Arrows fly at Camp Bucca

Wisconsin National Guard soldiers stationed at Camp Bucca, Iraq, sent this report on a recent archery competition:

We expected about 20 shooters and we ended up with 33. After 3 rounds Douglas Isbel was in the lead with 110 points, Joshua Corbin was in 2nd with 102 points, Robert Mulvey was in 3rd place with 100 points. Then, Herb Johnson, as the very last serviceman to shoot, blew the completion away with 120 points.







1ST HERB JOHNSON
2ND DOUGLAS ISBEL (not pictured)














3RD JOSHUA CORBIN












4TH ROBERT MULVEY

We thank camp commander COL Lund for attending and giving us permission to carry out this event. We thank deptuy LTC Moore ( camp deputy Commander and 132nd Battalion Commander) for being there and for shooting the first arrow down range, you did a great job Ma’am. We thank MSG Robert Mulvey for donating the 4 trophies and the 25 medallions. We had an awesome camera man, SPC James Morrow, who did an outstanding job along with our scorers, SPC Carlson and PFC Bryan Schneider. An awesome turn out, no one got hurt and everyone had a great time. We thank everyone for helping us get this together and making this happen.

We thank our sponsors, Muzzy Brodhead's, Mathews, PSE, Bowtech, Oshkosh Trophies, Mark Halfman, Robert Mulvey, Timberline Archery and Chad Oczachowski with Lakeview Log Homes. Without these guys and the equipment they contributed we could not have made this happen.

From SPC Christina Gessner:
On 7 November there was an archery competition at Camp Bucca, Iraq. The
competition was successful in many aspects. There were a lot of competitors,
both beginners and veterans. I was one of the beginners but there were a lot
of help offered to make sure that I knew what I was doing. There were trophies for
the first four places and medallions that were handed out to last place and
below. And everyone that participated got a certificate. The tournament
encouraged me to get out and try new things, and now I want to go bow hunting!

SPC Jason “Oz” Oczachowski:
As an experienced shooter, I was impressed by the amount of people both male and female that were interested in archery. It made me swell with pride that these individuals and enjoyed the sport as much as I. We gave those who needed it, the fundamentals and a little instruction and they took it from there. While I was watching the competition unfold, I have no doubt that each person felt pride in themselves, knowing that they have aspired to new heights. I salute all of the competitors but especially the beginners. Keep the sport alive.

SSG Amanda G. Leverich:
Archery at Camp Bucca will definitely be my favorite deployment memory. Bow hunting is something I was always curious about, but just never found time to do back in the states. Then I found out that several soldiers (SPC Benge, SPC Weum, SGT Sonnentag, and SPC OZ) came together and continued the archery range and lessons here. I knew nothing about bow hunting. My fellow soldiers walked me through everything and gave me a lot of bow hunting advice. They do this with many other military personnel no matter what branch or rank. These soldiers are extremely helpful and courteous to all. They taught me how to stand correctly, what a quick release is and how to put it on, terminology of equipment, differences in brands, and many helpful hunting tips. I look forward to everyday that the range is open. The range is a peaceful place to get away from all the stress and havoc of deployment problems. I am looking forward to going back home and using my new found skills.

SPC Jessica Torres, A Co. 132ND BSB:
The Bucca Archery Tournament was a lot of fun, I didn't shoot but I was there to show my support for everyone who did. Although after seeing everyone shooting I think I might take it up. Everyone had a lot of fun, whether they did good or not. The tournament was put on by SPC Benge, SPC Weum, SGT Sonnentag, SPC Oczachowski and MSG Mulvey who are all from the lovely state of Wisconsin. :) They all did a really good job with all the arrangements. They made certificates for all participants and had trophies and medallions for the top 4 participants it was really nice to see so many people out there having a good time in this environment. Even Our First Sergeant shot!! Go TOP!!

SGT Justin Sonnentag:
Out of three deployments and of the many bases that I have been to, Camp Bucca is the only base that had an archery range. Having an archery range had a large impact on giving me something to do after work hours to keep my mind off the stress of being away from my wife and two kids. The range provided a relaxing environment and gave a great learning experience for many soldiers on the FOB. The experience gave soldiers who never shot a bow before a sense of accomplishment. The only reason the range was such a success was due to the soldiers that ran the range and dedicated their own personal time four nights a week, and encouraged others to come out and shoot. I would like to thank everybody for their participation and dedication to the Camp Bucca archery range and I know I can leave here with one more positive memory of many, during my tour.

