The final airmen to leave found the end of the mission as memorable as the first days of Desert Storm, nearly 21 years earlier. The Last Days in Iraq

n mid-January 1991, Capt. direction with his eyes on yet another troops left in December. Major General Anthony J. Rock, an F-15C target. Rock also spent 2011 in Iraq, leading pilot assigned to the 1st Fight- The first night of that complicated the advisory and training mission dur- er Wing at Langley AFB, Va., air campaign eventually involved more ing USAF’s final year in the country. led a flight of Eagles dur- than 600 aircraft and took months to Not one of the three Air Force leaders ing the initial air campaign map out. The intent was to dismantle ever imagined they would be working of Operation Desert Storm. Saddam Hussein’s military, stop his together to close out the US military TheI strike package was charged with forces from seizing Saudi Arabia, and mission in Iraq more than 20 years after ensuring air superiority during an at- free the Kuwaiti people. that first air campaign. “Our first mission tack on Talil Air Base near Nasiriyah was to destroy the Iraqi military. Our in southern Iraq. Long, Tough Road mission 20 years later is to build the Capt. Russell J. Handy, a fellow Operation Desert Storm’s air war last- Iraqi military,” said Handy, as he stood Eagle pilot assigned to the same wing ed just 43 days, but the US effort would on the ramp of a C-17, minutes after it at Langley, took off on another sortie continue for another two decades—first landed at Talil’s Camp Adder for the that day. His mission was to protect through 12 years of enforcing the no-fly last airlift flight out of Iraq. the strike package and provide a close zones over northern and southern Iraq, Handy’s story is not unique. More escort for EF-111s and F-4G Weasels and culminating last December after than 170,000 Americans served in as they flew toward their objective 100 nearly nine years of combat during Op- Iraq at the height of operations; most miles west of . erations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. served multiple tours. The operations This particular aircraft package also Goldfein, now a lieutenant general, defined a generation of airmen and left included Capt. David L. Goldfein, is commander of US Air Forces Cen- a lasting impression on countless Air an F-16 pilot out of Shaw AFB, S.C. tral in Southwest Asia. Major General Force careers. As Handy broke left toward Al Asad, Handy was the senior Air Force officer The cumulative numbers are stagger- Goldfein headed off in the opposite in Iraq from August 2010 until the last ing. Since 1991, the US and coalition 24 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2012 The Last Days inIraq The LastDays AIR FORCE Magazine Magazine FORCE AIR Base in Baghdad, Dempsey told the the assembled airmen, told soldiers, sailors, and Dempsey Baghdad, Air in Sather Base former the at compound 15. Dec. ceremony of-mission end- the during Staff, of Chiefs Joint the of Chairman Dempsey, E. Martin Gen. Army professional said lives,” our personal of and part defining a Goldfein. said duty, guard of hours more than 183,000 accumulated forces security while passengers, lion mil of and four-and-a-half tons cargo million two than more moved crews processed Mobility of images. over those 50,000 analysts and AOR the in sur veillance, and missions reconnaissance intelligence, persistent of hours piloted flew aircraft more than 415,000 remotely since 2003, in Just Baghdad of fall the operations. of area the in orders air tasking 7,635 and generated sorties 500,000 than more flew allies Speaking within a heavily fortified fortified heavily a within Speaking been has Iraq years, 20 over “For By Amy McCullough, SeniorEditor / March 2012 March / - -

USAF photo by MSgt. Cecilio Ricardo was slated to airlift the last USAF airmen out of Ali AB, Iraq, on Dec. 18. Dec. on Iraq, AB, Ali of out airmen USAF last the airlift to slated that was C-17 the guards Munoz Gerardo SSgt. Here: Kuwait. into border the Iraq crosses in forces military US remaining last the carrying trucks of convoy Top: A 25

USAF photo by MSgt. Cecilio Ricardo DOD photo

MQ-1B Predators, such as this one landing in Iraq at sunrise, were the last US combat aircraft to leave Iraqi airspace.

