US COMMANDER RELIEVED OF DUTY

sky news ^ | 04/04/2003 | sky news

[MIKEinGA]

A US commander who was leading a push by marines through southern Iraq towards Baghdad has been relieved of his post.

No reason has been given for the decision to relieve Colonel Joe Dowdy, commander of the Marines First Regimental Combat Team, Public Affairs Officer Steven Schweitzer said.

"He was responsible for the regiment until three hours ago," Schweitzer said.

More follows...

Last Updated: 15:46 UK, Friday April 04, 2003

[libbylu]

I hope he is the commander who ordered marines to cross a rive with full gear, and two drowned.

[XJarhead]

Wow. This really is big. Relieving a regimental commander during an assault is huge.

[dwilli]

If he was a full bird, it's something the field generals are afraid to gloss over. Insubordination?? Didn't move his troops to right place, sexual conduct.??

[mdittmar]

Colonel Dowdy, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, was commissioned in 1979 as a second lieutenant following graduation from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. He also holds a M.A. degree from Webster University in Management and Human Resources Development and a M.S.S. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger Schools, Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College and U.S. Army War College.

Colonel Dowdy’s command assignments include: rifle and Dragon platoon commander, Second Battalion, Eighth Marines (1980-83); Company Commander, Company E, Second Battalion, Sixth Marines (Second Battalion, Sixth Marines was redesignated as Second Battalion, Eighth Marines) (1988-1990); Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, Second Battalion, Eighth Marines (1990); Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Security Force Company, Keflavik, Iceland (1990-1992); Commanding Officer, First Battalion, First Marines (1998-2000).

Colonel Dowdy’s staff assignments include: Marine Corps Recruiting Station LittleRock, Operations Officer and Executive Officer (1983-1986); Assistant Operations Officer (S-3A), Second Battalion, Sixth Marines (1987-1988); Operations Officer (S-3), Second Battalion, Eighth Marines (1990); Crisis-Action Plans Officer, Operations Directorate (J-3), United States Central Command (1993-1996); G-3 Operations Officer, 1st Marine Division (1996-1998); Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 1st Marine Division (2000); Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5, First Marine Expeditionary Force (2001-2002). .

Colonel Dowdy’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Army Achievement Medal.

[jetson]

Maybe he decided to grease the tank tracks with some Iraqi soldiers.

[Happy2BMe]

What was the name of the Lt. Col. who was feeding the MSNBC reporter (Bob Arnut (no-not Arnett) the other night?

Anyone catch it? It was incredible reporting by Bob Arnut, but the Lt.Col. got on Arnut's mike and was actually reporting to it military style - "We have taken the target and awaiting further orders, sir" type of a thing.

Anyone catch that?

[fightinJAG]

Well, it's not necessarily "huge." Commanders do get relieved and it happens even, or maybe especially, in wartime.

The standards are high, the fuse is short. If his superior officers just weren't comfortable with him for some reason---OUTTA there.

[Herodotus]

That was supposed to be a reserve major with an engineering battalion, if I remember.

[fightinJAG]

He's from Little Rock.

[Happy2BMe]

"I can't help but notice he's from Arkansas. What goes down there?"

I dare you to go onto any military reservation in Arkansas and say that.

[fightinJAG]

And if press reports were correct, there wasn't much to investigate. They conducted the river crossing WITHOUT stringing a safety line first. Unless it was the most pressing combat situation, and there was no other option except crossing without a line, that was unforgivable stupidity and showed a lack of military discipline.

The cardinal sin of a commander is to fail to take care of his troops.

[af_vet_rr]

I would make a joke comparing him to the Lt. Col. that thought it would be funny to streak the base, but considering this guy may have been the one to order the Marines across the river in full gear..

[floriduh voter]

I bet he's the whiner who told a reporter that Rummy was running a cheap war. I believe that's insubordination at the very least.

[wireman]

I think it's the same guy.

[Happy2BMe]

This crap happened every other day in Nam.

Interesting to see this pirahana-fest on one of our own.

You guys need to start posting on D. underground.

[gdc61]

he was a colonel. this is one of the problems of having reporters right there. with no control over there line of questions, there is a real possablity of sensitive info getting into the wrong hands.

[Mo1]

Colonel Dowdy, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock?? .. did he disobey orders given?

[Happy2BMe]

"I think it's the same guy."

IF SO - - then that explains it.

He lost it and broke COMSEC.

You bastard$ need to look before you leap.

[Beck_isright]

Yeah, he did something that's a court martial offense. That doesn't happen in the middle of battle.

V

[floriduh voter]

Geraldo, even though he's in Kuwait City, was at it again. "I spoke to several military leaders, blah, blah." blah... I think he's still a chatterbox because of his ego.
If he's still giving too much information, they should send him somewhere that he can't do any harm.