Lt. Nicholas Berger:
I have had the honor of serving in both OEF (Afghanistan) and currently in OIF, Iraq. While deployed to Afghanistan, I visited over 15 different Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and never had I been to a FOB with an archery range. The ability to have one for MWR (Morale Wellness and Recreation) purposes was great. It had been many years since I shot a bow and I’ve had the desire to pick up the sport again. Being here at FOB Bucca with the archery range has given me a chance to reacquaint with the bow and made me realize the desire to keep with it when I get home. You can rest assure that a bow will be requested for a Christmas present from my wife! The archery tournament was a great way to bring people from all levels together. There was a tone of helpfulness and guidance during the entire event, instead of the usual competitiveness, which helped many new comers to the sport. The experience from SPC Benge, SPC Oz, SGT Sonnentag and MSG Mulvey was a great way to ease first timers into the sport and allowed many of them to have a desire after the tournament. Great time, great people, great sport!

Major Wisconsin Guard operation ends as last detainee leaves Bucca

The Army announced this afternoon that the final 186 detainees have been moved out of Camp Bucca today. Several units of Wisconsin National Guard soldiers had been operating Bucca's detention facilities.
Several Wisconsin units continue working on other missions at Bucca.
--Steve

We're recycling Camp Bucca

Lt. Col. Leah Moore of Monona is 6,714 miles from home at Forward Operating Base Bucca, aka Camp Bucca, in southern Iraq. She is the base deputy commander. When not deployed she works as the Wisconsin National Guard deputy surgeon in Madison, and commands the guard armory in Portage.

At FOB Bucca, there are several permanent infrastructures originally built to sustain Army forces and missions. These include a brick factory capable of producing up to 1 million bricks per month, an ice plant capable of producing up to 45 tons of ice per day, and a Waste Water Treatment Plant with the ability to sustain a population of over 50,000 people.

In addition -- and most importantly -- we are also currently overseeing the completion of a new water treatment facility capable of producing 2 million gallons of water a day. FOB Bucca is located above the largest aquifer in the region. The new water treatment facility is able to drill down to the water, retrieve it, and then treat it so that it is drinkable. While deployed here, our goals are not only to see through the completion of the construction of this water treatment plant but also to complete several projects that will provide local cities/villages direct access to our water, waste plant, brick, and ice factory assets in the near future. We also intend to provide the vocational training required to sustain these assets after our departure.

As far as the future of Bucca -- based on our location and established assets -- there are many potential uses. As of yet, a final decision has not been made on which if any of the uses will come to fruition. Regardless, we work daily not only to sustain normal operations incumbent to running a FOB (i.e. logistics, engineering, housing, safety, and contracting operations) but also to prepare the Base for its re-missioning (whatever that may be).

The challenge is to keep what we need now, anticipate what we may need in the future, and reallocate the difference to help out our fellow forces and minimize waste and cost. So far, we've identified and reallocated over 8 million dollars worth of supplies and equipment that may have otherwise gone to waste. We are very proud of our work and success here.

- LTC. Leah Moore


New York Times photo at left depicts a portion of Camp Bucca's detainee facilities months ago. Thousands of detainees have been moved north to other facilities for release or transfer to Iraqi custody.


More from Moore: LTC. Moore, who works full time in the Wisconsin National Guard medical office in Madison, was among the experts quoted in Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal article on new efforts to combat suicides by military personnel and veterans.

Detainee count is down to 9,000, fewer than 1,000 at Bucca

One of the main jobs of Wisconsin National Guard troops in Iraq is "detainee ops," running military detention camps at camps Bucca, Taji and Cropper.

Under an agreement with Iraq, detainees are being released or turned over to the Iraqi government. Several news agencies are reporting a milestone has been reached.

Fewer than 9,000 detainees remain under U.S. military control, down from 27,000 in 2007, according to a statement released by the military yesterday.
Of those, 3,572 are held at Cropper, 4,585 are at Taji, and 790 are held at Bucca, once the largest detention center in the world. Wisconsin National Guard soldiers have been moving the prisoners out of Bucca.

