Operation Iraqi Freedom - Revision history

Westarctica at 16:16, 21 January 2020

2020-01-21T16:16:33Z

Westarctica: minor grammar corrections

2019-07-03T22:08:43Z

minor grammar corrections

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:08, 3 July 2019
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	At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the [[United States Navy]] as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."		At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the [[United States Navy]] as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."

	Prior to the invasion, the Grand Duke participated in operational planning for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's invasion of an-Nasiriyah, a major city in southern Iraq. In addition to providing general order of battle assessments, Travis also created a 3-D animation using classified satellite imagery that allowed the Marine commander to visualize the path his ~~Marine's~~ would take through the streets of Iraq. The resulting Battle of Nasiriyah was one of the costliest battles of the invasion in terms of American lives lost.		Prior to the invasion, the Grand Duke participated in operational planning for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's invasion of an-Nasiriyah, a major city in southern Iraq. In addition to providing general order of battle assessments, Travis also created a 3-D animation using classified satellite imagery that allowed the Marine commander to visualize the path his Marines would take through the streets of Iraq. The resulting Battle of Nasiriyah was one of the costliest battles of the invasion in terms of American lives lost.

	As the battle group approached the Iraqi coastal waters, Travis implemented a color-coded system for tracking the readiness of Iraq's coastal defense cruise missiles and artillery that he called "Coastal Defense Condition" (CDCON for short).		As the battle group approached the Iraqi coastal waters, Travis implemented a color-coded system for tracking the readiness of Iraq's coastal defense cruise missiles and artillery that he called "Coastal Defense Condition" (CDCON for short).
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	==Activities during ground combat==		==Activities during ground combat==
	[[File:Flight Deck.jpg\|thumb\|Travis reporting on a merchant vessel during Operation Iraqi Freedom]]		[[File:Flight Deck.jpg\|thumb\|Travis reporting on a merchant vessel during Operation Iraqi Freedom]]
	The Grand Duke did not deploy ~~the~~ the ground in Iraq during combat operations. After the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade was offloaded in Kuwait, Travis was assigned to lead the Combined Task Force 151.5 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection cell. During this time, his cell was responsible for tracking and reporting on suspected terrorist surveillance and preventing terrorist attacks against the seven ships in his battle group. In the four months the cell was active, there were no terrorist attacks against U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf.		The Grand Duke did not deploy to the ground in Iraq during combat operations. After the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade was offloaded in Kuwait, Travis was assigned to lead the Combined Task Force 151.5 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection cell. During this time, his cell was responsible for tracking and reporting on suspected terrorist surveillance and preventing terrorist attacks against the seven ships in his battle group. In the four months the cell was active, there were no terrorist attacks against U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf.

	In recognition of his actions during and after the conflict, Travis received the following awards:		In recognition of his actions during and after the conflict, Travis received the following awards:

Westarctica: /* Pre-invasion activities */

2018-04-29T21:50:33Z

Pre-invasion activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:50, 29 April 2018
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	==Pre-invasion activities==		==Pre-invasion activities==
	At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."		At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the [[United States Navy]] as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."

	Prior to the invasion, the Grand Duke participated in operational planning for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's invasion of an-Nasiriyah, a major city in southern Iraq. In addition to providing general order of battle assessments, Travis also created a 3-D animation using classified satellite imagery that allowed the Marine commander to visualize the path his Marine's would take through the streets of Iraq. The resulting Battle of Nasiriyah was one of the costliest battles of the invasion in terms of American lives lost.		Prior to the invasion, the Grand Duke participated in operational planning for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's invasion of an-Nasiriyah, a major city in southern Iraq. In addition to providing general order of battle assessments, Travis also created a 3-D animation using classified satellite imagery that allowed the Marine commander to visualize the path his Marine's would take through the streets of Iraq. The resulting Battle of Nasiriyah was one of the costliest battles of the invasion in terms of American lives lost.

Westarctica at 07:23, 24 April 2018

2018-04-24T07:23:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:23, 24 April 2018
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	The '''2003 invasion of Iraq''' lasted from 20 March to 1 May 2003 and signaled the start of the '''Iraq War''', which the United States dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom (prior to 19 March, the mission in Iraq was called "Operation Enduring Freedom", a carry-over from the War in Afghanistan). The invasion consisted of 21 days of major combat operations, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and deposed the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein. The invasion phase consisted primarily of a conventionally-fought war which included the capture of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by American forces with the implicit assistance of the United Kingdom, alongside Australia and Poland.		[[File:Operation-iraqi-freedom-emblem.jpg\|thumb\|Operation Iraqi Freedom Emblem]]
			The '''2003 invasion of Iraq''' lasted from 20 March to 1 May 2003 and signaled the start of the '''Iraq War''', which the United States dubbed '''Operation Iraqi Freedom''' (prior to 19 March, the mission in Iraq was called "Operation Enduring Freedom", a carry-over from the War in Afghanistan). The invasion consisted of 21 days of major combat operations, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and deposed the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein. The invasion phase consisted primarily of a conventionally-fought war which included the capture of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by American forces with the implicit assistance of the United Kingdom, alongside Australia and Poland.

