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DEL.ICIO.USKeeping the ‘Iraqi Express’ rolling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait — Brig. Gen. William Johnson keeps a poster from the trucking company Oshkosh pinned on his office wall. The slogan says: “When hell and back is a daily commute.”
Bita Honarvar/AJC
Brig. Gen. William H. Johnson in his office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Friday.
As though Johnson needed reminding.
Here in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert, just a few miles from the Saudi border, sits the main deployment and redeployment hub for armed forces fighting in Iraq.
Since last October, about 165,000 troops have moved through Kuwait either on their way in or out of Iraq. That includes the soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team, who deployed in mid-May.
Johnson, a native of the Atlanta area, wears several different hats at Camp Arifjan, but the 55-year-old businessman from Morrow is primarily in charge of transportation of military equipment and supplies.
As director of Movement and Distribution for the Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Johnson is in charge of arranging convoys into Iraq and making sure that incoming units receive their equipment shipped in from the United States.
When the 48th arrived here, Johnson’s soldiers helped unload the vehicles and equipment shipped ahead of the brigade’s arrival. Much of the brigade’s supplies and containers were hauled up to Baghdad by Johnson’s team, which consists of about 3,500 mostly Reserve and National Guard soldiers.
Vehicles on tracks, such as M-1A2 Abrams tanks, have to be transported from Kuwait to Iraq on heavy-duty haulers because of the long distance.
“It’s 500 miles from here to Baghdad,” Johnson said. “Everything that you don’t want to drive has to be hauled. Also, if a vehicle is not armored, you can’t drive it.”
Convoys leave every day for the dangerous highways of Iraq carrying goods and equipment ordered by the various military units in Iraq.
Everything from lumber to uniforms to pre-packaged military rations is off-loaded from ships and warehoused in shipping containers that span the size of many football fields at Camp Arifjan.
From there they are clearly marked with the unit’s name and location and loaded onto trucks that are then escorted out by military vehicles.
The “Iraqi Express,” as it is more commonly known, runs daily.
Johnson estimates that 850 trucks cross the border every day. On average, the soldiers in the convoys are on the road for 8 to 10 days.
On the way back from Iraq, they often haul old equipment or vehicles damaged in accidents and bomb blasts. They are either returned home or are picked apart for spare parts.
“We do what we do so that the war fighter has what he needs,” Johnson said. “It’s been very satisfying to be here for a year.”
Recently, however, Johnson gained fame for a far less dangerous mission. He was the mastermind behind the local edition of the Peachtree Road Race.
Johnson, an Army reservist, had already received his Peachtree number when he was mobilized in June 2004.
The 25-year Peachtree veteran wasn’t about to sit one out.
“I brought my number with me and ran my own personal race,” Johnson said.
He mapped out a 10K course at Camp Arifjan, ran it alone (his driver picked him up at the finish line) and sent in his results to the Atlanta Track Club.
He then worked with the club to organize the Peachtree at Camp Arifjan this year. More than 1,000 runners participated. Soldiers also ran the Peachtree in Baghdad and at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan.
At Camp Arifjan, Johnson’s desk sits opposite a large digital clock on the wall that displays four time zones. There’s Zulu, the term used by the Army to indicate Greenwich Mean Time. There’s Kuwait time as well as time at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, where the U.S. Transportation Command is headquartered. Then there’s Atlanta, home of Third Army, the lead organization for U.S. military operations in Kuwait.
Johnson, who works for the health-care textiles firm Encompass Group in McDonough, expects to be heading home soon.
He keeps two photos of his granddaughter taped on his computer monitor and said he just found out another grandchild is on the way after son-in-law Capt. David Key of the 3rd Infantry Division, went home on leave from Iraq a few months ago.
And there is one more thing Johnson can’t wait to see again, he said.
“Green trees.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Sheryl Schaefer
July 23, 2005 06:17 PM | Link to this
Welcome to the war. Thank you for taking over for Dave and Curtis. My husband, SSG Schaefer, is in B co 1/108th and the constant coverage there of our boys in the 48th is the only thing that keeps me going. It’s a blessing to get daily reports from there. I look forward to your articles and photos. Please tell the guys we love them! Sheryl
By Michelle Smith
July 23, 2005 08:29 PM | Link to this
Welcome Mrs. Moni Basu, be carefully. I cann’t wait to read your articles and see the pictures that you all take. My husband, SPC James Smith, is with A Battery 1/118th, I would like to see pictures of Camp Taji, which is where he is at please. Take care and cann’t wait to read what you publish.
M. Smith
By Lisa
July 24, 2005 02:27 AM | Link to this
Thank you for continuing a very important mission. That is keeping us at home up to date on the soldiers and the happenings of the war. I wish you a safe journey may God be with you. If you see my husband Sgt. Timothy Shipman, C. Co. 1-108th tell him we Love and miss him. I can not wait to read your articles. Take care. Thanks again. Lisa
By BG Stewart Rodeheaver
July 24, 2005 02:38 AM | Link to this
I am writing to tell the families that their soldiers are doing a great job here, and they should be very proud of their soldiers. We are truly blessed to have such a supportive group of families, friends and such an active Family Support network, and I wanted to say thanks for all that you are doing for these great soldiers.
