FOB Dagger Given to Iraqi 4th Division

Courtesy Photo | Coalition Forces and Iraqi color guard stand at attention during a Transfer of Ownership ceremony at Forward Operating Base Dagger August 14.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

08.18.2005

Courtesy Story

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Spc. Jimmy D. Lane Jr.
1st BCT PAO


TIKRIT, Iraq- Forward Operating Base Dagger was officially handed over to the 4th Iraqi Army Division by the 1st Brigade Combat Team during a ceremony there August 14.

"This is actually a pretty historic event," said Maj. Robert M. Butts, executive officer for the 1/3 Brigade Troops Battalion. "This FOB was actually first set up by the 4th Infantry Division. They set up their base of operations here after OIF 1. This is the same place elements of the 4th Inf. Div. were stationed when they caught Saddam Hussein. It's one of Saddam's palaces being given back to the Iraqi people."

"We are proud to take this step toward taking control of the security of our country," said an Iraqi officer who wished to remain anonymous. "We will prove we are capable of this mission."

Before handing over FOB Dagger, Soldiers of 1st BCT who were living there had to coordinate moving their troops out and moving the Iraqi Soldier into the installation. It turned out to be a big project, and both sides ran into hurdles during the move.

"The biggest problem has been communications with the Iraqis," Butts said. "They are a division coming from a long way away, and we are a brigade that hasn't really had much interaction with them. We had to work through their Military Transition team to conduct operations. We also had a problem trying to do too many things at once. But it actually went a lot smoother than I thought it would."

Another Iraqi officer who wished to remain anonymous said the 4th IA Div. is comprised of mostly Kurds, and there were some concerns about moving to a predominantly Sunni region. He said the placement of the Kurdish troops would prove Iraq was becoming a unified nation.

Soldiers of 1st BCT were relocated to Forward Operating Base Speicher, which is on the north side of Tikrit. Butts said the move would not have much of an effect on the mission, and the move was a good show of the Coalition Forces" effort to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis.

"1st Brigade moved to another Fob in Tikrit, and we are going to continue operations from there," Butts said. "The main reason we moved there was to make way for the Iraqis.
I think it's bad for us to be staying in the palaces, because they are symbols of Saddam's oppression of the Iraqi people. It's better that we leave and turn them over to the Iraqis."

"The passing of this facility is a simple but solemn ceremony that vividly demonstrates the Coalition's and the Iraqi Army's commitment to the future of Iraq," said Col. Mark E. McKnight, 1st BCT commander. "This is the second base we've turned over in about three weeks. We will turn overâ?¦two more bases before the new year. It's a very good day, as we see more Iraqi flags flying over the bases."

Among those who attended were Iraqi press from Baghdad, Salah ad Din provincial leaders, 42nd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto and 4th IA Div. commander Maj. Gen. Abdilaziz Abdulrahman Almufti.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2005
• Date Posted: 08.18.2005 17:39
• Story ID: 2780
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