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More Violence in Iraq as Military Operations Continue
By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2004 – Violence continues in Iraq, and coalition forces continue their efforts to kill or capture enemies of the coalition and the Iraqi people.
At a press briefing today in Baghdad, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, provided details of various recent incidents and operations.
In the 24 hours leading up to the briefing, Kimmitt said, the coalition conducted 1,336 patrols, 20 offensive operations and 16 raids, and captured 69 anti-coalition suspects.
In the northern zone of operations, coalition and Iraqi security forces conducted 75 patrols, three offensive operations, and detained nine anti- coalition suspects, Kimmitt said. In the north-central zone, coalition and Iraqi security forces conducted 290 patrols and five raids, and captured 36 anti-coalition suspects.
The chief of police in Balad, Lt. Col. Fadil Ali Jansen, was assassinated March 21, the general said. Eyewitnesses saw the killers drive off in a gray, late- model vehicle that was later determined to be a rental vehicle from Baghdad. "A good description of the assailant was also obtained, and a 'be-on-the-lookout' alert has been issued," Kimmitt said.
Also on March 21, coalition forces conducted a raid in Kirkuk to capture three brothers suspected of planning an attack using the guise of being Northern Oil Company security personnel. The unit captured one of the brothers and continues to conduct operations to capture the other two, Kimmitt said.
A March 22 raid by coalition forces in Baiji netted a suspect believed responsible for the March 12 rocket-propelled grenade attack that resulted in the wounding of a coalition soldier, the general said. Three others also were detained.
Kimmitt said an Iraqi civilian was killed and eight Iraqi Civil Defense Corps personnel were injured today by a car bomb at one of the gates to logistics support area Anaconda. The dead civilian is believed to have been the driver of the car that exploded; those wounded were taken by ground ambulance to the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Balad, he said.
In Baghdad, coalition and Iraqi security forces conducted 538 patrols, 35 escort missions, and captured seven anti-coalition suspects, Kimmitt said. In one incident, two Iraqis who were believed to have fired rockets into the coalition sector were captured during a house search. The men tested positive with a vapor tracer, he said.
In the western zone of operations, coalition and Iraqi security forces conducted 208 patrols and detained 20 anti-coalition suspects. Coalition forces conducted a cordon-and-search operation March 21 in Fallujah and detained two suspects in connection with a Feb. 14 attack on a police station there. The search also turned up a quantity of weapons and ammunition.
A joint operation with Iraqi police led to the arrest of four brothers suspected of a recent attack on the Mahmudiya police chief. Coalition and Iraqi security forces in the central-south zone of operations conducted 110 patrols, established 48 checkpoints and escorted 42 convoys, Kimmitt said. Iraqi police are investigating a car bombing that killed an Iraqi judge March 20 in Hillah, he added. A position manned by coalition forces at the Shatt al-Arab Hotel was attacked March 20 by Iraqi males who fired approximately 50 rounds in the direction of the hotel, the general said. A quick-reaction force was deployed and captured two people who are being held for questioning.
Operation Iron Promise continues, and over the past 24 hours soldiers of the 1st Armored Division conducted 76 battalion operations and captured 115 enemy personnel. They also seized 208 weapons, 107 artillery and rocket rounds, and "significant quantities" of improvised explosive device materials, Kimmitt reported.
Asked about the military's investigation into reports of mistreatment of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers, Kimmitt said a small number of soldier have operated outside the rules. "There have been, sadly, cases where soldiers have operated outside established, trained rules of engagement and rules for the use of force -- a very, very small number in a force of over 150,000." Emphasizing that he was unsure of the number, Kimmitt estimated that "well less than a dozen" soldiers have been investigated for detainee abuse over the last year. "While each of those cases is nothing to take great pride in, the fact is that 99-plus percent of the soldiers are operating well within those rules of engagement, under very tough conditions, showing remarkable restraint, day after day, operating inside this country," he said.
At the same news briefing, senior coalition spokesman Dan Senor announced that coalition administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III has taken steps to address allegations of improprieties associated with the United Nations "Oil for Food" program in Iraq. The program began as a way to ease the suffering of the Iraqi people stemming from sanctions imposed on Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime for the dictator's failure to comply with U.N. resolutions.