	==Background of the conflict==		==Background of the conflict==

Westarctica: /* Combat operations */

2018-04-24T07:21:52Z

Combat operations

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:21, 24 April 2018
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	==Combat operations==		==Combat operations==
			[[File:Nasiriyah-Battle.jpg\|thumb\|Fighting during the Battle of Nasiriyah]]
	The invasion was preceded by an airstrike on the Presidential Palace in Baghdad on 20 March 2003. The following day, coalition forces launched an incursion into Basra Province from their massing point close to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border.		The invasion was preceded by an airstrike on the Presidential Palace in Baghdad on 20 March 2003. The following day, coalition forces launched an incursion into Basra Province from their massing point close to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border.

Westarctica: /* Participation of Grand Duke Travis */

2018-04-24T07:19:21Z

Participation of Grand Duke Travis

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:19, 24 April 2018
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	==Participation of Grand Duke Travis==		==Participation of Grand Duke Travis==
	[[File:Kearsarge Iraq 2003.jpg\|thumb\|Amphibious Task Force East		[[File:Kearsarge Iraq 2003.jpg\|thumb\|Amphibious Task Force East]]

	==Pre-invasion activities==		==Pre-invasion activities==
	At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."		At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."

Westarctica: Created page with "The '''2003 invasion of Iraq''' lasted from 20 March to 1 May 2003 and signaled the start of the '''Iraq War''', which the United States dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom (prior..."

2018-04-24T07:19:06Z

Created page with "The '''2003 invasion of Iraq''' lasted from 20 March to 1 May 2003 and signaled the start of the '''Iraq War''', which the United States dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom (prior..."

New page

The '''2003 invasion of Iraq''' lasted from 20 March to 1 May 2003 and signaled the start of the '''Iraq War''', which the United States dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom (prior to 19 March, the mission in Iraq was called "Operation Enduring Freedom", a carry-over from the War in Afghanistan). The invasion consisted of 21 days of major combat operations, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and deposed the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein. The invasion phase consisted primarily of a conventionally-fought war which included the capture of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by American forces with the implicit assistance of the United Kingdom, alongside Australia and Poland.

==Background of the conflict==
According to U.S. President George W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the coalition aimed "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people." Others place a much greater emphasis on the impact of the September 11 attacks, on the role this played in changing U.S. strategic calculations, and the rise of the freedom agenda. According to Blair, the trigger was Iraq's failure to take a "final opportunity" to disarm itself of alleged nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that U.S. and British officials called an immediate and intolerable threat to world peace.

==Combat operations==
The invasion was preceded by an airstrike on the Presidential Palace in Baghdad on 20 March 2003. The following day, coalition forces launched an incursion into Basra Province from their massing point close to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border.

While special forces launched an amphibious assault from the Persian Gulf to secure Basra and the surrounding petroleum fields, the main invasion army moved into southern Iraq, occupying the region and engaging in the Battle of Nasiriyah on 23 March. Massive air strikes across the country and against Iraqi command-and-control threw the defending army into chaos and prevented an effective resistance. On 26 March, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was airdropped near the northern city of Kirkuk, where they joined forces with Kurdish rebels and fought several actions against the Iraqi Army to secure the northern part of the country.

The main body of coalition forces continued their drive into the heart of Iraq and met with little resistance. Most of the Iraqi military was quickly defeated and the coalition occupied Baghdad on 9 April. Other operations occurred against pockets of the Iraqi army, including the capture and occupation of Kirkuk on 10 April, and the attack on and capture of Tikrit on 15 April. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and the central leadership went into hiding as the coalition forces completed the occupation of the country. On 1 May President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat operations: this ended the invasion period and began the period of military occupation.

==Participation of Grand Duke Travis==
[[File:Kearsarge Iraq 2003.jpg|thumb|Amphibious Task Force East
==Pre-invasion activities==
At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."

Prior to the invasion, the Grand Duke participated in operational planning for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's invasion of an-Nasiriyah, a major city in southern Iraq. In addition to providing general order of battle assessments, Travis also created a 3-D animation using classified satellite imagery that allowed the Marine commander to visualize the path his Marine's would take through the streets of Iraq. The resulting Battle of Nasiriyah was one of the costliest battles of the invasion in terms of American lives lost.