marines—who would be, collectively, Sather, the first airman to lose his life capital’s skyline, without worrying about the last American combat forces out of in Operation Iraqi Freedom, in April snipers or rocket-propelled grenades. Iraq—“The road we have traveled was 2003—not only to end the mission in Panetta and the other senior leaders long, and it was tough.” Iraq, but also to remember the thousands participating in the departure ceremony The outcome, Defense Secretary of lives lost. encouraged the troops to keep their Leon E. Panetta said at the ceremony, “Those lives have not been lost in heads high as they left Iraq, knowing “was never certain, especially during vain,” Panetta insisted. “They gave birth they were leaving behind a country the war’s darkest days.” to an independent, free, and sovereign that is free of Saddam’s brutal regime, “To be sure, the cost was high” in Iraq. And because of the sacrifices made, able to govern and secure itself, and “the blood and treasure of the United these years of war have now yielded to that could be a US ally for many years States and also of the Iraqi people,” a new era of opportunity.” to come—a prospect even more im- he continued. Nearly 4,500 American Smoke and fire no longer dominate portant in light of the “Arab Spring” servicemen and some 319 coalition the skies above Baghdad, and the morn- uprisings of 2011. personnel died, and more than 32,000 ing rush hour now clogs the highways “The and police have were injured or maimed. More than instead of military convoys. In Decem- been rebuilt and they are capable of 100,000 Iraqis died in the invasion and ber, service members deployed to the responding to threats; violence levels subsequent sectarian violence that rav- international zone were able to walk are down; al Qaeda has been weakened; aged the nation. Pentagon leaders flew the rooftops of the former Ba’ath Party ... and economic growth is expanding to Sather—named for SSgt. Scott D. headquarters, for one last look at the Iraqi as well,” said Panetta.

26 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2012 “This progress has been sustained even as we have withdrawn nearly 150,000 US combat forces from this USAF photo country. ... We salute the fact that Iraq is now fully responsible for directing its own path to future security and future prosperity.” Yet its future remains uncertain. The last US troops rolled across the border into Kuwait just after dawn on Dec. 18. Days later a series of coor- dinated car bombs exploded across Baghdad, killing at least 70 people and injuring hundreds more. Less than a week later, a suicide bomber set off another car bomb near the Iraqi Interior Ministry, killing seven people and wounding 32 others.

Arguing About Everything Though not completely unexpected, Maj. Gen. Anthony Rock (l) and CMSgt. Gerald Delebreau, command chief for the 321st AEW, present a flight attendant with a challenge coin. The attendant was the bombings have left many to ques- working the chartered Delta flight that brought troops back to the US from Kuwait tion whether a resurgence of sectarian after the war ended in December. violence will unravel the progress made over the last nine years. building Iraq’s military capacity by You argue about everything, and that’s Panetta warned frankly of the poten- offering basic operator training and not the way FMS works.” tial danger. modern equipment through the Foreign Pearson said it is “taking us a long “Let me be clear: Iraq will be tested Military Sales program, explained a time—it’s taking me a long time—to in the days ahead—by terrorism, by spokesman. establish the relationships to the point those who would seek to divide, by It’s a tall order for an organization where they will believe what we are economic and social issues, by the used to operating with a much larger saying.” demands of democracy itself,” he said. footprint. In early 2011, nearly 50,000 Active FMS cases with Iraq cur- “The United States will be there to stand US troops and thousands of Defense rently total some $8 billion, and that with the Iraqi people as they navigate Department contractors provided secu- doesn’t include the long-awaited F-16 those challenges to build a stronger and rity, outreach, and training to the Iraqis. sale, said US Ambassador James F. more prosperous nation.” Now, the significantly smaller OSC-I Jeffrey during a roundtable discussion A small contingent of uniformed team carries the burden of laying the in Baghdad in November. American personnel will remain in foundation for the new US-Iraqi strategic The US had already agreed in Sep- Iraq under the new mission of pro- security partnership. tember 2011 to supply Iraq with 18 viding security assistance. Some 157 “That is especially challenging,” said Lockheed Martin-built F-16 Block 52 of them will serve there under the Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Pearson, who aircraft. In December, the Pentagon newly established Office of Security is overseeing F-16 sales to Iraq within notified Congress of a proposed sale of Cooperation-Iraq, a subordinate of the OSC-I. 18 more of the fighters, which would US Embassy headquartered in Bagh- “Theirs is a negotiating culture ... bring the total Iraqi F-16 fleet to 36. dad. Its primary mission is to continue based fundamentally upon distrust. ... Including associated support gear and Timeline Illustration by Zaur Eylanbekov

AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2012 27 three are armed with Hellfire missiles for operational combat use. This year, Iraq is slated to receive the first of six new-build C-130Js, said Lt. Col. Corey Wormack, USAF deputy within OSC-I. “They are ... very capable, modern

USAF photo by MSgt. Cecilio Ricardo aircraft,” said Handy. “Because we operate those same systems, by defini- tion, that strengthens our partnership.” The Iraqi Army generally oper- ates rotary wing assets and has 96 helicopters. It’s expected to field 135 airframes by the end of 2012, said Col. Scott Alpeter, Army aviation chief for OSC-I. Although discussions continue in Washington about Iraq’s ability to defend its own airspace now that the United States has left, Handy said he L-r: Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, Maj. Gen. Russell Handy, Maj. Gen. Anthony Rock, Col. has faith in Iraq’s air capabilities. Claude Tudor, and Col. Ralph Romine stand at attention at the inactivation ceremony “I’m very confident in not only in Southwest Asia just hours after the last US military forces left Iraq. the Iraqi Air Force’s capability to operate these aircraft, but also in our services, the initial deal is worth $4.2 mander],” Anwar said during a news willingness to continue in a long-term billion; the follow-on has a value of briefing shortly before the US exodus. partnership role with the Iraqi Air $2.3 billion. Speaking alongside Handy, Anwar Force,” he said. “As you know, when However, the Iraqi Air Force still pledged that the F-16s would be used the Iraqi government purchases an has a “long evolution” before it sees “only for the security of Iraq, not to aircraft through [FMS], they are not a fully operational squadron of F-16s, target our neighbor countries.” just purchasing an aircraft, ... they are said Handy. purchasing a capability to operate that Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Amin, com- Keeping Faith aircraft for the long term.” mander of the Iraqi Air Force, said The news conference was staged in Members of the 447th Expeditionary he expects to see an F-16 operational front of a hangar where Iraq’s growing Security Forces Squadron at Sather squadron by 2016. However, he reported fixed wing capabilities were displayed. continued to provide around-the-clock being pleased with the progress of 10 The Iraqi Air Force operates three training to the Iraqis in the final days. Iraqi officers training in the US to fly the C-130Es, 15 T-6 trainer aircraft, a They taught basic skills required to fighter. The first of them was expected number of Cessna 172s for both secure an air base and suggested ways to make his first F-16 flight in January. training and ISR missions, and some to make best use of limited manpower The F-16 project “was like [a] dream Cessna Caravan 208s. The latter are so the Iraqis could fill capability gaps for me as [an Iraqi Air Force com- also used for pilot training, though after the Americans left.

A C-17 carrying soldiers from the 25th Infantry Divi- sion headquarters flies the US flag and the state flag of Hawaii as it taxis down the runway at JB Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Hawaii. The 25th was the last division head- quarters to leave Iraq. DOD photo TSgt.by Michael HolzworthR.