Senor told reporters that Bremer has issued a directive to interim Iraqi ministers, CPA senior advisors and regional governance coordinators to safeguard all documents related to the program. The directive includes contracts, amendments and annexes to contracts and supporting materials, he said. As part of the investigation, he added, documents are being inventoried and recorded, and those inventories will be provided to CPA as soon as possible. "Irregularities, including any evidence of bribes, kickbacks or corruption, should be noted," he said.
CPA officials will review submitted inventories and may seek access to records associated with the program. The documents will be made available to investigations being conducted by the United Nations, the U.S. Congress and Iraqi officials, he said. Senor said the CPA is helping interim Iraqi ministers identify current ministry officials who may know about misconduct arising from the administration of the oil-for-food program.
The CPA will play a supportive role in the investigation by working aggressively to compile the information necessary for investigations that will be conducted by other institutions, he said. "We want to do everything we can to help uncover the truth here, and Ambassador Bremer has issued a directive to that effect," Senor said. "And we will be taking additional steps in the days and weeks ahead to further bolster the robustness of the overall investigations that are being conducted in ways that we can be helpful."
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in France:
21 - 25 March 1945 - D+289 to 293 - Report G 3 (operations):
The 4th Infantry Division remained assembled, and until 1240 on 23 March, was kept on an alert status with the CT 12 motorized with trucks furnished by the VI Corps and prepared to move on three hours notice.
After release from its alert status, the training program was continued, specially in the firing of individual and crew served weapons.
Effective at 1200 on 25 March, the Division passed to operational control of the XXI Corps.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) My son with the 1-68 AR Mechanics, should be in the air as I am writing this on his way back to Carson, but there are three more from his Mech group still over there - two in Balad, which they are probably soon to be enroute, and one in Kuwait wrapping things up awaiting the 2 from Balad. He says all the vehicles in Kuwait have to be cleaned before going on a boat, that is what he has been doing for 3 days without sleep, and he says there are about 900 vehicles to be cleaned from the groups coming back...... I am just so happy he will be on home soil. He says we really need to keep the new ones over there in our prayers, because the enemy is now testing them... He says they told the ones who took over for them they need to be tough! So we need to really keep in prayer! They are still our guys over there! And we need to continue supporting our military families abroad!
2) Wa La, as the French say, we were sitting here. wondering what was up with our son, and our hotel phone rings and it was our son. He is In Frankfurt Germany, getting ready to board, the next stop is Bangor Maine, and the estimated time of arrival is some time late this evening... oh rah, his dog has had a bath, so he can greet his Dad, he has been whinnig so much the past few days, so not sure if he knows something is up. Our son sounded good, and glad that Iraq was in the rear view mirror.
3) I heard from my husband (HHC, 1/68 AR) yesterday! He told me when the last plane should be in, and of course he'll be on that one. They're moving them up as they get space, but I should have him back by this weekend! He'll miss our son's 4 month birthday, but he'll be here for the rest of them. He really scared me though.. He told me that the tent they turned over Monday got bombed into nothing on Tuesday - this is why I didn't want to know anything until he gets home. That scared me enough and he wasn't even there. Can't imagine hearing bad stuff he was actually involved with before he's home safe.
4) Yeah!!! The wonderful news for us came this morning - our grandson (HHB 3-29 FA) is getting his flight back to Ft.Carson tomorrow evening and we are thanking God for getting him back safe. We won't be there when he arrives but WILL BE on Friday to spend a few special days with him.
