| Submit your comments on this article |
| Axis of Evil |
| Task Force Iron Horse Shipping Out |
| 2003-01-31 |
| Ten forts' equipment eventually will be sent overseas to support the 4th Infantry Division, said Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commanding general of the division. Odierno visited the Port of Corpus Christi briefly Thursday. Although the division is headquartered in Killeen, tanks, artillery and other equipment will come from bases across the country to support Task Force Iron Horse, an Army operation that will send troops overseas. Also, the original estimate of 12,500 of troops going overseas from the task force has risen to 30,000. A combination of troops and equipment are coming from these bases: Forts Hood and Bliss in Texas; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Lewis, Wash., Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; and Fort Polk, La. Not all of the equipment from the other bases will go through the Port of Corpus Christi, said Lt. Col. Dan Baggio, Fort Hood spokesman. Even so, about 15 to 20 ships of the "ready reserve" fleet are expected to be loaded during the next couple weeks. So far, the Cape Texas, Cape Trinity and Cape Taylor have left the port with full loads. Two new ones have arrived - the Cape Decision and Cape Rise. Military officials have declined to identify exactly how many ships or pieces of artillery are arriving, or when they will arrive and pass through the port. Trainloads of equipment began arriving at the port throughout the last week, and on Thursday large trucks carrying equipment could be seen arriving and waiting in line to get through the security entrance. Word is the 4th is headed to Turkey. Figure a couple of weeks transit time for the heavy equipment, then mate up with the crews, form up and get organized, and we are looking at end of February for these ground troops to be ready. |
| Posted by:Steve |