AJC.com > Iraq coverage > Blog > Archives > 2005 > November > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNew job scatters 48th across Iraq
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Logistical Support Area Adder, Iraq — Maj. Chris Kemper calls the map his “slide of insanity.”
It’s part of a PowerPoint computer slide show he uses to brief fellow soldiers about their new missions.
The complex map has green, red, orange and blue boxes that represent units of Georgia’s 48th Brigade Combat Team. It also has 21 black arrows that point to the far-flung new locations across Iraq where Georgia National Guard soldiers are now based.
Curtis Compton/AJC
Spc. Solomon West (left) of Atlanta and Spc. Shaun Robinson of Savannah, both of the 118th Field Artillery Regiment, work on their bikes at Al Asad Air Base.
Until Halloween, most of the brigade’s soldiers were relatively close to Baghdad,
fighting insurgents, hunting roadside bombs and enduring repeated rocket and mortar attacks.
Now, the 48th is scattered from Basra in the south to Baghdad in the middle of the country to the Jordanian border on the west for what is officially called a “Theater Security Mission.”
The new job involves protecting the U.S. military’s supply lines and guarding truck convoys throughout the country to ensure soldiers get what they need to fight the insurgents.
As the 48th’s plans officer, Kemper helped decide how the brigade’s more than 4,400 soldiers would be dispersed. He said his wife jokingly refers to him as the brigade’s “cruise director.”
“It’s pretty critical that we get things right the first time,” said Kemper, 34, a Home Depot assistant store manager from Lilburn. “Operations are so fluid. Things can change at the drop of a hat. With the skill sets we have and the people we have, I think we will be successful at it.”
48th inherited mission
The Theater Security Mission is not new. The Georgians inherited it from the Texas National Guard’s 56th Brigade Combat Team. Another brigade already has been selected to take over the mission from the 48th in the late spring or early summer of next year.
U.S. military leaders in Iraq ordered the Georgians to take over the mission, leaving officers like Kemper to decide where to position the brigade’s troops. It was a complex task, considering the number of different bases out of which the 48th has to operate.
Kemper said the brigade sought to keep its battalions intact and, for the most part, was successful.
The brigade headquarters, 148th Support Battalion and 648th Engineer Battalion, which were based at Camp Striker near Baghdad International Airport, were moved to Tallil Air Base in southern Iraq.
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment had been scattered among three Sunni-dominated cities — Mahmudiyah, Yusufiyah and Lutafiyah — just south of Baghdad. Now, the battalion is back together in a much safer area at Convoy Support Center Scania in southern Iraq, a place the soldiers refer to as “Club Med.”
And the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment, which had been at Camp Taji north of Baghdad, was moved virtually intact to Al Asad Air Base near the town of Hit, in the restive Al Anbar province of western Iraq. It has added National Guard soldiers from Maryland and Rhode Island to form a task force with the responsibility of guarding truck convoys on days-long runs between the base and the Jordanian border.
Not all of the efforts to keep battalions intact were successful.
Two companies of the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment were ordered to remain in the Baghdad area to work with regular Army units from the 101st Airborne Division and 10th Mountain Division.
Kemper said those soldiers will provide extra muscle for Iraq’s Dec. 15 national assembly election with their armored Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
Even though some of the 48th soldiers are working with other units, they still receive their orders from their own brigade. The 118th’s 1st Battalion troops report to the Marines about their missions and the routes they travel, but still officially are under control of the 48th leadership.
Communications strong
Despite the fragmentation of the Georgia brigade, 48th officials said their communications systems enable them to keep tabs on what everyone is doing.
Some 48th soldiers are thrilled to be away from direct combat in the Baghdad area. They are catching up on sleep and playing sports again. Others are growing antsy with the downtime and say they would rather be back in combat zones.
Second Lt. Jason Royal said he led a platoon from Camp Striker on missions in the Baghdad area, arresting suspected insurgents and seizing their weapons caches. He said he went on missions outside the base more than 100 times and survived repeated small arms fire and roadside bomb attacks.
Now, Royal is stationed in part of the vast Tallil Air Base, with many amenities in a much safer part of Iraq. He said he is glad he got to come here and rest before going home to his wife and three children in Villa Rica.
He recently gave a tour of his new home, showing off the video arcade and private booths where small groups of soldiers can watch movies.
“I have more time to actually take a breath and process what happened,” said Royal, 32, a Paulding County high school English teacher.
