CAMP BUCCA – “No attacks on Bucca and no successful attacks on coalition forces in the Bucca operational environment on our watch: that was our battalion’s mission and through your efforts we accomplished that mission perfectly,” said Lt. Col. Brad S. Anderson, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, commander.
Anderson, relinquished operational control of Camp Bucca to Lt. Col. Kenneth A. Nava, commander of the 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a transfer of authority ceremony held at the camp Jan. 10.
Once home to around 20,000 prisoners, Camp Bucca, located just short of the Kuwaiti border, was Iraq’s main detainment facility. The facility remained opened up until September 2009.
Now the base will serve as a strategic strong point for U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces as they carry on the continued partnership until the eventual drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq.
“I am very happy to transfer operational authority of Camp Bucca today, because it means that we are on our way home,” said Anderson. “To the Soldiers of 2-127th Infantry, you have all done an exceptional job. You should return home proud of your accomplishments, proud of your service and proud of this fine battalion,” he added.
The Wisconsin National Guard unit deployed to Iraq with the unique mission of transferring the remaining detainees from the camp’s prison into the custody of the Iraqi Police as stated and agreed upon in the security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq.
This transfer of authority ceremony is one of the first under the new U.S. Forces- Iraq.
The 2nd Bn., 127th Inf. Reg., and the 132nd Brigade Support Bn., comprised of Wisconsin and Michigan Guardsmen, were replaced by a single unit, the 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, a National Guard unit based out of New Mexico.
The 515th CSSB, commanded by Nava, is tasked with an unfamiliar role for them, and the support from the outgoing units was appreciated, Nava said.
“We find ourselves doing a nonstandard mission for a CSSB. We want to thank the Soldiers from the 2-127th; 132nd BSB and the 17th Fires Brigade for the excellent transition they have provided us,” Nava said.
Jokingly Nava said that he appreciated the unit’s diligent efforts to mark all the land mines for them as they begin their mission in Bucca.
“The Soldiers of 515th are ready to continue the work here on Camp Bucca alongside our friends at Safwan and Umm-Qasr,” Nava said.
