FOB Kalsu
Encyclopedia
Forward Operating Base Kalsu, also known as FOB Kalsu or simply Camp Kalsu, is a U.S. Military installation in Iskandariya
, Iraq
, 20 miles south of Baghdad
.
unit the 105th Military Police Company based in Buffalo, NY and serving in Iraq. It was named in honor of Buffalo Bills
and Oklahoma University All-American football player Bob Kalsu
who was killed serving in Viet Nam. The 105th and 300th MP companies were supported by elements of the Oregon Army National Guard
's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team 1-162 Enhanced Infantry Battalion from August to November 2003.
from March 2004 to March 2005 conducting combat patrols and acting as a Quick Reaction Force for MSR Tampa. In July 2004 the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
(MEU), 1st Marine Division, assumed command of FOB Kalsu using it as a command post for operations in the Anbar Province and the areas south of Baghdad to northern part of Babil and then subsequently the assault on Fallujah in November 2004. One month after the Marines took over command of FOB Kalsu the mortar and rocket attacks dramatically decreased due to the stepped up Marine patrols. In February 2005 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the Mississippi Army National Guard
assumed command through January 2006. 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from FT Irwin, Ca, was attached to he 155th HBCT during this time frame. 1LT Emily Perez was stationed at FOB Kalsu in September of 2005 when while leading a convoy conducting re-supply operations in the vicinity of Al-Najaf, her HMMWV hit an IED making her the first black female West Point graduate to be killed in Iraq. In November 2005 the 155th was visited by Mississippi
Governor Haley Barbour
.
From November 2005 to November 2006, FOB Kalsu was occupied by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Units of 2BCT/4ID that occupied FOB Kalsu included 2d Battalion 8th Infantry Regiment, 2d Special Troops Battalion, and 2d Brigade Headquarters Company. Prior to the end of the deployment 2d BCT's 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment and 204th Brigade Support Battalion had also moved to FOB Kalsu.
From October 2006 to December 2007, FOB Kalsu was occupied by the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division headquartered at Ft. Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The area around the FOB, some 40 miles south of Baghdad is on a Sunni/Shiite fault line. Daily mortar attacks by various factions of Muslim extremist groups persisted for eight months when pressure by the Airborne Brigade Combat Team as well as a robust civil affairs engagement effort finally quieted the area. Upon departure in December 2007, the 725th Support Battalions Charlie Medical Company had seen more than 900 traumas, most of which were combat or IED related.
In October 2007, the 2nd BCT of the 3rd Infantry Division took control of the FOB. In December 2008, the Vanguard Brigade transferred authority to the 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Blackhawk Brigade) headquartered at Grafenwoehr, Germany
.
From September 2009 to September 2010, COS Kalsu was manned by elements of the 3RD Brigade 3rd ID.
From September 23, 2010 and continuing until August 2011, COS Kalsu is/will be occupied by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, as well as their subordinate units, 1st Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Tiger Squadron) and Regimental Support Squadron (Muleskinner Squadron) in support of Operation New Dawn.
In July 2011, the 115th BSB and 2-5 CAV of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division replaced 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in support of Operation New Dawn.
Iskandariya
Iskandariya is an ancient city in central Iraq, one of a number of towns in the Near East named after Alexander the Great...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, 20 miles south of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
Founding of FOB Kalsu
FOB Kalsu was established in May 2003 by the New York Army National GuardNew York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
unit the 105th Military Police Company based in Buffalo, NY and serving in Iraq. It was named in honor of Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Oklahoma University All-American football player Bob Kalsu
Bob Kalsu
James Robert "Bob" Kalsu was an All-American tackle at the University of Oklahoma and an eighth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League in 1968....
who was killed serving in Viet Nam. The 105th and 300th MP companies were supported by elements of the Oregon Army National Guard
Oregon Army National Guard
The Oregon Army National Guard is a Federally mandated and equipped military organization under the civilian direction of the Oregon Military Department, with the Governor of Oregon as its Commander in Chief. It responds to state and national emergencies, military conflicts and natural disasters,...
's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team 1-162 Enhanced Infantry Battalion from August to November 2003.
Subsequent Deployments
After Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 (OIF1) FOB Kalsu was occupied by A Co. 1-152, Indiana Army National Guard from October 2003 to January 2004 acting as a QRF for MSR Tampa and conducting combat patrols. The base was then occupied by B Co, 2-505th Parachute Infantry, 82d Airborne Division from January 2004 to May 2004 effectively conducting combat patrols and acting as the Quick Reaction Force for MSR Tampa. It was then occupied by the 118th MP CO(ABN), 16th MP BDE(ABN) & Task Force A CO 1-185th, 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the Washington Army National GuardWashington Army National Guard
The Washington Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the Washington National Guard based in Washington. The history of the Washington Army National Guard dates back to 1854 with formation of the Washington Territorial Militia...
from March 2004 to March 2005 conducting combat patrols and acting as a Quick Reaction Force for MSR Tampa. In July 2004 the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
(MEU), 1st Marine Division, assumed command of FOB Kalsu using it as a command post for operations in the Anbar Province and the areas south of Baghdad to northern part of Babil and then subsequently the assault on Fallujah in November 2004. One month after the Marines took over command of FOB Kalsu the mortar and rocket attacks dramatically decreased due to the stepped up Marine patrols. In February 2005 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the Mississippi Army National Guard
Mississippi Army National Guard
The Mississippi Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Mississippi National Guard. It was originally formed in 1798. It is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard...
assumed command through January 2006. 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from FT Irwin, Ca, was attached to he 155th HBCT during this time frame. 1LT Emily Perez was stationed at FOB Kalsu in September of 2005 when while leading a convoy conducting re-supply operations in the vicinity of Al-Najaf, her HMMWV hit an IED making her the first black female West Point graduate to be killed in Iraq. In November 2005 the 155th was visited by Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Governor Haley Barbour
Haley Barbour
Haley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...
.
From November 2005 to November 2006, FOB Kalsu was occupied by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Units of 2BCT/4ID that occupied FOB Kalsu included 2d Battalion 8th Infantry Regiment, 2d Special Troops Battalion, and 2d Brigade Headquarters Company. Prior to the end of the deployment 2d BCT's 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment and 204th Brigade Support Battalion had also moved to FOB Kalsu.
From October 2006 to December 2007, FOB Kalsu was occupied by the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division headquartered at Ft. Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The area around the FOB, some 40 miles south of Baghdad is on a Sunni/Shiite fault line. Daily mortar attacks by various factions of Muslim extremist groups persisted for eight months when pressure by the Airborne Brigade Combat Team as well as a robust civil affairs engagement effort finally quieted the area. Upon departure in December 2007, the 725th Support Battalions Charlie Medical Company had seen more than 900 traumas, most of which were combat or IED related.
In October 2007, the 2nd BCT of the 3rd Infantry Division took control of the FOB. In December 2008, the Vanguard Brigade transferred authority to the 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Blackhawk Brigade) headquartered at Grafenwoehr, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
From September 2009 to September 2010, COS Kalsu was manned by elements of the 3RD Brigade 3rd ID.
From September 23, 2010 and continuing until August 2011, COS Kalsu is/will be occupied by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, as well as their subordinate units, 1st Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Tiger Squadron) and Regimental Support Squadron (Muleskinner Squadron) in support of Operation New Dawn.
In July 2011, the 115th BSB and 2-5 CAV of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division replaced 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in support of Operation New Dawn.