5) Words just can't describe the experience of a Home Coming! My son (HHC 1-22 IN) came back on Saturday, March 13th, he arrived at Starker Gym. I had a heads up on what the procedure was by watching SSG Mack two days before when several of my son's platoon came home. I noticed that not everyone had signs for their soldier so I went out and bought yellow poster boards and made a sign for all the Medics that were due in on that day. I held up the signs and the families came over to us and we gave them the signs we made for them and then we all sat together. It was so awesome! They said they definitely saw all of us! .... I want the country to know that I truly believe that every American should experience a Home Coming of our Proud and Faithful Soldiers! Even if they don't know anyone in the military, this would open their eyes and let them feel the appreciation we have to our Soldiers and the appreciation they have to serve their Country! This is my story Bob. We arrived at Starker Gym early and knew where to sit so our Soldiers would be facing the beautiful American Flag and we were on that side of the gym! SSG Mack announced when the plane had landed and we all screamed and cheered, then he told us that they were now returning their weapons, then he came back and said that they had just left the air field and were on the buses in route to the gym and we went crazy just yelling and cheering some more! Then SSG Mack said that the next time we saw him he would be running in the gym and behind him would be 189 of the Proudest American Soldiers that we ever saw! SSG Mack was right! The DJ started releasing fog and soon after that we saw SSG Mack running in and behind came our Brave, Proud Soldiers! They ran in and we raised the roof yelling, cheering and crying happy tears! When we saw our son we kept waving and kept our eyes on him and I'm sure that when others saw their loved ones they did the same. When we all sang the National Anthem we cried and so did our Soldiers! Real men cry! Everyone was so excited to hold their loved ones! It was so beautiful to see all these wonderful soldiers reunited with family and friends that supported, loved and prayed for them through this deployment! One of the most touching moments of all was after all the hugs and kisses from family and friends calmed down. I watched these Beautiful, Proud, Loyal Soldiers go up to other Soldiers and with tears in their eyes, yet a smile on their faces hug each other with the tightest hug that you could imagine and say to each other "We Made It." These young men and women have grown so much and appreciate life. This has been a very hard year having a son deployed to Iraq, fighting and protecting our country! I'm a very proud Mom and I'm very thankful that my son is back home in the USA but I'm here to say that this War is not over until ALL of our MEN and WOMEN come home!
6) I appreciate the updates daily and I doubt I'd be as sane today without them. Our son arrived at Ft. Carson on Sat and called us about 8:30 p.m. He's with TF 1-12, 3BCT 4ID (Mechanized). Thank God he's safe and we are praying for those still travelling home. We have those who are grieving from the loss of a loved one in our prayers as well as those newly arriving in Iraq. God, family, friends and Bob have helped us through the year. THANKS!
7) Through our support group Operation Sandbox, I have become close friends with a wife from Fort Carson and her husband who we adopted while he was deployed. We spent two weeks with them over the summer, and had so hoped to be able to be with her when her husband came home. But life, with all its twists and turns, this was not possible. So when he came home Sunday evening, she called me from the ceremony! I could hear all the emotion and feel the joy these families had via a cell phone. I sat listening with tears rolling down my checks, What an awesome experience! Even though not physically present, she helped me share her and the other families joy! Her last words on that call were" I gotta go find my husband", then a loud "there he is! "Needless to say, the phone went dead. I am still smiling as I write this!! Sharon, I know you read these updates faithfully, and Thank You, for making me a small part of the homecoming!! Hugs to your Family!!
8) we finally heard from our Son. He is with 4th ID and he is now in Kuwait! We got a call from him on Saturday letting us know he is ok and just waiting to come home. ... He is leaving sometime this week. We are going to leave on Wednesday and drive to Fort Carson. He said he is one of the last ones to leave in his Unit since he was able to come home for leave in December. He says they are just hanging out... getting to sleep...eat...and wait. He is fine with that...though anxious to come home.
I wanted to also thank you for recommending to get in touch with the FRG. I did just that and within one week I was in contact with 4 different people working on getting us any information they could. It really helped our anxiety because one of them was able to tell us he was out of Iraq and in Kuwait. I recommend that if anyone has questions about the homecomings or help finding out when their Soldier is coming home to get in touch with the FRG, it was a blessing for us. This has been an amazing experience..one our family will never forget. God Bless our Troops and pray they all come home soon.
9) My husband with the 3rd BCT, 1-8 Infantry has returned to us safely! He has been home now for 3 days, it still seems very surreal after all the time that we have spent apart. We are still in our readjustment period, our 13 month old daughter still won't let daddy hold her when I'm not around. I was worried about this, but I'm sure she'll come around slowly. My husband still marvels at all the little things, from flushing the toilet, flipping through tv channels, to strolling through the grocery aisles. I am so relieved that he's finally home, I think we've both learned that we shouldn't take things for granted anymore. Thank God he's come home to us safely!
10) My husband is home!!! !YES!!!! I missed him so much it was almost unbearable! Thank God he's home! I was so overwhelmed I almost ran right past him! I'm lucky! My husband came home and already it feels like he's never been gone.
11) My Son, HHC 1-22, called me from Fort Hood on Sunday, (He's been back for a week now.) He said he met you Saturday while waiting for a few of his buddies who had just arrived to come out of the Gym. I want to thank you for your updates, they've been part of my morning routine for about 9 months now and have really helped relieve some of the stress & worry that comes with having a loved one in harms way. We're looking forward to the block leave coming up and being able to see him again.
