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U.S. Extends Iraq Deployment of Key Army Division

2003-07-14
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facing mounting security threats in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Monday thousands of soldiers from a key Army division would not return home by September as expected and instead stay in Iraq indefinitely.

The 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) was the first American unit to enter Baghdad during the war after thrusting from Kuwait through southern Iraq to reach the Iraqi capital, and soldiers from the division now are shouldering a heavy load in the effort to stabilize postwar Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Buford Blount, the division's commander, last week announced plans for the division to return home during July and August after a protracted deployment in the region.

But the Army reversed itself on Monday, saying the return of 9,000 of the division's troops had been put on hold.

The Pentagon deployed about 16,500 3rd Infantry Division soldiers during the war, and about 15,000 remain in Iraq and Kuwait. Thirty-seven soldiers from the division have been killed in the war and its aftermath.

Rich Olson, a spokesman for the Army's Fort Stewart in Georgia, said some elements of the division will return as previously announced, including the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. About 1,000 soldiers have come home in the past week, Olson said, and others are in the process of returning.

But Olson said the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 2d Brigade Combat Team, the 7th Cavalry's 3rd Squadron and other elements of the division will remain in Iraq until further notice.

Olson said he knew of no new time table for their return.

"We could speculate on and on," he said. "I'm sure the commander over there has some expectations."

The decision to delay the return of thousands of Army soldiers illustrates the seriousness of the ongoing security problems in Iraq.

U.S. troops have staged repeated crackdowns on resistance fighters amid continuing attacks on American soldiers. Thirty-two U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1.

The 3d Brigade has been in Kuwait/Iraq since September, so they are definitely due to return.

Over & above the danger, the living conditions for the combat units are horrendous--100+ degree temps & unlike Viet Nam--no R&R or fixed bases to return to for a shower or to get a clean uniform or a beer or a visit to the ville. Not even a DEROS to look forward to--just a lot of uncertainty. At least the mail is finally starting to turn up. Probably have not had American troops in similar conditions for extended periods since Korea.