Welcome To The District Six Website

 

Visit to Iraq

Palace Compound

101st Airborne

Iraqi Police

Turning Over Vests

Kurdistan

Kuwait

We deploy this division with great confidence. Our armed forces have made great progress in the past 2 1/2 years in Iraq. The 101st Airborne Division will continue that momentum.”
-Gen. Thomas Turner

 

 101st Airborne, 3rd Combat Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment and Camp Speicher

Image:101DIV.jpgWe had the honor of being the invited guests of the 101st Airborne, 3rd  Brigade Combat Team (Rakassans) headquartered in Camp Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq. To get there we flew into Kuwait International Airport, took a military bus to Ali Al Salem Air Force Base and them waited until the next day when we could get scheduled for a C-130 flight to Camp Speicher.

Camp Speicher is the former Al Sahra Iraqi Air Force Base and is large at 25 square miles. It is currently the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division. In spite of it's size it still receives an occasional rocket attack by foreign insurgents. Fortunately, none happened while we were there and they have now become a somewhat rare occurrence. The closest city is Tikrit which is about 15 miles away and is Saddam Hussein's hometown. Another City we visited was Bayji, which is about 40 miles to the north and it has the largest oil refinery in Iraq.

The reality of being in a war zone was everywhere. Even though we felt quite safe at Camp Speicher, soldiers were required to carry their weapons with them virtually at all times and armed soldiers in full gear guarded the PX and Mess Hall.

When we would leave the base to visit Tikrit we would do so in a military convoy manned by the Scout Platoon, “SCOUTS OUT, which was made up of a minimum of four up-armored M1114 Humvee's. Each Humvee had a crew of three; a driver, a commander and a gunner who was armed with either a M240B or a .50 caliber machine gun in the top turret. The upgraded armor makes these vehicles very safe to be in. There where tori3.gif (1263 bytes)three attacks on convoys (none on ours) by IED's (improvised explosion device) during our time there and no one was injured. Except for our visit to Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdish part of Iraq, whenever we left the base we were required to wear our body armor and helmets at all times.

The men and women that we saw and met with the 101st Airborne were truly remarkable. Each one was anxious to get home but everyone we met, without exception, was professional and totally committed to their mission. The 101st Airborne is doing a very tough job but they are doing so with enthusiasm, respect and a genuine concern for the Iraqi people. We can all be very proud of our armed forces in Iraq.

Click on picture to enlarge

Comforts of Home

Before entering Iraq, we spent one night at Ali Al Salem US Air Force Base in Kuwait. This is a main staging area for Iraq and soldiers here can enjoy a few of the comforts of home.

Inside Tent

This is the inside of the tent we stayed in our first night at the Ali Al Salem US Air Force Base. Each tent sleeps 10 and the large white tube in the middle is for the air conditioning.

Waiting For Our Flight To Iraq

If you've every heard of the saying in the Army "hurry up and wait", well I can tell you it is all true. This picture is of Ron Sawl and Brian Burry as we wait the three hours for our flight on a C-130 from Kuwait to Iraq.

Rakkasans

The 101st Airborne, 3rd Combat Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment, is also know as the Rakkasans, a nickname they pickup up in Japan during WWII. This large sign is located at the entrance to their headquarters building at Camp Speicher, Tikrit Iraq.

Colonel Michael Steele

Colonel Steele is the commanding officer of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division. He is a remarkable leader who receives the utmost respect from the soldiers under his command. Officers that were with us said it was the first time they had seen him smile.

Camp Speicher Tent City

This is an officers housing area that is used by those staying for short term visits. They sleep 10 per tent.

Rocket Shelters

These concrete shelters are located throughout Camp Speicher. They are available to get under in the event of a rocket or mortar attack on the base.

Combat Patrol Briefing

Before any convoy would leave on a combat patrol, each team was given a detailed briefing on the mission. Details included objectives, route, any expected risks and a detailedexplanation of what each vehicle was supposed to do in the event of an attack. Even though the details don't ever really change, the full briefing is done before each mission.

Humvee Gunner

The gunner position is one of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq. They are the only crew member actually exposed to the open. We met several female gunners and all the crews told us they are very capable and they serve proudly with them.

Gunner

My favorite photo of the trip. This photo shows the intensity and concentration of the Humvee gunner. He needs to be prepared in an instant.

Warning

Many of the Humvees had a sign like this on the back of the vehicle. To minimize any possible damage by IED's, convoys drive in the middle of the highway and civilian vehicles would all pull over and wait until we passed. Iraqi civilian vehicles that ignore this warning did so at great peril. It is a message to be taken seriously.

Machine Gun

This is a M240B Machine Gun in a Humvee turret ready for action. Each Humvee had either this or a .50 caliber machine gun as its primary weapon.

Major Stark Briefs New Troops

When new soldiers arrive in Camp Speicher they receive detailed briefings of what they will be doing and what to expect. These soldiers are being deployed to Samarra, a very dangerous city south of Tikrit. Major Stark, who is doing the briefing, is their new commander and is considered one of the very best US soldiers in Iraq. He is a genuine war hero and has done multiple tours.

New Gunner Body Armor

This is the newly issued body armor designed specifically for gunners on the armored Humvees. Besides providing a much improved level of protection they are also air conditioned. This gunner told us he really liked the improved safety and comfort it afforded him.

Combat Patrol Team.

This is the combat patrol team we accompanied into Tikrit on our first mission into town. They are in front of Saddam Hussein's hometown palace in Tikrit. The gentleman on the right is a civilian trainer who is part of the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. They are American law enforcement professionals hired to assist in training the Iraqi civilian police force.

Room at Camp Speicher

This is the room we stayed in at Camp Speicher. It was the former residence of an Iraqi Officer in the pre-war Iraqi Air Force base that is now Camp Speicher.

Battle Damaged Housing

This battle damaged building is a former officer's residence at what was the Iraqi Air Force Base in Tikrit that is now Camp Speicher.

Battle Damaged Soccer Field

Back view of battle damage to a soccer field on Camp Speicher that was once a pre-war Iraqi Air Force base.

Battle Damaged Soccer Field

Front view of battle damage to a soccer field on Camp Speicher that was once a pre-war Iraqi Air Force base.

Battle Damaged Soccer Field

Opposite side view of battle damage to a soccer field on Camp Speicher that was once a pre-war Iraqi Air Force base.

 

 

Not paid for at taxpayer expense