Military Aviation Art
In early 2003, select divisional units were designated to
deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom through the initial phase of
combat culminating in the liberation of the Iraqi people from the
tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein. In the fall of 2003, the division as a
whole was ordered to prepare for deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
In January, division elements began deploying to the theater of operations
and in April 2004 the division assumed command and control of Task Force
Baghdad. During the divisions tour of duty, Task Force Baghdad’s ranks
swelled to more than 39,000 uniformed members including active duty,
reserve, national guard Soldiers, US Marines, and international coalition
partners. The division engaged the enemy across multiple lines of
operation, helping the Iraqi people forge a new, democratic
government—the first in that nation’s history. Task Force Baghdad
fought numerous engagements with the insurgents throughout the city. On
several occasions division units were called on to conduct or support
major offensive operations, which further stabilized a country striving
for a return to peace. Two major events in the march toward true democracy
occurred during the division’s year in the Iraqi capital: first, the
coalition returned sovereignty to the people of Iraq in June 2004; and
second, the national elections of January 2005 proved illustrative of the
resolve of the Iraqi people to gain control of their country. The division
transferred authority to the 3rd Infantry Division in February 2005 and
completed redeployment on April 2. |
