Incoming 4th ID awaits its mission — and learns from the 3rd

Army Times ^ | April 11, 2003 | By Gina Cavallaro

[Bayou City]

Camp New Jersey, Kuwait

[Bayou City]

As close as they are to the action, however, they may not fire a round in anger. Not in Iraq.

Hmmmm....

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[Blueflag]

I read that as well. I assume the author presumes ...

[Pikachu_Dad]

Rule #1: DON'T TRUST THE TURKS.

Rule #2: Go back to rule number one.

[cynicom]

On to Damascus.

[xJones]

I've wondered what the commanding officer of the 4th had to say, after sitting off Turkey in US Navy ships for weeks, when he was told that the 4th would have to be shipped to Kuwait instead, because the Turkish government backstabbed us at the last momemt. I'd bet the air turned blue for yards around.

[Radix]

My feeling toward the introduction of this new Armour Group can be summed up as "May the Fourth be with you."

There is a reason for their late introduction, and it has little to do with Turkey and politics.

All of our so-called "allies." are in for a big wake-up call.

The fact of the matter is, we need them a lot less than they need us.

Say goodnight Chiraq.

Say goodnight Mr. Erdogan.

Goodnight!

[kcar]

Here's some hostile terrain:

[John H K]

I'm sure the CO was never anywhere near those ships off Turkey.

All our soldiers fly to where they're going, basically; the equipment only goes by ship.

[Crusader21stCentury]

It will be very nice to have a port in the eastern med!

[Hermann the Cherusker]

“For a lot of these kids, this is the first time they’re using service ammunition,” Barclay said.

A truly pathetic note and a strong indictment of the priorities of the Clinton DOD.

[blam]

I think in the next couple days or so to hear about cross-border 'incidents' with Syria up near the small town that is being defended so feriously. Something is going on there, may be the terrorists being sheltered by Syria?

[jackbill]

Once the 4th gets into Iraq (which I believe is already happening) we will have a good number of troops there. We will eventually need to bring them back out. I suggest that the 4th comes out through Syria.

[alethia]

That was my thought as well -- send the first brigade to handle Tikrit -- the second to Damascus!!!

[Vineyard]

I am watching the 4th ID more carefully. I have a nephew in the 4th ... I had the great privilege to administer the commissioning oath 4 years ago - swearing him in as a 2nd LT.

Well, ... now he is a Ranger, and a Captain.

Of course, I have to also try to comfort my sister, and tell her that her son will do great!

Mike

[TXBlair]

I'm watching the 4th ID carefully, too. I live in a town adjacent to Ft. Hood, so I've seen lots of my Sunday School classmates and my students' parents deploy in the last several weeks. I'll add your nephew to my growing prayer list (your sister, too). I'm sure you and your family must be so proud of his promotion to Captain. His success speaks well of his family. God bless!

[BlueOneGolf]

They primarily mean the ammunition for the Bradley's 25mm automatic gun and the M1 Abram's tank 120mm main gun. The Army uses training ammo that has the same balistic characteristics of the real stuff. It's also cheaper than the combat ammo as well.

[Centurion2000]

Just curious but where are our armored divisions?? Can't believe that we did Iraq with 1 MEF, an infantry division and airpower. What all did the Brits and Aussies throw into this ?

[Man of the Right]

The inability to get 4ID into combat will speed Army transformation. The lesson of the Iraq campaign is: if you can't preposition M-1s or have access to a modern major port nearby, M-1s and a division built around them are worthless. We'll see Apaches continue to displace the function of the M-1, supplemented by MLRS and airmobile vehicles such as the Strykker.

[AgThorn]

Keep this proud father posted on movement of the 4th. I have a wonderful son that is part of it and I am quite proud of him, his brother in the navy and all our troops that are serving the cause of freedom for our country and the Iraqi citizens!!