[January 15, 2025] U.S. President George Bush announced in a live broadcast on television he was ordering an additional 20,000 troops to Iraq as part of a new military strategy. His announcement came at 9:01 pm EST on January 10, 2007. This change in strategy would be known as the “Surge.” It would receive severe criticism from many politicians but ultimately succeeded due to the heroic efforts of American and Coalition troops.
In Iraq, the announcement came at 5:01 am, January 11, due to time zone differences. I’d just returned from a tour of Fallujah and Ramadi. In Western Iraq, Sunnis would throw their support behind the Coalition in what would later become known as “The Great Awakening.”. I walked into our Engineer Headquarters building about 6 am on the 11th, after traveling most of the night in a U.S. Marine CH46 Sea Knight helicopter that leaked hydraulic fluid. I nearly froze to death on that flight.
One of my Navy Lieutenants (O-3) said, “Hey, sir, the President just announced a 20,000 troop plus-up.” I asked where he heard this, and he said, “on CNN.” We monitored U.S. channels, but that’s all, as my troops were not supposed to be watching television. I said, “Well, that looks like an ‘implied’ engineer mission to me.”
I informed my boss. COL Fernandez and told him that I would immediately begin kicking into high gear our previous planning efforts. I’d begin direct coordination with key players, of which there were many and through various organizations. This event would become the most important and difficult engineering mission I would ever undertake in my military career.
None of us had any idea of the complexity or challenges we would face over the next six months. We would work under enormous pressure to establish base camps for five Brigade Combat Teams, a Division HQ (which we were told would not happen), and many support elements.
People often ask, “What is the first step in an enormous endeavor?” I’ve always been of the opinion that we have to be ready to undertake a large mission and take on any mission that might seem to exceed our capabilities. Fortunately, the Engineer team and I had been in Iraq for six months, on average. I knew all the key players necessary for our Engineer mission to succeed. We had already done some preliminary planning, and we could speak with anyone we wanted in the entire worldwide U.S. Engineer and Logistics community.
My first task was to call COL Jeff Elam, Executive Officer of the 411th Engineer Brigade, the unit responsible for the Baghdad Area of Operations for engineering tasks. I told him that effective immediately, he was to pull all his construction assets off their current tasks and be prepared to support large inbound units from the States. He would then stand ready to receive the MNC-I fragmentation order with more details. I wrote this order and after sending it (classified Secret), I would start linking up with the most important individuals that could make this happen.
COL Scott Printz, the C-8 (the money man), was the next call. I asked him how much he thought this would cost. I guessed, “What about $50 million?” Scott said, “Hey, no one has ever done this in recent history, so what about $100 million?” I agreed and said to expect invoices to follow soon. Scott asked that I give him 24 hours before I drew upon that money. Wilco. I had my military vehicle brought up and drove to KBR’s headquarters on Victory Base and spoke with the head KBR contractor, a retired two-star. We made arrangements for KBR to lead the main contractor effort and to be ready to start immediately.
Over the next two days, I scuttled from one key player to another. One of the critical players was Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson, Resource and Sustainment of MNF-I. Anderson and his senior staff officers would be the most valuable asset in cutting the red tape and maintaining my link to senior commanders. We would have many coordination meetings in their building, a short walk away, between many of the key representatives who would play a major part in this effort.
Then, I got a call to say I was scheduled to meet with LTG Ray Odierno, Commander of MNC-I, the next day. And that will be the story for my next article.
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I’m sure, sir, when you heard about the president’s announcement, you were ready. Not everyone would have been ready, so I will assume you were a Boy Scout (LOL, I know you were). Be Prepared. That’s more than a slogan but a brutally a reality. I really am enjoying your series so far. There is nothing like hearing about what happens from the inside, not from some sterilized, liberal, historian reporter.
The ‘Surge” series is back! Thanks.
I told my brother, who was in Iraq during the surge that this series by Gen. Satterfield was coming out. He will be reading this series too
Wow, Jeff, your brother was in the Iraq War? Maybe he can make some comments. When was he there? Was he in during the surge? I think his perspective would be great for us and allow a look from another angle. I understand that those in the fight later in 2007, long after the main engineer mission was complete, appreciated the fact they had facilities to use that were at least air conditioned with a bed. That is no trivial need. Please tell your brother that we appreciate his service. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Gen. Satterfield is naming the names of those who were with him. Very good.
Now we are being taken through the process, basically as it unfolded 18 years ago. As I understand it, Gen. Satterfield — then a full colonel — is using his unclassified notes at the time. I’m glad he’s doing this for our historical knowledge but I think there is more to it.
Yes, indeed, I think it’s good for him or for any of us who’ve been in combat to remember those times so that we can gather some peace in our hearts and minds. This is an old technique of psychology. Good for Gen. Satterfield and we should all thank him for what he is doing here.
Pastor Jim, yep. That’s why I keep coming back to his blog.
Also his book “55 rules for a good life” is being used subtly here, as I can see how he is applying those rules so that his life is “better” in combat.
Great comments today. Don’t forget “Our Longest Year in Iraq”.
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/