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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== | ||
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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. | ||
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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." | ||
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 | 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). | ||
==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 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: | ||
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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]] | ||