Key Marine Commander Is Removed

Washington Post ^ | April 5, 2003 | Thomas E. Ricks

[Backwoods Southern Lawyer]

Key Marine Commander Is Removed No Explanation Given for Decision

Col. Joe W. Dowdy has been removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, which is engaged in combat in Iraq.

By Thomas E. Ricks Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 5, 2003; Page A01

The Marine Corps relieved one of its top commanders in Iraq yesterday, an extremely unusual action, especially for a unit engaged in combat.

Col. Joe W. Dowdy has been the officer in charge of the 1st Marine Regiment, one of the three major Marine Corps ground units fighting toward Baghdad. His regiment is reported to have been used to pin down Republican Guard units in the city of Kut while the other two major units, the 5th and 7th Marines, crossed the Tigris River on Thursday and raced toward Baghdad. Those units encountered heavy ground fighting yesterday on the outskirts of the capital and had at least three M1 tanks disabled by Iraqi fire.

[Backwoods Southern Lawyer]

I saw an AP story on this already posted, but this Wash. Times article had more detail.

It is not obvious what is going on here.

[Backwoods Southern Lawyer]

Sorry, I intended to say Washington Post not Washington Times. The two are not easily confused.

[NautiNurse]

A lot of discussion yesterday that one of the U.S. casualties is also named Dowdy--causing speculation they may be related.

[Boundless]

> It is not obvious what is going on here.

Possibly slapped a soldier with uncontrollable
post traumatic stress syndrome.

[ErnBatavia]

I've gotten this far. Colonel Dowdy is NOT his father.

http://www.borderlandnews.com/war/stories/20030402-95453.shtml

[vigilante2]

http://www.borderlandnews.com/war/stories/20030402-95453.shtml

[lilylangtree]

In today's paper, the Pentagon announced the identification of 8 members of Jessica Lynch's ambushed convoy. The names are as follows: Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, Sgt. George Buggs, Master Sgt. Robert Dowdy, Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, Spc. James Kiehl, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, Pvt. Brandon Sloan, Sgt. Donald Walters.

Is this Master Sgt. Robert Dowdy any relation to Marine Cdr. Joe Dowdy?

[ErnBatavia]

Thanks! For some reason, I have a helluva time posting links, so I try to avoid it.

Sometimes it works for me, sometimes not - back to Boot Camp, I guess.

[deport]

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=Colonel+Dowdy&btnG=Search+News

Several other stories at the above link ranging over the last 24 hours but no indication of the reason(s) for removal...

[muawiyah]

The WarshPost and the Washington Times are readily differentiated and not to be confused for the other IF YOU READ THEM REGULARLY - like just one time!

The WarshPost is a totalitarian minded commie influenced feminazi rag rapidly descending into insignificance - and that's about all the good I can say for it!

[Hardcorps]

FYI..Col Dowdy is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas.

[Cicero]

I see several interesting points:

He didn't draw Iraqi fire as he was meant to do, which may or may not have been his fault.

He was born in Little Rock, which may conceivably have endeared him to clinton. Whether he got on the fast track during the clinton years I don't know.

He served in Iceland during the first Gulf War and hasn't seen combat before.

His immediate commander admires aggressiveness in his subordinates.

A high ranking marine praises his immediate commander unreservedly but can only say he has heard good things about Dowdy.

A couple of Freepers have said they know Dowdy or know of him, and that he is a good man and a promising officer who was expected to be promoted. I don't know how first-hand that knowledge may be.

[jriemer]

All ready posted US COMMANDER RELIEVED OF DUTY

Plus check this out: ... a (1st Div) tank drove off a bridge... and no one noticed for a day that it was missing...

http://www.iht.com/articles/91695.html

[Seti 1]

If he was removed for cause, he might as well retire.

[American Soldier]

What the hell do Marines do in Iceland? Guard things?

I know Marines don't have official branches like Army officers do (I've always envied them for that)... Was he some kind of support officer before but then switched over to an operational command? Is that even possible?

[dts32041]

You got that right, Read Red Storm Rising for quick overview.

After all there is an embassy there.

[Lancey Howard]

re: your post #12
Minor request:

Failure to capitalize "clinton" - - nobody cares.
Failure to capitalize "Marine" - - please don't do that.

Regards,
LH

[Tom D.]

Yes. I agree completely. I am embaressed.

[Cachelot]

A couple of Freepers have said they know Dowdy or know of him, and that he is a good man

There was a Dowdy among the soldiers found buried during the Lynch rescue. If that's a relative, that may be why he was relieved.

[Happy2BMe]

Sat Apr 5, 7:32 PM ET

Col. Joe W. Dowdy, a native of Little Rock, Ark., shown in this undated photo, was removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, one of the Marine units approaching Baghdad from the southeast according to U.S. military officials Friday, April 4, 2003. Military officials confirmed Dowdy had been removed but refused to comment on the reason. (AP Photo/U.S. Marines via The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)