United We Roll at Stardust Radio

Wow - FOB Falcon! That is a name that has been all too familiar as letters and packages have made their way to that location and many others throughout Iraq where our loved ones and adopted troops have been stationed over these past years. How many envelopes came back from some dusty camp containing a photo with a note saying something like "Having fun at Camp Taji - Wish you were here"? I am sure several of our blog and Facebook readers here at home will have that same thought. I believe that, like myself, many have wondered what has been happening during the draw down to these locations that we understood would be turned over during the drawdown process.

Well, Folks, here is the story on FOB - or now COS - Falcon and the ceremony that took place on October 19th as " Contingency Operating Site Falcon, in southern Baghdad, was transferred from U.S. control to the Government of Iraq Oct. 10 during a formal transfer ceremony." Though the land has been handed over, I have a hunch that the spirit of FOB Falcon will live on in the hearts and the stories from those who fought and taught while there. In the article it states " COS Falcon is scheduled to be the last of nine bases for which 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div. has given full responsibility to the GoI."
(Photos will be posted on our Facebook page)

YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THESE HARD WORKING SOLDIERS AT THE 1AAB, 3ID!
You can go to the Facebook page and vote for this unit to receive a cash donation from Pepsi to help them build a memorial on base where they can go to remember their Fallen members. You can vote everyday until October 31st at:

1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (1HBCT, 3ID) Let's salute these soldiers for 10+ months of a job well done and vote for the Brigade Memorial. Keep telling your friends about voting every day, not just once. Remind them about texting their votes too! Text 102922 to 73774.
Building a memorial to Honor and Remember our 1st Brigade Soldiers' Fallen
Heroes.

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HQ, USD-Center
Camp Liberty
PHOTOS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20101019-01 October 19, 2010
______________________________________________________________
USD-C transfers COS Falcon to Iraqi government
By Pfc. Emily Knitter, 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div., USD-C

BAGHDAD—Contingency Operating Site Falcon, in southern Baghdad, was transferred from U.S. control to the Government of Iraq Oct. 10 during a formal transfer ceremony.

The handover of COS Falcon, the last scheduled base transfer for 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, marked another milestone in the increasing sovereignty of Iraq and the daily growing capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces.
“Over the past 10 months, we have worked hand-in-hand with our Iraqi brothers for the citizens of the Rasheed district,” said Lt. Col. Kirk Dorr, commander of 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div. “It has not been an easy journey to this point and undoubtedly we will see more challenges ahead, but together there is nothing we cannot accomplish.”

During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Richard Hansen, commander of Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div., and Sameer Al Haddad, the secretary of receivership for the GoI, signed the final documents which gave control of the base to the GoI. In addition to Dorr, staff Maj. Gen. Ameed Rukn Shakir Laftah Abdalretha Al-Assadi Akeed, commander of 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, and Col. Kareen Auda Kadham Ashoor Almehna, commander of 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi NP Div., were present for the signing.

COS Falcon is scheduled to be the last of nine bases for which 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div., has given full responsibility to the GoI. It is also the largest base transfer on record for USD-C—as most bases are under official control by a company- or battalion-sized element, COS Falcon was under the control of an entire brigade.

This transfer is the result of an almost yearlong partnership between 5th Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt., and the 2nd Iraqi NP Div. A contingent of American forces will remain on the base in a smaller compound in order to continue their partnership, and their role of advising training and assisting the ISF, for the duration of 1st AAB’s deployment.

“It was the joint work that has had a significant positive impact on the capabilities of our unit’s training, logistics and intelligence,” said Shakir.

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