28 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2012 The fledgling Iraqi security forces, which operate just one truck and one Movin’ On Out small Humvee, now control wide swaths Baghdad—The pullout from Iraq was a massive undertaking. of areas they weren’t allowed to enter Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, in Iraq for the end-of-mission cer- not so long ago. The average member emony, told troops in December that the US drawdown there was “one of of the ISF is just 17 years old. the most complex logistical undertakings in US military history.” Iraqi troops, though, are well aware In roughly one year, 50,000 troops were withdrawn “seamlessly,” he said. of the shortcomings and many worried Moreover, “dozens of bases closed or [were] handed over” and “millions of about what their future would entail. pieces of equipment ... had to be transferred, all while maintaining security “We depended on US soldiers a long for our forces and the security of the Iraqi people.” time; now there is empty space and For most of those involved in the redeployment of forces back to the US we have to take control,” said an Iraqi and other destinations, free time simply didn’t exist. Young, tech-savvy airmen learned how to operate without computers, private. He spoke through a translator printers, and telephones, as their equipment was packed up and shipped and asked that his name not be used for to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office to determine whether security reasons. the gear would be refurbished and reused, sold, or destroyed. “We don’t know how it’s going to “We have pared everything down to the minimal size we need to lead the go,” he said. “We would rather [the US logistical push. Everyone is working long days, six to seven days a week,” troops] stay.” said Col. Michael Gaal, vice commander of Sather Air Base’s 321st Air Handy said individuals will have to Expeditionary Wing. “There are literally going to be guys who are working determine for themselves if it was all to secure the airfield right up until the moment they run to the plane and worth it. take off.” “Sacrifice is a very, very personal Col. Claude Tudor, commander of the 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, said the planning process was “very detailed, [methodi- thing,” he said a few days before the cal], and systematic.” Countless contingencies were taken into consider- last troops left Iraq. ation; each included multiple alternative solutions to ensure that President “For me to stand up here and say a Obama’s tight timeline for withdrawal was met, Tudor said. sacrifice was worth it would be putting Vehicles not left in place or airlifted out drove south toward Kuwait. words in the mouths of a family who Improvised explosive devices remained a concern, though the number of may have lost a loved one.” This was attacks was down substantially. During the height of operations, US and something he was not willing to do, coalition forces encountered 60 to 70 IEDs daily. By early 2011, however, it though he said Americans should rest was considered a bad day if troops came across two or three, officials said. assured that the monumental cost of war To mitigate risks during the final convoy, combat controllers flew overhead also brought significant improvements to provide a multilayered command and control architecture, said Tudor. “As we started to posture out of Iraq, we’ve lost some ... communicational in the lives of the Iraqi people. capabilities. We had to find different ways and means to make sure that we can talk through some of these gaps, so we created bridges using flying Surreal [combat controllers] and some other stuff,” he said. “I would say there are tremendous Col. Rodney Petithomme, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group com- things you can put in the ‘win’ category mander, and Lt. Col. Jason Plourde, commander of the 79th Expeditionary for our time here in Iraq. The sacrifice Fighter Squadron, flew F-16s for the last manned combat mission over Iraq, was huge but the opportunities are great Dec. 18, providing yet another layer of protection for the convoy below. because of that.” MQ-1B Predators, launched and recovered by airmen assigned to the Many troops were still grappling with 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and flown by pilots at Creech that question, though, as they waited at AFB, Nev., were actually the last combat aircraft to leave Iraqi airspace. an air base in Southwest Asia for their chartered flight back to the United States. Some doubted the US really was good,” said CMSgt. Ward A. Hanning, “This was my first target on my first going to leave, even as they lounged who served as the Air Force’s senior en- day” in Desert Storm, said Rock of on their luggage outside the passenger listed advisor in Iraq since January 2011 Talil’s Camp Adder, as he gazed out terminal waiting to make their way and racked up more than 23,000 miles at the flight line. “You can’t make this through customs. The US rarely leaves over the area since the beginning days stuff up.” countries where it has fought long of the first Gulf War. “I really thought Minutes later they were strolling in and hard, as its continuing but invited there would be some type of political to the passenger terminal with pockets presence in Germany, Japan, and South agreement” that would keep US forces full of challenge coins and huge smiles Korea attests. in-country longer. on their faces. Those reflecting on the momentous Such a deal was in negotiation, but “Anyone call for a taxi?” shouted mission generally summed it up in just ultimately faltered on the Iraqi gov- Rock. one word: “surreal.” They were honored ernment’s refusal to grant US troops “Let’s get the hell out of here,” joked to have played a role in history and immunity from prosecution. Hanning. happy to be leaving a sovereign and On the evening of Dec. 17, Handy, After all 65 airmen and 55 soldiers democratic Iraq behind, but many also Rock, and Hanning boarded a C-17 in claimed their seats for the last flight out said they knew there was more work Kuwait headed back to Talil to pick up of Iraq on the last night of Operation that could have been done had the US the last airmen and soldiers to be airlifted New Dawn, the team of Iraqi air traffic military stayed longer. out of Iraq. When the ramp opened up controllers, who were trained by US “Six months ago, I didn’t think we in Iraq, Rock stared out with a mixture airmen under Rock’s command, radioed, would be here,” waiting to leave Iraq for of excitement and disbelief. “Farewell, friends.” n AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2012 29