Fort Bliss Has Had Major Role During Iraq War; 1,200 Fort Bliss Soldiers To Remain In Iraq

In advance of his address to the nation from the Oval Office in which he will announce the end of the American combat mission and successful transition to a primarily advise and assist role in Iraq, President Obama will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas to honor the service and sacrifice of the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Iraq, including many from Fort Bliss.

With 25,000 active duty troops, many of them from the legendary 1st Armored Division (“Old Ironsides”), Fort Bliss is an ideal venue for President Obama to honor our military members who have served in the Iraq war. Since the start of the Iraq war, 200,000 personnel from Fort Bliss have deployed to Iraq, serving in every major phase of the war. The troops from Fort Bliss played a key role in advancing stability in Iraq enabling the transition out of combat operations and facilitating the expanding capacity of Iraqi Forces.

During the initial invasion in 2003, soldiers from Fort Bliss raced towards Baghdad and encountered some of the fiercest fighting of the invasion. In Nasiriyah, Army units from Bliss suffered some of the highest casualties on March 23, 2003-including several killed from Fort Bliss. Several members of the post’s 507th Maintenance Company were taken as Prisoners Of War during this battle.

When sectarian warfare threatened to rip Iraq apart, Bliss personnel (4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division) saw their tour extended so they could help reduce the violence in Iraq.

From May 2009-May 2010, Fort Bliss’ 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division (“Highlanders”) pioneered much of the stability operation mission and provided valuable feedback to U.S. forces who will remain in Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces.

Since late 2009, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division (“Ready First”) has deployed to northern Iraq where they partnered with Iraqi forces.

To date, 51 personnel deployed from Fort Bliss have given their lives in Iraq in combat or in non-combat related incidents.

As part of President Obama’s commitment to end America’s combat mission in Iraq by August 31, more than 7,000 troops from Iraq have returned to Fort Bliss over the last six months, including elements of the 1st Brigade Combat Team who returned home in August and were among the last U.S. combat troops in Iraq.

Approximately 1,200 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team remain in Iraq as part of the transitional force that will advise and assist Iraqi security forces; they will return to Fort Bliss in November 2010.

In addition, Fort Bliss currently has five units supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan: 31st Combat Support Hospital; 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment; 202nd Military Police Company; 377th Transportation Company; and the 16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

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