4th Infantry reinforcements to give boost to troops near Baghdad

Knight Ridder Newspapers | April 3, 2003 | John Sullivan

[HAL9000]

CAMP UDARI, Northern Kuwait - The troops, tanks and armored equipment once seen as opening a crucial northern front against Baghdad are now pouring into Kuwait at a rapid pace with some elements preparing to head toward the Iraqi capital.

Almost overnight troops from the 4th Infantry Division have flooded this dusty outpost, swelling chow-hall lines so much the Army built several new dining halls in the past two days.

Those reinforcements could add a much-needed punch to the 3rd Infantry Division that is poised just a few scant miles from Baghdad. By month's end, the 4th will unload enough equipment to field an army of 30,000 soldiers. But the force does not need to be deployed as a single unit, and already its lead units are scrambling to get ready for combat.

The 4th ID began unloading the first of its 30 ships on Tuesday in the Kuwait port of Shuiaba. The Cape Texas, a 634-foot vessel out of Houston, steamed into port in the morning. There, the 2nd Battalion Field Artillery unloaded 550 vehicles in 12 hours. It normally takes about two days to unload a ship.

Each of the equipment-laden ships, which were anchored off the coast of Turkey during the failed talks to win access to Iraq through Turkey, are being met by round-the-clock flights carrying soldiers from their home base at Ft. Hood, Texas.

The influx means tight quarters at the staging area in Udari, which is also filling up with heavy Abrams Tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles from the 1st Squadron 10th Cavalry.

"It's a very aggressive schedule," said Lt. Col. Allen West, who commands the field artillery battalion. West and his men spent two nights sleeping on a gravel lot while preparing the equipment. "I'm an old-school soldier. I like to keep those Spartan conditions so no one becomes too comfortable."

And few were. After the gear arrived in Udari, frequent Scud alerts forced soldiers to swap out transmissions and repair flattened tires while donning gas masks in baking hot temperatures.

Much of the equipment was in good shape despite spending months at sea, the maintenance crews said.

"We actually got a little sleep last night," said Sgt. James Gambrel, 30, of Pineville, Ky.

Many soldiers were tired, but glad to be moving toward the front.

"I'm eager to get out there," said Spc. Eric Doolin, 23, of Warsaw, Ky. "The 3rd has been fighting and people have been dying. They need some relief."

Over the next week, soldiers will work nonstop to prepare the complicated equipment for the battlefield.

The 4th ID is equipped with the M1A2-SEP Abrams Tank, which is the Army's most modern heavy tank. It is outfitted with digital and thermal imaging, steel-encased depleted uranium armor and is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.

"This pace is probably the hardest thing they've done in their whole lives," said Sgt. Rodney Taylor, 37, from Fort Worth, Texas, as he fashioned a bracket to carry more water on the back of his Humvee.

"They are all doing exceptionally well," said Capt. Jody Sullivan, 35, of Gillette, Wyoming, who commands C Battery in the 2-20th. His job is to make sure sophisticated radar equipment functions properly.

On Thursday, his soldiers were firing up big radars that track enemy fire to make sure they work. "You have to warm them up like an old car," he said. "It can take a day or two."

[joesnuffy]

The "Funny"4th better hurry up they are gonna miss out... :)
-former "Pschedelic Cookie" trooper-

[joesnuffy]

This is the "real" hi tech stuff...you dont wanna be on the wrong side of this....
Hooah

[PISANO]

How long before the fist of them goes into IRAQ? I heard on FOX it would be a minimum of TWO WEEKS. Anyone know or heard something different?

[TheLion]

"The 4th ID is equipped with the M1A2-SEP Abrams Tank, which is the Army's most modern heavy tank. It is outfitted with digital and thermal imaging, steel-encased depleted uranium armor and is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare."

That thing could probably go downtown Bagdad! Anybody got a pic?

[Blood of Tyrants]

I predict that the first columns will start out in a day or two.

[Tailback]

"It's a very aggressive schedule," said Lt. Col. Allen West, who commands the field artillery battalion. West and his men spent two nights sleeping on a gravel lot while preparing the equipment. "I'm an old-school soldier. I like to keep those Spartan conditions so no one becomes too comfortable."

I'm sure this guys troops just love him. I wonder what the reenlistment rate is in his unit.

[Trapper]

Daschle is sadden that the fourth has ARRIVED!

[mrsmith]

"swelling chow-hall lines so much the Army built several new dining halls in the past two days. "
Darn that failed Rummy plan! Hack and Wesley will be tearing him a new one for not ordering more chow halls!!!

I hope the 4th gets up into the north while there's still some left for them. I now it's callous, but they should get combat experience.

[AFMobster]

I really wish these "journalists" would stop calling the 4th ID reinforcements. The 4th was supposed to already be in Iraq and taking care of the fighting in the north. But Turkey refused to let them go in. These are NOT reinforcements, they are just arriving late for the fight because they got detoured.

[Arkinsaw]

I'm sure this guys troops just love him. I wonder what the reenlistment rate is in his unit.

At least he spent the night with them on that gravel.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Tailback]

True, I had a 1SG that was staying in a hotel while we were "in the box" in JRTC and despite that he didn't have any barracks lined up for us when we were done in the field. We had to beg another unit to let us take showers in their barracks and we slept on the concrete motor pool. I heard that he's earmarked for SGM.

[Stay the course]

4ID - Equipment

[HAL9000]

I'm still laughing at your Bob Arnot/Alex Witt parody last night.

[TheLion]

Good stuff....thanks. Did some searching earlier and found a site that said that Russia has 8500 tanks! They are about 1/2 the weight and obviously no match for an Abrams.

[tdscpa]

I think they should send them through Turkey as a Sunday drive, just to warm them up and break them in before we commit them to duty in Iraq.