Marines relieve commander of a major unit in Iraq war

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/095/nation/Marines_relieve_commander_of_a_major_unit_in_Iraq_war+.shtml ^

[TheOtherOne]

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

Colonel Joe W. Dowdy has been the officer in charge of the First 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 Fifth and Seventh 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.

[TheOtherOne]

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)

[bybybill]

Wonder if it was Dowdy`s Marines that ran almost out of food and water?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[TheOtherOne]

Considering all the sucess we are having it is a curious removal. I don't mind not knowing the reason for the time being - but I would like to know when the time is right.

[putupon]

Col. Joe W. Dowdy, a native of Little Rock, Ark.,

Little Rock, Ark., eh? Any connections to the previous Commander-in-Chief?

[brydic1]

There was an officer that ordered two enlisted men to jump into a canal carrying rifles and heavy packs. They immediately sunk and were drowned. Who was that officer?

[TheOtherOne]

with no line either... I doubt it was this Marine though.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Col. Joe W. Dowdy, a native of Little Rock, Ark.

I dont know if he done something wrong or not or if he was battle worn or not im glad i dont know but i do want to say Thank You Col. Joe W. Dowdy For your service to our country as far ....and may god help you along whatever path you may have to take .

[HardStarboard]

A friend mentioned to me that he heard the commander was relieved because his column, advancing on Baghdad, was unable to keep pace with the main column whose flank it was suppose to be protecting. He mentioned that it had fallen a number of miles behind the main thrust.

This doesn't square very well with the regiments mission stated in the article: "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 Fifth and Seventh Marines, crossed The Tigris River..."

Don't know what my friends source was? It's is possible my friend heard the real story before the powers that be came out with an "official (cover) story".

[TheOtherOne]

I agree.

bump.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Do you have a link to that story?

[Herodotus]

If that were the case, then you'd have to guess that there was a repeated inability of the regiment to keep up. Given the conditions of the fight so far, a single failure wouldn't constitute reasonable grounds for yanking someone out of a regimental command.

Unless we've got a Patton-like infraction that just couldn't be tolerated? That's pure speculation, but I haven't seen it raised anywhere.

[and oh, everyone keeps remembering those soldiers who drowned with full packs: the officer in charge was a reserve Marine major in the engineers!]

[TheOtherOne]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/5530265.htm

[sarasmom]

Bookmarking.

[NerdDad]

Army Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, 38, of Cleveland. Killed when convoy was ambushed in Iraq. Assigned to 507th Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Don't know if there is any relation here but... might be a real good reason to ask to be relieved and not have it talked about.

[TrueBeliever9]

As the mother of a former Recon Marine I immediately thought he must be someone who is not fast and loose with his men. Then I read this on newsmax: Dowdy, a popular commander was cautious with his troops -- reportedly at the expense of speed.

God bless you Col Dowdy and thank you for being cautious with these young men's lives. Too many Marines die because their commanders aren't cautious. I know your men love and respect you for your courage to put them first.

[TrueBeliever9]

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/4/5/185948.shtml