“It’s a lot less stressful here. I’m glad I didn’t go straight from Camp Striker to home because that would be a hard adjustment.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Mom of Spc McCaslin (48th 2/121)
November 28, 2005 09:21 AM | Link to this
My son, along with his best friend are Airborne and left behind to support the 101st Army Airborne on Camp Stryker. While we are happy that so many have been moved to “safer” environments, please pray for the safekeeping of our sons who remain at the very dangerous Camp Stryker. I thank you in advance for all the families….
By Marie
November 28, 2005 10:07 AM | Link to this
Roger that Mom of Spc McCaslin (48th 2/121)!
By SSG Martin's Mom
November 28, 2005 12:19 PM | Link to this
Dear Mom of Spc McCaslin You have my prayers and support! My son is at a Relay Station somewhere between Kuwait and Baghdad now. It’s an extermely desolate enviroment, but it’s better than Roe! May God keep your son, my son…and all our solider’s from harm’s way. SSGT Matin’s MOM
By Maj Kemper's Wife
November 28, 2005 01:56 PM | Link to this
Great article! Thank you for finally showing off the Officers who work so hard to keep the troops on safe and level ground. Honey, you are the Brigade Cruise Director!! Where is the shuffle board again?
By REGINA
November 28, 2005 04:52 PM | Link to this
please pray for all our soldiers left behind. my son sgt. speegle is one of them. thoughts and prayers to everyone.
By A Fellow Georgian
November 28, 2005 09:39 PM | Link to this
Men of the 48th. We are all so very proud of you and what you are doing for our country. God Bless and God Speed. UHRA
By Martha Duvall
November 28, 2005 09:46 PM | Link to this
Just like to say that the 2-130 seems to be left out of any articles. Do you know where they are and what their new duties are? Please keep us posted. Thanks!
By Infantry Soldier's Wife
November 29, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this
Many of the scattered soldier’s are like the article says, wanting to be back in a more “active” location verses “Club Med”. For an Infantry Soldier, too much “down time” isnt always the best. They question their duty in Iraq, the purpose of guarding supplies and buildings, and have very little to do to keep them sharp and alert to insurgent activity. Getting “soft” is nothing an Infantry Soldier is comfortable with. At one time, infantry soldier’s rode the streets and through towns seraching for weapons, insurgents, and terrorist activity. They were able to arrest, detain, and destroy anything of harm, no questions asked. The mission was clear, concise, and active. Now they have to file miles of paperwork if they fire a warning shot at a vehicle that doesnt heed to pull over or stop around “Club Med”. If you give the soldier’s a choice of duty, an Infantry soldier will choose to be back at Micheal, Row, or Joe. Infantry soldier’s “love the way it sucks.” It’s not about the families feeling better about where their soldier is located, its about the honor and dignity of the soldier and where he feels most productive.
By Supporting Wife
November 29, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this
Spc Oscar R. Neal is my husband and he is in the 48th. I pray for their safe return home. I would like to say Thank You to all the soldiers who risk their lives everyday for a cause thats still unkown to the citizens of the USA. I pray for encouragement for all the families who have loved ones over there.
By 108CAV
November 29, 2005 01:43 PM | Link to this
Just as the 2-130 always seems to be left out… So does the 108th CAV. Everyone back here and in the media seems to think they are the same as the 108 armor. They are not the same! They are a separate unit! Go CAV!
By Proud Mom
November 29, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this
Why is there no mention of those from Illinois who were called up January 5th and trained with Georgia troops at Ft Stewart then with them in California and were deployed as part of the 48th in May? We follow the AJC coverage of the 48th via internet and appreciate the news you share concerning the 48th. It would be nice, however, to see something in print about our guys who are in Iraq with the 48th, too.
By SGT Doug Farmer
November 29, 2005 05:17 PM | Link to this
MAJ Kemper is a good man. I enjoyed his stay at Co A 1-108th Armor. He knows his stuff and is perhaps the best CO that Co A ever had. If not, he should be. He knows his stuff is very personable with his soldiers. He makes them feel “wanted and needed” within the US Army. Way to go sir. From a former subordinate. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!
SGT Doug Farmer
By cindy
November 29, 2005 11:05 PM | Link to this
“LIEBERMAN: There are obviously no guarantees here. But I do think tonight that the president did what he has to do in this speech and in the ones that will follow in the next weeks, which is to shore up American support, to remind the American people why we must win this battle against the terrorists and the Saddam loyalists and to remind them that he has done some of the things that his critics asked him to do, including me.
