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

[WhiskeyPapa]

What exactly did he do?

He was looking for a star. The 24th Marines HQ was not scheduled to deploy to SWA at all. Germann paid his own way to Jubayl and sold the jefes on a rear area security mission for the 24th Marines. He did a lot of crazy unprofessional careerist stuff. It wasn't anything that was immdiately adverse to combat efficiency. There were numerous CONGRINTS; there was a Congressional investigation and that summer he was relieved.

Walt

[freeasinbeer]

Hmm, Bob calls him Col. Joe Downey, and Sky news is reporting it as Col. Joe Dowdey. What are the odds these aren't the same person??

[dcwusmc]

The troops already know EXACTLY why he was relieved. Trust me on this, I've been there. News like this travels faster than warp-speed...

[XJarhead]

Sounds right, because that rear ara security was exactly what they did. Basically, they watched POW's.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Sounds right, because that rear ara security was exactly what they did. Basically, they watched POW's.

That was actually a good mission for reserve infantry battalions. What had been intended at one point was for a reserve rifle company to join an active duty battalion as the 4th company; back in the 70's and '80's and before USMC infantry battalions had 4 rifle companies. In any case, it was decided not to attach the reserve companies out and they guarded the big ammo dump, the MEF HQ and some other sites.

The Saudis had about seven different types of cops. That place was locked down pretty tight just with them.

Walt

[dcwusmc]

You mean when H.M. Smith relieved Ralph Smith? I forgot where it was... but yes, it did cause a commotion! And then there was Roy Geiger, USMC, who took over 10th Army CORPS on Okinawa when the doggie general was killed by a jap sniper... The army broke all records getting a new general there!

[kcvl]

http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:vSsMex7DnL4C:www.cpp.usmc.mil/1mardiv/1MarReg/co.htm+Colonel+Joe+Dowdy&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[WhiskeyPapa]

You mean when H.M. Smith relieved Ralph Smith?

A book came out several years ago that suggests that General Geiger was on the verge of relieving General Rupertus and Col. Lewis Puller (yes, Chesty Puller) for their conduct on Pelilieu.

I have a second degree of separation with Howling Mad Smith, of a sort. We had the commander of my unit in WWII for our Marine Corps ball one year. He told us that while they were in Hawaii preparing for the invasion of Iwo Jima that Howling Mad's jeep roared up to the company CP. "Where is the regimental CP." This WWII vet (at that time the company CO) said he didn't know.

"Why you F***ing S** of a B****, I ought to relieve you on the spot," General Smith said.

Later, this company commander was wounded twice on Iwo and got a Navy Cross.

Walt

[XJarhead]

I was with a reserve artillery battery, having just gotten off active duty in October '89. They just stuck us right in with 1/11 to fill in for one of the active duty batteries that was on a float. That was great, because we had an active duty battalion HQ, and two other active batteries in our battalion. I can honestly say that we were faster than at least one of those two batteries.

Of course, with 11 captains instead of 1 captain and 10 lts., we should have been pretty good.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Of course, with 11 captains instead of 1 captain and 10 lts., we should have been pretty good.

I remember reading in the old "Brown side out, Green side out" book that the author was XO of First Tank BN both as a first LT and then much later as a Major; he said it was much more pleasant the second time.

Walt

[eagles eye]

Hmm, Little Rock, AK. Does that town and time sound familiar??? Didn't do Nam, Appointed to staff by WJC. Was sent off to defend Iceland during the Gulf War. Looks like a clinton buddy who was probably mouthing off about Rumsfeld not giving him enough warm bodies to play with. I guess it's time to lose the clinton (always a small "c")"nation builders".

[CyberAnt]

Just got here - interesting! But ... this is not hugh this is not even series.

[CyberAnt]

"Iraqi ammunition dump exploded killing several"

I've had the TV on most of the day, and I have not heard this on FOX - who's giving out this info ...??

[libbylu]

i didn't catch the briefing... did they answer yes or no?

[dalebert]

Or family emergency.

[OldCorps]

i looked at the video. Arnot is lucky he wasn't shot for intefering with marines during a firefight. Were i the commander i would have told him to get the hell out of there...and don't come back. Marines have better things to do during battle than answer some reporter's silly questions. In case you can't figure it out clown (reporter), lives are at risk and you are at best a distraction.

[OldCorps]

All Marine officers i've ever met were outstanding leaders. However, each service has its own way of doing things. In the case of the Army, I can't see a brigade commander being relieved for something a reporter said on the air. He might be warned how to handle reporters, but i can't see relieving him.

[Lancey Howard]

This crap happened every other day in Nam.

Bull.

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

If he failed to take care of his troops, and in fact unnecessarily endangered his troops, then he is not "one of our own" - - at least not one of mine.

You guys need to start posting on D. underground.

Really?

[G. Chapman]

I really don't understand the hostility flying around here about this. I'm pretty sure from most of the comments here that not many of you have spent a week in the service, let alone a day in combat. Many of you should be ashamed for the gross speculation that you are engaged in. None of you know if this guy said anything to the reporters or whined or whatnot.

I know for a fact that part of first marines was only home for less then 30 days after being deployed for 6 months before being redeployed to Iraq. Most of these Marines havn't seen their families for more then 20 days in close to a year. Shame on anyone who makes kneejerk assumptions about why this man was releived.

[Happy2BMe]

Indeed it was Colonel Joe Downey, USMC.

All the MSNBC article says is this:

"Col. Joe Downey of the 1st Marine Division came down from his command position on foot and joined his men in the foxholes. He told Arnot laconically that his men were “simply securing some civilians from enemy fire.”

From what I saw of the battle, Col. Downey may have panicked. Emphasis on MAY HAVE. It is very difficult to say at this point, 1,000 things may have gone on behind the scenes.

What struck me so odd about the even was the Downey was talking right into Arnot's mike just as if he were talking to a command post, almost as if confirming position, kills, objectives, etc.

It was ugly all the way around.

I hate this for Colonel Downey, but the full investigation will determine the extent of violations of UCMJ, protocol, COMSEC, etc.