A US Sergeant's Year in Iraq 2003-4

Taking Over an Iraqi Republican Army Base

SGT Brockton Hager served in Log Base Seitz, Iraq April 2003 to April 2004 for deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom. His unit was headed to Kuwait to prepare for the convoy into enemy territory. He took up camp at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. His mission was to take over an old Iraqi Republican Army Base near the current Saddam International Airport and serve as a Logistical Base to over 26,000 soldiers around the Baghdad International Airport area.

Piles of uniforms, helmets, and other miscellaneous items filled the different warehouses including a bedspring set up with a car battery, which could have been used for the torture of prisoners. Constructing a base defense of bunkers, cement and metal guard towers, and an office expanded the inner perimeter and added floodlights.

The first mortar attack was at 3:30am within the first few weeks and 5 men were killed in the year he was there. They took over 300 mortar shells over the course of the year. After the change of responsibility ceremony for the next unit taking over in March of 2004 his unit convoyed south and arrived at the Iraq-Kuwait border.

On the plane ride back to Fort Riley, Kansas Hager loaded two duffle bags, a ruck sack, a carry on bag, 1300 two M16 rifles, and a 50 cal barrel.