'TF Ironhorse' hands Tikrit area over to 1ID
Army News Service
Release Date: 3/19/2004
TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, March 19, 2004) - A transfer of authority ceremony between the 4th Infantry Division and the "Big Red One" took place at Forward Base Danger March 16 near Tikrit.
Outgoing 4th ID commander Maj. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno cased his unit's colors as Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste of the 1st Infantry Division assumed control of the region.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, U.S. commander of the allied forces in Iraq and V Corps commander, and other top American military brass and Iraqi dignitaries were on hand for the ceremony.
The 4th ID, dubbed "Task Force Ironhorse," began operations in Iraq with an airborne insertion of Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade into the northern part of the country to secure Bashur Airfield March 26, 2003. The division is credited with capturing former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Additionally, Task Force Ironhorse conducted 11 major operations and helped rebuild Iraq's economy and infrastructure. Three provincial governments were established along with a number of district, local and city governments during the 4th ID's yearlong watch.
Aside from that, its Soldiers trained some 2,500 Iraqi border police, 10,000 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps members and 15,000 Iraqi police forces.
In February, Soldiers of the 1st ID began deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
"This transfer of authority is a symbol of America's unwavering commitment to the people of Iraq," Batiste said.
(Editor's note: Information provided by 4th ID Public Affairs.)
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