Iraq officials maintain control over who the U.S. releases from detention camps. U.S. troops are in charge of guarding and transporting detainees, after the Iraq government makes its decision. So it wasn't a reflection on U.S. troops when, in an AP report that came out Sunday, an unnamed Iraqi investigator claimed that the suicide bomber in the deadly Aug. 19 attack on the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in Baghdad had been released from Camp Bucca.

Will the released detainees reignite sectarian fighting? One of the Iraq experts at the Army War College Strategic Studies Institute says much of the answer lies with the Iraq government.

- Steve

AFP photo - A U.S. soldier helps an Iraqi
prisoner disembark from a bus prior to his
release in Baghdad's al-Dora district in April.

Bucca units move detainees outside the wire

Spc. Andrew Alexander, Fond du Lac, scans the roads from the gunner's turret of a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle. Army photos by Spc. Tyler Lasure.



A little more information has trickled out about the changing missions of some Wisconsin National Guard soldiers who were deployed to run detention camps at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq.

The State Journal first reported on July 29 that some units were transporting detainees out of the Bucca detention centers, which are scheduled to be closed soon. During a press conference, Col. Steven Bensend, top commander of 3,300 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers in Iraq, downplayed the hazards of the missions, noting that personnel in bases also face threats, for example from explosives fired from a distance. Bensend also said insurgents attack larger-scale targets more often than transport operations.

After the press conference a National Guard spokesman said Bensend would not elaborate on the missions. Yesterday, the Army distributed a press release about the operations, which are being undertaken by Janesville's Company A, 132nd Brigade Support Battalion, and Fond du Lac's Company C, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry.

When the detainees are finally loaded onto buses at the end of the day, Charlie Company takes charge. The desert sun is already setting when soldiers perform the last pre-combat checks on their Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles. They shovel down a meal, load their weapons and roll out. It is going to be a long night, and everything needs to go right.

Charlie Company provides security for the convoy from Bucca to a military flight line. Attacks on the convoy aren't the only thing these soldiers need to prepare for; should a disturbance occur on a busload of detainees, the soldiers would be required to restore order.

Camp Bucca, once the largest detainee facility in the world, is being emptied and converted to other uses. Under an agreement with Iraq, the U.S. military is relinquishing control of thousands of detainees. Detainees typically are taken to Camp Cropper, the central booking facility for U.S. military detainees, for release or transfer to Iraqi custody, the Army has said.
-Steve

I'm heading home to care for Carter after car crash hurt his mom

From Sgt. Robert Grinage of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. He is stationed 6,646 miles from home at Camp Bucca, Iraq.

When I was on leave last month my handsome son was born. His name is Carter Matthew Laursen. He is my little trooper. The mother of Carter is Jaci Laursen. She is a great mother.

But at this time she is hospitalized because she was in a serious car accident. As of now the military is sending me home, to care for my son while the mother of my child goes through surgeries. I ask all to pray for Jaci and the Laursen family as they they are under this hard time in the family's life.

As this has been going on I have been receiving pictures of my little trooper. It is a true statement when parents say: "Children will change your life." I am 10,000 miles away and i can totally tell that statement is true.

It is hard watching your child grow up through pictures. But in the same time, it's like Christmas every day I receive them. I would like to thank both families of my son. Without them my son would never know who I am till I come home. Thanks guys. Jaci get better soon, my prayers are with you.

- Robert

Worst kept secret revealed

The above photo, provided by the U.S. military, was not taken at today's press conference with Wisconsin National Guard Col. Steven Bensend.

At today's press conference, Col. Steven Bensend did manage to commit some news, confirming that Wisconsin troops have been transporting detainees from Bucca, and then resuming their detainee ops mission at Taji.
The colonel also said that Wisconsin National Guard troops are well protected for their jouneys outside the wire, and he said officers including himself also venture out into the countryside.
Read the State Journal story.

It's hard to find the news conference clips on the DVIDS site. The clips get a little lost in all the photos of Angelina Jolie.
Here is perhaps a better link if you want to watch the press conference.

Click here for coverage of Angelina Jolie.

-Steve