I have had request for Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. This is not another offensive but a deployment of
fresh troops and the return of soldiers and marines that have been in Iraq for a year. They are the elite
fighting troops and pilots of the Unites States Army, the United States Marines, Air Force, and Navy.
They have done their duty and it is time to hand over the security of Iraq to fresh peace- keeping
troops. We could have asked no more of them than they have given us. They did their duty with honor
and dignity.
WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Pfc. Thomas Day, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
CAMP VICTORY, Kuwait, Jan. 21, 2004 – One of the first tasks for soldiers crossing
into Kuwait on their way home is to turn over all equipment that won't be going with them.
At camps throughout Kuwait used by the 101st Airborne Division, that potentially
cumbersome process has been organized and expedited with a streamlined system called
"Four Corners."
A group of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, wrapped in plastic to protect them from
corrosion during the trip back to the United States, waits to get loaded onto the USNS
Benavidez at a Kuwait City harbor. Photo by Pfc. Thomas Day, USA
"It prepares them for redeployment by getting rid of all the equipment they don't need," said
Maj. Kevin Berry, whose unit, the 356th Quartermaster Battalion, took control of the Four
Corners operations at the beginning of the year. "The whole reason we have Four Corners is
so all redeploying units can turn in their supplies so they can be reissued in theater."
The coalition's giant recycling bin is collecting ammunition, field rations, cots, body armor,
chemical protective equipment, barrier materials and repair products. These will be reissued
to units on their way into Iraq for the second wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Berry said it typically takes about 30 minutes to unload a vehicle and calibrate all its
equipment.
Recently, no unit has appreciated the speedy system as much as the 101st, which is in the
middle of redeployment operations after a nearly one-year combat tour.
"There's a lot of excess stuff coming from the units from up north," said Staff Sgt. Reginal
Brooks, a supply noncommissioned officer with the division. "It's a great help to the units to
have one designated point to download."
The division's 1st Brigade is moving through Four Corners at Camp Arifjan; more units will
unload equipment both there and here in coming weeks.
Officials pointed out that name comes from a similar type operation at the National Training
Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
(Army Pfc. Thomas Day is assigned to the 40th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
Screaming Eagles Retrieve Aircraft at Jacksonville Port
By Pfc. Dallas Walker, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 18, 2004 -- Things have come full
circle for the soldiers of 8th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.
Just over a year ago at Jacksonville, they loaded the helicopters of
the "Screaming Eagle" 101st Airborne Division on cargo vessels
bound for Kuwait.
Soldiers of 8th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment wrestle a
CH-47D helicopter into hoisting position aboard the USNS
Benavidez Feb. 16 at Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Pfc. Dallas
Walker, USA
This week, these same aircraft arrived back at Jacksonville, and
many of the same soldiers, now combat-hardened, were waiting for
them.
The USNS Benavidez arrived the afternoon of Feb. 15 after a
three-week voyage from the Middle East, carrying 19 CH-47D
Chinook helicopters, 38 Black Hawk helicopters, 502 pieces of
rolling stock and 182 containers of equipment.
The Benavidez is the first of several ships scheduled to arrive here
by the end of March carrying the bulk of the division's equipment, all
of which saw extensive service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The
ship sailed from Kuwait to the United States as part of the
redeployment of the 101st Airborne Division to Fort Campbell,
Ky.
"There is a lot of preparation to be done with rolling stock (vehicles)
and air frames," Patterson said. "This is our bread and butter. This is
what we train for and why we have a transportation battalion."
Close to 200 Fort Campbell soldiers are working at the port during
the high- risk mission battling rain, cold and heavy winds.
"The weather has definitely been a factor in this mission," said Spc.
Joshua Swanson from B Company, 8th Battalion, 101st Aviation
Regiment. "As a matter of fact, it has been slowing down progress on
the Chinooks, because with higher winds, you have a higher risk and
more people are required to stabilize them. It's a little bit harder to
do."
The soldiers at the port are playing a key role in getting the
helicopters ready for the long flight home to Fort Campbell. "Our
mission is to recover the aircraft, clean them and put them back
together so they can fly back to Fort Campbell," said Sgt. Shanta
Hal, also from 8th Battalion's B Company.
The battalion's part of the port operation wouldn't be possible
without the help of another 101st Airborne Division unit. The 106th
Transportation Battalion is serving as the reception support battalion
for the division and oversees all activities at the port for the 101st.
"We are executing our division deployment plan," said Lt. Col.
Randy Patterson, battalion commander. "Being able to deploy is a
perishable skill and a critical task."
The Benavidez will be unloaded within four days of docking at the
Jacksonville port, leaving the soldiers with the task of preparing the
aircraft and equipment for the return to Fort Campbell, Patterson
said.
Over the next few days, maintenance crews will work to return Black
Hawks and Chinooks to flying condition.
"After we clean them and restore the rotors, the pilots will come and
do their ground runs and test the aircraft to make sure all the systems
are good," said Sgt. Robert Whitecotton from the 8th Battalion's A
Company. "When we get the OK from the pilots and the paperwork
is done, they will fly back to Fort Campbell."
The helicopters will fly from the port to Naval Air Station
Jacksonville for final staging. Once all maintenance is complete, the
helicopters will make the flight home to Fort Campbell, Patterson
said.
Meanwhile, work at the port will continue, Patterson said. Containers
and rolling stock will move to Fort Campbell by train. The first of five
trains is scheduled to roll out of Jacksonville Feb. 20, Patterson said.
The port operation should be completed by the end of March, said
he added.
(Army Pfc. Dallas Walker is assigned to the Fort Campbell public
affairs office, as is James Hinnant, who also contributed to this
article.)
http://www.campbell.army.mil/division.htm
