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ALBU SHUKUR, Iraq — In a shady orchard, along a rutted country lane, the men of “Charlie Rock” did a little digging and discovered weapons meant to kill them. The haul included a Russian-made machine gun, 146 mortar rounds, detonating cord, bomb-making materials and rocket-propelled grenade heads. It was found about three miles from Logistical Support Area Anaconda — the former Balad Air Base — home to some 15,000 U.S. troops and the target of frequent mortar attacks. “They were definitely firing mortars out of this field,” said Capt. Matthew Archambault, commander of Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 26th...

BALAD, Iraq — As a crowd of Iraqis clapped and cheered, leaders of the 4th Infantry Division unit that brought calm to this city gave a gift meant to symbolize peace and friendship. Lt. Col. Nate Sassaman and Capt. Matt Cunningham — battalion and company commanders from the 4th ID’s 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment — presented a statue of a dove flying above a map of Iraq. It stands atop a red-tile pedestal and fountain built by local artisans. The officers dedicated the statue to 1,500 men, women and children from the Shiite city of 170,000 who were slaughtered...

Iraqis bid a fond farewell to liberating Army infantry By Steve Liewer, Stars and Stripes European edition, Friday, March 12, 2004 BALAD, Iraq — As a crowd of Iraqis clapped and cheered, leaders of the 4th Infantry Division unit that brought calm to this city gave a gift meant to symbolize peace and friendship. Lt. Col. Nate Sassaman and Capt. Matt Cunningham — battalion and company commanders from the 4th ID’s 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment — presented a statue of a dove flying above a map of Iraq. It stands atop a red-tile pedestal and fountain built by local...

BALAD, Iraq — Hot chow comes only once a day on a truck. There’s no post exchange to sell cigarettes and soda pop. The electricity is jury-rigged and spotty. Too often for comfort, mortars fall out of the sky. Welcome to Forward Operating Base Paliwoda, an Army stronghold in the heart of Iraq’s volatile Sunni Triangle. Since arriving last June, the troops of the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment have used aggressive policing to keep a lid on the simmering conflict between the largely Shiite, pro-American city and its sullen Sunni suburbs. Formerly known as FOB Eagle,...

CAMP PALIWODA, Iraq — Tired, sore, but safe, the soldiers of Task Force 1-77 unloaded their gear Saturday night at their crude, dusty new home in central Iraq. The arrival followed a 450-mile, 34½-hour convoy ride from Camp New York, Kuwait. Dozens of similar convoys have been carrying other 1st Infantry Division units from holding camps in Kuwait to permanent posts in north central Iraq, from Tikrit to Baqoubah. The convoy — or “approach march,” in Army terminology — lacked the drama and misery of the wartime rides many units endured a year ago. Several trucks broke down and the...

CAMP NEW YORK, Kuwait — An Army convoy snakes along a dusty desert road. Suddenly, there’s a flash and a bang. A hidden explosive knocks out a Humvee and badly injures a soldier. For Iraq-bound 1st Infantry Division troops now training in Kuwait, the scenario was fake. Next time, all of them knew, it could be for real. All week, troops at Camps New York and Udairi have been trekking to a remote firing range for three days of convoy live-fire training. Special Forces and Army Ranger veterans from the military contractor MPRI taught Big Red One soldiers how to...

CAMP NEW YORK, Kuwait — Had they seen stockings and a tree, Task Force 1-77 soldiers might have thought Santa had just arrived. Hundreds of troops at Camp New York woke up before dawn last week, marched through the sand to a giant warehouse tent near the front gate, and lined up to grab their long-promised new gear. They passed by table after table, picking up new shirts, long underwear, summer and winter boots, fleece wear, knee and elbow pads, and vests. “It was like Christmas,” said 1st Lt. Jason Royston, 24, of Ada, Okla., an officer with the 9th...