Departing troops pack millions of items in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, begin their journey to the United States on board a C-17 aircraft at Baghdad International Airport on July 13.


Departing troops pack millions of items in Iraq
By Rebecca Santana - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Aug 3, 2010 17:39:47 EDT

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Everything from helicopters to printer cartridges is being wrapped and stamped and shipped out of Iraq. U.S. military bases that once resembled small towns have transformed into a cross between giant post offices and Office Depots.

Soldiers who battled through insurgents and roadside bombs are now doing inventory and accounting. Their task: reverse over the course of months a U.S. military presence that built up over seven years of war.

“We’re moving out millions of pieces of equipment in one of the largest logistics operations that we’ve seen in decades,” President Obama said in a speech Monday hailing this month’s planned withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

The orderly withdrawal is a far cry from the testosterone-fueled push across the berm separating Kuwait and Iraq, when Marines and soldiers pushed north in the 2003 invasion, battling Saddam Hussein’s army while sleeping on the hoods of their vehicles and eating prepackaged meals.

“I think it’s probably more challenging leaving, responsibly drawing down, than it is getting here, because you just have to figure out where everything is and getting it out of here. Are there enough airplanes, ships, containers, and do we have enough time to do that and meet the president’s mandate?” said Col. David F. Demartino, who is responsible for infrastructure and support services at Balad, which is home to 25,000 troops and civilians.



unhapppycamper comment: Wearing your body armor while jammed into a C-17 cannot be all that comfortable. Both of my Freedom Birds were commercial aircraft with commercial flight attendants. No flak vests.

[geckosfeet]

1. Hopefully they are flying to Germany and switching to commercial.

That would be a miserable 12 hour ride.

[JonLP24]

5. When my unit deployed

we flew on a military charter flight the whole way there. We also flew on all the way back and also on leave to Atlanta or Dallas than we switched on a civilian plane to our home time. We stopped at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport(which is in Germany) every time we went over there and back to refill. Also when we came back from deployment we stopped in Iceland. IIRC at least one time we flew on Ryan Air. I think United was another time but I'm not 100%.

On edit-The troops are flying the Military Aircraft to Kuwait Airport which is where they will catch the military charter flight. They won't go all the way to Germany. The reason why they are in a military aircraft is because they are leaving from Baghdad.

[old mark]

2. I am glad we are at least bringing some things home with the troops -

In Vietnam, we left tons of everything right where we put it...maybe I can buy some surplus stuff!!!
I hope everyone gets home OK and welcome back!


Afghanistan next!
rec.
mark

[madokie]

3. Same here

Flying Tiger airlines flying DC8's, both time for me too

[Lasher]

4. Looks like they're going to make the 50K deadline.

They got 20K out last month, now just 15K left to go before September 1.

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Centers/Saban/Iraq%20Index/index.pdf

[TwilightGardener]

6. That's a great photo.

[wordpix]

7. Hoo RAY and one for Obama, too