders for all their help and support they've given me thru all the hard times!
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Redeployment Tips:
1) My husband came home in August of 2003 because he was ETSing, but his "other" family is still over there. This has been difficult for him. I could see he was torn between being happy he was home with his wife and children and missing the family he had grown so much with over in Iraq. Your updates help a lot. We are awaiting the arrival of his other family and hope the rest of them come home safe and soon. Transition can be so hard from Army to civillian and to go from having a large number of men you grow to care and look out for to having only a few girls to look after at home. I am so excited for all the wives, I remember my anticipation and excitement. A few words of advice.. it will be great to be back with the one you love but leave time for just getting to know your husband all over again. Remember, as much as he has grown from being over there, you will need to get acquainted with the new part of him. Be patient with him, he may not always be able to talk with you about what may be running through his head at all times. Just love him no matter what and if he seems to be having some trouble talking with you about "things," have him give a call to one of his buddies --it works great for my husband.
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