Decision to Move 4th Infantry Division to Persian Gulf Area Greeted by Troops With Relief

Associated Press ^ | Mar 22, 2003 | David Rising

[mdittmar]

For two months they lived on the edge, expecting the call at any moment. At last, soldiers with the Army's 4th Infantry Division on Saturday got some welcome news: Ships loaded with their equipment were on their way to the Persian Gulf.

It was a big relief.

"The speculation's over, the waiting is over, the wondering is over," said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, a public affairs officer. "Now it's time to go do our jobs."

Some 33,000 troops of the division or attached to it have been under orders to deploy since Jan. 18. They had to wait at Fort Hood and other bases, however, while Washington tried to negotiate with the Turkish government to allow them to passage through their country.

Military planners had wanted the 4th Infantry Division to use Turkey as a springboard to open a northern front against Iraq, which would have put extra pressure on Iraq's army by making it defend in several directions.

On Saturday, that plan apparently was abandoned. About 40 ships carrying weaponry for the 4th Infantry were on their way to the Gulf, expected to begin moving through the Suez Canal on Sunday, defense officials said.

The 4th Infantry's soldiers are likely to go to Kuwait, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was also was possible that they could enter Iraq directly through the Gulf port of Umm Qasr, now under the control of British and U.S. Marines after clashes Friday with Iraqi forces.

Lead elements of the division are expected to fly out of Fort Hood early next week to begin preparations for the arrival of the division's troops.

Considered the Army's most lethal and deployable heavy division - with ultramodern equipment all linked by computers - the division made record time in loading its more than 14,000 pieces of equipment onto ships after it got orders, and then moving those ships to Turkey.

But waiting has been painful for the soldiers - especially as they see news of friends and relatives in other units now in action.

Going into the weekend, officers sought to reassure anxious troops watching the war unfold on TV that their time would soon come.

"We don't know when we're going to go. But everyone can watch the news, and pretty soon we're going to be out there doing the same thing," Maj. Steve Hite, executive officer of the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery told the 500 men in his unit.

Soldiers getting new desert camouflage uniforms issued Saturday morning said they were relieved the ships were moving out.

"We've been sitting around for two-plus months," Staff Sgt. John Garfield, 31. "If it's affecting me, I know it's affecting the younger guys."

[mdittmar]

"Now it's time to go do our jobs."

May God watch over our troops.

[WOSG]

We saw scattered news of maybe them going through Jordan or Saudi Arabia secretly.

This news actually surprises me, anyone could tell back in later Feb. that Turkey might not be an avenue for the attack.
The Turkish vote was early March. So ....

Why didnt they move the ships for the 4th to Kuwait WEEKS AGO?

[MEG33]

They are reputed to be the best of the best. Turkey did us in.

[mystery-ak]

HOOAH 4th....I can now keep my tag-line.

[mdittmar]

Only just secured the Umm Qasr port,probably made the decision to move then.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[x1stcav]

Ivy Leaf Bump.

[Joe 6-pack]

Aerial view of four Lt's with compasses facing North.

(just kidding)

Get yourself some, IV!!!!!

[MEG33]

We are pulling for them. God bless our allied forces!

[AlaninSA]

Shock and awe...here comes the mighty, mighty FOURTH INFANTRY DIVISION!

I must admit a bit of bias, this IS, after all, my old unit. BURT'S KNIGHTS!

They are, of course, the holders of the heritage of the awesome PATTON'S OWN Second Armored Division (Hell on Wheels).

And -- they're the unit of assignment for the best damn tank battalion in the Army, 3-66 Armor.

BURT'S KNIGHTS!

http://www.hood.army.mil/4ID_3-66AR/framedoc.htm

[AlaninSA]

Shock and awe...here comes the mighty, mighty FOURTH INFANTRY DIVISION!

I must admit a bit of bias, this IS, after all, my old unit. BURT'S KNIGHTS!

They are, of course, the holders of the heritage of the awesome PATTON'S OWN Second Armored Division (Hell on Wheels).

And -- they're the unit of assignment for the best damn tank battalion in the Army, 3-66 Armor.

BURT'S KNIGHTS!

http://www.hood.army.mil/4ID_3-66AR/framedoc.htm

[mystery-ak]

LOL...worth repeating....lookout..the 4th's on their way!

[McLynnan]

Your two men are with the 4th? Have they been waiting at Ft. Hood? I'll keep them in my prayers -- may God keep them safe.

[mystery-ak]

Just my hubby's aviation unit is attached to the 4th....my son is with a different unit.

[McLynnan]

I'm about an hour from Ft. Hood. Had I known I would have taken your hubby a major care package!

[WOSG]

True. my point was they could have (should have) cut and run from Turkish option on mach 3rd, moved the 4th over then, and landed at Kuwait 10 days later. if so, we'd have the 4th ID on hand in Kuwait today.

[WOSG]

Thankx for badges. Yes, we need to send our best in there. :-)
I am biased too. my cousin is with the 4th at Ft Hood.

[mdittmar]

Guess we saved $15 billion.

"Adapt and Overcome".;)

[mystery-ak]

It would have been a long drive, he's at Ft. Campbell(with ohioWfan's son Eric)....LOL...but he still likes cake...big time!

[mj1234]

I agree--

can someone explain..

40 ships moving through the suez starting sunday?

it will take weeks before this division can deploy-

I guess the war will not be over in 2-3 weeks

any other assesments out there?