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

[Howlin]

Works for me. :-)

[Swampmarine]

I'm wondering if that incident reported by Ted Koppel the other day was more serious than reported at the time. Koppel was critized here for reporting that a large assault force (Marines?) was sitting around waiting to be refueled. Supposedly in the "red zone" fuel wise. One bridge too far?

[sonofatpatcher2]

"General, a US commander who was leading a push by marines through southern Iraq towards Baghdad has been relieved of his post. What do you know about this?"

"It is my understanding he agreed to pose naked with Oprah Winfrey and Al Gore for her 50th birthday."

[af_vet_rr]

What was the Colonels name that ordered his troops to take a knee on TV yesterday to defuse the near riot while trying to inspect a mosque ?

I don't know that he was a Colonel, but he appeared to have had some sort of special operations training before - he seemed to know how to deal with the natives, he defused a very bad situation in a matter of minutes.

Only one of the stations showed the entire footage - they were completly surrounded and incredibly outnumbered. Shows how professional our troops our, lesser trained troops might have gotten scared and somebody might have opened up, turning the place into a bloodbath and getting our troops killed.

[af_vet_rr]

Agree with you. Do you think they will tell why? That would be a precedent. I think that Bush has handled this exceptionally good. It may end restoring people's trust in the government.

More importantly, at least right now, the troops would continue to have faith in the command structure. If they think there is a problem and officers weren't being held accountable, morale would come crashing down.

[af_vet_rr]

I don't know his name but I saw the video and thought he did an amazing job defusing the situation. I was even impressed with some of the Imams trying to corral their people. Could have turned out very badly.

I'm glad somebody else picked that up, I don't think the press realized just how amazing that was.

[Squantos]

Sweat in training beats blood in battle anyday as you well know. The role playing we encountered in training included such scenerios even before I retired. I'm told today after Bosnia piece (sic) keeping it is even better and clearly this officer and his men knew the drill well.

Stay Safe !

[AngryJawa]

"Only one of the stations showed the entire footage - they were completly surrounded and incredibly outnumbered. Shows how professional our troops our, lesser trained troops might have gotten scared and somebody might have opened up, turning the place into a bloodbath and getting our troops killed."

This footage belongs in some future command training video - smiling troops included. Kudos to the troops for keeping cool when the pucker factor is running high.

[Republic of Texas]

If I remember correctly, Bob Arnot was with him, and he was seen helping some civilians with Arnot during a firefight.

[Republic of Texas]

I believe the fuse gets SHORTER in wartime, not longer.

[Republic of Texas]

That was the 101st Airborne, and I don't remember that Colonel's name, but I'm sure we'll be reminded when he gets his first star.

[Chuckster]

It appears this guy is full bird, not LTC. And do LTCs command regiments in the USMC? That would be a batallion CO in the Army.

[WhiskeyPapa]

"Yo, Hoss, you gonna remember to lower the landing gear this time?"

That had to be fun.

My skipper was relieved at 29 Palms during a CAX in 1983.

He got conjunctivitis really bad in the Delta Corridor. He could hardly see at all. He went back mainside and felt better. He went to the "O" club while the company was on the CAX. The Regimental commander saw him in the club and he was shortly thereafter relieved. They made him the division Drug and Alcohol counseling officer.

Walt

[WhiskeyPapa]

In the film, didn't Patton sack a commander for not advancing?

A large number of Army commanders at the regimental level were relieved in the Normandy fighting. A Marine Corps corps commander relieved an Army division commander in WWII.

I recall hearing that 5 out of 18 Marine Battalion commanders were relieved on Desert Storm.

Walt

[WhiskeyPapa]

Relieving a regimental commander during an assault is huge.

Col. George Germann, who commanded the 24th Marine regiment in the Gulf, was relieved for his actions on Desert Storm was after a congressional investigation. That was long about July, 1991.

Walt

[Redcloak]

From Agonist.org...

3:34 EST From Orbat (sorry no link): US Marine 1st RCT at 15
km SE from Baghdad; Commanding Officer relieved for not
proceeding as fast as ordered. Hat Tip: FB.

[XJarhead]

Wow, Walt, I wasn't aware of that. I was in Desert Storm, and didn't hear about it. Plus, I now live in Cleveland, where one of the 24th's battalion's was headquarted, and I didn't hear about it on that end either. Thanks for the info.

What exactly did he do?

[11th_VA]

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

A reporter at the Pentagon brief today asked if he was relieved because of this incident - the way the question was asked, implied he was the one.

[Straight Vermonter]

Schwarzkopf wanted to relieve Fred Franks for that very reason during Gulf War I.

[freeasinbeer]

Guys and Gals, this IS the same guy that was with Bob Arnot in that firefight the other night.

Link to MSNBC story here.