By A 1/121st Mom
July 24, 2005 02:06 PM | Link to this
Welcome! I have been reading all the AJC reports on the 48th and Iraq and they have been eye-opening. I appreciate the danger reporters face along with our loved ones. I would like to put in my bid to hear about and see pictures of A 1/121st. I know all of the families of each unit search for information and pictures of their soldiers. While I’m sure it would be impractical and dangerous for you to run among all of the camps, please try to report on as many units and camps as you can. The reporting on a few units helps us know what life in Iraq is like. But the reporting on many units would be wonderful! May God bless and keep you two, our soldiers, their civilian support, and the new Iraqi forces.
By Laura Wallace
July 24, 2005 02:14 PM | Link to this
Hi Moni. I enjoyed your first article, and I hope you will contiue with the great reporting I experienced from Dave and Curtis. I can’t express my gratitude to you for putting your life in the United States on hold, and also putting your life in danger so that families and friends of our troops can find out daily what is really happpening to our loved ones over there. Please know that your are in our prayers along with my son, Sgt. Ryan Jeffries, and all the troops serving over there. I will continue to look forward to the daily reports. It has beocme a way of life .for me since the 48th was deployed. May your safety prevail.
By Robert
July 24, 2005 05:17 PM | Link to this
Hey Moni,
Welcome to the Persian Gulf! Glad you made it to Kuwait OK. I was stationed at Camp Arifjan when Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off in 2003. Be sure and enjoy the big swimming pool there that I’m sure you’ll like with all that heat. Can’t wait to start reading your dispatches from Baghdad. Be sure and take lots of photos for the families of the 48th Brigade. Your Friend in Rex, Robert
By Frances
July 25, 2005 08:39 AM | Link to this
Thank you so much for taking over for Dave and Curtis. You are very much appreciated!!
By Traci
July 25, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this
Moni thank you for your continued coverage on our soldiers. As the wife of a soldier in the 48th I read the articles every day to keep up with all of our men/women of the 48th. I have yet to see any coverage on the HHC 48th BCT Military Police Unit. Would this be possible for you to do some type of article on them? They are working their buns off and I haven’t been able to read anything about them. Oh, and if you see SSG Michael Murphy please tell him that the girls and I miss him and love him. Thanks for the great article!
By Mother of a Guardsmen
July 25, 2005 02:26 PM | Link to this
Moni, Like all the other post, I wish to say Thank you for doing what you are doing. If you get to Joe, Please tell Sgt Tim Deane his Mom sends her love. If you can get pictures from there it would be great. I have not seen anything on Joe as of yet.
Gods Blessings on you both..and Thank you again so very very much. It does mean so much to all the families to be able to hear each day about our loved ones.
By Proud Soldier Mom
July 25, 2005 02:57 PM | Link to this
Thank You Moni and Bita for taking up the very hard job passed on to you bye Dave and Curtis. I look forward to your future articles, and especially the PHOTOS! As everyone does I look for my soldier too. My Son is SPC James Golden and I hope to catch his handsome face on one of your pictures. We Miss Them ,We Love Them, We Wait For Them, We Stay Strong For Them!
Thank You, Proud Soldier Mom Kathleen
By Melissa Haygood
July 25, 2005 04:16 PM | Link to this
Thank you so much for taking over this task. I was worried about what would happen with the coverage of our men over there when Dave and Curtis left. My husband is Spc. Andrew Haygood with the 1/108th 48th. If you see him tell him we all love him and miss him very much. Once again, thank you so much for keeping the coverage going of our guys.
By WH
July 25, 2005 05:57 PM | Link to this
Moni and Bita,
Thanks for going to Iraq. I enjoyed both articles that have been published. You are experiencing the old government adage: hurry up and wait. Amily members of the soldiers with B co, 148th SB, Camp Stryker,would like to hear about them and have pics, too. Every soldier at every camp is equally important. Each has an important job and they do it well.
May you walk with angels and stay safe.
By WH
July 25, 2005 06:12 PM | Link to this
BG Rodeheaver,
Thank you for your comment. You expressed your concern for the troops under your command very well at Ft. Stewart and that concerned is greatly appreciated. Our soldiers have a great support groups on this side of the pond and I am proud to be a member. We know our beloved troops are doing a good job. They are dedicated.
My prayers include all of our military with special emphasis on the 48th and all the troops attached for this deployment.
God be with each of you. Stay safe.
By NANCY SCOTT
July 25, 2005 10:06 PM | Link to this
MY THOUGHT AND PRAYER ARE WITH THE FAMILY OF THE SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES. EACH OF US AS FAMILY OF MEMBER OF THE 48TH BRIGADE SHARE THEIR LOST AND PRAY GOD WILL HELP THEM THROUGH THIS AND WILL GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH THEY NEED.FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE REMEMBER AND TREASURE ALL YOUR MEMORIES FOR THEY CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM YOU. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. YOUR SACRIFICE WAS GREAT. MAY GOD KEEP EACH OF YOU IN SAFE KEEPING. GOD BLESS YOUR SOLDIERS (THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE…WE LOVE YOU)…LET’S ALL RALLY FOR THEM WITH A BIG ——HOOAH
By Tammy Craine
July 27, 2005 10:14 AM | Link to this
To all you soldiers,
We are all so very proud of you back here in the USA.Thank you for a job well done. Stay safe and keep up the good work. We hope and pray you all will be coming home soon.