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FORT STEWART, Ga. (June 29, 2008) - While most people only read
about history, the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division helped to
make history during their 15-month deployment to Iraq, the
division's commander said here June 27.
Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch had lunch with Savannah and Coastal
Georgia new media at Club Stewart here and thanked them for their
efforts in telling the division's story.
Lynch expressed his pride in and appreciation for the "Rock of
the Marne" soldiers whose dedication and sacrifice helped secure
and improve life for the Iraqi people, and he recognized the
sacrifices and efforts of family members who supported his soldiers
while they were deployed.
In Iraq, Lynch commanded Task Force Marne, which comprised about
20,000 coalition soldiers, 27,000 Iraqi soldiers and 47,000 Iraqi
police operating in an area the size of West Virginia.
"Our job, once we got over there, was to block the accelerants
of violence into Baghdad, secure the population, and defeat
sectarian violence," Lynch said, noting the effort was successful.
When they first arrived, the general said, his soldiers were being
attacked about 25 times a day. By the time the 3rd Infantry
Division headquarters left, attacks were down to fewer than two a
day.
The success of the "surge" strategy in Iraq is evident in the
reduction of violence during the division's deployment, Lynch said.
Total attacks decreased 89 percent, indirect fire attacks stopped,
small-arms attacks saw an 88 percent decline, and roadside bomb
attacks decreased 79 percent, he said.
The reduction in violence was accompanied by sharp declines in
casualties, Lynch said. During the deployment, civilian casualties
fell 95 percent, coalition casualties saw a 91 percent reduction,
and forces casualties decreased 79 percent, the general said.
Lynch said that while the 3rd Infantry Division was there, the
Iraqi people got tired of insurgent intimidation and violence and
took action to prevent it. More than 36,000 Iraqis joined the "Sons
of Iraq" citizen group in the Task Force Marne area of operations
to help the security effort in their communities.
"The people of Iraq want what we want," Lynch said. "They want
freedom from fear. They want to be able to send their kids to
school. They want jobs, and they want to be able to go out to the
market."
One of the reasons for the surge's success, he told the
audience, was the decision to have most of the soldiers living and
working at patrol bases in the Iraqi communities. Lynch said the
response was positive, noting that when the Iraqi people saw the
patrol bases being built, they had two questions: "Where are the
soldiers going to stay?" and "How can we help?"
The new sense of security the people felt with the soldiers
living among them led to improved cooperation from local citizens,
the general added.
The shift in attitudes facilitated a transition for the soldiers
from conducting combat operations to capacity-building, Lynch said,
as they worked on projects to benefit employment and the economy
and helped the local government further establish itself.
For example, the general said, Task Force Marne worked to
develop more than 3,000 fish farms, to improve the flow of water in
their area, and to revitalize the chicken-farming industry.
"We imported 90,000 chicken eggs from Holland," Lynch said. "We
brought them into our area, built incubators so the chickens could
hatch, and sent 90,000 chicks to the local poultry farmers so they
could raise chickens and bring them to market."
Lynch attributed his soldiers' success to their dedication,
commitment and belief they were making a difference. He said their
commitment was evident when the division achieved its 12-month
re-enlistment goal in just five months - an unprecedented
accomplishment. And he noted that the soldiers were able to focus
on their missions because they knew their families were being taken
care of back home.
Although the mission was successful, Lynch said, it wasn't
without cost, as 152 Marne soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice
during the deployment. He said he will not forget their heroic
actions, nor those of their brothers and sisters in arms. Lynch
said he was continuously moved by the soldiers, who would come in
for memorials, share their emotions, then turn around, put their
body armor back on, and continue the mission.
Lynch said he was honored to work with the soldiers of the 3rd
Infantry Division, and that although he would be turning over
command in mid-July, he would continue to wear the Marne Division
combat patch on his right shoulder in remembrance of their service
together.
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