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Iraq: Daily Life (2003-2005)

Capt Wes “Cuba” Worsham

10 September 2005

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Outline

  • My History
  • The Role of the Marine Corps in Iraq
  • My Role in Iraq
  • Daily Life

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My History

  • 1999 Graduate of The Citadel
    • Class of 2000
  • Commissioned 2ndLt
    • Graduated from TBS, Dec 2000
  • Intelligence Training
    • Navy Marine Corps Intel Training Center
    • DIA, CIA, NSA, MAWTS-1, Army

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My History (Cont)

  • Assigned to MAG-29
    • Designated Assistant Intelligence Officer (Alpha) from 2003-2004
    • Deployed to Jalibah Airfield aboard USS Saipan

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24th Marine Expeditionary Unit

  • Transferred to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (REIN)
    • Dec 2003
      • LtCol Roy “Ozzie” Osborn, commanding
    • January 2004 chopped to 24th MEU (SOC)
      • Col Ron “Jawbreaker” Johnson, commanding
    • Workup cycle (Feb-Jun 2004)

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24th MEU ACE in Iraq

  • Workups were tailored to Afghan threat
    • AP Hill, VA to Dawson, WV
  • ACE serviced entire country
    • From Syrian Border to Iranian Border
    • Transported personnel and equipment from both US, Allied, and Iraqi forced
    • Participated in operations to quell Sadr uprising, Fallujah, Elections

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My Responsibilities in Iraq

  • Promoted to Captain, 1 July
  • S-2 Actual
    • Brief pilots on daily route threat
      • Required planning and coordination with other units, higher, and adjacent foreign units
    • Two detachments
      • Camp Taqaddum, Iraq
      • Camp Kalsu, Iraq

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Camp Taqaddum

  • 16 Km (8 mi) wire to wire with Fallujah
  • Constant threat of indirect fire
    • Averaged 2-3 series of incoming a week
    • Anywhere from 1 to 13 rounds per
  • Worked closely with locals from Fallujah area
    • Build & maintain equipment, run food services, owners of local shops

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Camp Kalsu, Iraq

  • HQ 24th MEU
    • UH-1N Hueys
    • AH-1W Cobras
  • Approx 1Km sq
    • Averaged 4-5 series a week
    • Wire breached on multiple occasions
  • Primarily COINOPS and training of Hillah SWAT

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Monthly Breakdown

  • Jun-Aug
    • Sadr Uprisings
    • Primarily operate out of Kalsu
    • TQ still under threat
  • Sept-Nov
    • American Elections
    • Fallujah
  • Dec-Feb
    • Iraqi Elections
    • Retrograde

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December

  • Scheduled for retrograde, 15 Dec
  • Extension for aid in Elections
  • Only 1 IDF incident in Dec
  • Christmas
  • Cold. Damn Cold.

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Video

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January/February

  • Election assistance
    • Elections 30 January
    • ENDOPS, 31 January
  • Retrograde

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Questions?

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CH-46 Investigation

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