Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Journal Entry, 15 May 03: A Change of Mission
Journal Entry
15 May 2003
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
A runner from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Support Battalion ("Muleskinner") came by the Battalion field trains today with a message for the Battalion XO or S-3 to call the 3rd ACR headquarters down in Ar Ramadi as soon as possible. The Bn XO is still in Jordan, though, and the Bn S-3 is out at the Hadithah Dam with the Battalion command group, out of radio range. We don't have phone lines set up, and are having trouble with the satellite phone. The only communication out there is by messenger. As the acting S-4, or logistics and supply officer, I'm the only member of the battalion staff at Al Asad. So I walked down to Muleskinner's HQ to make the phone call on the DNVT.
I got the 3rd ACR's S-3 on the line, and he gave us a change of mission:
FRAGO
We are to relinquish control of AO Patton, including Hadithah, to the 1st Squadron, 3rd ACR, and begin moving our elements to Ar Ramadi. Our new mission is to secure the city of Ar Ramadi, effective on or about 23 May, with a few days built in for our guys to conduct right seat rides with the 3rd Squadron, which is already down there.
We'll be setting up in the Southern Palace compound. I'll have to make sure the line haul of vehicles coming in from Jordan meets us in Ar Ramadi, and coordinate to recieve the expected CLIX [spare parts] resupply dump on order down there instead of here at Al Asad.
I expressed my concern about vehicle readiness to the 3rd ACR and they seemed to understand that, even if we do get the spare parts dump we ordered (about 700 of them!), it will take days to get them installed and begin to get our vehicles up and running.
As of this writing, the Battalion Commander has no idea about the change of mission. I've got no coms with him. I'm waiting for the trucks which just dropped him, the mortar platoon, and the Forward Aid Station off at Hadithah Dam to return. At that point I'll grab the trucks and round up a security element of infantry, and turn them around and go right back out to Hadithah so I can deliver the message.
15 May 2003
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
A runner from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Support Battalion ("Muleskinner") came by the Battalion field trains today with a message for the Battalion XO or S-3 to call the 3rd ACR headquarters down in Ar Ramadi as soon as possible. The Bn XO is still in Jordan, though, and the Bn S-3 is out at the Hadithah Dam with the Battalion command group, out of radio range. We don't have phone lines set up, and are having trouble with the satellite phone. The only communication out there is by messenger. As the acting S-4, or logistics and supply officer, I'm the only member of the battalion staff at Al Asad. So I walked down to Muleskinner's HQ to make the phone call on the DNVT.
I got the 3rd ACR's S-3 on the line, and he gave us a change of mission:
FRAGO
We are to relinquish control of AO Patton, including Hadithah, to the 1st Squadron, 3rd ACR, and begin moving our elements to Ar Ramadi. Our new mission is to secure the city of Ar Ramadi, effective on or about 23 May, with a few days built in for our guys to conduct right seat rides with the 3rd Squadron, which is already down there.
We'll be setting up in the Southern Palace compound. I'll have to make sure the line haul of vehicles coming in from Jordan meets us in Ar Ramadi, and coordinate to recieve the expected CLIX [spare parts] resupply dump on order down there instead of here at Al Asad.
I expressed my concern about vehicle readiness to the 3rd ACR and they seemed to understand that, even if we do get the spare parts dump we ordered (about 700 of them!), it will take days to get them installed and begin to get our vehicles up and running.
As of this writing, the Battalion Commander has no idea about the change of mission. I've got no coms with him. I'm waiting for the trucks which just dropped him, the mortar platoon, and the Forward Aid Station off at Hadithah Dam to return. At that point I'll grab the trucks and round up a security element of infantry, and turn them around and go right back out to Hadithah so I can deliver the message.
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