CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – In two separate ceremonies, the Warhorse Brigade signed over control of Umm Qasar and al Qurnah bases to the government of Iraq Aug. 1.
After the Security Agreement, Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stayed at these locations at the request of leaders from the Iraqi Security Forces and government of Iraq, until the Iraqis were able to operate at the bases independently.
“In Umm Qasar, our forces were partnered with Iraqi Marines and also with the security forces who run the port. Here in Qurnah, the Americans were mostly partnered with the border forces,” said Lt. Col. William Benson, commander, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT. Two of Benson’s troop commanders were in charge of Umm Qasar and al Qurnah.
"Over the next several months the American presence (in Basra Province) will be reduced by about half as we try to shrink and get out of the local areas,” said Benson.
“There is happiness in American eyes and Iraqi eyes as they give these properties back to the Iraqi government,” said Sameer Alhaddad, the receivership secretariat and prime minister’s representative for the GoI.
“We are working on taking back all the bases and there is a government committee responsible for that as Coalition forces withdraw from those bases,” said Sameer.
“This is my third tour over here and I’ve (been able) to see how Iraq has evolved,” said Capt. Jeffrey Duplantis, commander, Troop A, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., 2nd BCT. Duplantis, who is from New Orleans, was in charge of Umm Qasar and signed it over to Alhaddad.
He said his first tour focused on combat, his second on developing the ISF. On both previous deployments, there was a lot more violence. This tour has been much quieter, much safer and has focused more on transition of authority to the ISF.
He said the changes have been drastic, even compared to a year ago. The people are much safer and the ISF can be seen everywhere, a strong presence safeguarding the city. Duplantis has spent time throughout four Iraqi provinces during this deployment and in each place he said the ISF have the security situation under control.
Duplantis said he is very optimistic about Iraq’s future and the abilities of the ISF and GoI to take care of their people.
“I wasn’t expecting Iraq to stand on its own this fast,” he added. “It gives me a lot of peace of mind, knowing that the Soldiers I’ve commanded here and the Soldiers I’ve lost on previous tours … that their efforts have not been in vain. Their sacrifice went to a good cause.”
