U.S. Marines Turn Over Reins To Plus Ultra Spanish Brigade

DoD ^ | Sept. 24, 2003 | Army Staff Sgt. David Bennett

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Viewed from a water tower in An Najaf, Iraq, 164 U.S. Marines of Baker Company First Battalion, Seventh Marines pay their respects to their fellow Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The Marines represent the last remaining Marine infantry battalion in Iraq fighting the war on terrorism. U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Kyle Pirnat
U.S. Marines Turn Over Reins To Plus Ultra Spanish Brigade
By Army Staff Sgt. David Bennett
AN NAJAF, Iraq(Sept. 24, 2003) —The last Marine battalion in southern Iraq is finally returning home. For the Marines of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, the news that they will return to 29 Palms, Calif. at the end of September was almost too good to be true. "I think it might actually happen this time," said Lance Cpl. Ryan Burton, a battalion radio operator from Orleans, Ind. The battalion was prepared to leave at the beginning of September when a car bomb exploded in the shrine area of the city, killing about 100 worshippers. As a precaution, the Marine battalion was ordered in place for at least two more weeks to ensure stability in the city. However, the news of the imminent departure came from a reliable source. Brigadier Gen. John F. Kelly, assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division Sept. 21 delivered the news personally. "You will be the last battalion back in the United States," said Kelly, to a packed chow hall. "We saved the best for last." It became official three days later when Lt. Col. Christopher Woodbridge, battalion commander transferred authority to Spanish Army Brig. Gen. Alfredo Cardona, commander of the Plus Ultra Spanish Brigade during a brief ceremony Sept. 23. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Woodbridge said after almost two months of working with Battalion Cuscatlan of El Salvador and Battalion Xatruch of Honduras, which comprise the bulk of the Latin brigade, they will take up the reins. "I anticipate that they will enjoy the same level of success in Najaf as we have," he said. The Spanish brigade has big shoes to fill. After capturing an important oil field, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines helped secure Baghdad and was later responsible for the safety and security of one of Islam's holiest cities. The Marines left 29 Palms at the end of January and have been away from loved ones for more than eight months. At times, members of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines battled Hussein's Republican Guard troops, sand storms, the searing Iraqi sun, slow mail, sleep depravation and no days off, according the Battalion's senior noncommissioned officer, Sgt. Maj. Henry E. Bergon, a 24-year veteran of the Corps. "I had my doubts about the video-game playing Marines of this generation," said. Bergon, a native of Woonsocket, R.I. "But these guys changed my mind. Their morale never wavered and the professionalism that they displayed proved to me that they may be the greatest generation ever." He said they have proved their worth time and again. On March 21, the "First Team" help seized the Az Zubayr oil facility, which produces about 14 percent of the world's oil and will prove critical in supporting the newly freed Iraqi people.   Brig. Gen. John F. Kelly, assistant commander of 1st Marine Division, informs the Marines of "Animal" Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment Sept. 20, 2003 that they are finally leaving An Najaf. The battalion, which arrived in the Iraqi city April 24, turned over authority to the Plus Ultra Spanish Brigade Sept. 23, 2003. U.S. Army photo by staff Sgt. David Bennett	The leathernecks of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines went as far north as Baghdad participating in the longest and fastest ground assault in the history of the Marine Corps. Despite intense firefights both in the desert and in the tight constraints of urban settings, the battalion lost no one to hostile fire. After helping to pacify Baghdad, the First Team headed back south and was given the mission to secure the city of An Najaf, which is one of Islam?s holiest cities. The Ali Mosque, which houses the tomb of the founder of Shiite faith, is there, along with one of the world?s largest cemeteries. Shiites from around the world come to An Najaf to bury their relatives and to make pilgrimages to this city. "Baghdad may be the head of Iraq," said Capt Kohtaro Terahiara, the battalion's intelligence officer and resident of the San Francisco Bay area. "But Najaf is the heart of Iraq." As the lead elements of the battalion arrived in Najaf to replace soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of Fort Campbell, Ky., the Marines were told that they drew the toughest assignment -- creating a safe and stable environment in what was described as a radical Shiite Muslim city. Along with the Marines, a detachment of Naval construction engineers, a company of Army military police and a team of Army Reserve civil affairs specialists dove into the job of making Najaf a safe and productive city again. They found that Saddam Hussein's regime had cut off state funding to Najaf. The technical college had been closed for more than a decade. Most of the more than 500 hundred primary and secondary schools in the Najaf province had been repaired since the end of the first Gulf War. "When we talk about trying to bring Najaf back to pre-war levels (of services)," said Maj. Rick Hall, the Battalion?s executive officer and father of eight. "We are talking about pre-Desert Storm." The First Team jumped in to help Najaf. Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 (Air Detachment) based at Port Hueneme, Calif., repaired 13 schools, and a police station, in addition to building fortifications for the Marines. Reservists from the Army's 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Green Bay, Wis., and Marines from the 3rd Civil Affairs Group, introduced the citizens of Najaf to the principles of democracy and worked with police and social services to serve the community. They also identified critical projects needed to keep the city running and managed millions of dollars in grants and projects, including repairs to power and water treatment facilities, hospitals and schools. Actively patrolling a province of more that 1.2 million people, the Marines took responsibility for the safety of the people of Najaf. Following up on leads, the "First Team" regularly went on raids that disrupted arms smuggling rings and Ba?ath Party hideouts. Now those tasks will fall to their Latin American counterparts. Working in tandem with the follow-on forces, Marines conducted joint patrols daily. "They are really eager to get out there," said Pfc. Courtney T. Dingwall, an infantryman from with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines Company B. "They?re pretty locked on." Lieutenant Col. Santiago Sabino Monterroza, commander of Battalion Cuscatlan said his 300 troops are fully prepared to continue the work began by the American forces. "The more training you do, the more confident you are," Monterroza said. "Right now, we are confident of taking over for the Marines." As the Latin Forces have prepared to take charge, the Marines have been busy cleaning and packing in order to get back to their home base of 29 Palms. "I won't believe it until I am there." said Lance Cpl. Sok Khoan, a native of Cambodia and company clerk for Headquarters and Support Company. "My wife asked me if I was happy to be home soon, I told her that I was nervous. I guess it's like the war. You don't know what to expect."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 Thanks, Tonkin!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The last Marine battalion in southern Iraq is finally returning home.

