|
||
 |
||
| 1st ID takes over from 4th ID in Sunni Triangle By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes European edition, Wednesday, March 17, 2004
TIKRIT, Iraq — The U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division took control of Iraq’s deadly Sunni Triangle on Tuesday when the 4th Infantry Division transferred its authority to the incoming division. Soldiers from the divisions assembled at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit for the change of command from the 4th ID’s Task Force Ironhorse to 1st ID’s Task Force Danger. The ceremony was marked by the casing of the 4th ID colors and uncasing of the Big Red One’s colors in front of Saddam Hussein’s former presidential palace complex, now 1st ID headquarters. 1st ID takes responsibility for security in north-central Iraq, an area which includes cities such as Tikrit, Samarra, Baquobah and Kirkuk, all hotbeds of anti-coalition activity. The commander of coalition forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, told those gathered that the change of command was a historic moment and an honor for “two great divisions, their soldiers and leaders.” The 4th ID conducted thousands of raids, captured tons of ammunition, spent millions of dollars rebuilding Iraq and created more than 50,000 jobs, he said. The division’s greatest moment in Iraq came in December when it helped capture Saddam. 1st ID commander Maj. Gen. John Batiste praised 4th ID’s work in Iraq but added: “for the leaders of 1 ID and Task Force Danger the mission continues.” Terrorists, foreign fighters, former regime elements, criminals and “anyone trying to destabilize Iraq” are the common enemies of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces, Batiste said. After the ceremony, Spc. Joe Ghamdi, of 4th ID’s 1st Brigade Command Group, smoked a cigarette and dreamed of going home soon to a massage and a Jacuzzi. “I’ve been mortared five times, RPG-ed seven times and shot at three times.” The young soldier was also involved in the capture of Saddam. “The code name for his capture was ‘Jackpot.’ When it came over the radio everybody looked at each other and we were like, ‘No,’ because we’d had several raids before,” he said. Ghamdi went to the farm where Saddam was captured. He said he saw the former dictator flown to captivity strapped to the side of a helicopter. He was ordered to guard several hundred thousand dollars found with Saddam. “At that time we felt the war was over. It was a big relief because we thought we would not be attacked as much,” said Ghamdi. Meanwhile, a 1st ID soldier standing outside the palace after the ceremony said the first two weeks of his tour weren’t what he thought they would be. “You have to prepare for the worst because you are going to one of the most dangerous places in the world but it’s a lot better than I expected,” Pvt. Jesse Granger said. “Here in Tikrit we are living and working in palaces. It is a real place in the world with trees and blue skies.” |