12) Bob, my son came home last Thursday morning at 2:20 and we were there for the welcoming home ceremony which you have experienced now. In all my years, there has been nothing to match or describe being in a gym full of family members at 2:30 in the morning hearing the song "coming to America" and then seeing hundreds of men and women run into the gym in full battle gear! When they were dismissed he knew exactly where we were and he greeted his daughter (3 1/2 years old) with open arms as she did to him. Thank God they returned safely!
13) Hi Bob, it was great to hear about the return of the troops to Fort Hood. We're glad you got to be a part of the festivities. We just put our son (1-10 Cav C-Troop) on a plane to Killeen about 5 hours ago. He came home last Tuesday on a convalescent leave from Walter Reed. It was such a relief to have him back in the states. His treatment for parasites went well and he got a clean bill of health. There will be no big reunion in the gym, but his Sergeant is going to meet him at the airport tonight!
14) My husband got home Saturday. Way earlier than I was expecting him. I figured he would be one of the last ones home but he got to be one of the first because he
didn't get the two weeks leave or any R & R. That and I think they were probably just tired of listening to him being grumpy. He just kind of grinned when I asked him if that was the real reason.
15) Our son (3/66 Armor) arrived back at Fort Hood at 3 am Saturday morning. We got about 48 hours notice and were able to arrange to fly in from Virginia to meet him..... The soldiers got to the gym about 5 am. I won't repeat the details of the ceremony. It was really brief. What a rush to be able to hug him at last. He didn't get R&R so we hadn't seen him for about a year and a half. I told my wife that that ceremony would be the first and last chance we ever had to be in a room with that many heroes at the same time (and I include the soldiers families in that group).
16) I think my son is so short right now that the iraqi dust is being left behind....we are still waiting for the call....hopfully this week sometime.....I am so glad to be reading about all the excitement that is happening at Starker gym because we will miss it for our son....due to his time frame and getting tickets and us being in Alaska. But we are coming the first part of April so maybe we can catch someone else coming home. My heart just swells reading about the homecomings and we are
there thanks to you, Bob.....proud mom 4th MP Co
17) Our soldier (B Co-2-8 IN) came home Fri. March 19 at approx. 8:30am to a joyous reunion at Ft Hood and he met his 4 mo old daughter for the first time. If anyone caught Fox7 News that evening in the Killeen area, that was their story they showed, and our daughter they interviewed. Everyone is trying to get used to each other again, he isn't saying much and we aren't asking anything but this morning before I went to work he said he had just finished the first three pages of his book on his new laptop. (like you said, everyone expresses themselves differently).
18) The welcome home celebration for the 4th Engineers at Fort Carson on March 10th was highly energetic, patriotic, family and soldier centered, outstanding, and best of all...short. We were able to join with our soldiers fairly soon after they were most appropriately and ceremoniously acknowledged for a job well done! When I could look my son in the eye and put my arms around him, I knew he was home. He still had the sparkle in his eye and the incredible smile of a champion; and, he was standing taller than he was prior to his Iraq deployment. A father's trick of standing on his toes while he hugs a taller son just couldn't make me tall enough this time. He has grown and has been strengthened by this mission. What a thrill it was to be introduced by my son, company commander for HHC-4th Engineers, to the proud soldiers who served with him at Balad's "Camp Swampy." We are most thankful that those in his company all made it home safely, and our hearts go out to others who
sustained injuries or who lost loved ones. Thank you again for your continued excellent service to the soldiers and their families of the US Army's 4th Division.
19) I was given the gift of flying to Texas to see my son this past week. Fortunatly we had a free Delta Miles ticket waiting to be used so I didn't have to pay the $800.00 high priced ticket for next day air! I found out on Monday evening that my son, 3/66 AR was going to be in Texas on Tuesday afternoon. So I quickly made arrangements! I was able to spend 4 fantastic days with my son. We laughed, cried, did laundry, got stuff out of storage, re-newed tags and registration, talked, I listened. It was fabulous. The re-union in the auditorium was mind-boggling and no dry eye was available. It was so touching to see all the lovely wives spiffed up for their husbands, children playing around waiting for their daddy and mothers and fathers sitting quietly, anxiously for their soldier to come home. Every American should experience such a homecoming. The first words from my son, after I love you and hugging was, "America smells so sweet. I mean smells, literally so sweet."
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