NON-UN-ilateral, homecoming soon, ping!

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[dirtboy]

Plus Ultra Spanish Brigade

Sounds like a brand of deodorant...

[Coop]

Awesome photo! It's now making the cyber rounds. :-)

[ken5050]

As an aside..the Spanish troops will do really well. Spain has years of hard experience fighting the Basque separatists..and the troops know how to do the job...they work closely in Spain with the Guardia Civil, and those guys are really good....

[Alamo-Girl]

That's great news! Thank you so much for the insight!

[Khurkris]

Guardia Civil bump!

[Incorrigible]

Related thread:

[Spanish] Troops bear 'Moor Killer' badges

[getgoing]

WELCOME HOME GUYS! We've proud of you, our adopted sons. Hugs to you and your families. THANK YOU.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Despite intense firefights both in the desert and in the tight constraints of urban settings, the battalion lost no one to hostile fire.

Hey media, where's the quagmire?!

[Sacajaweau]

Oh, Ragtime. That picture just made me burst into tears. God Love'em!!

[Liberal Classic]

He said they have proved their worth time and again. On March 21, the "First Team" help seized the Az Zubayr oil facility, which produces about 14 percent of the world's oil and will prove critical in supporting the newly freed Iraqi people.

Get a copy of this book:

The March Up - Taking Baghdad with the First Marine Division by Bing West and Ray Smith

It tells this in much greater detail. This multi million dollar facility was to be capture by an NCO, and was taken without the loss of a single Marine.

[Liberal Classic]

Dang it! Check links.

The March Up - Taking Baghdad with the First Marine Division by Bing West and Ray Smith

[Steely Glint]

Semper Fi to the "Magnificent Seventh."