As the battle group approached the Iraqi coastal waters, Travis implemented a color-coded system for tracking the readiness of Iraq's coastal defense cruise missiles and artillery that he called "Coastal Defense Condition" (CDCON for short).

==Activities during ground combat==
[[File:Flight Deck.jpg|thumb|Travis reporting on a merchant vessel during Operation Iraqi Freedom]]
The Grand Duke did not deploy the the ground in Iraq during combat operations. After the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade was offloaded in Kuwait, Travis was assigned to lead the Combined Task Force 151.5 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection cell. During this time, his cell was responsible for tracking and reporting on suspected terrorist surveillance and preventing terrorist attacks against the seven ships in his battle group. In the four months the cell was active, there were no terrorist attacks against U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf.

In recognition of his actions during and after the conflict, Travis received the following awards:

* Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
* Global War on Terrorism - Expeditionary Medal
* Letter of commendation from Rear Admiral Michael Nowakowski

==Post-invasion activities==
Following the successful invasion of Iraq, the USS ''Kearsarge'' was deployed in support of Operation Shining Express to support the rescue of U.S. embassy personnel and American citizens during the Second Liberian Civil War. Travis created threat assessments on the warring factions in Liberia and briefed the commanding officer of Task Force Tarawa, Brigadier General Richard Natonski, on the feasibility of performing an evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.

[[Category:Conflicts Involving Westarctica]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:16, 21 January 2020
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	[[File:Kearsarge Iraq 2003.jpg\|thumb\|Amphibious Task Force East]]		[[File:Kearsarge Iraq 2003.jpg\|thumb\|Amphibious Task Force East]]

	==Pre-invasion activities==		===Pre-invasion activities===
	At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the [[United States Navy]] as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."		At the time of the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, [[Grand Duke Travis]] was the head of state of the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]], the predecessor state to [[Westarctica]], and he was also serving in the [[United States Navy]] as an Intelligence Specialist. In this capacity, he deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the amphibious assault ship USS ''Kearsarge''. The ''Kearsarge'' was one of seven ships that formed Amphibious Task Force (ATF) East, a group nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven."

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	As the battle group approached the Iraqi coastal waters, Travis implemented a color-coded system for tracking the readiness of Iraq's coastal defense cruise missiles and artillery that he called "Coastal Defense Condition" (CDCON for short).		As the battle group approached the Iraqi coastal waters, Travis implemented a color-coded system for tracking the readiness of Iraq's coastal defense cruise missiles and artillery that he called "Coastal Defense Condition" (CDCON for short).

	==Activities during ground combat==		===Activities during ground combat===
	[[File:Flight Deck.jpg\|thumb\|Travis reporting on a merchant vessel during Operation Iraqi Freedom]]		[[File:Flight Deck.jpg\|thumb\|Travis reporting on a merchant vessel during Operation Iraqi Freedom]]
	The Grand Duke did not deploy to the ground in Iraq during combat operations. After the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade was offloaded in Kuwait, Travis was assigned to lead the Combined Task Force 151.5 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection cell. During this time, his cell was responsible for tracking and reporting on suspected terrorist surveillance and preventing terrorist attacks against the seven ships in his battle group. In the four months the cell was active, there were no terrorist attacks against U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf.		The Grand Duke did not deploy to the ground in Iraq during combat operations. After the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade was offloaded in Kuwait, Travis was assigned to lead the Combined Task Force 151.5 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection cell. During this time, his cell was responsible for tracking and reporting on suspected terrorist surveillance and preventing terrorist attacks against the seven ships in his battle group. In the four months the cell was active, there were no terrorist attacks against U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf.
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	* Letter of commendation from Rear Admiral Michael Nowakowski		* Letter of commendation from Rear Admiral Michael Nowakowski

	==Post-invasion activities==		===Post-invasion activities===
	Following the successful invasion of Iraq, the USS ''Kearsarge'' was deployed in support of Operation Shining Express to support the rescue of U.S. embassy personnel and American citizens during the Second Liberian Civil War. Travis created threat assessments on the warring factions in Liberia and briefed the commanding officer of Task Force Tarawa, Brigadier General Richard Natonski, on the feasibility of performing an evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.		Following the successful invasion of Iraq, the USS ''Kearsarge'' was deployed in support of Operation Shining Express to support the rescue of U.S. embassy personnel and American citizens during the Second Liberian Civil War. Travis created threat assessments on the warring factions in Liberia and briefed the commanding officer of Task Force Tarawa, Brigadier General Richard Natonski, on the feasibility of performing an evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.

	[[Category:Conflicts Involving Westarctica]]		[[Category:Conflicts Involving Westarctica]]