By Capt. Adam D. Westbrook
BAGHDAD — Just east of one of the most sacred Shiite mosques in the world, tucked away in one the many pockets of land formed by time and the ever-changing Tigris River, sits Joint Security Station Justice, a symbolic piece of history for American forces who have operated in Iraq over the past several years.
In addition to being the site of the execution of Saddam Hussein and several of his regime’s major figures, the base has been home to a long list of units for the better part of a decade. However, as Operation New Dawn draws to an end and Iraqi Security Forces take ever-greater responsibility for their nation’s protection, the need to further occupy JSS Justice is no longer there. With that in mind, soldiers with C Troop “Comanche,” 5th “Longknife” Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center carried out the task of closing the JSS and signing it back over to the Government of Iraq.
For many soldiers across 2nd AAB, JSS Justice served as a symbol of what their deployments have been like, and the base, which has had several names over the years, has played an interesting and unique role in their experiences in Iraq.
“It was simply known as the Old Iraqi Defense Intelligence Agency compound [when I was first here],” said Sgt. 1st Class John Varney, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 5th Sqdn., 4th Cav. Regt. and a Milford, Kan., native, who was assigned to JSS Justice in 2003 with another unit.
That title did not stick for very long though. Several months and many missions after his arrival, the base had a new name.
“Spc. Simeon Hunte was killed near Ghaziliyah in 2003,” said Varney. “The soldier’s death had a deep impact within the unit [1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division], and as a result, it was then decided that the base be named in honor of the fallen soldier, giving rise to a new title, Camp Hunte.”
Regardless of what it was called, the base’s location and operational value was never challenged. It always provided a temporary, protective home for a countless number of soldiers over the span of its existence while they worked to improve Iraq’s security situation.
The base served as a home to not only American soldiers, but Iraqi personnel as well.
“I remember a lot of the Iraqis who worked on the [Forward Operating Base],” said Capt. Selina Tolonen, public affairs officer with 2nd AAB and a Niceville, Fla., native, who was stationed at FOB Justice from October 2008 to April 2009. “I especially remember an older man who once took the time to show me pictures of his family and a memo he carried around that was signed by a battalion commander stationed on JSS Justice long before I was.”
That memo meant a great deal to the man, said Tolonen. “It was falling apart, but it stated that he helped soldiers during the invasion find a safe haven at FOB Justice, and that he provided them with water.”
Tolonen’s story reflects the level of cooperation that Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Security Forces, and American forces established and maintained throughout the years at JSS Justice.
The ISF, though separated by concrete barriers from their American counterparts and occupying their own portion of the base, remained partners in distributing humanitarian aid, training, and conducting full-spectrum operations throughout the area, some of which led to significant results.
Capt. Tim Student, commander of Comanche Troop, 5th Sqdn., 4th Cav. Regt. and a Westmoreland, Mo., native, was the last Troop-level commander in charge of the operations being conducted in and around JSS Justice.
“I feel like we closed a chapter of the Iraq campaign here,” said Student. “Justice was one of the first bases occupied by U.S. forces after the invasion, and it was good to see the Iraqis taking the challenge of using the base to further their own security.”
Date Taken: | 09.29.2011 |
Date Posted: | 09.30.2011 13:51 |
Story ID: | 77845 |
Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
Web Views: | 377 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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