[getgoing]

"last remaining Marine infantry battalion in Iraq"

Any info on the Marine Air Wing???

[chiefqc]

"Hey france, this is what men look like and what they do for their friends".

Your fearless leader, Jock Strap, is going to led to utter discrace, mistrust within the world and you will be the laughing stock of the world.

[blackie]

I can live with that! :)

[DeFault User]

....Guardia Civil....

If those Spanish troops are anything like the Guardia Civil, they'll clean up Iraq in short order. No nonsense cops that are well prepared to shoot and ask questions later. I got a traffic ticket from a pair of them once. One wrote up the ticket and collected the fine while the other covered us with a submachine gun.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Reserves' tour of duty finally up -- The Daily News (09/24/2003)
Read Story

 

Gray helicopters waited in the drizzle on the New River Air Station tarmac Tuesday to take home today the first Marine squadron to deploy with an active duty Marine expeditionary unit.

In February 2002, about 170 reserve and active duty Marines and sailors with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 from Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Pa., were called into active service, sent to New River Air Station and assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The MEU was preparing to leave on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment that would be extended to nine months because of the war in Iraq.

They expected to help active-duty forces for a year, but could have served two years before going home.

They had no idea what might happen in Iraq.

"The uncertainty was the biggest thing," Reserve CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief Staff Sgt. Mike J. Cuttic, 30, from Frackville, Pa.

"I don't think anybody had a doubt that we could do it; we were already deployed for seven months including sandy operations on the Horn of Africa before we were extended for two (more) months. But nobody knew what was going to happen next."

The squadron left eastern North Carolina in August 2002, stopping for a month of peacekeeping duty in Kosovo before going through the Suez Canal and training in the East African deserts of Djibouti.

In March, the 24th MEU joined the West Coast's 15th MEU, supporting the push north to Baghdad and trying to stabilize the southern area of the country for the next month.

The Super Stallion helicopters are the largest in the Marine Corps inventory and were always busy shuttling troops and cargo, resupplying food, water and ammunition or medical evacuation of the wounded.

"Everybody knows that there will be casualties in war," said Cuttic, a quality assurance engineer for a titanium manufacturing plant in civilian life.

"There was always a sense of urgency."

There were also new experiences in places they had never been.

Super Stallion airframe mechanic Sgt. Robert Bivens, 29, a quality control specialist for a farm equipment manufacturer from Lewisberry, Pa., had a chance to work with different people and on different helicopters such as the AH-1W Super Cobra, UH-1 Hueys and CH-46 Sea Knights.

"We got to see how the Army lives with their chow halls and barracks in Kosovo," Bivens said.

"We worked with the Navy (on the ships) and with the Air Force in Djibouti."

The squadron included activated reservists from a wide range of civilian jobs, including financial consultants, construction workers and law enforcement officers.

"We had a strong cast which was definitely a plus," Cuttic said.

Keeping aircraft clean and maintained was a challenge in the desert.

"There was a fine mist (of dirt) that went everywhere, there was no stopping it," Cuttic said.

"We'd fly for 10 hours and spend another three to four hours cleaning."

The lines blurred between Marine units from both coasts, each team doing what was necessary to win such as a resupply mission Cuttic remembers to the 1st Marine Division southeast of Baghdad before the ground troops entered the city.

"From West Coast to East Coast and reserve units - they were all intertwined," Cuttic said. "I don't think anybody questions where you're from or what you're doing. The most important thing was the teamwork and sticking together. There is close knit group in the Marine family."

But military friends are not substitutes for family.

"The length of time away from my family is the hardest," said Cuttic, the father of three daughters. "We talked regularly through email on the ship and the occasional phone call."

Cuttic has been home to Pennsylvania on leave twice since their unit's return on Memorial Day, and he's looking forward to the final trip.

"My honey-do list is quite long," Cuttic said. "I have some yard work, some home improvement and reintegration of us as a family again."

Contact Eric Steinkopff at estein kopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.