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History

The air base was a primary air base for the Iraqi Air Force prior to the 2003 U.S. invasion. It had a 10,000 foot runway with numerous taxi-ways leading right out of Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and laid diagonally to the runways - known as "Trapezoids" or "Yugos". It was a large, expansive base. It is undetermined if it contains underground facilities for aircraft sheltering.

It was apparently abandoned after Operation Desert Storm in March 1991, its proximity to the Kuwaiti border making it unsuitable for use by the Iraqi Air Force.

During the Iraq War, the air base was turned into an operating base for the United States Army with addition of barracks and helipads.

Deployed units:

• 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment Headquarters during the invasion of 2003.²
• 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division³
• Company E, 27th Brigade Support Battalion were deployed here during 2008⁴
• Elements of the 54th Engineer Battalion helped improve the FOB during 2008⁵
• 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division was deployed here during 2010⁶ followed by 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment in 2011.⁷
• Element of 540th Quartermaster Company, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) were deployed here during 2010.⁸
• 1st Battalion, 535th Equipment Support Company were deployed here.⁹
• 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment 2010-2011
• 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery Regiment 2011
• Riverine Squadron Three Det 2 2009-2010
• Riverine Squadron One Det 1 2010

In 2011, rocket attacks against the site injured 3 soldiers and killed 1 soldier. 3rd Battalion 8th Cavalry regiment 1st Cavalry division ¹⁰

Citations

Bibliography

• Allen, G (2020). The Paras in Iraq - Operation Telic 1. UK: Key Books. ISBN 978-1-913295-90-5.

References

1. Anthony Tucker-Jones, Operation Iraqi Freedom: Iraq 2003. /wiki/Anthony_Tucker-Jones ↩

2. Allen 2020, p. 73. - Allen, G (2020). The Paras in Iraq - Operation Telic 1. UK: Key Books. ISBN 978-1-913295-90-5. ↩

3. "Cooks work long hours to feed troops". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/22290/cooks-work-long-hours-feed-troops ↩

4. "Cooks work long hours to feed troops". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/22290/cooks-work-long-hours-feed-troops ↩

5. "Iraqis, Long Knives partner to improve base, increase job opportunities". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/21781/iraqis-long-knives-partner-improve-base-increase-job-opportunities ↩

6. "Soldiers take lead in supporting COS Garry Owen". United States Army. 30 June 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2020. https://www.army.mil/article/41619/soldiers_take_lead_in_supporting_cos_garry_owen ↩

7. "As Iraq pullback nears, US still at war in south". Deseret News. April 1, 2020. https://www.deseret.com/2011/9/15/20216197/as-iraq-pullback-nears-us-still-at-war-in-south#in-this-monday-aug-29-2011-photo-a-u-s-army-captain-from-the-3rd-battalion-8th-cavalry-regiment-from-ford-hood-texas-left-and-a-translator-talk-with-an-iraqi-army-soldier-while-delivering-toys-and-water-to-residents-in-the-village-of-bani-hashem-iraq-the-soldiers-based-out-of-cos-garry-owen-in-maysan-province-are-part-of-efforts-by-the-u-s-military-to-battle-shiite-insurgents-who-have-attacked-american-forces ↩

8. "Hawaii unit trains Iraqi local nationals". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/55750/hawaii-unit-trains-iraqi-local-nationals ↩

9. "FOB Garry Owen". USAF. April 1, 2020. https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Art/igphoto/2000684632/ ↩

10. "Militants Aided by Iran Fired at G.I.'s in Iraq, Officials Say". The New York Times. April 1, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/world/middleeast/militants-aided-by-iran-fired-at-american-forces-in-iraq.html ↩