He has now gone to the United Nations. He has now increased the number of American troops there and is prepared to send more to keep the security so that democracy can take hold.
I hope that all of us in both parties who have said that we have to stay in Iraq and finish the job in pursuit of our own values and of our own security will pull together and make it happen and not be part of a chorus of doubters that will undermine the support of the American people more.
We’ve got to stay united here as best we can to support our troops, but to support our cause. In my opinion, this is the test of our generation. And if we don’t win it in Iraq, we’re going to face it much closer to home in the years ahead.”
I for one am so glad for Senator Lieberman and Pray America will listen to his words of wisdom.
By Ariana, soldier's wife
November 29, 2005 11:09 PM | Link to this
I just wanted to encourage all of the wives and mothers here. Our men need us to always stick by them, encourage them, let them know how much they are needed and loved, as well as admired. Our men are strong and brave and sacrifice a lot, and they need to always be told so.
By Brenda E. Branch
November 29, 2005 11:11 PM | Link to this
My son is over in Iraq with the 48th Brigade too. I support my President and all of the soldiers in Iraq. I will always support my President whether he be Republican or Democrat because I am proud to be “Born in the USA”. May God Bless all of you soldiers and bring you home safely.
By Ijpe deKoe
November 30, 2005 01:25 AM | Link to this
I’m a Sergeant with D-Co. 3-172 Infantry, Rhode Island National Guard and currently stationed at Al Asad, Iraq.
My platoon had the pleasure of having Jeremy and Curtis out with us for 6 days of convoy escort.
The Rhode Island and Maryland Companies are the only 2 Companies of the entire Battalion to actually leave the wire.
It was nice to have reporters willing to risk the same grueling schedule and dangers that we face daily, in order to tell of non-Georgian contribution to the Battalions effort.
Please have them keep up their excellent work.
Ijpe deKoe, Sgt. D-Co. 3-172 Inf. RIANG
By cathey
November 30, 2005 10:28 PM | Link to this
I have to make a comment reguarding the guys that have been assigned to the RRP sites. My husband is with the 48th and has been sent to a RRP. He has slim pickings when it comes to food,They haven’t even had food delivered to them for themselves to cook. What’s up I can send food but if the packages that are at Scania are not being delivered how is he suppose to get more food. Yes these guys are the best, and they know everyone at home supports them, so what the hell do we have to do to get the “INCHARGE GUYS” to make sure they are sent their packages and send some food and drinks down to these RRP’s. I LOVE MY HUSBAND and understand what these guys went through at Michael & Joe and it makes me angry to know that most americans believe that all the soldiers had a Thanksgiving meal. That would have been nice in a perfect world but they are far from a perfect world. So this goes to anyone that might be read this at Scania in the 108th ” GET THEM THEIR STUFF” To all the guys, we love and support you and can’t wait for you to come home.
By corey
December 5, 2005 12:42 PM | Link to this
i am a member of the 2-121 of albany and our guys in the 48th will get the job done, with the support of our country and especially the support of our loved ones, we will accomplish this mission
By Paula
December 5, 2005 02:54 PM | Link to this
To all the brave men and women who are serving in Iraq may God be with you, protect you guide you and bring you home safe. My brother Sgt. Mike Flynn (was with the 48th)is now with the 2-22 1/10 Mountain Division. We do not know where he is and have no luck finding information on the Computer about how they are. Anyone with the 48th who might run into Sgt. Flynn please shake his hand and tell him PJ said Hello and sends her love. Come home little Bro, I miss you.
By Sandra
December 5, 2005 02:58 PM | Link to this
I am the Mother of Sgt. Daniel T. Sehl, who is still at Camp Striker. God Bless all of you brave soldiers. Please take care of my son. Thanks for all the news from Baghdad.
By SGT Richard Marker's Mom
December 6, 2005 10:18 AM | Link to this
The 48th, no matter where they are ‘from’, are close to our heart. It hasn’t been easy, and even if they are stationed at ‘Club Med’, they still face many dangers.
No matter your religious preferences, or political party, our soldiers are there now. I hope you will agree that they are ALL American Heroes.
As the holiday season draws near, remember our Heroes in all that you think and do. Somehow shopping and over-spending don’t seem as important this year. Sending our Heroes an extra pair of socks, basic food supplies, a cheery card top the ‘to-do-list’.
If you don’t have a family member or friend stationed in a war zone, please think about sending something to an unknown hero.
After all, they ALL deserve to know how much they are thought of, and LOVED!
signed ~ A Proud Mother of an American Hero!