Camp Al-Saqr

Coordinates: 33°12′44″N 44°22′07″E / 33.2122°N 44.3686°E / 33.2122; 44.3686 Camp Al-Saqr, referred to by some media sources as Camp Falcon, Forward Operating Base Falcon, Joint Service Station (JSS) Falcon, or Combat Outpost Falcon, was a United States military forward operating base in Iraq a short distance outside Baghdad, some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of the Green Zone. In OIF 2004; it was designated as "Camp Ferrin-Huggins". As of 2009, the base housed up to 5,000 troops.[1]

History

In September 2003, the construction of FOB Falcon (as-Saqr Base) in Iraq was a major engineering project for the 439th Engineering Battalion. The battalion transported more than 100,000 tons of gravel for constructing roads, and took part in construction of the base's structures.[2]

Because FOB Falcon was considered by Iraqi officials to be outside of Baghdad proper, it was not affected by the planned withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009.[1]

It was not uncommon for bases like FOB Falcon to be mortared by insurgents who used the surrounding neighborhoods as cover, risking the lives of Iraq civilians and those who lived on the FOB while they served. Small arms fire and the use of RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) were also common and more prevalent during the early years of the deployments. The following is one such account. There were, unfortunately, attacks that occurred where loss of life was the result.

October 10, 2006 attack

Members of a U.S. Air Force explosive ordnance disposal team unpack C-4 explosives, Oct. 16, 2006. The explosives will be used to detonate a cache of unexploded ordnance recovered from a blast area on Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq, following a recent mortar attack. The airmen are assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron.

On October 10, 2006, at about 10:40 p.m. (1940 GMT), a major explosion rocked the base, reportedly due to the base's ammunition dump being hit by a 82mm mortar round fired by Iraqi insurgents. Further explosions continued for hours. Images of the explosions were carried live on CNN.[3] There were no casualties. According to the official Department of Defense report released by US Central Command, the base resumed normal duties within 24 hours.[4]

Operation New Dawn

During Operation New Dawn, JSS Falcon was manned by 2nd AAB, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas. The base was closed by 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment and transferred to Iraqi authorities in late July 2011.[5]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Forward Operating Base Falcon.
  1. 1 2 Nordland, Rod (April 26, 2009). "Exceptions to Iraq Deadline Are Proposed". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Rasheed Airbase". GlobalSecurity.org. January 21, 2007. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Ammo Dump Erupts in Baghdad; North Korean Nuke Test Yield Still Uncertain". CNN. October 10, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Iraqi Resistance Strikes Camp Falcon in Major Military Assault". Global Research. October 22, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  5. ↑ "‘Longknife’ Squadron departs Joint Security Station Falcon as part of transition to Iraqi self-sufficiency".
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