Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy | The color guard prepares for the start of the transfer of authority ceremony between...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – With Fort Campbell, Ky., in their sights, the Rakkasans of the 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment officially passed the baton during a ceremony, Nov. 8, 2008 in Mahmudiyah.
The 1st Combined Arms Bn., 63rd Armored Division Dragons have made Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah their home as they take over the Baghdad Eagle area of operations.
"This morning does not end one unit's mission and begin another's, but only renews the commitment that's set in place to support the mechanism for real victory, which is the Iraqi army," said Lt. Col. William Zemp, commander of 3-320th FA Regt., 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Div. (Air Assault). "[The] 1-63rd comes ready; they have a long, proud lineage of successes and a series of historic challenges."
Zemp said it has been an honor to share with the IA in writing another chapter of history during the last 14 months.
"It's been an honor to fight alongside you, to learn from you and to win," he continued.
Mahmudiyah is part of what was once known as the "Triangle of Death" and has undergone a transformation in the past year. There has been an approximate 90 percent decrease in attacks. Soldiers of the 3-320th FA worked side-by-side with the 17th IA Div. as the IA took control and rid the area of criminal activity.
"We are honored to accept such an important mission, and we look forward to working with the 17th [IA] Division, the qada, nahia and local leaders and [offer] our support to the citizens of Mahmudiyah," said Lt. Col. Jimmy Bradford, 1-63rd commander.
FOB Mahmudiyah is one of the few patrol bases that was not handed over to the IA. Since August, the Rakkasans have transitioned 18 patrol bases to the IA.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2008 08:22 |
| Story ID: | 26150 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,148 |
| Downloads: | 743 |
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