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TFO Soldiers watch the President

Jun-19-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

(Task Force Olympia press release)

MOSUL, IRAQ (June 18, 2004) – Soldiers from Task Force Olympia were just settling in for a briefing Friday night at their headquarters in Mosul when a shout proclaimed, “turn on the T.V.” President George W. Bush was addressing Soldiers back home at Fort Lewis, Wash., and with that, the evening meeting was delayed.

More than 50 Soldiers stared at the screen at the front of the battle coordination center, or BCC, listening intently to the President’s words, some hoping to recognize a Soldier in the crowd behind the President.

Soldiers from Fort Lewis’ I Corps headquarters deployed to Mosul in January to form the command and control headquarters for Task Force Olympia. Last November, the 5,000 soldier-strong 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), also from Fort Lewis, deployed to Iraq. The Stryker Brigade is in Mosul as the largest unit within Task Force Olympia.

Mid way through his speech, President Bush referenced the commander of Task Force Olympia, Fort Lewis’ Brig. Gen. Carter Ham. Bush said, “Recently in Mosul, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps successfully repelled attacks on government buildings. The U.S. commander on the ground, Brig. Gen. Carter Ham said the Iraqi forces ‘stood strong.’”

Fort Lewis Soldiers in Mosul and at Fort Lewis erupted in simultaneous cheer.

Soldiers in Mosul and Fort Lewis applauded as well when the President said, “When Americans say we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it until the job is done.”

The Fort Lewis Soldiers in Mosul visibly sat back and reflected at Bush’s comment that “many of you face deployments longer than expected – you miss your families, and they miss you.”

President Bush wrapped up his Fort Lewis address to Soldiers at home and abroad by saying, “You’re making your Commander-in-Chief proud.”

With that, a quiet pause filled the battle coordination center in Mosul, the television news feed was clicked off, and the battle major said loudly, “Okay folks, time for our meeting.”


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